Feature Article: Alison Storey

Alison Storey is a game-changer. A talented athlete in her own right, Alison has the passion to share her love of sport and wellness with those in her community. Founder, Managing Director and Personal Trainer at Storey Sport, Alison has developed a mobile training system which enables clients to train in small groups or in the comfort of their own home in order to meet their personal sporting goals. This tailored system is perfect for anyone, from young athletes with a busy schedule, young mums with kids, or a retired lover of fitness who just doesn’t love the modern gym environment. Storey Sport has the ability to offer their clients high-quality, professional training specifically designed with the client’s personal goals and physical ability in mind. We had the pleasure of interviewing Alison Storey to hear about her journey in the sporting world, how Storey Sport was born and where to from here! Check out the full interview below!

Here’s what Alison had to share,

1. Where did your passion for sport, personal training and fitness come from?

“I’ve been doing sport since as long as I can remember and had a crack at whatever was going. I settled on Rhythmical Gymnastics when I was a kid as I was too tall for artistic gymnastics and that's where the commitment to training and competitive activities began! My dad was a 3x Olympian so I have been in and around Olympic sport all my life. I get so fired up watching or doing just about any sport - except golf. A few health issues in my early twenties made me begin to research fitness and strength beyond my own sporting experiences and that's where my path to being a trainer began.”

2. What sports have you personally been involved with (and to what levels)?

“Rhythmical Gymnastics, rowing, then beach volleyball - all as an NZ representative competing overseas. I had a go at Archery until I discovered the pain I was getting in my shoulder was from when I'd broken my collar bone playing beach volleyball and didn't realise at the time. This was my first career-ending injury! These days, I'm into cycling around the velodrome but just for fun.”

3. ​How would you describe what Storey Sport is able to offer their clients?

“Storey Sport's point of difference is that we're mobile, so we tend to attract clients that don't like the gym environment, want a bit more privacy when they work out, or have health or mobility issues that need some qualified and tailored attention.  We also love our work with athletes in sports outside the HPSNZ system like archers, motorsport drivers, lacrosse players and rock-climbers!”

4. Can you tell us the story of how Storey Sport began and why you felt the market needed a high quality, mobile personal training system?

“Funny story. There was only one gym in Cambridge when I started looking into the idea of being a mobile trainer and I knew plenty of people that lived rurally and didn't have the time or inclination to pack a bag and drive in to the gym, so I figured I should take the mountain to Mohammed, and it snowballed from there. Also, there is no compulsory regulation in the PT industry - anyone can call themselves a trainer - so I wanted to make sure that people had access to highly qualified and experienced advice and that they can have a top notch professional customer service experience along with it.”

5. What have been the most rewarding aspects of Storey Sport?

“Where to start?! This community has been absolutely awesome to me, from right back when I was in the NZ rowing team and so my urge of give back is pretty high. It’s hugely rewarding to be involved with things like the Waipa Fun Run and the Waipa Youth Sports Awards, and writing for the Cambridge Edition. Seeing our clients achieve things they never thought they could do is entirely rewarding and the reason I was drawn to this profession - people should be able to live the life they want and take whatever opportunities they want by being fit and strong enough to do them!”

From left: Morgan, Sally and Alison - the personal trainers of Storey Sport

6. What are your personal training regimes and routines? How often do you train personally a week?

“To be honest, it was pretty weird to stop competing at something as that's been my training purpose most of my life, but there comes a time for everyone I guess. I still train six days a week now just not as intensely; a mix of weight training, cycling, and a weekly fix of beach volleyball for fun.”

7. What are you aspirations and plans for the future (both as a company and personally)?

“I never thought my company would be bigger than just me, but I love it how with other trainers working for me now, we can collectively affect more people, more regularly, with more positive touch-points and access to qualified advice than I could do just on my own. Spreading the love so to speak. My aspiration for Storey Sport has always been to provide the best personal training experience in NZ and you can never stop working towards a goal like that, so it's about continuous improvement. I got the opportunity to be part of the NZ Youth Olympic Games team support staff last year and that was seriously rewarding and a great learning experience, so I'd love to get the chance to play a support role like that again personally.”

8. What does you typical Sunday routine look like? (meal prepping, personal exercise, spending time with family etc.)

“Lately Sunday's have started with a long slow cycle ride up my local hills and valleys, sunshine and beautiful views are pretty energising. Sunday is the day I design all the programs for my clients for the week ahead, and recently, put my head down into academic work related to my Masters degree. Saturday is my sleep in day!”



We love sharing the inside scoop on the local companies and people we seriously admire! Alison is just yet another example of the amazing talent and dedication we have in our local community and how they have the passion to share what they love with those around them.

For more information about Alison and Storey Sport, be sure to check out her website here.

With Warmth,