Hidden Gems: Meet Zach Petrone of Rocky Mountain Strength

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Petrone.

Hi Zach, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in Colorado, being active in the mountains was second nature. As I progressed through life I always knew that being athletic and active was something that would stick with me forever. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a business degree and as I was on the job search, I soon realized that a 9-5 was not going to be for me.

Soon after I also added my certified personal training certificate and that is what jump-started my career in the fitness industry. I worked in big box gyms, franchise fitness studios, and as a strength & conditioning coach training athletes ranging from youth to professionals. This all leads to where I am today. Learning a little bit from each style of gym and position, gave me the skills and experience I needed to open my gym, Rocky Mountain Strength.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The smooth road is not in the vocabulary when starting in the fitness industry. It is one of the hardest careers to succeed in and takes many years to become stable. Between adding in long-term clients, and keeping clients. it is an ongoing ebb and flow industry. One of the hardest things to happen was Covid-19 and a pandemic that crushed gyms and the availability to train in person. During this time, the franchise that I was a general manager at closed after 5 years and left many of us wondering what was next.

We’ve been impressed with Rocky Mountain Strength, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rocky Mountain Strength is the premier small group training and personal training studio in the South Metro area of Denver. We specialize in small group classes with different styles of training which include MountainFIT, Strength & Conditioning, and High-Intensity interval Training. We want to provide workouts that cater to the Colorado lifestyle by creating a strong and conditioned framework to enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, hunting, and everything the Rocky Mountains have to offer!

What sets us apart from other gyms is the community we have created and the family that we are. We truly care about every single person that walks in the doors and you should leave feeling that. Throughout the year you will see all of the different events we do for the community and others, recently including raising over $20,000 for the Food Bank of the Rockies.

If you are looking for a more private training type, look into our training services with some of the best certified personal trainers in the area. Many of our trainers have different specializations including corrective exercise, return to activity post-injury, Olympic lifting, sports-specific training, and much more!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
The best advice I can give to someone starting in this industry is to be personable and make an impression. Once you are professionally certified, you will be competing with thousands of other trainers all trying to gain clients and members. If you do not stand out and make a serious impression from the first time you meet someone, the chances of not adding them to your client roster become slim.

I have seen a lot of great trainers with many certifications that have trouble making it in this industry, as they do not have the personal connection trait needed to make someone feel comfortable and enjoy the time with you. It’s also really important starting to find out what niche you want to focus on so that you will eventually have a streamlined system that points to you as a professional. Sports training, rehab, general population, you decide!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rockymtnstrength.com
• Instagram: @rockymtn_strength

Image Credits
Derek Lobato Photography (@dereklobato.photog)