“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”- Babe Ruth
COMMUNITY
The Trials Finals Set to Debut with a New Digital Format This Weekend
Loud and Live’s presentation of The Trials Finals is set to air this weekend and we had the chance to catch up with Vice President of Sports, Dylan Malitsky to discuss the origins of the idea, the timing and importance of this competition, and the new online broadcast platform we’ll be able to watch all the action on.
“The Trials Finals concept was born out of a couple unique places and feelings,” said Malitsky.
“First, was our community’s desire to compete at a time when there has truly been a void. [And] secondly, we have seen other online competitions, and while done decently, we thought how can we take it to the next level? [Specifically], how can we emulate, as authentically as possible, the in-person event experience? Those were the lenses we looked through when the idea for the Trials came to light. Then it was just about “executing it at the highest possible level for everybody.”
Remind me:The Trials are an online competition organized by Loud and Live Sports. The qualifying workouts took place in early December, and the top finishers in each of three regions (U.S., Spain, Latin America) were invited to compete in the Finals.
During the Finals, viewers will be able to watch the top nine athletes in each division (the top three from each region) on a “stage” in an international live broadcast. Viewers will get to choose the athletes they want to watch.
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SPEED READS
Kicking off today at 6:00 AM PT/9:00 AM ET, a limited quantity of Mat Fraser’s signature HWPO NIKE t-shirts goes on sale. Ten lucky winners will receive a golden ticket with their order for a signed shirt.
WHOOP is now the “Official Performance Partner” of Howard University Athletics. This multi-year partnership connects the performance and analytics tracker with nearly 150 student-athletes across five programs: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Football, and Men’s and Women’s Golf for their inaugural season.
New book: Coach Ben Bergeron is in the final stages of completing his second book, this one on leadership.
CrossFit graduated 20 new level three coaches across the globe in December, including Brazil’s first female L3 holder.
CROSSFIT GAMES
Wodapalooza Canceled for 2021, Will Return in Early 2022
Yesterday, Matt O’Keefe, President of Loud and Live Sports appeared on the Make Pods Great Again podcast with John Wooley and Niki Brazier and announced that Wodapalooza 2021 would be canceled.
One big thing: On the podcast, O’Keefe confirmed that Wodapalooza would not be part of the CrossFit Games season in 2021 and further, that it would move back to its traditional time in mid-winter, specifically referencing January 2022. This means that going forward, Wodapalooza will be a standalone event.
O’Keefe: “That event [Wodapalooza], we’re going to push outside the system. It’s going to go back to where it was. It’s going to live on its own.”
“[Wodapalooza] is going to go back to January and be this stand-alone spectacle event and provide an awesome earning opportunity for athletes, and be an independent festival, hopefully, and I think it will be, in conjunction with CrossFit,” O’Keefe continued.
Remind me: In 2020, Wodapalooza hosted 2,500 athletes, 40,000 spectators, and 1,000 volunteers. This year would’ve been Wodapalooza’s tenth anniversary. “It would be inauthentic to the community to hold the event with the current state of the world, a watered-down version of Wodapalooza wouldn’t be true to what the event represents,” said Dylan Malitsky, Loud and Live’s Vice President of Sports.
“There is more information to come, we are in the final stages of confirming the 2022 dates and hope to make an official announcement in the next week,” Malitsky said.
COMMUNITY
Training With a Mouthpiece? One Researcher’s Journey
CrossFitters are not shy when it comes to working smarter, not harder. So it’s no surprise that we’re the first to seek out new and innovative ways to get an edge on every aspect of training. Tools and accessories offer improved performance metrics from stability and strength (think knee sleeves and weightlifting belts), to endurance tracking (heart monitors and watches), and post-workout recovery (muscle stim). These training tools feel worn-in. Comfortable. They’re staples in most gym bags. We’re used to using them, and reaping the benefits.
But there’s a new player in the space — one that claims to have benefits in all those performance areas. And one that works in an unlikely location… inside your mouth.
AIRWAAV is a relatively new training tool. It’s a performance mouthpiece that fits along your bottom teeth and pushes your jaw just forward enough to create the “optimal airway opening,” resulting in:
Increased endurance — by reducing respiratory rate by 20%, resulting in less lactic acid production
Increased strength — by improving muscular endurance
New Two Brain Business Data Reveals 69 Percent of CrossFit Gyms Profitable, Median Coach Pay $24,000
Gym business mentorship company TwoBrain Business recently released an 84-page report generated from extensive research that dove into the state of the fitness industry in 2020. It includes data about business profitability, coach pay, advertising and marketing trends, and how COVID-19 has affected various aspects of the business.
Why this matters: TwoBrain Business calls this “the most comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the fitness industry ever conducted.” At the very least, it can provide affiliate owners with useful insights as to where they stack up compared to other CrossFit gyms, and the industry as a whole.
The Dark Horse Rowing team is often asked about rowing techniques for athletes who need to lose weight, are pregnant or are just a big person. In this video, Shane Farmer provides some great tips and techniques for those that want it.
When you're the Fittest on Earth, recovery is a full-time job. Mat and Tia both rely on beam, the highest-quality THC-free CBD products for athletes. Get 20% off their favorite dream powder plus a free mug and frother when you subscribe today.
A Ten-Minute Mobility Routine from Squat University
We all know that mobility is critical to recovery and better performance during our WODs, but too often we fail to make time. Here's a quick and easy mobility routine from Squat University that hits your entire body. The best part? It only takes ten minutes!
Through January 22 we have an exclusive code that will get you up to 60% off Reebok gear. To snag the savings all you have to do is use the code "GETEXTRA" at checkout. (US Subscribers Only)
Haley Adams Discuss Her 2021 Plans with Julie Foucher
Despite being the youngest competitor in the 2020 Games, Haley Adams brought a wealth of experience, including three podium finishes as a teen. As an athlete who has grown up in CrossFit, Adams may symbolize what the future of the sport looks like.
Chalk Up Highlights is our section dedicated to celebrating our community’s wins in the gym. Follow @ChalkUpHighlights and submit your highlight to [email protected] to be featured.
Madeline Bandy does a thruster at 155.5 pounds for a PR.
Chris Rigby does a clean and press complex at 220 pounds.
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