Marcus Chen
Founder & Head Coach
"I've trained everyone from weekend warriors to Olympic athletes. What I learned? Everyone's got that fire inside - you just gotta know how to stoke it."
How It All Started
Look, I didn't start Quantarisaga because I thought Vancouver needed another generic gym with rows of treadmills. Been there, done that - worked at three of 'em actually.
Back in 2010, I was training athletes out of a cramped garage in East Van. Cold as hell in winter, but we made it work. Had this kid training for provincial track - couldn't afford the fancy sports centers downtown. Six months later, she's breaking her personal records left and right. That's when it hit me: you don't need all the bells and whistles, you need someone who actually gives a damn and knows what they're doing.
Fast forward to now - we've got this incredible space on Burrard, but the philosophy hasn't changed one bit. I still get my hands dirty with every client. Still programming workouts at 6am with my coffee. Still believe that real transformation happens when you stop following cookie-cutter programs and start treating each person like the unique athlete they are.
What We're Really About
We're not here to sell you miracle transformations or bullshit promises. High-performance training isn't about looking good in Instagram photos - though yeah, that'll happen too.
It's about pushing past what you thought was possible. It's about showing up when you don't feel like it and finding out what you're actually made of. Whether you're training for the Olympics or just wanna keep up with your kids without throwing out your back, we're gonna get you there.
The Journey So Far
2010
Started from the bottom
Began coaching athletes out of a garage gym. No heat, no fancy equipment - just pure grit and knowledge from my years competing in track and field.
2013
First real facility
Opened a 2000 sq ft space in Kitsilano. Word of mouth was crazy - had to hire two more coaches within three months.
2016
Olympic year baby
Two of our athletes made it to Rio. Didn't medal, but damn if they didn't give it everything. That year changed everything for us.
2019
Expanded services
Brought on a full-time nutritionist and sports therapist. Started realizing that peak performance isn't just about lifting heavy - it's the whole package.
2021
Moved to Burrard Street
Finally got the space we always dreamed about. 8000 sq ft, state-of-the-art equipment, but kept that same garage-gym mentality.
2025
Still grinding
Over 300 active clients, 12 coaches on staff, and we're just getting started. Every day someone walks in thinking they can't do something - and every day we prove them wrong.
Active Athletes
From high schoolers to pros, everyone's welcome here
Years Experience
Thousands of success stories and counting
Our Coaching Philosophy
- ▸ No cookie-cutter programs. Your body, your goals, your plan. Period.
- ▸ Science-backed, reality-tested. I read the studies but I also coach real humans every day.
- ▸ Progress over perfection. Bad workout beats no workout. We're in this for the long haul.
- ▸ Recovery is training. You don't grow in the gym, you grow when you rest. We take that seriously.
- ▸ Community matters. Yeah it sounds cheesy, but training alongside people who get it makes all the difference.
Our Burrard Street facility - where limits come to die
Ready to start your journey?
We're not gonna blow smoke - this isn't easy. But if you're serious about getting better, stronger, faster... we'll meet you halfway. Come check out the space, talk to our coaches, see if we're the right fit.
