Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

looks like Lauren Brooks is out of the competition with an injury :(

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Victor J McQuaide;1252637]The weights are a seriously hike away from the bars. [/QUOTE]

I have noticed several details this year that give safety a priority.

I think the plates were far away from the lifting area to prevent any bouncing bar injury. (They probably had Kevin Ogar in mind, though I disagree that the stack of plates played a part in his injury.)

The 9' mark on the climbing rope requires athletes to descend with control nearly to the ground before dropping.

The demo graphics state that athletes drop the bar in front of them and step over it before finishing an event. Behind-the-back drops are higher risk and are outside the standard.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Christopher Morris;1252659]I have noticed several details this year that give safety a priority.

I think the plates were far away from the lifting area to prevent any bouncing bar injury. (They probably had Kevin Ogar in mind, though I disagree that the stack of plates played a part in his injury.)

The 9' mark on the climbing rope requires athletes to descend with control nearly to the ground before dropping.

The demo graphics state that athletes drop the bar in front of them and step over it before finishing an event. Behind-the-back drops are higher risk and are outside the standard.[/QUOTE]

As a judge, I was thrilled to see that bars need to be dropped in front. I almost got clobbered while judging the granite games by some bars, and a friend of mine had issues with bars dropped behind at regionals last year, so this is a welcome change.

As to the one minute max snatch and weights for teams, the athletes at my gym are easily getting 2 attempts and associated weight changes in, but it's possible they need to practice more with the weights farther away. Thank goodness the central regional is may 29-31!

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Jeremy Schultz;1252635]I totally disagree. At one point, at least, the Crossfit Games were supposed to find "the fittest person on earth", not the person who is best at doing Crossfit.

I guess maybe that's changed, if the majority of Crossfitters think like you do.

I guess my problem is that, although I enjoy watching the Games, I don't workout at a box and the program that I follow is an offshoot of CFFB which is really not Crossfit at all anymore. Therefore, it doesn't impress me who can handstand walk further than the next guy. I would much rather see the strongest, fastest, most athletic guy win, not the guy who's most skilled at unusual proprietary skills. Maybe that's just me.[/QUOTE]

The issue here is subjectivity. How do you define fitness and what constitutes the "fittest"? Look up a guy like Reinhold Messner (just an example). This is the 1st guy to climb the 14 8thousanders (peaks over 8,000 meters). He is also the first to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen. Can you grasp that feat? Yet, he isn't going to win any conversation in the classically strong sense. I have no clue if he can out DL Dan Green, out BS Lillebridge or Olympic lift like Dimas. I also don't know if he will beat David Rudisha in the 800m, but you can't question this guy as being fit, maybe an example of the fittest on the planet (especially mentally).

All that being said, since you cannot agree on a standard for "what does the fittest mean", Crossfit, at least in the competitive sense, needs to make those standards - hence my argument. The first chance to prove those standards is through the open and further on into the regionals. This means if you don't have pistols, HS Walks and DUs down, you aren't in the competitive sense at least - worthy of being called the fittest on earth - by their standards. They must be set and without that, you can't keep score. Without a score, you don't define a winner.

Now, what I think is often the case is the failure to move forward and embrace the change. A lot of the OGs started in the way where Crossfit was for the firefighter, Military, etc. It was in the backyard, in the garage, throwin' down on the ranch. That is an entirely separate Crossfit from COMPETITION CROSSFIT - as I've said over and over again. It is the special athlete - the one that dedicates their time to mastering handstands, Toe 2 Bars and Pistols whole also running and lifting some heavy weight. It is no longer (competitively) about the military and firefighter guys strictly that are looking to remove the fluff and stay efficient based upon what brings them home to the kids.

Make the distinction of what Crossfit is to you and if nothing else, be happy in the journey and that fact that it may have highlighted overall fitness, and helped you to find another way to demonstrate your fitness. As for what we are watching this weekend, it is most certainly Crossfit, just maybe not in the way you want it. That is hard to swallow, but it doesn't make it less true.

Crossfit today, as a name, in my opinion, is just something that ends with its superbowl - the games. We chase those athletes as representative of the best the SPORT has to offer. If it means being functionally fit (again, a dumb term) or some other subjective term for how to live one's life physically, then it doesn't need a title. It is just doing what you do for whatever reason you do it. Its like the NFL. That is a specific game, sport and other thing with rules, standards, teams, athletes. It doesn't represent backyard or my old New York street days of what FOOTBALL means to me. Those days were fun with friends, yelling and laughing where the QB said - "Yo Rich, run to that Buick, turn and the ball will be there." Memories and great times but I won't use that to dispute how the NFL has become with all the helmets, concussion protection, etc.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

I'm at the South Regional. Seriously, wtf? The venue is really bad. Why did it have to change from the Freeman where EVERYONE could have a seat and watch. Now there is only space for about 2k people to sit. This was REALLY bad this year and if it's in the same venue next year I will NOT be going back I do not want to have to be stuffed like sardines to watch the action.

Also, there HAS to be a way to write a program for those treadmills like C2 has that let's you put the distance's on the big screen.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Richard Colon;1252664]The issue here is subjectivity. How do you define fitness and what constitutes the "fittest"? Look up a guy like Reinhold Messner (just an example). This is the 1st guy to climb the 14 8thousanders (peaks over 8,000 meters). He is also the first to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen. Can you grasp that feat? Yet, he isn't going to win any conversation in the classically strong sense. I have no clue if he can out DL Dan Green, out BS Lillebridge or Olympic lift like Dimas. I also don't know if he will beat David Rudisha in the 800m, but you can't question this guy as being fit, maybe an example of the fittest on the planet (especially mentally).

All that being said, since you cannot agree on a standard for "what does the fittest mean", Crossfit, at least in the competitive sense, needs to make those standards - hence my argument. The first chance to prove those standards is through the open and further on into the regionals. This means if you don't have pistols, HS Walks and DUs down, you aren't in the competitive sense at least - worthy of being called the fittest on earth - by their standards. They must be set and without that, you can't keep score. Without a score, you don't define a winner.

Now, what I think is often the case is the failure to move forward and embrace the change. A lot of the OGs started in the way where Crossfit was for the firefighter, Military, etc. It was in the backyard, in the garage, throwin' down on the ranch. That is an entirely separate Crossfit from COMPETITION CROSSFIT - as I've said over and over again. It is the special athlete - the one that dedicates their time to mastering handstands, Toe 2 Bars and Pistols whole also running and lifting some heavy weight. It is no longer (competitively) about the military and firefighter guys strictly that are looking to remove the fluff and stay efficient based upon what brings them home to the kids.

Make the distinction of what Crossfit is to you and if nothing else, be happy in the journey and that fact that it may have highlighted overall fitness, and helped you to find another way to demonstrate your fitness. As for what we are watching this weekend, it is most certainly Crossfit, just maybe not in the way you want it. That is hard to swallow, but it doesn't make it less true.

Crossfit today, as a name, in my opinion, is just something that ends with its superbowl - the games. We chase those athletes as representative of the best the SPORT has to offer. If it means being functionally fit (again, a dumb term) or some other subjective term for how to live one's life physically, then it doesn't need a title. It is just doing what you do for whatever reason you do it. Its like the NFL. That is a specific game, sport and other thing with rules, standards, teams, athletes. It doesn't represent backyard or my old New York street days of what FOOTBALL means to me. Those days were fun with friends, yelling and laughing where the QB said - "Yo Rich, run to that Buick, turn and the ball will be there." Memories and great times but I won't use that to dispute how the NFL has become with all the helmets, concussion protection, etc.[/QUOTE]

Well said. I understand your point.

So, it seems if I understand you correctly, that in your opinion, that most Crossfitters care more about being competitive (either in their respective boxes, or at the Open, or at the Games, etc.) than they care about the reason that Crossfit was started - to be better and more prepared for life in general.

OR, is this just another example of the growing disconnect between elite competitive Crossfitters and the thousands of "regular" Crossfitters in affiliates across the globe?

Then maybe they need to change the motto of the Games from "Fittest on Earth" to "Best Crossfitter on Earth".

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Diana Alt;1252660]As a judge, I was thrilled to see that bars need to be dropped in front. I almost got clobbered while judging the granite games by some bars, and a friend of mine had issues with bars dropped behind at regionals last year, so this is a welcome change.

As to the one minute max snatch and weights for teams, the athletes at my gym are easily getting 2 attempts and associated weight changes in, but it's possible they need to practice more with the weights farther away. Thank goodness the central regional is may 29-31![/QUOTE]

Is it against the rules to jump over the bar before attempting the lift? That way you can drop it and just turn around to the next bar and not have to jump over a bouncing bar.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Jeremy Schultz;1252669]OR, is this just another example of the growing disconnect between elite competitive Crossfitters and the thousands of "regular" Crossfitters in affiliates across the globe?

[/QUOTE]

This. And my take on it is, just do whatever you want for fitness, for whatever goal makes you happy. If its to compete, then buckle down and do those specific movements that are kinda blah to the old school crossfitters. If it is to do it to become "better at life", then just do whatever makes you feel that way.

I just do what I do so long as it fits the goal and I enjoy the process. The rest is secondary. In the end it all becomes just a bit more and more about money and mainstream. Hitting that wider audience, drawing attention etc. You don't have posters in Dicks Sporting Goods without the Rich Froning and Camille. You don't have people that kids look up to for the fame, pro athlete, money, medals, sponsorships, free athletic apparel, etc without the Rich and Fraser and Annie. So in essence, you have none of that stuff without the competition.

The grass roots of it all is amazing but there is no big market/money and flourishing in that. Thats because people like that are happy with how things were back in 2009 and earlier (at the ranch, throwin' down, talking with friends, beers and BBQ). Today, the 14yr old is infatuated with what we see in the 2015 games on ESPN. That's america and that is the future. The future of Crossfit in my mind is the competition. The sport of Crossfit. The "do it to be fit" part..you don't need Crossfit the brand and name for that. You just need to define what fit means to you and just do your own thing. If its running outside to experience the life of the world, then do that. If its competition - then you had better get used to a Trueform Runner. BIG diff..

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Andrew Bell;1252668]I'm at the South Regional. Seriously, wtf? The venue is really bad. Why did it have to change from the Freeman where EVERYONE could have a seat and watch. Now there is only space for about 2k people to sit. This was REALLY bad this year and if it's in the same venue next year I will NOT be going back I do not want to have to be stuffed like sardines to watch the action.

Also, there HAS to be a way to write a program for those treadmills like C2 has that let's you put the distance's on the big screen.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your take on the venue. I miss when the Regionals was in Castle Rock, CO, less than an hour from my house.

I wondered if the TrueForm runners would be boring to watch. I guess they didn't find a way to show real-time progress.

Re: 2015 CrossFit Open, Regionals, and Games Thread
 

[QUOTE=Jon Campbell;1252671]Is it against the rules to jump over the bar before attempting the lift? That way you can drop it and just turn around to the next bar and not have to jump over a bouncing bar.[/QUOTE]

This is probably against the rules simply for spectator consideration. The cameras and crowd are in a certain direction, and you wouldn't want the athletes to turn their backs to the viewers.