Coaching – and athleticism – runs in the family. It all started in Trinidad, West Indies, almost a century ago...

Garnet cross grew up close to a dirt track, where he developed a passion for running and athletics. This continued into his adult life, having achieved medals at the World Masters Games in New Zealand in the 80's.

Unfortunately, Garnet is no longer with us. But he touched the lives of many through his coaching in Trinidad and Nova Scotia (where he spent most of his life). He coached track at Millwood High School for 2 decades, and worked with athletes at Dalhousie University in multiple sports: track, soccer, basketball, hockey, swimming, and table tennis. He also coached his lifesaving athletes along with his son Jason in Nova Scotia and France, some of whom won medals at the World Surf Lifesaving Championships. In his later years, Garnet returned to Trinidad to "give back", where he helped several national track athletes prepare for the Olympics. Putting his Kinesiology master’s degree to good use, he also helped the police and military with their reaction time and speed movements.

Paul Cross is Garnet’s son, and followed in his father’s footsteps as a coach. He founded the McGill triathlon club in the early 90’s, then coached endurance athletes full-time for 20+ years in Vancouver. Across three decades he has coached more than 750 athletes of all abilities and backgrounds, from complete beginners to world champions, in swimming, cycling, running and triathlon. Today he coaches a small group of endurance athletes online, along with the next generation of Crosses: his two sons, one of whom won two cross-country races this fall.

Jason grew up chasing his older brother Paul's feet in the swimming pool. He then chased Paul's accomplishments as a champion Lifesaving Ironman, which led to a passion in which he dominated the sport in Canada for 3 decades.