Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Last year the NW Regional was in the Snohomish Center, which was about 8000 people, and it was pretty full.

This year the West Regional is in the Tacoma dome, which is huge - 20,000. There should be a lot of people there because it is not to far of a drive from Portland, OR, Seattle WA and Vancouver, BC.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Christopher Morris;1252784]Sam Briggs was recovering from a broken foot during Regionals?

What the...?!!

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdBWhxh3Cqs[/url] (wfs)[/QUOTE]

She's not human. IMO Camille was very fortunate that Sam couldn't get her handstand walks together last year, or else she might have been second on the podium instead of first. But, shoulda, coulda, woulda. This year I'm hoping all the girls are there and in full strength (Camille, Sam, Julie, Annie, Lauren F, etc.)

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Tim Alford;1252815]She's not human. IMO Camille was very fortunate that Sam couldn't get her handstand walks together last year, or else she might have been second on the podium instead of first. [/QUOTE]

Agree 10,000%.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Jayme Gruber;1252817]Don't forget Kara Webb was beating Camille prior to having to quit during the midline march as well.[/QUOTE]

Very true, I almost forget about Kara Webb....that's what happens when you live down under!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Tim Alford;1252815]She's not human. IMO Camille was very fortunate that Sam couldn't get her handstand walks together last year, or else she might have been second on the podium instead of first. But, shoulda, coulda, woulda. This year I'm hoping all the girls are there and in full strength (Camille, Sam, Julie, Annie, Lauren F, etc.)[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Andrew Bell;1252816]Agree 10,000%.[/QUOTE]

Don't forget Kara Webb was beating Camille prior to having to quit during the midline march as well.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Plus:

Valerie Voboril
Emily Bridgers
Lindsey Valenzuela

and others. I would love to see them all at the Games. The women's competition is a lot more unpredictable than the Rich Froning show over the last few years. Both exciting in their own way, but I love that the women's field is anyone's game. If all the favorite women qualify and stay injury-free (or recover from current injuries), what a show it will be!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Tighe Crovetti;1252560]No talk in here of the Lauren Fisher injury? Messed her ankle up on a practice run through Tommy V. Not broken, she says she's going to do her best to get it ready for regionals (5/22-24). It looks pretty jacked, I've had some bad ankle sprains that turn around pretty nicely in 3-4 days for normal activity, but for three days of CrossFit?!?! I hope she can do it, would be a shame to see one of the best females have to spectate at Carson.[/QUOTE]
Announcement came out that Lauren Fisher IS going to be competing this weekend. Wonder if she was inspired - or challenged?? - by Sam Briggs' performance despite her injury? I think I'm more excited for the women's side this year. Briggs is charging hard, yes, but Bridgers beat her in 5 out of 7 events. Add in Camille, Lindsey, Lauren, Valerie, Dani, Michele, Kara....there are SO many women that could win. The men's side, I mean, yeah, it will be fun to watch, of course, but anyone betting against Fraser is going awfully long.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Tighe Crovetti;1252820]Announcement came out that Lauren Fisher IS going to be competing this weekend. Wonder if she was inspired - or challenged?? - by Sam Briggs' performance despite her injury? I think I'm more excited for the women's side this year. Briggs is charging hard, yes, but Bridgers beat her in 5 out of 7 events. Add in Camille, Lindsey, Lauren, Valerie, Dani, Michele, Kara....there are SO many women that could win. The men's side, I mean, yeah, it will be fun to watch, of course, but anyone betting against Fraser is going awfully long.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with you, the women's competition is LOADED, if everyone makes it. The men's is still the main event in my opinion but with Froning, Khalipa, and Hackenbruck not in there, plus some crowd favorites like Speals and Chan. I don't know. Fraser does look unstoppable, I'd LOVE to see Dan Bailey get up there and Noah Ohlsen has impressed lately. Who knows!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I think Josh Bridges will run away with the California Regional, Matt Fraser and Michelle Letendre will win East Regional, and Kara Webb will win the Pacific Regional this weekend. Not too sure about the women's competition in California or men in Pacific.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I think Ohlsen may be the only one with a bona fide chance to beat Fraser. I love Bailey, but age ain't just a number. These guys like Ohlsen and Fraser, early 20s, in a full Crossfit regimen....they're making leaps and bounds.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

How are you guys counting out (or at least not mentioning) Annie? She wasn't anywhere near 100% last year, and still ended up on the podium.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Miles Roberts;1252833]How are you guys counting out (or at least not mentioning) Annie? She wasn't anywhere near 100% last year, and still ended up on the podium.[/QUOTE]

you would have to be a fool to count Annie out. Second place last year even while not being 100% AND she won the open this year.

also, not to take anything away from Camille since she is awesome, she really did luck out last year with Briggs falling on the Handstand and Webb out with an injury.

i honestly can't even pick the 3 that will podium this year, too many choices. Bridgers, Briggs, Annie, Webb, Camille all have a great chance to top.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Tim mentioned Annie and in his list when we started discussing the women's competition.

I think the women's competition will come down to programming. How many workouts or movements hit their favorite movements? At this point the winner won't have any big weakness, but I think they can edge out the others with movements they prefer over movements they don't like, but learn unhappily because they feel like they have to.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I like the format for the max lift snatch this year. Two athletes lifting at a time make it easy for the cameras to cover both. It's a big improvement over last year's hang snatch with 10 or so athletes lifting simultaneously. You often missed watching your favorite.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Anyone watch the Australian Men's event 1? I'm confused because I thought that Ben Garard finished at the same time as Khan Porter (first place in the final heat, around 2:38-2:39)... but on the leaderboard he is 27th with a time of 3:17?

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

This is short rant....

Is anyone else puzzled, wait let me just go ahead and say frustrated, about how Women's event 7 went last weekend? We have regional's qualified females who can't do 15 muscle ups in 6 minutes?? 2 females in the Atlantic, and 5 in the South Region. I can't even imagine what would have happened if the we weren't doing super regions and we took the top 40 from each region. How many women wouldn't have finished?

We are supposed to believe that, for example, Darcie Warren of the South region who completed 9 MU's during event 7 in 6 whole minutes, was magically able to complete 14 MU's, plus, 100 wallballs, and 200 DU's in 8:35 on event 3 of the open?? (Sorry Darcie if you ever read this, I'm sure you had some sort of injury or maybe just aren't used to working out 3 days in a row?)

smh, I hope that having their athletes embarrassed at regionals will help some of these boxes increase their judging standards and help the deserving to actually be rewarded with regional qualification??

Rant over.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

And Kara Webb just won both events on day 1. If she continues without injury, I think she'll podium for sure.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Christopher Morris;1252845]Tim mentioned Annie and in his list when we started discussing the women's competition.

Yes, I did mention Annie. You'd be crazy to leave her out, no one here would do that! There are just soooo many great athletes.

[QUOTE=Adam Manery;1252851]Anyone watch the Australian Men's event 1? I'm confused because I thought that Ben Garard finished at the same time as Khan Porter (first place in the final heat, around 2:38-2:39)... but on the leaderboard he is 27th with a time of 3:17?[/QUOTE]

That was confusing, it sounded like the announcers were saying that he had his last rep "no repped" and he took off to the end, his judge was trying to get him back to finish the last rep. That's what I think happened, I could be wrong.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Scott Ford;1252855]This is short rant....

Is anyone else puzzled, wait let me just go ahead and say frustrated, about how Women's event 7 went last weekend? We have regional's qualified females who can't do 15 muscle ups in 6 minutes?? 2 females in the Atlantic, and 5 in the South Region.[/QUOTE]

The South region also had Latin America included, not the biggest pool of elite athletes to qualify from. Several of those women time capped on most of the workouts. It's a lot different to do 7 MUs a round when you've had a week of rest than to do 15 in a row when you had just done 45 strict deficit HSPUs (or killed yourself trying and failing) 3 hours earlier, 250 foot handstand walk, heavy snatch and OHS the day prior, and 27 rope climbs plus thrusters and snatches on opening day.

Also if they are short women and do their muscle ups with more of a false grip, the high ring height can make it very taxing to jump up, fight your way up into the proper grip, and then do your reps. If you have to move to singles by the end, you are doing so much extra work to do each one your core and shoulders start to give out. The Open doesn't have a ring height requirement so it's actually possible to not have to jump up to the rings at all doing 15.3 in your home gym. So it doesn't mean they were cheating or had a soft judge, the two venues had different rules.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Danielle Chollet;1252866] It's a lot different to do 7 MUs a round when you've had a week of rest than to do 15 in a row when you had just done 45 strict deficit HSPUs (or killed yourself trying and failing) 3 hours earlier, 250 foot handstand walk, heavy snatch and OHS the day prior, and 27 rope climbs plus thrusters and snatches on opening day.
[/QUOTE]

Ding!

While I don't disagree with you Scott, as something could certainly be fishy, I do believe this could be a greater reason as to what is going on. I personally know quite a few people (and a few of them are non-crossfitters - i.e., they almost hate it) that could one and done just about any Crossfit Open workout and absolutely CRUSH it. I mean top 50 worldwide.

Give them that same movement in regionals after all the volume and their training doesn't reflect the same level of 2-4 workouts per day volume and they fall apart.

Use the greatest example (currently) of all time in Crossfit. I doubt anyone put in as much volume as Rich Froning. Legendary amounts of workouts in a day, day after day, week after week, for a year. That is why he maintained consistency throughout regionals and that is why he always walked around on Sunday at the games as though he just finished a weekend of BBQ and napping.

Maybe a lot of these regional athletes (the ones that we know aren't almost guarantees for the games) are doing 1 hard workout a day. Full intensity, all out. Then maybe later in the day they do some strength and/or skill work. Maybe at most, a 3rd session of some more skill/weakness work and recovery(ish) stuff. That is the volume I put in, and I'm a Masters age dude with no chance at the moment of making the regionals, let alone the games.

Come regionals time, those athletes that crushed the open workouts are suddenly handed volume in a day somewhat closer to what Rich and Sam Briggs are training like. Their bodies don't want to go much more. They have some lingering muscle fatigue. Some unusual soreness and stiffness, nerves and maybe very little sleep, nervous system is just being a pain in the a$$ and so on. Back in some regionals interview with Rich, they asked him how he was handling the "do this workout a few hours after that workout" and he said something like "I just treat it like its a fun training weekend for me. Its no problem. Its what I do all the time anyway."

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Oh boy, I keep hearing the word "World Record" thrown around again. Still just as silly as last time around.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Nicholas Wheeler;1252868]Oh boy, I keep hearing the word "World Record" thrown around again. Still just as silly as last time around.[/QUOTE]

And it always will. CFMedia, come one, don't be silly. Yall do a great job, but stop making world records at workouts that never existed before. That's silly.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Andrew Bell;1252871]And it always will. CFMedia, come one, don't be silly. Yall do a great job, but stop making world records at workouts that never existed before. That's silly.[/QUOTE]

world records are an important step in the road to finding the "Fittest On Earth" :rofl:

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Anyone notice how Kara Webb tackled the rope climbs on Tommy V? She didn't jump at all. Stood at the bottom, grabbed the rope with both hands, and started climbing. Took her 3 pulls to get to the top. She didn't do that speed rope descent where your let go of the rope and slid down. During the first round of rope climbs, I thought she was going to wear herself out and get passed up by lots of the other athletes.

Instead, she just relelentlsy continued with rope climb after rope climb, very little rest in between, and sets the event record.

That would be incredible if she can win all 7 events at Regionals.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Danielle Chollet;1252866]the high ring height can make it very taxing to jump up... The Open doesn't have a ring height requirement[/QUOTE]

It used to be that rings were set based on the reach of the athlete, so the ring height had to be adjusted in every lane for every athlete. That's pretty inconvenient for the volunteers doing lane management, and really slowed down the flow of the day for spectators. The athletes had to run out to their lane, measure their reach, and wait around for the ring height to be adjusted before the heat started.

A fixed ring height fixed all of that. At least this year the athletes can decide whether or not to use the step box provided. It can stay under the rings for the whole heat, if they like. It levels the playing field for athletes of different heights competing at fixed ring height.

[QUOTE=Richard Colon;1252867]Back in some regionals interview with Rich, they asked him how he was handling the "do this workout a few hours after that workout" and he said something like "I just treat it like its a fun training weekend for me. Its no problem. Its what I do all the time anyway."[/QUOTE]

I believe he said Regionals weekend was easy for him compared to his usual volume.

Since then, however, he has said a couple times that everyone is getting better, and the programming gets more difficult every year.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Michael Cook;1252873]Anyone notice how Kara Webb tackled the rope climbs on Tommy V? She didn't jump at all. Stood at the bottom, grabbed the rope with both hands, and started climbing. Took her 3 pulls to get to the top. [/QUOTE]

I had to go back and watch her. This workout is won or lost in the rope climbs. Isn't arm fatigue the weak link in multiple reps of rope climb?

My guesses on why this strategy worked for her:

- The jump technique may fatigue the arms more to grab the rope and prevent a fall vs. standing on the floor to move your feet up from the ground.

- She's got crazy strength. Her rests between climbs were minimal to non-existent. Good endurance.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Lauren Fisher didn't look good during Randy. I hope she feels well enough to finish the weekend.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

something tells me that Kara Webb is the person to beat this year at the games. man, she is on fire and looks great!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Nicholas Wheeler;1252868]Oh boy, I keep hearing the word "World Record" thrown around again. Still just as silly as last time around.[/QUOTE]

I've watched a little bit of all the regionals and have only heard event record. I haven't heard any announcers say world record.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Michael Cook;1252873]Anyone notice how Kara Webb tackled the rope climbs on Tommy V? She didn't jump at all. Stood at the bottom, grabbed the rope with both hands, and started climbing. Took her 3 pulls to get to the top. She didn't do that speed rope descent where your let go of the rope and slid down. During the first round of rope climbs, I thought she was going to wear herself out and get passed up by lots of the other athletes.

Instead, she just relelentlsy continued with rope climb after rope climb, very little rest in between, and sets the event record.

That would be incredible if she can win all 7 events at Regionals.[/QUOTE]

Chyna Cho beat her time (went sub 8:00) and jumped on the rope climbs. While Kara was able to limit rest between climbs her climbs were slower.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

It seems the winning rope climb technique has to match the athlete's ability. Very short rests were common to both Kara and Chyna's plans.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

What is the standard for the Sumo deadlift high pull because some people are not really doing sumo pulls...

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Drew Cloutier;1252910]What is the standard for the Sumo deadlift high pull because some people are not really doing sumo pulls...[/QUOTE]

This is what it says on the games website:
Sumo Deadlift High Pull
The barbell begins on the ground with the athlete gripping with their hands inside their knees. At the top, the barbell is brought in line with or above the clavicle, with the hips and knees fully extended.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Snir Golan;1252772]i am sorry but that is just stupid. i am not paying the money for tickets + gas + parking just so i have to stand the entire day and not be able to see anything because i have 5 rows of people in front of me.

every person i talked to that went to the Atlantic regional commented on how bad the experience was and how they will not go back next year.[/QUOTE]

Agree 100%. I drove 8 hours...3 hotel nights, food, paying to get in, parking, etc...make the venue someplace decent and in an area of a city where I don't need a gun to walk around.

I did not realize it until days later but when gym friends would ask me excitedly how it was at the event I was like "it was fine". They all looked at me strangely but in reality, I did not enjoy it very much except for watching our guy (Carlos) do his thing and some events in particular were very fun to watch. The athletes are all amazing.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

No Bridges??!! Another crowd favorite bites the dust! Sad to see that! The 2015 Games behind the scenes will be missing JB!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Tim Alford;1252938]No Bridges??!! Another crowd favorite bites the dust! Sad to see that! The 2015 Games behind the scenes will be missing JB![/QUOTE]

that made me so sad :( i love watching him compete and he is always the best when it comes to behind the scenes stuff. no Chan and no JB makes me sad :(

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Props to Becca Voigt!

I just watched event 6 and 7, and she worked hard to earn that spot to the Games - really had to strategize who to beat in those last two events. She generally had good quality movement. She didn't look tired or break down in form until after many of the other women looked tired. What a great performance from a veteran athlete.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I thought the California regional was good for spectators. I would go again next year if it is in the same place. I will say there probably wasn't quite enough seating but it was not really a big deal. My mom lives in SD so lodging was a non-issue.

I won't go to the Games again unless someone wants to give me a seat in their suite in the tennis stadium.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I, for one cringe every single time I saw a picture of someone at the top of a SDHP on Instagram and Facebook. ugh.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

Blair, because they had crappy form or because it didn't look like a sumo??

From the looks of it some people need to go back and learn what a sumo DL high pull is...


Who was announcing for the East Regionals? Safe to say Americans? i'm just asking because it made my ears bleed to hear some of the pronunciation of the French-Canadian names lol (not to say the anglo canadians don't do a bad job sometimes at previous years in Toronto...always wondered why they picked Toronto...way better places)

<<not a Bridges fan, so def won't be missing his presence at the games.