Is Handstand Walking Too Weighted at the CrossFit Games?
The standard for determining the fittest on earth was elegantly articulated by Greg Glassman in his effort to evaluate, “work capacity across broad times and modal domains.” Capacity is best demonstrated through functional movements performed at high intensity.
With this in mind, what capacity is demonstrated through handstand walking, or how does it express its functionality? It seems more akin to a skill that immediately rewards those who possess it. Looking at how handstand walking events play out in competition speaks to this idea.
The History of Handstand Walking in the CrossFit Games Season
Handstand walking has been tested every year at the Game since 2011 (with the exception of 2012).
It has been tested four times during that time period as a singular event, primarily more recently (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021; note in 2011 the handstand walk was tested individually, but was scored as part of the Skills 1 event).
Additionally it has been tested five times at Regionals, two of which were as singular events (2014, 2015).
This means that in six of the last eight years handstand walking was tested in isolation at either the qualifying stage to the Games, or at the Games themselves.
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