Pepsi, Gatorade Threaten CrossFit with “Legal Action”

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by Prospera Supplements.



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“All people end up somewhere in life, but few end up there on purpose.” — Craig Groeschel

Pepsi, Gatorade Threaten CrossFit with “Legal Action”

On March 27, PepsiCo sent CrossFit HQ a cease-and-desist letter demanding CrossFit “immediately remove the logo from [their] web site and from any other materials on which it appears.”

• If CrossFit refuses: PepsiCo “will have no option but to take further appropriate legal action.”
• PepsiCo argued that the artwork violated PepsiCo’s trademarked Gatorade logo. “We believe that your use of our well-known logo infringes upon, dilutes and damages our rights in our trademark,” their counsel wrote.

As CrossFit HQ wrote Wednesday, their legal team immediately responded and informed PepsiCo that they would not comply with their demands and are prepared to defend their rights.

• Russ Greene, CrossFit’s Director of Government Relations, told us: “I am not impressed by the quality of their argumentation, and surprised that they would threaten us given what we know about them. A lawsuit would be wonderful, especially the discovery process. Who knows what we would find, perhaps even more contact with Lanny Davis than what has already been revealed?”

The artwork was developed for CrossFit’s six-part series on Hyponatremia written by Professor Tim Noakes.

Continue reading…

Things To…

WATCH: Buttery Bros at FitCon with Fraser, Wells and Bridges

Buttery Bros Heber and Marston visit Salt Lake City, UT for FitCon. Mat Fraser and Brooke Wells go head-to-head on Grace, Sammy makes everyone pancakes and then they mess around with some go-karts before heading in to FitCon.

TOO MUCH FUN.

HEAR: Why CrossFit Has a Political Agenda

Russ Greene, Director of Government Relations for CrossFit, was recently a guest on the Wooden Teeth podcast. He explains why CrossFit has a government affairs director position, outlines what he calls the “unholy alliances” of less-than-savory businesses and government health agencies and why CrossFit has a political agenda.

AND SOME MUSCLE-UPS.

GET: SteadyMD Family Plan Before Summer

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SUMMER IS COMING.

EAT: Chipotle Gouda Scalloped Potatoes 

These chipotle gouda scalloped sweet potatoes have a smoky kick to them, thanks to the gouda and chipotle. You’ll love this lightened up, easy side dish for brunches and dinners. 

BRUNCH IT UP.

Today’s edition of the Morning Chalk Up is fueled by

Chalk Up Community

• RUNNING FOR TEMPERANCE — On Saturday, April 20, Vic Stanz, a coach at Aspire CrossFit in Oakland Park, FL is running a 10K fundraiser for Temperance Training, an organization that provides community for people who have recovered from alcohol and drug addiction and who value spiritual and physical fitness.
• AUTISM ROCKS & ROWS — OC Athletix in San Clemente, CA is holding a 24-hour row-a-thon beginning Saturday, April 27 at 7:00 AM PT. All donations received will benefit the Autism Community in Action.
• TAYLOR WHITE SCHOLARSHIP — CrossFit Pandora’s Box in Colorado Springs, CO is now accepting applications for the Taylor White Memorial CrossFit Scholarship. Named after Taylor White, who was killed in a hit and run accident in April 2018, recipients are awarded a CrossFit Level 1 certificate course.

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES (a highlight reel around social media of CrossFit pros and average joes)

Cole Sager got a 350 pound clean PR • Rich Froning overhead squats 342 pounds from the ground • Kirk Gibson deadlifts 615 pounds for four • Maddie Shine shares what a difference five years can make with a clean • Alison Scudds does a pause clean at 215 pounds • Justin Swart gets a 340 pound clean and jerk PR • Richard Wollboldt clean and jerks 315 pounds • Paige Sousa
jerks 240 pounds.

…and Margaux Alvarez shows us how golf is done.

Collegiate CrossFit Championship — The first licensed CrossFit competition, Collegiate CrossFit Championship, is this weekend at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. The event hopes to find the “Fittest Full Time College Student.” 

Austin Malleolo on Recovering after Marathon and 600 Pound Deadlift — Austin Malleolo, who on Monday deadlifted 600 pounds and then ran the Boston Marathon in 4:27, spoke with Runners World on what his recovery has been like.

— He told them, “I was moving pretty gingerly yesterday. But I’m going to the gym to work out today, and I’ll be feeling about 80 percent by tomorrow. My body recovers quickly because it’s used to doing so many things, though the marathon definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

CrossFit French Throwdown — The CrossFit French Throwdown online qualifier begins today.

— Lukas Esslinger has just registered.

Victory in Tennessee for Affiliates — On April 15, Tennessee governor Bill Lee signed HB 1138 into law, which exempts small gyms and CrossFit affiliates from the amusement tax.

— Before HB 1138, to avoid the tax, gyms were required to: Have a full-time licensed medical professional on staff,be open at least 70 hours a week, have at least 15,000 square feet in use for physical fitness purposes and offer three or more of the following: racquetball, exercise equipment, track or swimming, aerobics, or health assessments using blood chemistry.

— “CrossFit, Inc. led the fight to repeal this tax, with lobbyist Brett Ewer advocating on behalf of the state’s CrossFit affiliates. But CrossFit’s lobbying was only successful because of the passion and drive of Tennessee’s CrossFit affiliates to push back against this arbitrary and unjust penalization of their business model. Thanks to their efforts, the small independent gyms and affiliates of Tennessee face fewer barriers and burdens as they work to fight sickness and promote health in their communities.”

“What are the Effects of the Age Group Games Season Changes?” by Justin LoFranco, Morning Chalk Up

When the changes to the CrossFit Games season were announced in August 2018, teens and masters athletes were left wondering whether age group divisions would return. Once the official 2018-2019 CrossFit Games season rulebook was released in January it revealed that the age group divisions would remain mostly intact but with a two key changes.

Going forward, all 200 athletes who qualify for the AGOQ start from zero. If an athlete wins their divisions in the Open they don’t start with a leg up. Starting in 2014, Open placement accounted for 20% of an athletes overall AGOQ score which is pretty significant.

Scoring an athletes’ Open placement essentially eliminated 75% of the age group field from earning a qualifying position to the CrossFit Games. There are a handful of exceptions but very few.

Similar to Regionals, the AGOQ workouts are heavier and more skilled. It’s designed to be a more advanced test to see who’s ready for the big show. Removing the Open score will allow athletes who are stronger and more skilled a chance to prove their fitness on a more even playing field.

The second change: All age group divisions have been reduced from 20 spots to 10.

Taking a look back at some of the previous years, this change has the potential to have some significant changes in the outcome for masters divisions, less so for Teens.

4/10 – 4/24: Granite Games Online Qualifier (Online)

4/15 – 4/27: Top Of The Box Online Qualifier (Clarksville, TN)

4/19 – 5/1: CrossFit French Throwdown Individual Online Qualifier (Online)

4/20: The Wodfather VII 2019 (Keller, TX)

4/20: Rookie Rumble at Bucktown CrossFit (Chicago, IL)

4/20: Barnyard Throwdown (Ohatchee, AL)

4/26: Rookie Rivalry at CrossFit Nashua (Nashua, NH)

4/26 – 4/27: Gameday Competition (Mankato, MN) 

4/26 – 4/28: CrossFit Italian Showdown (Milan, Italy)

4/26 – 4/28: The Sun Coast Fitness Festival (Kwa-Zulu Natal, SA)

4/27: 4th Annual Spring Fever Partner Masters Comp (Souderton PA)

4/27: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit KOA (Cranford, NJ)

4/27: The Gnardog Challenge (Reedley, CA)

4/27: Festivus Games (Worldwide)

4/27: Raising the Bar for Charlotte (Medina, OH)

4/27 – 4/29: Asia CrossFit Championship (Shanghai, China)

4/27: Autism Rocks and Rows (San Clemente, CA)

4/27: Garage Games Xs and Ys (Hiram, GA)

4/27: The Explode Individual Classic (West Chester, PA)

4/27: Fast Times at West Tech High (Las Vegas, NV)

4/27: Tyler’s Voice CrossFit Competition (Jefferson City, TN)

4/27: SWFL Sharks Semi-Pro Grid Combine (Cape Coral, FL)

4/27: Explode’s Independent Classic (West Chester, FL)

4/27: Festivus Games at Crossfit Sav-up (Petaluma, CA)

4/27: 4th annual Apple Town Throwdown (Cornelia,GA)

4/27: Kettlebells for Cojones (Montgomery, TX)

4/27: Spring Fever Partner Master Competition (Souderton, PA)

4/27: Best of the Midwest Team Series Part 1 (Westfield, IN)

4/27: Officer Christopher Goddell Memorial WOD (Walkdwick, NJ)

4/27: Pose Method Run RX Course (Lake Havasu City, AZ)

4/27: Battle of the Boxes (Newport,KY)

4/27: 2019 Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola, FL) 

4/27: Festivus Games at Camel City Crossfit (Winston-Salem, NC)

4/27: Festivus Games at CrossFit LaCrosse (LaCrosse, WI)

4/27: 2019 Growler Games (Lexington, NC)

4/27: The Spring Fling (Knoxville, TN)

4/27: Stepping Into Summer (Fairfield, OH)

4/27: REDLINE.Venice A PAINKLLR Competition (Venice, CA)

4/27:  One Mind 1 Force (West Deptford, NJ)

4/28: David Vs. Golitah (Mansfield, MA)

5/3 – 5/4: Tough As Nails (Lubbock, TX)

5/3 – 5/5 The Fittest Experience (Austin, TX)

5/3 – 5/5: Appalachian Games (Asheville, NC)

5/4: 2nd Annual Heavy Day Morgan (Oak Ridge, TN)

5/4: Battle at the Lab 2019 Cinco De Mayo (Clarksville, TN)

5/4: Border Open Part V (El Paso, TX)

5/4: Desert Warrior (Scottsdale, AZ)

5/4: The Jurassic Classic (Kennewick, WA)

5/4: Lifto De Mayo 2019 (Eagan, MN)

5/4: Rookie Rumble Pittsburgh at Arsenal Strength (Pittsburgh, PA)

5/4: Girls Gone RX Delaware (Middletown, DE)

5/4: Girls Gone RX DC (Alexandria, VA)

5/4: Black and Brewed 2019 (Huntsville, AL)

5/4: Row for Wishes (Telluride, CO)

5/4: The Locomotive Games IV (Youngstown, OH)

5/4: Breaking Boundaries Competition (Greer, SC)

5/10: Beast Mode Games 2019 (Greenville, SC)

5/11: 2019 Moco Throwdown (Bethesda, MD)

5/11: Butchertown Cleaver Classic (Louisville, KY)

5/11: Girls on Girls X (Bridgeport, PA)

5/11: Battle of the Gulf Coast (Port Neches, TX)

5/11: Femme Royale So Cal (Orange, CA)

5/11: Squat for Guate (Hickory, NC)

5/11: Left Coast Classic with 5.11 Tactical (Laguna Niguel, CA)

5/11: Southside Showdown (Jenks OK)

5/17 – 5/19: ACA Throwdown 2019 (Johannesburg, SA)

5/18 – 5/19: Big Impact Games (Kaukauna, WI)

5/18: 2019 Barbells in the Burbs Team Comp (Carol Stream, IL)

5/18: 2019 Tough Temple CrossFit Super Total (Bethseda, MD)

5/18: Mad Hatter Games (Danbury, CT)

5/18: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Chester Springs (Chester Springs, PA)

5/18: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit PTV (Redmond, WA)

5/18 – 5/19: Shred Fest (Orlando, FL)

5/18: Cindy-a-Thon (San Leandro, CA)

5/18: Fallout in the Falls (Wichita Falls, TX)

5/18: East Coast Battle ( Hanover, MD) 

5/18: Meshugge CrossFit Summer Melee 2019 (Overland Park, KS)

5/18: Backstreet Brawl 3 (West Bend, WI)

5/19: Heroes and Heroines Team Throwdown (Pawtucket, RI)