Courtesy: Ryan Hirtle

By Shane Clausing

man builds outdoor gym

Local man builds backyard gym amid COVID-19 closures

Jul 29, 2020 | 6:47 PM

A Grande Prairie area man has been putting his imagination to good use during the COVID-19 pandemic, while feeding his desire to get a proper workout in.

Sixteen weeks ago, while out of work and unable to go to the gym because of the early onset of the pandemic, Ryan Hirtle decided to put his imagination to work and construct a full workout facility in the backyard of his five acre property near Wembley.

Hirtle tells EverythingGP he needed something to help him escape the drags of the pandemic.

“It was inspired through the amount of negativity I’ve seen online and with the pandemic we are (all) going through, gyms (and) fitness facilities were closing,” said Hirtle.

“I needed something to get out of the house and keep me busy. I found some inspiration from a jungle gym from across the world, (called) Tulum (found in Tulum, Mexico), and it was on Pinterest.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

That inspiration meant Hirtle was going to be putting his skills to the ultimate test, as the equipment used at the Tulum gym is created by hand using natural materials.

With that, Hirtle got to work and hand carved several pieces of equipment for his gym, including weights, dumbbells, benches, weight racks and the flooring, all out of wood.

Hirtle captured the four month journey of the construction process on his Instagram page:

What the initial piece of land looked like before Ryan Hirtle began construction on his gym. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle (IG: mr.hirtle)

Land of where the oasis gym stands today. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

The weight plates were all created from chopped down trees. Hirtle then took his chainsaw and cut the pieces of wood, so they could fit on the barbells. Each piece of wood was weighed on a scale, so he knew how much each piece weighed. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Wood that was chopped for making weighted dumbbells. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Finished dumbbells. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Free weights added onto a barbell. Each barbell could hold up to 100 pounds of wood before the bar begins to bend. The bar was made from pipe. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Weight plates having the finishing touches on the weight plates. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Flooring being laid at the outdoor gym. Photo Credit: Ryan Hirtle

Following that, Hirtle rummaged around the area, and the internet, to fill in the gaps for completing his backyard gym with recycled equipment and materials.

“I was able to kind of search through Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace and little search engines and pick pieces for free.”

Hirtle says he ended up going to the dump at Tervita, where he was able to make a contact at the facility. Eventually he was able go in and get some materials such as pipe, skids, and plywood.

He says the Habitat for Humanity Grande Prairie ReStore was also great in helping him get stain, shellac, conditioner, screws, flooring, barbells, and shower curtains for the outdoor facility. Hirtle thanks those, and the many other individuals, organizations and businesses that helped make the gym a reality.

With that assistance, Hirtle is now able to enjoy his outdoor gym, which he says is a much needed escape, which is why he now calls it Oasis.

“A friend of mine sent me the definition of what it (oasis) meant and it stuck.”

The definition of oasis is: A fertile place where there is water in the midst of a desert or a place of calm in the midst of chaos.

“You hear the trees, you hear the birds, it allows you to escape the things some of us maybe deal with.”

He adds it was a long and difficult 16-week process, but says he never thought of quitting on the project.

“We were raised as kids when you start something you finish it. So, this is the end result.”

Ryan Hirtle’s completed outdoor gym. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

Bench press, dip and pull up area. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

A future cable pull area which can be used for cable flies, tricep extensions and other exercises. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

Deadlift area. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

Hirtle’s journey to completing Oasis captured plenty of attention and fame from those around the globe through social media, which he says was quite uplifting.

“Through social media and today’s time and age where I can travel across the world in an hour, it’s been pretty humbling the amount of response from the general public. People you don’t know to inspire and motivate them during the times we are living in I guess.”

The gym adds to the athletic theme in his backyard, as he also has a 75-yard golf hole he can play.

As well, he’s currently building a one kilometre running track, which in the winter he plans to turn into an ice rink for his kid to skate on.

Hirtle wanted to thank his family, friends and all of the people that helped out and took out time during their days to help create his gym over the last 16 weeks.

“It’s been a very beautiful journey with the family and friends, and it’s peaceful.”

To see more progress on Hirtle’s gym you can follow him on Instagram @mr.hirtle.