Jess Gresho, BS, CSCS
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jess Gresho | Self-Confidence & Grit
Jess is the coach, owner, and athlete behind FlowZone Performance Coaching - a remote-based strength coaching and personal training company for outdoorsy people. She enjoys spending time in the mountains, training for her active outdoor pursuits, and connecting with others while helping them to do the same.
Top values for Jess include leading an adventurous lifestyle, relationship/community building, and doing things that scare her as often as possible. Pushing to do hard things directly connect with self-confidence and grit - two things Jess believes are required for people who enjoy the outdoors.
As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a B.S. in Exercise Science, Jess applies her knowledge to train outdoor sports’ athletes to feel stronger and more confident in the mountains. With proper strength and power development, mountain sports athletes of all disciplines and abilities are able to focus less on their physical capabilities and more on the task at hand, whether that be hitting a new cliff, crushing the whole enchilada, or enjoying a ski day with your kids.
Jess is also an avid outdoor athlete herself. Her experiences in the mountains have helped form her views on training specifically to be strong, functional, and confident outside. She connects with people to understand their goals and helps them train for the life they want!
FlowZone Performance Coaching
Jess is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who specializes in working with people who love the outdoors. Her skills allow her to help clients of all athletic abilities - from newcomers to advanced - feel confident in the mountains.
Fees: Fees are self-pay and range depending on program selected.
Locations: Jess is based in Carbondale, CO but can see clients virtually within the USA.
“FlowZone Performance Coaching is the key to unlocking your inner athlete. We are a small business dedicated to helping mountain sports athletes across all disciplines achieve their peak potential, no matter where they are. Our remote strength and conditioning training programs are designed to keep you in the flow state, that elusive sweet spot where athletes thrive while also emphasizing overall longevity in the mountains for decades to come.
From expert guidance and custom programs to our low touch subscription option that flows through the seasons of various mountain sports, anyone can take the guesswork out of their training and feel prepared as the seasons change.”
“If I could go back now and talk to my 8-year-old self playing in our suburban backyard, I would tell her to keep being curious. Keep asking questions and keep going for what you want, even if it doesn’t align with what others are doing.”
What sparked your love for adventure?
Connection through disconnection. Whether I am alone, with one friend, or with a whole group, there is nothing more special than bonding and strengthening relationships while being slightly (or completely) disconnected from real life. There is something very unique about the conversations (with friends or with myself) that happen when I am outside doing something out of my comfort zone.
How do you prepare mentally and physically for your adventures?
For me, strength training is a huge part of my preparation for adventures. I have found that knowing I am strong and capable has allowed me to feel more confident in the mountains. Knowing that I have the physical strength to do hard things allows me to mentally focus on the task at hand rather than channel my energy into worrying about if I am strong enough (physically) to handle something.
Do you have a bucket list of adventures? If so, what's at the top?
I don’t really have a bucket list, BUT if I did, the Colorado Trail would be at the top of it. This is something I have been dreaming about for a few years and am planning on pursuing this September. Other than that, I just like to do hard things and spend long days in the mountains.
What role does solo adventuring play in your life?
Solo adventuring is a huge priority for me. I started exploring the backcountry and getting into the mountain lifestyle that I live now when I was 16-years-old. I got my first dog, Shasta, and she became my ultimate adventure buddy. At 16, I didn’t have very many people in my life who had the same interests as me, so naturally, I went alone and learned A LOT. I was not very confident in my ability and truly had no idea what I was doing, but navigating my way through this instilled a sense of confidence and independence in me that I have not been able to shake. I still prioritize solo adventures and they provide a sort of meditative experience for me. When I adventure on my own (with my two huskies, of course) I find that I think very clearly and feel like the most inspired version of myself.
How do you handle fear or uncertainty during your adventures?
As a competitive freeride skier, fear is something I am no stranger to. Through my years in this sport, I have developed a strong sense of my own fear and I have learned to trust my gut feelings. My brain, body, and heart all know what I am capable of. If I am scared of something that deep down I know I want to do, I tell myself that I am capable, otherwise I would not feel so drawn to do that thing. If my initial reaction to something is less positive – someone else did it so I can too– then I usually take some time to listen to my gut feeling. Will I regret NOT doing something?
Can you describe an adventure that left you feeling profoundly grateful?
This past Spring, I skied Mount Sopris with a girl who I was not very close with at the start. Ten hours later and we are now doing the Colorado Trail together this Fall. The experience of skiing Mount Sopris - a mountain that I look at everyday from my house - will forever be one of my favorite days in the backcountry. We started the day at 2:30am skiing through the dark in the rain. Our third partner who had experience with the route ended up having to bail as her water spilled in her pack so she would have been wet and dehydrated. At this point, we made a decision to keep going. We worked together to determine the route and we communicated our worries so openly. Skiing up in the rain for hours in the dark was not what we had expected, and we truly did not know if we were going to make it. Suddenly, when the sun started to rise, the rain cleared and we had a view of the summit from the bowl below. We made the decision to go for it. What was rain down low was snow up high, meaning we got to ski this incredible mountain with a fresh few inches of snow for one of the most memorable days of my life. Returning to our partner who waited at the approach was an unforgettable feeling and I will forever be grateful for that experience.
What do you think the childhood version of you would think of your current adventurous nature? What would you go back and tell that version of you?
Thinking about this makes me teary-eyed. I was originally born in California and lived in a suburban neighborhood until age 9. I spent those years barefoot in the yard, climbing trees, building bird houses, and playing with dirt. At 9, we moved to the mountains of Colorado to a house with multiple acres of forest. I spent almost all my time outside. I biked around, ran around, built climbing walls, forts, and zip-lines during rain or shine. When I got my license at 16, the adventures changed. I finally had access to the backcountry. If I could go back now and talk to my 8-year-old self playing in our suburban backyard, I would tell her to keep being curious. Keep asking questions and keep going for what you want, even if it doesn’t align with what others are doing. Little Jess would have never guessed the mountains we would have climbed by 22, and I hope more girls can experience this.
