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Rest In Peace Giancarlo Agostino Di Maria

 
Morning Chalk Up

March 23
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Good morning and welcome the Morning Chalk Up. Our news today mixes the good with the bad. The good news: based on overwhelming community support, the Buttery Bros’ new documentary, “The Fittest” will drop on Tuesday, and Rogue Fitness has joined the fight against COVID-19, hiring 100 new employees and shifting production to medical supplies. However, it’s with a heavy heart that we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Giancarlo Di Maria, a beloved CrossFit volunteer and judge who lost his battle with the virus on Sunday. Today:

  • Tommy Marquez offers up a viewer’s guide for “The Fittest.”
  • In a video post, CrossFit athletes and editor-in-chief Justin LoFranco offer some positive thoughts.
  • A tribute to Giancarlo Di Maria.
  • Rogue Fitness joins the fight against Coronavirus.

It’s a new week. Let us know how you are getting your fitness in. Hit us up with PRs, fun street WODs, and story tips at [email protected]

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

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“Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.” – Aristotle

 

Stronger Together: CrossFit Games Athletes Deliver Messages of Hope to Global Community

  Stronger Together: CrossFit Games Athletes Deliver Messages of Hope to Global Community  

Sixteen CrossFit Games athletes including former champions Mathew Fraser, Katrin Davidsdottir and Annie Thorisdottir, banded together to deliver a message of hope for the global CrossFit community during this crisis.

 

COVID-19: Weathering the Storm

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COVID-19: Weathering the Storm

With the Coronavirus hitting our industry particularly hard, Wodify is committed to helping everyone get through this difficult time, so that we may all thrive once things return to normal.

Gym owners, take a look at our constantly-updated Resource Hub. It’s filled with free resources & tools to get you through uncharted weeks ahead. Stay safe everyone!

 

CrossFitters Have Spoken: “The Fittest” Will Release on March 24

  CrossFitters Have Spoken: “The Fittest” Will Release on March 24  

The Buttery Bros announced that they will release their documentary “The Fittest” on iTunes and AppleTV on March 24. The duo went to Instagram live on Sunday afternoon to announce that they had reached the total numbers of pre-orders needed to convince their distributor to release their documentary two weeks earlier than they originally planned.

Challenge accepted: Five days ago the Buttery Bros — Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyers —  challenged the CrossFit community to pre-order their documentary on the 2018-2019 CrossFit Games after interest in the film grew due to the COVID-19 quarantine.

  • At the time of their challenge, they needed roughly 9,000 more pre-orders to secure an earlier release date.
  • The price of the film was lowered from $12.99 to $6.99 to help in the pre-order campaign.
  • Within 48 hours of the challenge the Buttery Bros reached their goal of 15,000 pre-orders.

Things to know:

  • The pre-order price is still available on iTunes and will only be available until March 23 11:59 PM EST. The moment the movie goes live, the sale will end and revert back to the $12.99 cost.
  • “The Fittest” will only be available on iTunes and on AppleTV for the release date. Other platforms will be added at a later date.
  • This is the best-selling, pre-ordered film that Gravitas Ventures has ever distributed.
  • The documentary will only be available in these countries on March 24: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Zimbabwe.
  • Additional countries will be added at a later date.

From Buttery Bro Heber Cannon: “We are beyond grateful to the fans that have helped make this a possibility, both to get the film made AND to get it released early,” he said. “This has been a long journey for us. We were devastated to not be able to create a movie last year but incredibly grateful to be able to tell a new and amazing story this year. Thanks to all who have and will purchase the film, we just hope you enjoy this new chapter.”

 

Viewer’s Guide: “The Fittest”

  Viewer’s Guide: “The Fittest”  

Yesterday afternoon, the “Buttery Bros,” Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyers officially announced the early release of The Fittest documentary, their latest film offering, on March 24.  It’s safe to say the movie can’t come soon enough. At a time when the world continues to swirl from the COVID-19 pandemic, the collective CrossFit community could use a nice distraction in the form of their favorite athletes in a feature-length movie.

Full disclosure: I was one of the subjects interviewed as part of the documentary, I recorded voice-overs for the movie, and the filmmakers are close friends and coworkers of nearly a decade. I’ve also been fortunate to have had a front-row seat for their journey of making the film, and have witnessed their creative life cycle along the way.

The film debuted a few weeks ago in Miami in front of a single theatre crowd the night before the Wodapalooza CrossFit Festival kicked off. More screenings were planned recently in Las Vegas and San Diego but recent developments have nixed those. As one of the lucky few to have seen the documentary in its entirety in Miami, there are a few contextual things to keep in mind (without spoiling anything) when watching The Fittest once it finally releases to the public on iTunes.

It’s more rugged than past films.

This is actually a good thing given what transpired last season. Past films had the benefit of a multi-faceted media team to pull from if need be, including some tremendous resources onsite during the Games. This led to beautifully cinematic shots and visuals that gave even the casual fan goosebumps. Without the same firepower as years past, this required a formidable effort to pull off, but as Plato said, “necessity is the mother of invention.”

 

CrossFit Community Grieves the Passing of Giancarlo Agostino Di Maria to COVID-19

  CrossFit Community Grieves the Passing of Giancarlo Agostino Di Maria to COVID-19  

The CrossFit community lost one of their own on Sunday as Giancarlo Agostino Di Maria passed away due to respiratory complications he suffered after contracting COVID-19. This is the first reported coronavirus-related death in the CrossFit community. He was a staple on the competition floor during the Sanctional season serving as a judge. Giancarlo was Italian born and raised in Belgium. He was 41-years-old.

Giancarlo had shown symptoms of the virus prior to being admitted to a hospital in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. In Belgium, they only test for COVID-19 if you are in a high-risk category (65 years of age or older, diabetic, heart or lung disease) and show symptoms.

Sacrificing for the Sanctionals: Giancarlo’s love for CrossFit was shown in his travels throughout the world as he volunteered his time and money to judge CrossFit athletes as they competed.

  • This season he judged at Filthy 150, Strength in Depth, the Norwegian CrossFit Championship and most recently at Wodapalooza.
  • According to fellow judge and friend Laurent Selleslaghs, they were planning on judging at German Throwdown, Italian Showdown and the Lowlands Throwdown together.
  • His goal was to ultimately be selected and travel to Madison, Wisconsin to judge at the 2020 CrossFit Games for the first time.

CrossFit and the judging community remembers Giancarlo: His passing has hit the tight-knit CrossFit judging community the hardest. Many took to social media to pay their respects and to honor the memory of him.

  • “This is incredibly sad,” commented Matt O’Keefe, President of Loud And Live Sports. “We are devastated to hear the news of Giancarlo’s passing. He was a big part of Sanctionals around the world, volunteering as a judge at many events, including our most recent Wodapalooza. The Loud & Live family mourns with the global community for him and his family.”
  • “No matter what, just keep on smiling,” said Selleslaghs. “Everyone will know that this is what Giancarlo would want them to remember about him.”
  • In an Instagram post, the organizers of the Italian Showdown honored Giancarlo.
  • “My heart is broken for the loss of such a force of happiness,” wrote fellow judge Jackson Maschoff in a Facebook post. “Giancarlo brought joy to so many people and one of my favorite parts of going to these events was spending time with him. There was never a moment where he wasn’t bringing a smile to my face. Rest easy brother.”
  • “Truly a gem to the entire CrossFit judging community,” said CrossFit judge Brian Clapp in a Facebook post. “Few had a bigger smile, passion for volunteering and had more Nike Michael Jordan shoes.”
 

Rogue Joins the Fight Against COVID-19

  Rogue Joins the Fight Against COVID-19  

As the United States continues its fight against COVID-19, Rogue Fitness has announced that it will devote part of its operations in combating medical supply shortages throughout the country. Rogue has dedicated product development teams manufacturing and supply chain operations to producing masks, gowns and face shields for medical personnel. They will also start manufacturing ventilators for those suffering from respiratory issues brought upon by CONVID-19.

The bottom line: Rogue has been proactive against the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on medical supply shortages by creating new job positions.

  • On Friday, Rogue Founder and Owner Bill Henniger announced they were hiring 100 new employees to join the company specifically to help sew masks and build medical equipment.
  • The new positions were also created as a response to people losing their jobs due to the pandemic.
  • Full and part-time positions are available.
 

THINGS TO…

…TRAIN

Flatten the Curve with Margeaux Alvarez and Friends

Margeaux Alvarez and crew are serving up five at-home workouts per week. This one has bodyweight and dumbbell variations. As Margeaux says, it’s important to keep working out during this weird time.

  Morning Chalk Up  

SPONSORED

…SUPPORT

Local Gyms With O2

At a time when more people are staying home, we’re bringing hydration to you with 50% off all 12-packs (max 4 per person) and free shipping on all orders. We’ll also be donating 50% of our profits during this trying time to help support the affected gym community that has supported us for so long.

  Morning Chalk Up  

…HEAR

Fitness with Friends — Dr. Julie Foucher-Urcuyo and Dr. Daniel Urcuyo

Dr. Julie Foucher-Urcuyo and her husband Dr. Daniel Urcuyo were nice enough to take time out of their busy schedules to talk with Talking Elite Fitness hosts Tommy Marquez and Sean Woodland about everything going on with the Coronavirus right now. What do we know? How can people help combat this and what needs to happen for things to start to get back to normal?

  Morning Chalk Up  

…SNAG

NIKE Gear

Take advantage of NIKE’s sitewide flash sale and bump your training to the next level. Use the code “NIKE25” to get 25% off all NIKE gear including sale items.

  Morning Chalk Up  

…EAT

97 Big-Batch Recipes to Eat Well All Week

Look, we’ve all got a little extra time on our hands and nothing makes us feel more at the top of our game than meal prepping with larger quantities of grains, beans, proteins, and sauces to mix and match for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make a few of these big batch cooking recipes — from basics like roast chicken or soup to a huge tray of lasagna to freeze — on a lazy Sunday (or Tuesday), then pat yourself on the back come Friday when you realize how many good meals you’ve eaten this week.

 

HIGHLIGHTS…

 
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LOCAL COMPETITIONS

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3/28: HYROX Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
3/28: Fit for Freedom (Saint Charles, MO)
3/28: The 615 Theowdown (Nashville, TN)
3/28 – 3/29: Dork-A-Thon at CrossFit Florian (Norwood, MA)
3/28 – 3/29: Freaking Crossfit Throwdown (Miami, FL)
3/28: HYROX Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
3/28: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Off the Grid (Williamstown, NJ)
3/28: Muscle Madness (Coppell, TX)
3/28: GOAT – A Youth Fitness Competition (Olyphant, PA)
3/28: CFQ SPRING FLING (Quispamsis, Canada)
3/28: CrossFit Katy Team Classic VI (Katy, TX)
3/28: Thunderdome Throwdown (Northfield, MN)
3/28: H2K’s Gauntlet fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Arden, NC)
3/28: GOAT – A Youth Fitness Competition (Olyphant, PA)
3/28: Bridgetown Throwdown (La Puente, CA)
4/2 – 4/4: Anarchy In The OK (Edmond, OK)
4/3 – 2/4: CFE’s Two Peas in a Pod – Same Gender Partner Competition (Burlington, MA)
4/3: OUTWOD – Octane Crossfit (Phoenix, AZ)
4/4: Battle of the Sexes (Northville, MI)
4/4: AC2 Individual Competition (Flagstaff, AZ)
4/4: Kilo Crushfest (Hampton, VA)
4/4 – 4/5: The Tactical Games (San Jon, NM)
4/4: Battle of the Ages – Winnersville (Valdosta, GA)
4/4: Rookie Rumble at (Mountainside, NJ)
4/4: Remember a Lift (Southbury, CT)
4/4: Warrior Affiliate League Deuces Wild (Fontana, CA)
4/4: The FORGE Partner Challenge (Plantsville, CT)
4/5: Freehold Spring Lift Off 2020 (Freehold, NJ)
4/5: Cap City Ope (Alexandria, VA)
4/11: Rookie Rumble at River Valley CrossFit (Van Buren, AR)
4/18: Festivus Games (Snyder, TX)
4/18: Heroes for Heroes (Chantilly, VA)
4/18: Patriot Games (Cincinatti, OH)
4/18: Festivus Games (Collingwood, Canada)
4/18: Heavy Day Morgan Fundraiser (Oak Ridge, TN)
4/18: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit 611 (Southern Pines, NC)
4/18: Arsenal Open (Pittsburgh, PA)
4/18: Patriot Games (Cincinnati, OH)
4/18: Master of The Community: Masters Competition @ Crossfit Decimate (Colorado Springs, CO)
4/18: Tyler’s Voice (Jefferson City, TN)
4/18: One Ton Challenge – EHP CrossFit (Moorhead, MN)
4/18: Festivus Games (Fort Wright, KY)
4/19: HighGear’s Spring Fling (Medina, OH)
4/25: WOD League Campus Edition (Boiling Springs, NC)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Farmington, MI)
4/25 – 1/25: Rookie Rumble (Grand Rapids, MI)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Adrian, MI)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Troy, MI)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Cleveland, OH)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Cincinatti, OH)
4/25: Rookie Rumble (Plymouth, MI)
4/25: The Hopper II (Carbondale, IL)
4/25: Fallout in the Falls (Wichita Falls, TX)
4/25: Warrior Affiliate League Battle at the Beach at Long Beach State University (Long Beach, CA)
4/25: WOD Leagues GWU Edition (Boiling Springs, NC)
4/25: CrossFit 901 Spring Break Competition (Memphis, TN)

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