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World’s Tallest Building Kicks off Dubai Fitness Championship

 
Morning Chalk Up

December 2   |   POWERED BY

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • The Burj Khalifa Challenge and climbing into the Dubai Fitness Championship programming
  • Our coaching development series continues with team building
  • Behind the scenes at Dubai check-in
  • Canadian Freya Moosbrugger kicks the dust off with Dubai
  • Payouts for the 2022 Zelos Games are finalized
  • Jay Crouch’s workout of the week
 
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“Courage is found in unlikely places.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

 
COMPETITION
  Dubai Fitness Championship Kicked Off with Iconic Burj Khalifa Challenge  

Dubai Fitness Championship Kicked Off with Iconic Burj Khalifa Challenge

The 10th anniversary of the Dubai Fitness Championship kicked off Friday morning in Downtown Dubai, UAE with a historical first event. The athletes climbed 160 stories wearing a weighted vest, grinding their way up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

The Burj Khalifa Challenge was for completion, meaning there was no time cap to spare the athletes from finishing what is expected to be the longest event of the weekend.

  • All 40 athletes completed the challenge with times ranging from 30:27 to 43:30.
  • Alex Kotoulas took first place for the men, climbing the 828-meter building’s staircases in just over 30 minutes, and Jamie Simmonds continued to solidify her place in UAE fitness history with her winning time of 32:10—fourth fastest of all 40 competitors.

The DFC team has released four additional workouts, two that will be done on Saturday and the other two being saved for Sunday.

What’s missing? Three workouts still remain a mystery, but based on what’s been released and looking at programming from the previous years, we can speculate as to what formats and movements may show up by the end of the competition.

  • Time domains: We haven’t seen workouts programmed in the five-to-eight, eight-to-12, or 12-20 minute time ranges. Thus far, we have a long endurance event, long chipper, sprint intervals, sprint execution-style barbell complex, and the heavy strength event. Expect to see more of the mid-range time domains released in the final three workouts.
  • Couplets: Every workout up to this point is either a single modality workout or triplet. Expect to see some classic couplets and be on the lookout for multiple couplets being performed back-to-back as one giant workout.
  • Movements: There are movements that are unique to Dubai that haven’t been released yet. Some of these are A-Jumps, Flying Push-ups, Goblet Deck Squats and the Devil Press. Since the programming was a collaboration, expect to see some of these movements to honor the history of DFC on its 10th anniversary.
  • Movement patterns: Expect to see more upper body pulling, which may show up in the form of a rope climb variation and/or a form of muscle ups.

The bottom line: With the long endurance event in the books, athletes still have seven opportunities to grab as many points as possible. One of the mystery workouts will be released at 2:00pm on Saturday, and the final two workouts will be announced at 2:00pm Sunday. To stay up-to-date, visit our Event Hub and Instagram throughout the weekend.

 
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SPEED READS

In case you missed it: Morning Chalk Up’s Lauren Kalil caught up with nearly half the field competing during athlete check-in for the Dubai Fitness Championship.

Get some: Entries are open for the 12 Days of CrossMas and we are on day two of 12 straight days of fun fitness giveaways to get you in the holiday spirit. Every day until Dec. 12 we’ll be drawing a lucky winner daily to receive a special prize pack from one of our partners. Enter now!

Grab a cup of joe: Tune in today at 11am CT for an exclusive Coffee Break Conversation from Dubai hosted by Preslie Hirsch with the founder of The Progrm, John Singleton. He’ll be chatting about the future of the sport of CrossFit, how his approach to coaching has changed over time, how he helps his athletes choose which off-season competitions to do, and more (Rx only).

Fashion update: Khan Porter, James Newbury, swimwear, what more do you need to know? 🤩

Local love: Great story out of Nebraska about how clinic manager Katie James turned to CrossFit during the pandemic.

Great read: Great piece in the Greatest about how great CrossFit’s women are, and how the sport is for girls as much as guys.

 
INDUSTRY
  Coaching Development Series: Team Building  

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Coaching Development Series: Team Building

Part four of our five part series dives into the importance of getting your team together for regular collective development. The specifics of these group sessions should be tailored to the needs and goals of your staff, but scheduling these meetings consistently can help create a culture of learning, collaboration and growth. Today we’ll dive into a basic framework for keeping these sessions organized, interactive and productive for your team.

Scheduled consistently: These sessions should be scheduled well in advance so coaches can block their calendar ahead of time. If you try and book these from meeting-to-meeting, it will be more difficult to get full attendance from the team.

Continue Reading...
 
COMPETITION
  Coaching Development Series: Team Building  

Guess who said: "I don't want to just win, I want to make a statement..."

Ahead of finding out five of the eight events this weekend at the Dubai Fitness Championship, Morning Chalk Up’s Lauren Kalil caught up with nearly half the field competing during athlete check-in. For some, this is their only off-season event but for a handful, this is just one of many. Yet, all had a different response as to why they chose to compete at DFC and what they’re looking to take away from the weekend.

Watch Now...
 
COMPETITION
  “Strong Like Moose” Freya Moosbrugger Checks off Bucket List Item with Dubai  

“Strong Like Moose” Freya Moosbrugger Checks off Bucket List Item with Dubai

“It’s like my first week back”, 21-year-old Freya Moosbrugger said, joking about how the Dubai Fitness Championship is a demonstration of her kicking the dust off. The Canadian resident took most of August and September off after her rookie appearance at the 2022 CrossFit Games, and really didn’t expect to be at the biggest throwdown in the UAE.

“I wasn’t anticipating qualifying. I just did a qualifier and I didn’t book anything…I only did the qualifier just to get back into training,” she said. “And then I qualified and I was like, well, why not? I wanted to come. Dubai has always been a bucket list thing, so I’m happy that I qualified in the first place, and I just want to get going and get motivated to train for the next season.”

After feeling like the Rogue Invitational qualifier was too soon after her debut with the Fittest on Earth, Moosbrugger decided the DFC lined up perfectly timing wise. However, not for the schedules of everyone in her support circle.

A close friend of hers, her dad and coach, Michele Letendre, all weren’t able to make the last minute flight arrangements work. So, with three days notice, her mom, a physician, moved her clients around and hopped on a flight across the world to support her daughter on the competition floor.

“I feel 100% supported,” Moosbrugger said. “(Michele) wasn’t able to come because it was a last minute decision for me to come — so it’s totally okay, we’re in constant communication.”

And in addition to her upbeat mother grabbing water, helping carry bags and serving as moral support in a foreign country to the young athlete (the youngest in the field, in fact), Moosbrugger found support in a fellow Canadian competitor: Brent Fikowski.

Continue Reading...
 
COMPETITION
  2022 Zelos Games Payouts  

2022 Zelos Games Payouts

The 2022 Zelos Games wrapped up last week, and as a competition that was created largely in part to bring earning opportunities to athletes around the world, the tallies have been made and payouts are in progress. Several competitors at the time of this publishing have already received their earnings, which are sent via direct deposit about five days after athletes confirm their banking information.

The total prize purse for the online competition (Nov. 11-21) was over $35,000 cash for the elite division, with over $32,000 in prizes for the other nine available divisions.

Continue Reading...
 
WORKOUT
  Jay Crouch's Workout of the Week  

Jay Crouch's Workout of the Week

Today’s workout is programmed by the Fittest Man in Australia two years in a row, Jay Crouch. Coming off of the Down Under Championship two weeks ago, where he took first place overall in the men’s elite division, he knows a thing or two about grinding through a tough training session.

Jay Crouch

For time:

  • Buy in: 200 Double Unders
  • Then, directly into:
  • 30 Overhead Squats (135/95lb, 60/42.5kg)
  • 30 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups
  • 20 Overhead Squats (155/110lb, 70/50kg)
  • 20 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups
  • 10 Overhead Squats (175/135lb, 80/60kg)
  • 10 Chest to Bar Pull-Ups

Time cap: 18 Minutes

Note: Change weight after each pull-up set.

Scaling options: For a scaled version, do regular pull-ups and modify the weights to:

  • Weight 1: 90/55lb, 40/25kg
  • Weight 2: 100/65lb, 45/30kg
  • Weight 3: 110/75lb, 50/35kg

Some advice from Jay: “I chose this workout from our program ‘We Are Unifyd’ (led by Rob Forte) which we did on October 19th. I thought it was cool and I had heaps of fun doing it with our training crew.“

To inquire about submitting an upcoming workout of the week, shoot us a note.

 
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JOB BOARD Jobs from Gym Jobs
 

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HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🎂 Happy birthday, Joshua Al-chamaa and EC Synkowski
  • Congratulations to Amy Morton from Ocean State CrossFit in Cranston, RI on her time of 3:39 in Zelos Games Workout 1.2— the fastest time of all divisions.
  • Infinitely scalable indeed— this man is learning ring rows at 90 years old.
  • Congratulations Amanda Fischer from Roswell, GA on the back squat triple at 300 pounds/136kg.
  • Congratulations Christine Middleton from Ocean State CrossFit on the 295 pound/134kg clean.

Foster Fit is hosting a 5 Minute Burpee Challenge fundraiser to sponsor CrossFit memberships for teens in foster care. Register now for $25 and you could be eligible for prize winnings.

 
 
LOCAL COMPETITIONS + Submit an Event
3/23: Masters Distinguished Games (Fort Wright, KY)
3/23: CFL Teen Take Over (Lorton, VA)
3/23: The Phoenix hosts Hero WOD “Dork” (Boston, MA)
3/23 - 3/24: Beach Brawl (Spring) (Pensacola Beach, FL)
4/6: Two Peas in a Pod: Mixed Gender Partner Comp (Burlington, MA)
4/6 - 4/7: SeaDog Summer Showdown (Jupiter, Florida)
4/6: Girls Gone Rx Minnesota (Austin, Minnesota)
4/6: Girls Gone Rx Kentucky (Richmond, Kentucky)
4/6: Girls Gone Rx Ohio (Lancaster, Ohio)
4/6: Best Babes Decatur (Decatur, Alabama)
4/6: Best Babes 608 (Janesville, Wisconsin)
4/6: Best Babes South Carolina (Beufort, South Carolina)
4/6: Best Babes Houston (Houston, Texas)
4/6: Best Babes Wyoming (Cheyene, Wyoming)
4/6: War Off I-4 (Deland, FL)
4/6 - 4/7: No Pain No Game (Legnano, Italy)
4/6 - 4/7: Shack Team Edition (Rome, Italy)
4/6: Best Babes South Carolina (Beaufort, SC)
4/6: Best Babes Decatur (Decatur, AL)
4/6 - 4/7: Landifornian Battle (Seignosse, France)
4/6: Best Babes Tampa (Tampa, Florida)
4/13: Queens of Oly East Tennessee (Bulls Gap, TN)
4/13: Queens of Oly Rockledge (Rockledge, FL)
4/13: Fittest on Main (Boaz, AL)
4/19 - 4/21: Crash Crescendo (Spartanburg, SC)
4/20: Barbells For Bullies: Community Workout Savannah (Savnnah, Georgia, US)
4/20: Festivus Games @ CrossFit Plattsburgh (Plattsburgh, NY)
4/20: Festivus Games @ CrossFit Masiphumelele (Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa)
4/20: Festivus Games (Goderich, Canada)
4/20: Festivus Games (Clermont, FL)
4/20: Festivus Games @ The Gym – CrossFit Kilo (Cedar Falls, IA)
4/20: Festivus Games @ CBM Sirens (Caledonia, MS)
4/20: Festivus Games @ Coyote Valley (San Jose, CA)
4/20: The Fittest 4 (Sunshine Coast, Australia)
4/20: Embrace the Challenge (Mentor, Ohio)
4/20: Festivus Games @ CrossFit Pagosa (Pagosa Springs, CO)
4/20: First EVER Adaptive Festivus Games Competition (Waterford, United States)
4/20: Festivus Games (WAUKESHA, WI)
4/20 - 4/21: BGR Contest Spring Edition (Bergerac, France)
4/20 - 4/21: Okanagan Valley Throwdown (Penticton, British Columbia, Canada)
4/20 - 4/21: Okanagan Valley Throwdown (Penticton, British Columbia)
4/25 - 5/12: Raised by Grace (Virtual, )
4/26 - 4/28: Crash Crescendo (Spartanburg, SC)
4/27: Cap Crown Throwdown (Gladstone, Australia)
4/28: 249 Spring Throwdown (Sittingbourne, Kent, England)
5/4: CHLKDUP Classic (Nashville, TN)
5/4: Masters Equalizer Co-Ed Team of 4 Comp (Oceanport, United States)
5/4: The Battle on Bedford (Lynchburg, VA)
5/4 - 5/5: Pavia Spring Challenge ’24 (Pavia, Italy)
5/4 - 5/5: Italian Bulls Games (Lido di Ostia, Italy)
5/4: Team Challenge Texas (San Antonio, Texas)
5/4: The Strong and Courageous (Cullman, Alabama)
5/11 - 5/12: Finest City Weightlifting Open – Presented by The Strength Tank (San Diego, CA)
5/11: True Fitness Trials (Cherry Hill, NJ)
5/11: Queens of Oly Hawaii (Wailuku, Hawaii)
5/11: Queens of Oly Hudson (Hudson, NY)
5/11: Queens of Oly Philadelphia (West Chester, Philadelphia)
5/18: Thrive Throwdown (Lynchburg, VA)
5/18: Imperial CrossFit’s Spring Fit Fest (Kent, WA)
5/18 - 5/19: The Rainhill Spring Trials (Manchester, UK)
5/18: Luminate the Day (Nonprofit comp for Windy Willow Foundation) (Grand Rapids, MI)
5/18: Girls Gone Rx Chicago (Alsip, Illinois)
5/18: Girls Gone Rx Wilmington (Wilmington, North Carolina)
5/18: Girls Gone Rx San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)
5/18: Girls Gone RX Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)
5/18: Code 3 Clash (Eagle, ID)

See all upcoming events

 
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