The CrossFit Open is the first step in the CrossFit Games Competition Season.
There's loads of information out there on the competition, but I've compiled the important stuff that athletes need to know - particularly those who haven't competed before. Most of this information is directly quoted, some of it is paraphrased. I've indicated the sources in all cases.
What is The CrossFit Open? (from http://games.crossfit.com/about-the-games/the-games-season)
"In order to identify the Fittest, we (CrossFit) invite everyone in the world to compete in the Open. Each week from February 22-March 25, an Open workout is posted and everyone does it. They have the choice to have their performance validated at a CrossFit affiliate, or submit a videotape of their performance to the Games website. The Open will consist of five workouts over five weeks."
Check out this brief video explaining the process of The Open.
Workouts (WODS) will be announced here on every Thursday at 9am Perth time (5pm Wednesday Pacific Time in the USA). Scores must be posted by 9am Perth time on the following Monday (5pm Sunday Pacific Time in the USA).
For those of you who competed in The WOD Games - this is a similar format, but the stakes are much higher. I'm predicting we'll have over 50,000 athletes from around the world competing in The Open. You can keep track of your results on the scoreboard.
History of The CrossFit Games:
Check out the video to see how far we've come since 2007. A great look at the progress of the sport and the variance involved in competition.
Masters Division? (from http://games.crossfit.com/about-the-games/the-games-season).
"The Masters competition is for athletes ages 45 and older. For the second year, the Masters level competition will be split into four age categories - 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60-plus. Masters athletes will register in the Open, complete the workouts just as the indviduals. Some age divisions will have modified standards, but all workouts must be completed as prescribed."
When's all this happening?
- Feb 1st: Registration for The Open begins. Register here (NOW!).
- Feb 22nd - March 25th: The CrossFit Open.
- April 27th - May 27th: Seventeen Regional competitions will be held around the world. Dates for all Regionals.
- May 18th -20th: Australian Regional Games.
- July 15th 2012: The CrossFit Games.
- July 16th 2012: First training session for The Games Season 2013.
What happens after The CrossFit Open? (from http://games.crossfit.com/about-the-games/the-games-season)
"The Open’s top 60 athletes in each region move on to the second stage of the competition, Regionals. Each Regional will be a three-day competition. Seventeen Regional competitions, covering the entire world will take place each weekend from April 27 to May 27. At the Regional level, individuals are judged, reps are counted for each workout. No more than three men and three women will advance to the third and final stage of the competition – the CrossFit Games at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The 2012 Games will run from July 13-15."
Check out the highlights from 2011's Games. Well worth watching:
Range of Motion and The CrossFit Open:
We will be completing the WODS at Range of Motion. Those of you who see myself (Dan) or another coach for individual appointments will be completing the WODS during these sessions where appropriate.
If you are not seeing a coach, or wish to compete against others, I encourage you to organise with one of your peers a time to do the workout.
I would much rather see people competing together. I will be setting up a section in our forums for this communication to take place.
I am making it compulsory that EVERY person doing a WOD must have a Level One CrossFit Coach as their judge. You must have one judge each, ie: three people competing = three judges. It is also compulsory that every judge speak with me before judging a WOD for me to go through the movement standards and expectations. The standards will be very strict. No exceptions on any of the above.
We had a great response to The WOD Games, with 50 ROMMERs competing. Let's surpass that in The Open.
Dan Williams
