That Time I Got Stuck at US Customs in Hawaii

December 4, 2025 | By

Picture this:

I fly to LA in January 2022.
6-week holiday.
Intern at DEUCE Gym.
Make some memories.

Fast forward 12 months & I’m back.
Why? To train with my friends, learn more & make more memories with phenomenal humans.

Now imagine trying to explain that to four US Customs officers in Honolulu…

“So let me get this straight… you came out here for six weeks last year… and now you’re back… to simply train at a gym in Venice..?”
“What are you really here for..?”
“You’re telling me you don’t have gyms back home you could train at..?”

Internally, I’m starting to pick up that they think something sketchy is happening here…

So I here I go, educating them on DEUCE Gym & all it’s glory…

“Okay we have gym’s… but not THIS GYM.  It’s got weightlifting, bodybuilding, strongman, gymnastics, powerlifting, rehab, ice baths & sauna, breathwork, leadership development, this cool coaching course, lots of workshops…. They have kegs and stones AND tyres there too!”

(At this point, more officials come out because still, not one person believes that I flew all the way here for this…)

Three hours later…
A lot of pacing, questions, and side-eyes…

I overhear them in the office:

“Guys… this gym actually does look really f-ing cool.”
“They really do have kegs & tyres & stones”

(Hands passport back & sends me on my way…)

Freedom regained.


Lessons learned:
1.  Have a solid website.  (Thank you, L. Gelbrich)

  1. Sometimes a gym IS worth continents of travel, confused customs officers, and a little interrogation drama.
  2. If you’ve never trained at DEUCE.. You probably should.

12/4/25 WOD

DEUCE Athletics GPP

Complete 4 rounds of the following:
8 Sumo Deadlift

Complete 3 rounds for quality of:
6 1-Leg Negative Roller Hamstring Curl (ea)
8 Tempo Heel Elevated Landmine Goblet Squat (4141)
24 Alt HIp Dips

AMRAP 10
12 Push Ups
12 Air Squats
12 Ball Slams

 

DEUCE Garage GPP

:15-:15-:15
Squat Walkout @ ~105%+ Max

2-1-1
Back Squat

Then, in teams of 3 or 4, AMRAP 15
Partner A: 8/6 Cal Bike
Partner B: 6 Alt Push Up Renegade Rows + Max Slam Balls
Partner C-D: -Rest-

Finisher: Combat Abs

Born in Melbourne, Jess grew up playing all different sports including AFL football and soccer. She spent 16 years Irish dancing and has performed across Australia, as well as internationally throughout Europe and Asia. Her love of training and fitness developed further at the end of high school, where she discovered how much of an impact a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise routine can have on people's physical, mental and emotional health. This led to her studying her Certificate III & IV in Fitness, then continuing on to complete 2 degrees: a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, and a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy). She has devoted her last 12 years in the fitness industry to developing her skills through practice, study, workshops, courses and multiple coaching internships. These experiences, paired with life experiences, have developed her into the coach, and person, she is today. Jess has spent the last few years practicing and studying NLP, DNS, powerlifting, running, coaching, human behavior and is also a certified yoga teacher. She is passionate about helping people develop strength, confidence, life skills & healthier habits, through fitness.