News & Events!!

Australasian Regional Qualifiers 2010

A HUGE thankyou to Mick, Steve, the CFX crew, and the many, many volunteers that helped run the BIGGEST CrossFit event that this region has seen.  It is an incredibly difficult and thank-less task to host an event like the Australasian Regionals.  Last weekend saw a fantastic display of the CrossFit community at it's best.  Great athletes, great events and an amazing atmosphere.  It was a privilege to be a part of the event.  We are so proud of the members and friends of CrossFit Brisbane that represented at the games.  Well done all!

Doug Armstrong 5th, Jarrod Bowe 6th, Drummond Williamson 7th, Linzey Beister 12th, Matt Swift 16th, Crazy Ross 48th, Thomas Rech 51st, Greg Miles 52nd, Lee Klein 53rd, Brett Fforde 54th, Dion Walmsley 58th, Shane Millar 66th, Brandon Donald 67

Taz Venter 7th, Yvette Maree 16th, Rachel Vickery 20th, Jo Mass 22nd, Lily Cosgrove 30th, Emma Keogh 38th, Cherise Walmsley 51st, Liz Boyd 52nd, Tracey Wright 58th

We were sorry to see Jeremy Austin and Chris Saliba pull out with injury. 

Congratulations to this years qualifiers:-

Qualifying Men
1. Chris Hogan
2. Chad Mackay
3. Bjorn Albercht

Qualifying Women
1. Rebecca Eastwell
2. Megan Smith
3. Lauren Roberts

For a full list of results, click here.

Comments

[Shiela]

I have to work :'( boooooo!

[Matt G]

Matt thanks for the notes, much appreciated as I couldnt attend.

[Andrew White]

Matt, thanks a million for posting the notes!! Would of loved to have been there!! Maybe you could do it coach style and post it on th CF Journal!! Look fwd to some great reading.
Whitey

[Jacob Knoetze]

Matt, thank you for the nutrition workshop lastnight. We are glad we were there. Thanks for the notes also.
Jacob&Naomi

[Shane H]

Thanks heaps for last night i got heaps out of it and now i will put it into place im sure i can only improve with the next step

[Baby John]

Cheers for the notes Matt,

I would have loved to come last night and even tried to move a appointment so I could come, however I failed. I have had a quick read (will read in more depth at home) over them and there is some very handy info and a few home truths'. I love the way CFB actually gives a hoot about its members and encourages us and gives us the tools to live longer and healthier. Two thumbs ups…

Merry Christmas to all and enjoy the holidays!

Baby John

[CrazyRoss]

I had to attend my daughter's x-mas event, so I could not go there.

I missed it but Thanks you for Matt. I really appreciate it.

[Miles]

Hi

I posted this around work and about 6 people are going to try in the new year

Miles

[Mike]

Just moved to Leeds UK and am still doing Brisbanes WODs so i'm 9 hours behind when i check the site... Can some one please explain the kettle bell section of todays session... Cheers

Mike

[Mike]

Just the OA (left) OA (right) etc etc

[Gerard N]

Mike,

the OA stands for one armed. So use a kettlebell or dumbell, start with your non dominant side and knock out a few push presses. We had great fun with them this morning.

Cheers

[Jacqui]

If you are attending the Toowoomba Challenge and are looking for accommodation, my parents have a motel there. I'm not familiar with Toowoomba but the motel is on Ruthven Street and google maps tells me it is 4kms from the box. The motel is called Garden City Motor Inn Ph 1800 806 164. If you mention that you are there for Crossfit or that you know me, I'm sure you will get a discount.
:-)

[Sam]

An interesting read : http://slavenation.com/index.php/2009/07/23/cultfit/

Although clearly a little too extreme and negative, it does raise a few good points. Thoughts?

[matt]

Hahahaha that was such a lame article ... poorly researched and full of ill-founded assumptions ...it is a rehash of similar articles that have been kicking around for about 5 years now. It was amusing though.

I love it when people play the "risk/dangerous"card. CrossFit is significantly safer than most activities people do on a daily basis. 42 people have drowned at the beach this year, don't tell me lifting weights is dangerous.

Any article that makes the appeal "any intelligent man ..." pretty much identifies that nothing that follows in the conjecture is intelligent.

Sam, who are you dude? Are you trolling here dumping that article? Before we worry about CF being a cult how about we deal with the obesity epidemic (1.4 superobese people in Australia now) or the softdrink manufacturers pimping Vs to our kids for breakfast, or alchopops or anything else that actually does harm.

The "cult" card is a vague and bitter piece of negativity that is thrown up by those in the fitness industry that (a) haven't actually walked into a CF box and (b) really can't find anything wrong with it but still want to.

How is that for some thoughts?

[Wendy S]

Thanks Matt - enough said.
Can't wait for Toowoomba, and to find out who is in my team. I am cheering for you already!
Wendy

[Virgil]

US Mid-Western Sectionals WODs have been posted...for those of you following at home...

http://games2010.crossfit.com/qualifiers/midwestern-athlete---then-and-now.html

--8<--
WOD 1: "THE AIR FORCE WOD"

For time:
20 Thrusters
20 Sumo deadlift high pulls
20 Push jerks
20 Overhead squats
20 Front squats

Men will use a 42.5kg barbell. Women will use 30kg. Each athlete must do four burpees at the beginning of every minute before moving on to the barbell work. The athlete is allowed to move to the next barbell skill once an he/she has completed all 20 reps. If the minute clock beeps during a repetition the athlete will complete their rep and then start their four burpees. There is a 20min cap.

The athlete is allowed to rest the entire minute once he/she has completed his/her burpees. If an athlete decides to scale down his/her WOD or does not finish in the allowed time the athlete will be given a DNF. Judges are looking for full range of motion (ROM) on all skills, which will be explained at the event.

--8<--

[Blythe]

Where do I post my comments re the cert I course over the weekend??????
Please don't let it be some obvious space that I have missed...
:)
B

[liz]

Blythe, some of us pay attention to how many comments that have been posted :-) I think you're best bet is to just post on the current day. It was fabulous to catch up with you!!

[Virgil]

Hey Matt,

Nice WODs!

:)

[Adam]

Good luck everyone..

[Miles]

Results here

http://scores2010.crossfit.com/scoring/queensland/

[Miles]

Hi - Matt, Danny and all the volunteers

Thanks for such an great event - I had such a awesome time.

Very well run and organised and all carried out with a great spirit.

And so many great performances.

[KerryW]

Matt

It would be interesting to see where the contestants came from in the results, i.e. which Crossfit branch.

[Curious]

Curious

Matt,
I have a question about Crossfit competitions and the future of the games.
When it comes to shifting weight during strength exercises in a competition it is not fair that people of different body weights have to shift the same amount of weight to make Rxd. For example, it's a lot easier for an 90kg male to snatch a 40kg weight (less than half his body weight!) than it is for a 60kg male to snatch 40kg (assume their technique is equal). Crossfit is fairly new and I'm hoping that soon they'll make competitions fairer by introducing weight divisions, like they have in boxing and actual competition weightlifting, or calculate Rxd based on body weight for weighlifting components.
Your thoughts?

[Curious]

that's calculate Rxd based on a percentage of body weight e.g. everyone has to lift 80% of their body weight to make Rxd.

[matt]

Curious,

I always lack motivation to respond to a post where the question comes from someone who hides beyond anonymity. To me, posting anonymously indicates that the author doesn't have the courage of their convictions. But I will answer this one because it is a question often raised by those that didn't win in open weight events.

Firstly, the question was addressed in a free journal article after the 2008 games. Here is the link ...
http://journal.crossfit.com/2008/08/all-other-things-being-equal-t.tpl

CrossFit competition is about finding the fittest human on the planet. Our definition of "Fit" is work capacity across broad time and modal domains. Anthropometric considerations are simply different inputs. Performance is the only factor that should be assessed when in determining who is fit. There is no fairness in competition nor life.

The 60kg athlete from your example has a harder time with a 60kg snatch, but and easier time with muscleups, burpees and anything else that is advantaged by small levers and lower bodyweight. Champions maximise their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. This process starts in your heart and mind, not your body.

Here is a thought exercise. If there were weight divisions in the 2009 games, Mikko Salo who weighs in as a middleweight would not have had the opportunity to beat the heavy and light weights, which he did in the open competition. Weight divisions do make it easier for the person that cannot be champion without them, no doubt. They also limit the success of those that would be champion regardless of the competition.

My two cents worth.

Please use your real name when posting next time. That way we can have a real conversation. Be brave with your opinions.

Matt

[Brad]

In trained strength athletes, lighter guys generally lift a higher percentage of their bodyweight then the heavier guys. Would this then give the light guys a significant advantage? They probably already have an advantage of sorts on the bodyweight exercises to start with....think Mikko Salo and Chris Spealer v Jason Khalipa on the opening event of last year's games- the run! I am in no way suggesting that a run should be a component of every competition. Unless of course that run is 400m or under and of one repetition ;-)

I am not for or against weight divisions but clearly there is always alot of thought going into workouts in competition to ensure as much as possible all components of fitness get a look in and are therefore not favoring anyone of a certain weight or ability. Everyone will agree Matt did a great job with the sectionals, its a very tough job to meet the CF ethos with 3 WODS but they were right down the CF alley of workouts. I think the point was made that the top guys would have made it no matter what you threw at them and it is probably very close to the money.

[Brad]

oh geebus I didnt see Matt's post LOL.

damn next button!

[Virgil]

I'm a fair bit heavier than the theoretical 60Kg male, and I don't think I had /any/ advantage on the WODs.

Anyone who saw my snatches in WOD3 will have noticed I was pressing them all out - I was unable to think how to get under the bar, and rather gassed from the row and carry. I do not consider myself very fit ;)

I will admit to thinking I could have gone harder in WOD1 and WOD2 in the after action analysis, but I'm happy with my efforts in WOD3. I was taking the competitive gamble to use RXD weights, and trying to pace myself (against aerobic fitness/work capacity) to achieve a result and not a DNF.

Big thanks to my 'blue shirts' and the crowd for the support. Apologies to Matt and Danny for forgetting my snatch technique.

Virgil
PS Not sure where this post was meant to be going, but I felt like getting this out there....

[Brad]

a 60kg male can always put on weight if he thinks it will increase his performance in certain areas. Same as a heavier guy can loose weight if he thinks carrying his large frame over 5kms or muscle ups will be a disadvantage.

[Shane H]

Hey Brad i can remember when i weighed 60kg then i put on another 70 and i can tell you it didn't make me perform better it actually made me go the oppisite way and now that i have lost 40kg of the 70 i can say i perform way better and so does my heart and my organs

[Brad]

You might be able to answer curious then.... could you snatch any better with 70 extra kilos? hehe

I was insinuating a weight gain from 60 to maybe 80kgs with bodyfat remaining around 10% and probably not a diet high in chocolate ice cream like mine to get there :-) Just got my blood test results apparently my blood type is rocky road!

[Shane H]

To answer that question i couldn't even snatch a lolly pop from a child let alone to get down to pick up the bar
being only a sort hobbit typetyin my shoelaces was like a then minute effort with a lot of breathing dificulties
And i can't wait to be 80kegs and 10% body fat but i will get there in time
Nothing wrong with rocky road blood mine used to be beer and steak hahahaha
Have a great day :)

[Andrew McGilvray]

Curious,
Ages ago i was reading a conversation about this topic on the crossfit forums and somebody made a comment along the lines of :

"No matter your size/weight/shape/gender, we all have the same amount of snow to shovel off the driveway and precious little time to get the job done."

I'm annoyed that I can't find the reference .. sorry.

If anyone is stressing over their placing in the qualifiers because of "unfairness" I believe they are missing the point entirely. Crossfit competitions are a chance for you to test yourself in a stressful environment, outside your comfort zone. Your result is your times and reps .. not your ranking.

Also, whenever I feel some jealousy over 42 athletes who bested me on the weekend I try to think about WWKMD. (What Would Kyle Maynard Do) http://games2010.crossfit.com/Gamesw2010_EWOOD_GASECT_MAYNARD.jpg

cya's

[Jo Maas]

I've got a whole bag of "thanks" here with everyones names on it! Awesome awesome awesome weekend. Only 362 sleeps until next year. I don't know where to start with the gratitude and like infinity, it'll never stop.

Matt, once again I walk away from talking with you being wiser every time - how do you do it? If only they could make a "Matt Swift" pill, how awesome would that be?

To EVERYONE who went to Sydney, thanks for your good wishes and sportsmanship - each of you are the reason I CrossFit.

Love from Jo Maas

[liz]

Jo, I completely agree. Matt and the crew have changed my life. It has also been an absolute privilege to meet so many amazing crossfitters such as yourself. I find the sport, the training and the people enrich my life. I could no longer imagine not doing crossfit or being part of this wonderful community.