“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”- Tom Bodett
NEWS
CrossFit Teens Face Harassment Online and In the Gym, Further Expose Ugly Trend
“Whether or not I’m wearing baggy clothes or booty shorts, they will always look. If I’m dancing or if I’m deadlifting I will always feel their eyes on my ass,” 18-year-old Emma Spath proclaims, citing a recent incident in which a fellow female gym-goer told her to stop dancing between sets because men will look at her.
Spath, who has been doing CrossFit at CrossFit West in Soquel, CA since they were 11-years-old, can recount many times in their (Spath uses the pronouns she/they) career that inappropriate sexual behavior has ruined an otherwise normal moment in the gym. She’s just one of a growing number of teens that are experiencing sexual harassment in CrossFit, and they’re getting fed up.
The Teen Division Emerges
The teen division in the Games began in 2015 and since then, 189 athletes ages 14 through 17 have had their moment on the biggest stage in the CrossFit universe. And while only a small fraction of teens have made it back to the Games in the individual division, succumbing to either burnout, starting new athletic journeys, or getting their ticket to Madison snatched away by the hands of COVID-19, elite CrossFit teens are becoming some of the biggest influencers in the sport.
Crossfitter uses Engineering Background to Design the Kuhlwhip
When Kuhlwhip founder JP was a college student, he spent his last $100 on a speed rope to learn double unders. After it broke in two weeks, and still without double unders, he was understandably annoyed.
Aside from the price, as an engineering student, he just saw so many problems with this overpriced rope. The giant exposed ball bearings, the heavy cable, a handle that only worked at certain angles. It was a mess.
His solution? Kuhlwhip. The speed rope for CrossFitters that doesn’t break the bank.
Using tiny ball bearings, a perfectly weighted handle, and the highest quality materials try Kuhlwhip Speed Ropes today and see why the doubles are in the details.
SPEED READS
In a recent interview with the Clydesdale, Fitness & Friends podcast, Matt Chan reveals that he had to give back everything he won on the Titan Games.
Matt shared, “You know there is one thing I have to say, I didn’t get to keep the trophy, and I really, really wanted to keep that trophy!” Matt goes on to say, “You know what’s funny is I got nothing, I walked out of there with nothing. Eventually, obviously, I got a pretty sweet check in the mail. I walked away, they took our uniforms, they took everything, I think I got a plastic water bottle with a T on it, that’s it.”
See this clip and morefrom the Morning Chalk Up’s newest partner, the Clydesdale, Fitness & Friends podcast.
Win Awesome Gear has pledged that 10% of proceeds for the month of May will be donated to Rock Steady Boxing, a nonprofit organization that gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving quality of life through fitness. To help, head over to Win Awesome Gear for a chance to win a home gym and 10% of what you spend will go to Rock Steady Boxing. Use code “CHALKUP10” for a discount on your purchase.
The Big Fish Foundation announced its second annual fundraiser will take place June 18-20 and will feature six Games veterans and others working alongside veterans on teams rotating throughout a 30-hour challenge.
The Big Fish Foundation is looking for five veterans — One from each branch of service to participate and represent their perspective branch and five veterans to volunteer in support of the event. Travel stipends will be made available and all accommodations, meals and expenses will be covered.
Froning on why intermittent fasting works for him: ” It makes me eat. Which may sound silly, but I used to eat in the morning, then get super busy, maybe take a shake or two, and then not eat again until the night when I’m done training for the day. So this actually makes me eat after that first training session and I notice a big difference in how recovered I feel.”
Now live: Granite Games volunteer applications. Apply now to serve as a Granite Games volunteer in athlete relations, judging, media, medical, volunteer relations or equipment crew.
Pre-Order the new Buttery Bros documentary, “Resurgence,” recounting the 2019-2020, COVID-disrupted CrossFit Games season.
INDUSTRY
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Hopeful For the Future, Some Affiliate Owners See Uptick in Membership
“There’s a lot of hope.”
Kevin Beamon, owner of Mecka Fitness in Pittsburgh, PA, sums up the feelings of many affiliate owners with this statement. After months of lockdowns, changing regulations, and fighting to bring communities back together, some CrossFit boxes are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The big picture: With vaccine distribution up and restrictions loosening in some states, many gym owners are seeing a rise in membership — both new and old — and sensing that, as Dakota Cardosanto of Broad Street CrossFit puts it, “good times are on the way.”
In a continent that only gets one berth to the CrossFit Games this summer, there’s only room for one Michelle. But both Michelle Merand and Michelle Basnett are hoping to finish atop the podium at the African Semifinals, the Fittest in Cape Town, in South Africa.
While their abilities on the leaderboard look similar — Merand edged Basnett out in the Open, but Basnett topped the Quarterfinals in Africa, while Merand was third — their similarities end there.
Michelle Merand: Merand, 31, was born and raised in South Africa and today owns FitBox TygerValley in Cape Town. A 2019 CrossFit Games competitor, when Merand found CrossFit in 2015, she was a drinker and a smoker.
“I really didn’t do anything athletic,” Merand said. “It was truly really one of those CrossFit saved my life kind of situations…and then I just kind of fell into a health and fitness routine.”
Her first Open competition was in 2015. She placed 38,492 worldwide. Since then, Merand has improved her rank on the leaderboard every year. Last year, she placed 204th in the Open, and this year she jumped to 127th worldwide.
The satisfaction of standing up and seeing you left the perfect wings imprint behind you. You earned that angel and you should be proud of it. Everyone can see the effort you put in, but they shouldn’t smell it. Grab yourself two Gillette Invisible Solid Deodorants for the price of one. No code necessary.
The Ponto Shorts from Vuori are made with their lightweight and buttery smooth fabric, Dreamknit™. They are soft, stretchy and so comfortable that you'll never want to take them off. Perfect for training and days off (if you take any).
Endless kipping and throwing your feet up towards the bar in hope? We've all been there. Stringing together toes to bar is all about timing. So stop rocking aimlessly on the bar and use this drill to get in your swinging rhythm.
Last chance to get seven pounds of chicken breasts, pork chops, and ground beef in your first box for free. ButcherBox delivers the highest quality meat directly to your door so no matter how busy you are, or where you live, you always have access to the best.
If only pizza and wings were made of vegetables. Your wish is Flexible Dieting Lifestyle's demand. Check out these eight low-calorie vegetable recipes guaranteed to have you begging for another serving.
Chalk Up Highlights is our section dedicated to celebrating our community’s wins in the gym. Follow @ChalkUpHighlights and submit your highlight to [email protected] to be featured.
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