FINALLY! IT’S HERE!
Grant Bohls warming up….Photo courtesy of: Kevin Walsh @ CrossFit Reykjavik
No, I’m not talking about the second CrossFit Open of the year, I’m talking about affiliate scoring for the Open. It’s the system I’ve been wanting to see in the Open for the past several years and it is finally here….well, it subtly took place earlier this year for the first time in 2019, but for this second Open, it’s something I am REALLY excited about.
For me, the CF Open has gone through sooo many changes and, unfortunately, has been something I’ve personally lost a little bit of interest in. But, with thew new affiliate scoring list, I feel like I’m finally competing for something bigger than myself. And that is my gym’s reputation and overall standing on the leaderboard.
Wait, what is it? And what the hell are you talking about, Cam?
Courtesy of: CrossFit.com
You know those crosstown rivals of yours? The box your other friends and co-workers attend, that you swear your gym is better than theirs? Well, now with the new scoring system that the CrossFit Open has come up with, you finally can prove who is the fittest once and for all. Meaning head-to-head competition and bragging rights in your town/state/community/region/or COUNTRY.
Again, this already took place during the first CrossFit Open of 2019, but now for this upcoming October Open, it’s something I’m really looking forward to. Not only for my current gym, CrossFit LoDo (which places 5,421 on the Affiliate leaderboard list), but also for my old gym, and home gym (CrossFit Southie, which places 142nd on the Affiliate leaderboard list - worldwide).
See the 2019 Affiliate leaderboard list here
It sounds a little crazy, but it’s true, and it’s new this year with some major revamps. We all know the Open has been designed to test the fittest in the world, but if that’s not up your alley and it’s not your goal to be the fittest on the planet, you can still contribute to your box’s Open total by competing in this year’s 2019 Open (the second one), no matter how many athletes are competing. They have revamped the system and algorithm in order to be able to truly find the fittest affiliates out there….meaning once and for all (and in all, I mean a year), you can finally claim victory over those cross-town rivals of yours and PROVE that your community truly is the fittest in your town, state, region or even country!
As we know….all five workouts of the CrossFit Open are designed to mentally and physically test your weaknesses, and also to push you to the limits to show you what you’re capable of. Many people get their first movement down (bar muscle-up, ring muscle-up, handstand push-up, handstand walk ore more), or set PR’s in ways in which they hadn’t anticipated. Weekly workouts are released on Thursday night and CrossFit affiliates and their respective athletes are given through Monday evening to compete the same workout and submit various scores in a very simplified system designed to find the fittest in the world to go and compete at the CrossFit Games.
Most of the weekly videos are released in the form of this, which details the movement standards etc.
Now, sparing the longer discussion about all the changes in the system (I’ll let Marc fill you in on those blogs) this new system of tracking athletes times, scores, and way of keeping everyone accountable for the gym’s status on the leaderboards is truly something I feel like I can get behind.
But….before we get there
Now, for Affiliate Managers, there are a few things you need to do before you can register your affiliate in the Games competition. You can find all of that information HERE. Not only do you need to follow those steps, but you also need to check-up on the Affiliate Owners Guide to the 2019 Open HERE, as well.
There is a lot of important information regarding what to do and how to do it to ensure a successful 2019 Open season (you know - the second one), but with this new system, I feel like it is a GREAT way to entice the community to come together and represent their affiliates the right way, which is ultimately what community-building is all about. Put your personal fitness to the test for reasons bigger than yourself and now you’ll have an ever greater reason to cheer on your fellow athletes to do their best, all so you can place a little bit higher on the leaderboards. Contributing to the community is what it’s all about, in my opinion.
Support those in your community. Photo courtesy of: Kevin Walsh @CrossFit Reykjavik
Overall…
Gyms must be in good standing in order to participate, meaning their fees, insurance and everything else must be up to date before The Open kicks off on October 10th. For more info, you can read about it here, but I, for one, am super stoked about this.
Again, CrossFit for me, has always been more about the community aspect than it has for personal gains. I look at CrossFit as a means to stay healthy and move well into the later years of my life, but this Affiliate scoring has really got me amped for my community, and other communities as well.
See if your affiliate is on the good standing list here
In terms of a global appeal, I do feel like this will be a GREAT way for more people to not only sign up for the Open, but feel like they are truly part of something bigger than themselves, which I feel like CrossFit has done a great job of over the years (minus all the attention on the .01% of elite athletes…). Anyways, elite or not, masters athlete or not, RX or not…..sign up for the 2019 CrossFit Open and be part of something bigger than yourself.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, how much you weight, what you can lift or where you are in your fitness journey, there is nothing better than being part of a community and contributing to the overall goals of those around you. You just might surprise yourself, too.
Just do it!
P.S. Comment below and tell me where your affiliate finished in the first 2019 Open down below.
Sayonara.
~ Cam // cam@voyedgerx.com
more CrossFit related posts
Looking for some pro-tips when it comes to dropping-in at a CrossFit gym? Read this.