Rogue is Offering Athletes Travel, Lodging Stipends

August 26   |   POWERED BY

🐕🐕🐕 Happy national dog day and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. If you see a dog, make sure to give it a big ‘ol squeeze and a treat.

In today’s edition:  

• European affiliates rally to support damages to gyms.
• Rogue is supporting athletes with travel stipends.
• Gyms now falling behind in rent?

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” - Orhan Pamuk

Belgium, Netherlands Community Rallies to Support Affiliates Recover from Damage

CrossFit community members in the Benelux Union — Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg — are banding together to help affiliates recover from terrible situations. Multiple sustained damages due to floods while another was the victim of a serious hate crime.

Replacing damaged equipment: CrossFit affiliates in the Benelux Union sustained significant damage from flooding in the Netherlands and Belgium. The waters flooded buildings, resulting in the loss of barbells, abmats, rowers, and other equipment.

• The CrossFit Country Manager for the Benelux, Wesley Cloos, organized a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of repairing the damage. The campaign has a goal of 1,000 Euros.
• CrossFit members can show support for the affiliates by taking part in a special workout for time. “Stop” features a 2000-meter row, 25 burpees over the rower, 1,000-meter row, 50 burpees over the rower, 500-meter row, and 75 burpees over the rower.

CrossFit Gold Pact, an affiliate in the Netherlands, was the victim of arson and anti- LGBTQ+ graffiti. The affiliate’s owner Paul van Dorst is the founder of the Roze Kameraden — Pink Comrades — a support group that promotes LGBTQ+ acceptance among football and Feyenoord fans in Rotterdam.

• Cloos organized a separate GoFundMe Campaign to support CrossFit Gold Pact with the goal of raising 1,000 Euros. 57 donors, including FITAID Europe, helped raise 1,400 Euros by Aug. 24.
• Community members can support CrossFit Gold Pact by completing “Pink Comrades.” The workout is two rounds for time: 50 wall ball shots (20/14 pounds, 9/6 kilograms) and 25 thrusters (65/55 pounds, 30/25 kilograms).

Why it matters: A key part of CrossFit is community, especially in times of need. The affiliates in the Benelux Union are proving this by supporting each other and helping recover from the physical and emotional damage.

Stop Giving a Rip about Rips

Blood gushing, bar getting covered, clothes turning red.

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So stop having to give a rip about rips and get a bottle for your gym bag today with 10% off.

TODAY: To celebrate National Dog Day, LIFEAID Beverage Co. is donating $1 to Pets for Patriots for every photo of a dog with a can of FITAID posted to Instagram using the hashtag #fitaidFIDO⁠.

• Need some inspiration? Here’s how FITAID athletes like Sara Sigmundsdottir and Kelsey Kiel celebrate with their doggos.

BarBend Buys Breaking Muscle: Strength sports publication, BarBend, announced an acquisition of Breaking Muscle on Wednesday.

• David Tao, CEO of BarBend: “Don’t expect much to change in the immediate future, and Breaking Muscle isn’t going anywhere! Thoughtful change takes time, and we’re committed to gradually rolling out a new reader experience for Breaking Muscle over the coming months.”

MUST READ: Some gyms are now falling behind in rent due to COVID-19’s resurgence after being ordered by local or state government to close without any specific financial relief.

• Gina Baski: “I’m not about blaming and looking back, but we do need them to step up now. I mean, in what world does the government completely close you down and take no responsibility for the collateral damage – in what world is that?”

Kristin Holte Retired-ish: While she may be stepping back from competing at the CrossFit Games, the 35-year-old still plans to compete in the Functional Fitness Nationals and Worlds this fall, the Rogue Invitational, then “maybe do one or two events” after that.

Jeffrey Adler, who finished 13th at the CrossFit Games, has decided to sweat out the summer in Florida instead of returning to Canada, as he trains for the Rogue Invitational.

• P.S. Adler programmed last week’s workout challenge of the week. Give it a go.

Got tight spaces? Rogue Fitness released a new Rogue C-68S bar that’s 11” shorter than the ladies Bella bar, but the collars appear to be in the same place, meaning you can still snatch with it.

Rogue Increases Travel Stipend to Support Athletes' Travel to Invitational

On October 29, 2021, dozens of CrossFit athletes will descend on Austin, TX for the third annual Rogue Invitational, competing for a slice of a massive $1.3 million prize purse. Tucked away in their official invitation were details offering a travel stipend of up to $2,000 for athletes traveling outside of North America plus five nights hotel stay, a two-night increase from 2019.

One big thing: As well as boasting the largest off-season prize purse, the Rogue Invitational stands alone in being the only CrossFit event, including the CrossFit Games, that pays out all competing athletes and offers comped airfare and lodging to competitors.

• Mayhem Desert Heat, a competition in the UAE programmed by Rich Froning, will use a modest athlete registration fee to help provide “transportation inside of the UAE, lodging, food and (potentially) some excursions.”
• The Dubai CrossFit Championship is the only other event that pays all competing athletes but doesn’t comp hotel and airfare. However, they do negotiate discounted prices on both.
• There have been instances where select athletes have had airfare and accommodation paid for.

The details: This travel stipend for the athletes varies based on where their journey begins. Athletes traveling in North America, including Canada, will receive $1,000, and athletes traveling from outside the continent will receive a $2,000 stipend.

• Rogue will also put the athletes up at a hotel near the competition. Their stays will last five days, providing time to prepare for the three-day spectacle.
• Rogue is currently working with authorities on a plan that will help international athletes arrive in the United States for the competition and avoid potential visa issues.

The equipment giant has previously provided these stipends. One competitor told the Morning Chalk Up that Rogue offered $1,000 in 2019 to help offset the travel costs within North America, but was unsure about what was offered to athletes traveling from outside of North America.

Why it matters: Athlete travel costs and potential earnings have always been a focal point of discussion as the costs for international athletes skyrocketed due to COVID-19 travel requirements, especially considering the Games still requires a $250 registration fee and only pays out the top 20 athletes.

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• Happy birthday to Sean Rocket, Orthopedic Surgeon and perennial CrossFit Games medical staff volunteer.
• 17-year-old Games athlete David Bradley cleans 315 pounds/142kg for a PR.
• John Drury from Beach Road Fitness and Sports Performance Academy in Monmouth Beach, NJ cleans 295 pounds/133kg.
• Clayton Kennedy from CrossFit Krypton in Chesapeake, VA front squats 385 pounds/174kg for a PR.
• Rachel Kohls strict presses 100 pounds/45kg for a double.
• Koach Kudders from ORE Fitness Community in the United Kingdom push jerks 234 pounds/106.5kg for a PR.

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