Peak Performance Fitness

About Rick

Growing up, fitness and sports were always a large part of Rick Baird’s life. From a young age, he participated in baseball, football, and track. He was taught the value of teamwork, setting goals, and working hard to obtain these goals. In high school, he participated in football and track and field. During his high school years, he was fortunate to have some instrumental coaches in his life, not only in sports but also setting a good example in their personal lives. These experiences motivated him to become a teacher and coach. Specifically, he developed a desire to mentor young kids about proper fitness levels and the impact it has on their ability to attain athletic goals. After graduating high school, Rick went to college and earned a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education, minor in Health and a teacher certificate from Utah State University. The knowledge he gained through his anatomy and physiology classes, teaching skills seminars, and nutrition labs provided a solid foundation for Rick to be an excellent coach and trainer. During college, in 2001 he had the opportunity of becoming a personal trainer, a field he continues to work in.

While in college, Rick had the opportunity to compete in college athletics, 2 years of football and 3 years of track. His senior year of track he earned All Big West Conference in the Hammer Throw. After Rick’s college career, he tried out for the United States Bobsled Team and earned a spot competing on the Americas Cup and Europa Cup tours.

Rick’s experiences in football, track, and bobsled gave him the opportunity to learn a lot from some of the best coaches in the United States. These athletic experiences on the high school, college, national, and international level, along with his secular education, has earned Rick a wealth of experiences and knowledge he can now pass on to clients and athletes.

After he retired from personally competing in sports, Rick began working as a full-time personal trainer and coach. In the summer of 2002, he began a 3-year coaching stint at the University of Nevada Las Vegas as a volunteer track throwing coach. While coaching the athletes who were throwers, 3 school records were broken in the javelin, hammer throw, and indoor weight throw. Rick also assisted in coaching a“2005 Indoor All American” athlete who competed in the pentathlon.

In June of 2003, Rick became a trainer at a national gym in Las Vegas, Nevada. While working for this gym, he was selected from over 4,000 trainers in the company to work as an assistant strength coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While at the Olympics, Rick was stationed at the athletes’ High Performance Training Center, assisting the head strength coach of the United States Olympic Committee.

In the summer of 2007, Rick had the amazing opportunity to work with the LA Kings of the National Hockey League, as an assistant strength coach to Chad Smith, head strength coach, of the LA Kings. During summer camp, Rick assisted with the workouts for the LA Kings Rookies and developmental players. In the fall of 2008, Rick was invited back to assist with training the full squad of the LA Kings during fall training camp.

In the winter of 2009, Rick was hired as the head track coach at Faith Lutheran High School. He was responsible for both the boys and girls track teams. This opportunity was both exciting and nearly overwhelming. This was his first experience as head coach, a responsibility he did not take lightly. He recognized that there were events in track and field that he was not as accomplished in. Thus, he spent time consulting with his previous coaches, prior successful athletes, and researching successful track workouts for the events he was not as familiar with. The coaching staff and athletes’ dedication paid off. During Rick’s first year as head track and field coach, he led both the boys and girls teams to a state championship victory.

Rick Baird is an independent personal trainer and track & field coach based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Since 2001, Rick has been working as a trainer and coach, helping numerous people reach their Peak Performance Fitness goals.

Accomplishments

• 2010 Southern Nevada Sunset Conference girls track and field coach of the year.
• 2009 Head Track Coach for FLHS boys and girls state championship teams. Athletes took first place in 10 out of the 36 track and field events.
• 2008 Beijing Olympics Fitness Ambassador/assistant strength coach for Team USA.
• 2007 Jamie Little, Rick’s personal training client, was featured in the November issue of Muscle and Fitness hers.
• 2007 Assistant Strength Coach for the NHL LA Kings hockey teams summer and fall training camps.
• 2002 Olympic Torch bearer at the Salt Lake City Olympics.
• 2001 Competed in the Olympic trials for a spot on the US Olympic Bobsled Team.
• 2001 Tied the US Bobsled power clean record of 160 kilos (352 lbs)
• 2001 Earned Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification through NSCA. (This is the only national certification that requires a college degree.)
• 1999 Bachelors Degree from Utah State University; Physical Education major and Health minor with a teacher certification.
• 1998 All Big West Conference athlete for track and field.
• 1998 Utah State Track Team received Team Spirit Award.
• 1992 Bonanza High School Track Team Most Improved award.
• 1991 Bonanza High School Track Team Most Dedicated award.