Justin Kilgore
Justin Kilgore always knew he wanted to open a gym. He grew up in Shelby and has been lifting weights since he was 13 years old. He went on to become a strength conditioning coach for Shelby High School but couldn’t train the kids in the way he wanted. During COVID, Justin started buying lifting equipment because he didn’t have a place to lift. Last August, he finally was able to open Blackfork Barbell at 40 E. Main St. in Shelby, inside The Little Shops of Shelby.
Justin likes living and working in Shelby because it’s a “cool, quiet town.” He feels there is a real sense of community and support here. Justin has always had a passion for teaching teens about lifting and he has found that it gives them an outlet and a way of making friends. As much as Justin enjoys his teens, he wants the community to know that his gym is for anyone interested in lifting. Blackfork Barbell is for “hardcore lifters” who want to focus on body building and power lifting. However, if you are new to the lifestyle, Justin is more than happy to teach you the ropes.
Blackfork
Barbell is open Monday through Friday 10:00AM to 9:00PM and 11:00AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays. Students pay $20 per month and everyone else pays $25 per month for a membership to the gym. Blackfork Barbell also has a powerlifting team which Justin offers all the programming and training for at an additional monthly cost. On July 30, the gym is holding a bench press competition at 10:00AM. There will be weight classes and awards for winners in both male and female categories. Sign-ups for the competition end on July 20.
Justin is very adamant about keeping Blackfork Barbell a positive place. He likes to make sure that no one is being put down or berated for their lack of knowledge. He also worries that people are quick to label weightlifters as “meat heads” when that isn’t really the case. Justin said about his gym members: “They’re the nicest guys in the world. Anyone in here would give the shirt off their back.” Justin has worked hard to make Blackfork Barbell a supportive environment that welcomes everyone interested in lifting. If you want to learn more, visit the Blackfork Barbell Facebook page.