2024 Rogue Invitational Podium Picks and Dark Horses: Women's Division

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• The Rogue Invitational will kick off this Friday, and we are starting the week with podium picks and dark horses for the women’s division.

• Who owns Echo Bike workouts? We looked at the data and ranked the best athletes in the world on the dreaded torture machine.

• Last week, Brent Fikowski announced his retirement in an exclusive interview with the Morning Chalk Up. Today, we take a look back at his 11-year competitive CrossFit career.

Should your gym be featured as an affiliate of the month? Send us a note explaining why.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Who is the king of the Echo Bike?” - Jayson Hopper following his Event 3: “Firestorm” win at the 2024 CrossFit Games

COMPETITIONS

2024 Rogue Invitational Podium Picks and Dark Horses: Women’s Division

In the six-year history of the Rogue Invitational, only two women have stood atop the podium: Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr and Laura Horvath. 

As we look ahead to the competition’s inaugural outing in Aberdeen, Scotland, nothing makes us think that a third name will be added to this list in 2024. Here’s who we’re picking to win it all.

Picking The Winner

We don’t know much about the 2024 Rogue Invitational workouts at this point, but Rogue recently shared a post with a horizontal pegboard traverse, hinting at what could be in store for the athletes. 

If the horizontal pegboard event comes to pass, expect Horvath to have an advantage due to her rock-climbing background. 

• Check out our article on the last time a horizontal showed up at an elite CrossFit competition, ELFIT in 2022.

In three out of four previous in-person Rogue Invitationals, Event 1 has been a mid-length run with a vest. 

• Toomey-Orr has won two of these three events, with the third programmed in 2022 when she did not compete. 

If history repeats itself this year, expect Tia to be in the mix for the event win again.

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SPEED READS

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• From the ad: “RXSG is seeking a highly motivated and creative Social Media Marketing Specialist with a passion for connecting with current and future customers. This role is vital in engaging with our audience daily, transforming fans into customers and customers into advocates.”

💛💙 Haley Adams Opens Up: Recently, CrossFit Games vet and fan favorite Haley Adams sat down for an “Athlete Stories” episode on the CrossFit Mayhem YouTube channel. She talked about the struggles in 2022 that led her to sit out the 2023 CrossFit season. Listen to the full episode here.

🎖️❤️ Chad 1000X: On November 11, 2024, join the CrossFit community, Rogue Fitness, and The Step Up Foundation in support of “Chad 1000X.” Take on the challenge to bring awareness to the causes and prevention of veteran suicide. Learn more and register today.

📺👂Hear Their Stories: CrossFit’s new video series, Hear Their Stories, brings viewers into the heart of the CrossFit community. Episode nine focuses on Luis Vela, a coach at CrossFit Groundbreakers whose journey highlights the resilience, community, and transformation of CrossFit. Watch now.

ICYMI: After nine CrossFit Games appearances, three podium finishes, and six top-fives, “The Professor,” Brent Fikowski plans to take the competition floor one final time at the 2024 Rogue Invitational. Get the details.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Who Are the Kings and Queens of the Echo Bike?

After winning “Event 3: Firestorm” at the 2024 CrossFit Games, Jayson Hopper pulled friend, competitor, and the second-place finisher in the event, Dallin Pepper into the post-event interview. 

• After both competitors acknowledged the importance of being pushed to perform their best, Hopper nudged commentator Mike Arsenault to ask the important question, “Who is the king of the Echo Bike?”

Hopper vs. Pepper

In the interview, Dallin Pepper recognizes defeat, saying, “Don’t worry, I still have like five on him.” 

• When it comes to head-to-head competition, the two have faced each other in an Echo Bike event eight times. 

Both athletes have been lights out in these matchups, as the duo combined for the event win in six out of the eight events.

• In the head-to-head matchup does Pepper have the big lead he thinks he does? No, it doesn’t.

CROSSFIT GAMES

Brent Fikowski’s CrossFit Games Career – By The Numbers

Brent Fikowski has compiled numerous accolades in his illustrious CrossFit career. 

Over a decade, he has competed throughout the world, inspiring athletes far and wide with not only his athletic performances but his poise and his role as a leader. 

• He is known as the ultimate strategist and a student of the game, traits that earned him the nickname “The Professor.” 

In light of his recent retirement announcement, let’s take a look at some highlights of Fikowski’s CrossFit Games career by the numbers.

3 – Podium Finishes

In only his second appearance at the Games, Fikowski earned the title of Second Fittest Man on Earth in 2017. 

• One spot behind in third place was friend and rival Pat Vellner, who had edged him out by two points the year prior. 

Fikowski battled his way to a third-place finish in 2021, sharing the podium with Vellner once again. 

This year, which proved to be his last Games appearance, he wore the leader’s jersey going into the two-part final event. 

In a year marred by tragedy, he closed out his CrossFit Games career with another hard-earned bronze medal. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.

• 🎂 Happy birthday to Katie Hammer.

• Happy belated birthday (10/31) to Dallas Hamm.

• Congratulations to Benjamin of CrossFit Wolf Spirit in France on this 150-kilo/330-pound clean and jerk.

• 😮‍💨 Check out Bruno Marins cycling these 143-kilo/315-pound power cleans.

• Great work to Marnie Sykes for taking on this nice (and tough) training day.