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What Coronavirus Could Cost Your Affiliate

 
Morning Chalk Up

March 14
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Good Morning and welcome to the weekend edition of the Morning Chalk Up. Coronavirus has dominated the news again today and Brittney Kleyn takes a global perspective on the financial impact of the pandemic on affiliate owners. And, we get you caught up on the shifting landscape of the 2020 CrossFit Games Sanctionals season. Today:

  • Affiliate owners prepare for hardships in the coming weeks.
  • CrossFit HQ reverses decision: No online competition for Italian Showdown.
  • The German Throwdown announces new dates: July 18-19.
  • The Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge announces postponement and new dates: June 26-28.

Are you getting creative with your WODs outside the gym? We want to feature you! Post videos of how you are getting your fitness in during the coronavirus outbreak to Instagram and then send us the links at [email protected].

 

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What Coronavirus Could Cost Your Affiliate

  What Coronavirus Could Cost Your Affiliate  

The global Coronavirus pandemic is forcing the temporary closure of hundreds of affiliates worldwide with owners facing a large financial hit in the wake of the health crisis.

To prevent the increasing spread of COVID-19, a growing number of governments worldwide are enforcing unprecedented quarantine periods mandating the closure of schools, universities and businesses.

Here’s where worldwide affiliates have been heavily impacted:

In Italy, business owners who break the quarantine could face jail time.

  • CrossFit Varese owner Carlo Strati said the situation remains unchanged since we last spoke, memberships are on hold with the business taking a financial hit: “They are not paying. We are losing money,” he said.

In Norway, all gyms are banned from operating until further notice.  

  • CrossFit Sogndal took to social media to advise members that due to government advice, the box will be closed from March 12 to March 26: “If the situation changes, we will update as soon as we know something more. Meanwhile, the gym will be thoroughly washed and disinfected.”

In California, the governor has called for any unnecessary gatherings of 250 people or more to be canceled. 

  • Many states and territories — including Australia — have received similar advice.
  • Businesses can handle the advice at their discretion but in the wake of the rapidly changing situation, CrossFit Currahee is one location choosing to close the gym for at least the weekend to ensure the facility is thoroughly cleaned.
 

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Course Correction: CrossFit HQ Reverses Decision to Allow Italian Online Sanctional

  Course Correction: CrossFit HQ Reverses Decision to Allow Italian Online Sanctional  

The CrossFit Italian Showdown today announced that they would no longer hold their event online after CrossFit HQ reversed its initial decision to allow it to be hosted online. Italian Showdown staff was notified that if they chose to conduct the event online, they could no longer grant the winners invitations to the CrossFit Games. The reversal comes 48 hours after the news was first reported. As a result, organizers decided to postpone the event until a later date in order to maintain its status as an invitation-granting Sanctional.

What they’re saying: “An additional online event doesn’t make sense anymore if it’s not going to reward the winners with the [CrossFit] Games invite. So we stick to the original format, but postponed,” said Carlo Strati, director of the CrossFit Italian Showdown.

Why it matters: The move by HQ to require that the Italian Showdown take place live in order to receive Games invites sends a clear signal that Sanctional events must be conducted live and not online. It also protects the CrossFit Open and AGOQ as the only means of qualification for individuals through an online competition.

  • When the decision was originally made to allow the Italian Sanctional to run online, only one other Sanctional had postponed — the Asia CrossFit Championship. With five more events postponing after Italy, it could have opened pandora’s box for the Sanctional season, introducing new complications for policing multiple online competitions at once without a clear path for doing so.
  • While the requirement that an event takes place live is not stipulated in the Sanctional agreement according to one organizer who agreed to discuss the contract on the condition of anonymity, it appears to be the standard for handing out invites going forward.

The bottom line: As much as this is unfortunate for Italy, it’s probably the right thing to do for the sport as a whole.

 

CrossFit German Throwdown Rescheduled, Now July 18-19

  CrossFit German Throwdown Rescheduled, Now July 18-19  

On Wednesday, March 11, CrossFit German Throwdown director Benedict Gebhardt announced that the Sanctional would be postponed, as ordered by local health authorities. Today, Gebhardt announced the new dates for the event — July 18-19, 2020.

One big thing: The winners of each division will still receive invitations to the CrossFit Games in Madison, WI. The German Throwdown directors, venue staff and others were able to make these new arrangements quickly to give athletes, spectators, volunteers and vendors as much time as possible to adjust their travel schedules.

What they’re saying: “It is an extraordinary situation for all of us, but with your support, support of the community and of our volunteers and partners, we know that this event will be the festival we were looking forward to. The winner of each division will still get an invite to the CrossFit Games 2020.”

The bottom line: The rescheduled Sanctional leaves open the possibility for last-minute Games invitations, as the CrossFit Games themselves begin on July 29, 2020.

Access the full updated 2019-2020 CrossFit Games season calendar.

 

Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge Postponed, Now June 26-28

  Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge Postponed, Now June 26-28  

Following two days of Sanctional postponements, including the last-minute call made yesterday afternoon at the Atlas Games in Montreal, Quebec, the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge, the last remaining event on the schedule in April, has officially postponed. In an Instagram announcement, the MACC stated: “Due to the uncertainty and rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit® Challenge has decided to postpone the Main Event to June 26-28, 2020.”

One big thing: With this postponement, the 2020 CrossFit Games Sanctional season is officially on hold for the next two months. As of this moment, the next event still on the schedule is the Rogue Invitational, May 15-17. The Rogue organizers will provide a schedule update on April 15.

From the MACC: “This decision was not taken lightly and was done with the health of our athletes, staff, spectators, and sponsors in mind. Our team has been working closely with DC officials and we truly believe this decision will provide the safest conditions possible for everyone involved and provide ample time to make the necessary accommodations. An email will be sent out to athletes and staff with next steps. Please continue to follow our page for future announcements.”⁣⁣

The bottom line: As with the other postponements over the past two days, MACC organizers had little choice in this matter and getting a new date on the schedule will help athletes, volunteers and vendors adjust their travel arrangements.

Status of current scheduled Sanctionals now through the end of May.

  • March 13-15: CrossFit Atlas Games — Postponed, Date TBD.
  • March 20-22: West Coast Classic — Postponed, Date TBD.
  • March 28-29: CrossFit German Throwdown — Postponed to July 18-19.
  • April 3-5: Reykjavik CrossFit Championship — Postponed to June 5-7.
  • April 8-11: ELFIT CrossFit Championship — Postponed to June.
  • April 17-19: Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge — Postponed to June 26-28.
  • April 24-26: CrossFit Italian Showdown — Postponed, Date TBD.
  • May 8-10: Asia CrossFit Championship — Postponed to July 3-5.
  • May 15-17: Rogue Invitational — Planned as scheduled. Next decision date 4/15.
  • May 22-24: Down Under CrossFit Championship — Planned as scheduled. Next decision date 4/15.
  • May 22-24: Madrid CrossFit Championship — Planned as scheduled.
  • May 29-31: The CrossFit Lowlands Throwdown — Planned as scheduled.
 

THINGS TO…

…HEAR

Classic CrossFit and Linchpin Programming with Pat Sherwood

In this episode of the BoxJumper podcast, host Jean St-Amand talks with Pat Sherwood about fitness programming for longevity and results. Sherwood is a long-time staff member at CrossFit HQ and runs his own virtual affiliate, CrossFit Linchpin. The duo talks about what works, what doesn’t and why Sherwood believes living in a world of couplets and triplets, going heavy once a week and going long on occasion is the right formula.

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President of Loud And Live Sports speaks about the decision to postpone the inaugural West Coast CrossFit Classic. He also sheds light on the decision-making process and what this means for the rest of the Loud And Live event season.

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HIGHLIGHTS…

 
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LOCAL COMPETITIONS

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3/14 – 3/15: Sector Games 6 (Manati, Puerto Rico)
3/14: Going HAM TxFit Games 2020 (Southlake, TX)
3/14 – 3/15: The Tactical Games (Burnet, TX)
3/14: Granite Games Spring Throwdown (Lancaster, OH)
3/14 – 3/15: WOD GODZ III (Shreveport, LA)
3/14: CFL St Patrick’s Day Competition (Longmont, CO)
3/14 – 4/6: Bear Canyon Classic Online Qualifier (Albuquerque, NM)
3/20 – 3/22: Okanagan Valley Throwdown (Penticton, Canada)
3/21: Pot O’Gold Throwdown (San Antonio, TX)
3/21: GRID 6 SCII (Columbia, SC)
3/21: Slingin Iron “Spring Fling” (Walker, LA)
3/21: WOD FOR OOCH (Toronto, Canada)
3/21: The Cheru Challenge (Denver, CO)
3/21: Battle of the Beast “Shamrock Showdown” a Strongman Event (Hudson, NY)
3/21 – 3/22: Rumble by the River (Columbus, GA)
3/21: All Valley CrossFit Championship (Wildomar, CA)
3/21: All Valley CrossFit Championships (Wildomar, CA)
3/21: Barbells For Bullies Charity WOD : Nashville (Nashville, TN)
3/21 – 3/22: Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola Beach, FL)
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)
4/4: 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)

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