Why Scandinavia Is an Emerging Power Region

January 18   |   POWERED BY

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• Jumping into Scandinavia’s rise as a power region in CrossFit
• What changes when training goals and modalities change? Learn more from Dani Horan
• Community rallies around CrossFit Zoo affiliate owner, “Big Brad” Robison following cancer diagnosis

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“When you have a clear vision of your goal, it's easier to take the first step toward it.” - LL Cool J

While the United States and Canada still have a firm hold on the positions at the top of the leaderboard, there is one region that has made history multiple times over the past 12 months.

The athletes out of Scandinavia—made up of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark—had an extremely impressive 2023 season and followed it up with an equally phenomenal performance to start off 2024.

Let’s take a quick look at what they did this week at TYR Wodapalooza Miami and then follow that up with a reminder of their historic 2023 at the CrossFit Games, their best athletes, and why they are seeing such incredible growth now.

Scandinavian Athletes at 2024 Wodapalooza

Scandinavian teams in the women’s elite teams division completely dominated the competition.

Three of the top four overall teams represented Scandinavia, and one of the athletes on the winning American team, ‘Stronger Than a 90’s Trend,’ is Swedish (Emilie Lundberg).

This means all four teams from Wodapalooza had at least one athlete from Scandinavia.

Here’s the full list of Scandinavian athletes in the top four teams:

• Emilie Lundberg
• Antonia Falt-Kottulinsky
• Maria Langfors
• Camilla Salmonsson Hellman
• Matilde Garnes
• Rebecka Vitesson
• Frederikke Mollerup
• Astrid Tind
• Silja Zillo

But the region didn’t just have success in the team division. Sweden’s Rebecka Vitesson, who was a rookie at the 2023 CrossFit Games, took fifth place overall in the elite women’s division.

Vitesson earned her placing against some of the world’s best. The only four women to finish ahead of her placed in the top 10 at the 2023 CrossFit Games (Cary, Migala, Loewen, Brandon).

She also had the highest finish among other 2023 Games female rookies at Wodapalooza, including Olivia Kerstetter, Sydney Wells, Abigail Domit, and Emily de Rooy.

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 PRVN Fitness New Coaches: With the announcement of their latest 1:1 program, PRVN Fitness also announced three new coaches on its staff: Tim Paulson, David Charbonneau, and Joey Tortora.

NOBULL Sale: Former title sponsor of the CrossFit Games, NOBULL, is currently having a massive 70% off sale.

✍️ Quick Survey to Help PhD Student: CrossFitter Priscilla Fleming is a PhD student at Walden University, and she needs your help. She needs volunteers who have been doing CrossFit for the past three months to complete a short survey that examines the connection between the effectiveness of mental health treatment and CrossFit.

Empower by Dottir: During the TYR WZA week, CrossFit Games champs (two each) Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir, who founded Dottir, launched a new training program designed specifically for women during their menopause years.

ICYMI: Five quick takeaways from TYR Wodapalooza Miami.

If you’ve been around the CrossFit space for a while, you’ve probably heard of Dani Horan.

She is an OG CrossFitter and has done the Open every year since 2011. She made it to Regionals, back when those were a thing from 2012-2018; SemiFinals three years in a row; and made it to the Games eight years altogether.

Horan is not one to shy away from doing some hard work. Now, she has her sights set on a different type of fitness challenge: a 100-mile race.

In early December, CrossFit Zoo owner Brad Robison was looking forward to the holidays with his wife Nikki and then heading down to Miami to enjoy a weekend of fitness at TYR WZA for the first time, but things can change quickly in CrossFit and in life.

The Robisons purchased CrossFit Zoo in Ocala, FL, soon after COVID closures were lifted, and in three short years, they turned the gym into a massive presence in the community, constantly participating in and hosting local competitions.

Beth Biele and her husband own Soldier City Fitness in St. Cloud, FL, about 90 minutes from CrossFit Zoo.

• Biele described one of Robison’s yearly competitions called the Reindeer Rumble, “They’re great, family-oriented competitions,” she told The Morning Chalk Up. “They have a kids division and a division with parents and kids – it’s fun.”

Robison fell ill on December 2, right after this year’s Reindeer Rumble. He went to the doctor and was brushed off, only to get worse, and entered the hospital on December 16.

• He had emergency gallbladder surgery and, with it, lots of complications. He was told he had Stage Four Esophageal Adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to his blood, lymph nodes, and pleural cavity.

Also posted on CrossFit Zoo’s Instagram on December 31, Robison has also been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and aspirating pneumonia. He started his first round of chemotherapy just before New Year’s Eve.

It’s been a month or so from when he first had symptoms, and Robison is now in the ICU.

Life can change in an instant.

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Burgener RPE Guide

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Starting Position for the Snatch and Clean

Watch this video from Catalyst Athletics, where Greg Everett explains the optimal foot position for a snatch or clean. He encourages athletes to be over the bar, not behind. Check it out and see if it can help your weightlifting.

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NOBULL Clear-Out Sale

Check out this massive 70% off sale going on at NOBULL, including sweatshirts, shoes, shorts, bras and more. It's time to stock up on all the things.

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Basic CrossFit ASL

Learn a few basic signs with the help of Michelle Vicino, to educate yourself, broaden your perspective and communicate better with a wider community.

Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.

• 💪Congratulations to Mariana Meza and Alejandro Trillos, who won the LATAM cup at Wodapalooza.
• Congratulations to Caroline from Eastside Beast Mode gym in Greenville, SC, on her first muscle up.
• ⭐️Great job to 2-year-old Parker of CrossFit Elation in Downington, PA, on the tough workout.
• Congratulations to all the Australian Gladiators on their new roles and new television show.
• 🏆Congratulations to Tom Miazga and Andrea Wilson, TYR Wodapalooza winners in the RX Seated Adaptive Division.