Timaru’s new health club
When Timaru locals Lexi and Hugh Slobbe’s lives intersected through their personal wellness journeys, it was a catalyst meeting that would prompt something much bigger:
a luxury local health club.
Hugh and Lexi Slobbe don’t measure health and wellness in six-pack abs or the number shown on the scales at their has-it-all health club, Pinnacle Performance. It’s the home for “movement that supports everyday life”. “That might be running around with your kids without getting breathless, getting up off the floor confidently if you fall, carrying groceries without pain or managing stress from demanding jobs,” Lexi says.
The pairs’ philosophy stretches into their daily living. “Health and wellness, for us, is not about perfection. It is about consistency, balance and enjoying life.” Nourishing food and meal preparation, prioritising time outdoors with friends, family and their two border collies – wellness is what supports their lives instead of restricts it.
Content with what their wellness looked like in practice, yet not quite satisfied – Hugh and Lexi wanted to utilise their knowledge and experience to help beyond themselves. Their mission? To be the help before the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
Hugh’s résumé details his years working in professional sport and personal training, while paramedic Lexi, who was significantly overweight, knows first-hand the consequences when preventable health issues go unaddressed. Lexi’s weightloss journey and resurrected quality of life lit a spark, and along with Hugh’s passion for exercise’s impact on mental health, accountability and community, the couple took an opportunity to share their strengths and serve their community. “I saw a growing gap between elite training environments and what everyday people actually need to move well and feel good in their daily lives,” Hugh explains.
The undertaking was an enormous challenge. “We started by listening. We ran community surveys and had open, honest conversations about what was wanted and needed,” Lexi says. “Pinnacle Performance represents community, enjoyment and movement that genuinely supports everyday life. We are not here for bodybuilding competitions or passing fitness trends. We are here for practical, functional training that helps people do the things that matter.” Yes, that means hard work – but recovery looks lovely. Inside, find an infrared sauna, ice plunge barrel, recovery boots, a lounge space and coffee machine, ready-made macro-friendly meals, plus ease and comfort touches such as an app, salon-quality shampoo and conditioner, hair dryers and everyday essentials. “Our goal was simple. Remove as many barriers to health and exercise as possible and create a space where people feel supported from the moment they walk through the door.”
What are your favourite wellness ‘hacks’ or mechanisms for healthy living?
HUGH: My wellness mechanism is built on an ever-growing sense of self-belief, the kind that can only be earned by stepping into uncomfortable situations and proving to myself I can handle them. Whether it’s physical discomfort, financial pressure, mental strain, or social fear, I’ve learnt that growth lives on the other side of challenge. Every time I choose the harder option, stay disciplined, or show up when I don’t feel like it, my confidence expands. Not because life gets easier, but because I get stronger.
LEXI: For me, the foundation is making small, sustainable changes over time.Big transformations are built on consistent habits, not extremes. I focus on setting smaller goals on the way to bigger ones so there are regular wins to stay motivated, even when progress feels slow. One of my biggest non-negotiables is having a go-to list of quick, tasty, macro-friendly meals so eating well feels easy rather than punishing. Fad diets and bland food rarely lead to long-term success. Just as importantly, I prioritise rest and recovery. Real progress happens when the body has time to recover. Training hard without allowing space to rest will only stall results.
