“The secret of happiness is something to do.”- John Burroughs
PROFILE
CrossFit Siargao, Destroyed by Typhoon, Rebuilds with Worldwide Support
Friends and business partners Mike Breuker and Daphne Oudshoorn considered throwing in the towel and walking away from their gym—CrossFit Siargao on Siargao Island in the Philippines—when it was all but destroyed by the fatal Typhoon Odette that hit the island on December 16, 2021.
“That was the first question. Are we actually going to rebuild?” Breuker admitted, adding that not only was their gym destroyed, but the Typhoon also took out Oudshoorn’s house.
Despite their doubts about going back to the island and returning to gym ownership, something told them to begin the long rebuilding process.
Their Journey to the Philippines
Breuker and Oudshoorn first started CrossFit in their homeland of the Netherlands when Breuker became Oudshoorn’s coach in 2016. The two became friends, and soon after that, Oudshoorn started coaching, as well.
“And after one training (session), we were cycling home, and Mike was saying, ‘I’m thinking about starting a gym, somewhere in Asia’…and my first reply was, ‘Wherever you go, I will come with you so we can start it together,’” Oudshoorn explained.
After doing some research, they settled on the Philippines, where they found some land in the jungle that would become home, not just to their gym, but also to both of their houses.
And then, just as they were getting set to open their gym, COVID-19 hit and the country went into lockdown. So the first year-and-a-half of their gym ownership was spent during a pandemic, and the moment they were finding their footing, Typhoon Odette hit and destroyed their gym.
Dallin Pepper is on course for a top 10 finish in The Open this year, but for anyone who saw him there was only one question on their lips.
“What’s the red thing in his mouth?”
Since being introduced to AIRWAAV, Dallin doesn’t compete without it. By shifting your lower jaw and tongue into an optimal position, the AIRWAAV Performance Mouthpiece is clinically proven to:
Increase your endurance by 20% by reducing respiratory rate.
Reduce cortisol build-up to improve recovery by 50%.
Widen your airway by an average of 9% allowing you to get in more oxygen.
The Open is over.😪 However, we’ve got you covered. Keep checking the Morning Chalk Up Open landing page, and newsletter over the next few days for our expert insight and analysis, breaking down the 2022 edition in full.
In case you missed it, Lauren Kalil, the host of The Bottom Line, spoke to the one and only Mat Fraser about life after competing and his new HWPO app platform.
Scott Britton, the founder of the UK-based Battle Cancer, talks about opening up for his Men’s Health UK cover story:
“As an overweight kid in an abusive household I couldn’t ever dream to be on the front of the magazine I saw every month.”
CrossFit has announced that eight athletes have been tested in their latest round of Out-of-Competition tests. They include Annie Thorisdottir, Kristin Holte, Laura Horvath, Tia-Clair Toomey, Patrick Vellner, Saxon Panchik, Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson and Justin Medeiros.
Thinking about getting blackout curtains to help with recovery? Turns out that might be a good idea, as sleeping with even a little bit of light can harm your health.
CROSSFIT GAMES
VIDEO: What We Learned From This Year’s Open Tests
What Does it Take to Put on Two CrossFit Semifinals Back to Back?
Now that the CrossFit Open has wrapped, the community turns its attention to the next part of the season: quarterfinals, and ultimately, the in-person semifinals.
This year the braintrust behind the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge figured they weren’t busy enough and said yes to hosting a second Semifinal, the weekend after nonetheless, as the Syndicate Crown will kick off May 20-22 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Led by Wilson Pak, who is also the general manager for 12 Labours CrossFit, which has two boxes in the state of Maryland, is backed by a ravenous group of workers and volunteers who will now transition their expertise over from the MACC to a second competition.
What is fibre and why is it so important? And, how do you know whether you're getting enough dietary fibre? Watch nutrition expert, Richie Kirwan, explain everything you need to know about fibre and the important role it can play in keeping you healthy.
First top 10% finish? First bar muscle up? First time in the Open? Everyone has something to cheer about after the last three weeks and FITAID wants to celebrate with you. Morning Chalk Up readers can save 15% off FITAID RX using code "MCU15" at checkout.
Although lifting always looks like it's just one smooth motion, anyone who has tried to emulate elite lifters knows that just isn't the case. Here is a simple jerk broken down into eight pieces to help you see where you can make the most improvement.
Gain unparalleled insight into your body and training with a free WHOOP Strap 4.0 and a free month of membership for new members. WHOOP measures your body's data over 100 times a second to provide personalized feedback on your recovery, strain, and sleep.
If you've ever tried to make sweet potato fries at home, you'll know, getting them crispy is nearly impossible. This recipe though, that just uses an oven, gets your sweet potato fries perfectly crispy and is just 200 calories a serving.
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise. Send us a tip.
Cédric Lapointe stands up an overhead squat PR at 365 pound/165.5kg.
Congratulations to Aron Parker from CrossFit Boynton Beach in Boynton Beach, FL on the 210 pound/95kg power snatch PR.
Coach Katie Hanger from Parable Training in Chantilly, VA did Open Workout 22.3 just four days prior to delivering her baby girl, Frankie Jane, on March 14, 2022.
Congratulations to Adaptive Athlete Austin Berg from CrossFit 701 in Fargo, ND who has mastered monorope double unders, after two years of hard work.
Congratulations to Ali Palm from Farmhouse CrossFit and Performance Lab in Edina, MN on your first bar muscle-up. (Yes, we, and she know it’s technically a no-rep, but how about that celebration!?).
Revival Fitness in Gambrills, MD is hosting a “WOD For Wilson” on Saturday, April 2nd to raise awareness of veteran suicide, in honor of Marine Corps veteran Sgt. Preston, PJ, Wilson who took his own life recently. Funds raised will go to supporting Wilson’s wife, Anna, and children, Lulah and Leo.
The workout of the day will be the “Contact 22 Finale”. It’s 22 reps of 22 movements to represent the average number of veteran service members that take their lives every day.
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