2025 Open Registration Drops 32%

March 5th, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • The Open Report is back for week six, and it’s a big one. Check out Known and Knowable’s breakdown of the unofficial 2025 Open registration total, which dropped by almost a third from 2024.

  • Improving sleep habits isn’t the most exciting thing an athlete can do, but the benefits are undeniable. Learn more about the unsexy truths of improving sleep today.

  • Tied to the Open registration numbers, the 2025 CrossFit Games prize purse is down just over 30% as well. We dig into the numbers below.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“As a [business owner] I have to evaluate whether we’re getting enough value for what we pay in affiliation fees, or whether that money could be better spent on our specific needs.” - Eivind Dahl Ringard, the CEO and one of the owners of Functional Fitness Group in Normway on the decision to de-affiliate 10 of their 16 CrossFit gyms. Full story coming soon.

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: Heather Weir, @hweirphotography / Instagram

The Open Report, Week 6: Lowest Registration Since 2014

CrossFit Open workout 25.1 is done, and the results are in. 

While many are pondering their own fitness level, the leaderboard, as always, also highlights overall registration and participation.

Since registration opened on January 15, we have been building toward this moment. The first workout of the 2025 CrossFit Games season was announced, scores have been submitted, and the dust has started to settle.

Big Takeaways

  • The unofficial 2025 total Open registration is 233,815, down from 343,496 in 2024.

  • That is a 32% reduction in Open registrations year over year and the lowest total since 2014.

  • This is only the second time in CrossFit’s history that total Open registrations decreased this steeply year over year. The first time was the 2020 Open.

  • The total prize purse is currently $2,338,150, with the Individual podium awarding $286,423, $57,284, and $45,827, respectively.

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SPEED READS

🚨🚨 The CrossFit Open Is Here! The 2025 CrossFit Open started last Thursday with 25.1 and will continue through March 17. Sign up now!

  • Live Open Announcement Viewership Survey: CrossFit HQ is seeking feedback from anyone who watched 25.1 last week. Take the survey here.

📚 🏋️ CrossFit Open History: While the leaderboard for CrossFit Open 25.1 is still unofficial, Mirjam von Rohr and Colten Mertens currently hold first place in their respective divisions, just as they did in 24.1 a year ago. If it stays this way, they will become the second and third people to win week one of the Open in consecutive years. 

  • The only other person to accomplish this feat was Kristen Clever in 12.1 and 13.1, in the second and third years of the Open. H/T to Fran Lung Analytics for this fun fact.

📋 ✍️ Rogue Point System Update: Rogue Fitness announced earlier this week that the Rogue Points System (which it uses to determine invitations for the annual Rogue Invitational) has been updated to include results from 2025 TYR WZA.

  • Results from the CrossFit Open will be added to the calculation at the conclusion of the 25.3. Check out the Rogue Points System here.

🌎 🏆 World Fitness Project Tour — Event I: It’s time to sign up! Registration is now open for World Fitness Tour Competitor divisions for the inaugural Tour Event in Indianapolis, IN, May 9-11, 2025. Learn more here and sign up!

ICYMI: Last week, Adidas invited its sponsored athletes to train together in Germany and take on 25.1 with the local community at Riginal CrossFit Nürnberg. We were on site for all the action, and you can check out the first part of our recap here.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: Shutterstock

The Unsexy Truth About Improving Sleep: Why Basic Habits Beat Hacks

“How can I improve my sleep?” is a question I get often enough to dedicate a few episodes of the Consistency Project podcast to it. As we all know, it's a valid concern. 

Quality sleep is crucial for physical health, mental well-being, and peak performance. 

When looking for answers, people typically turn to three main approaches:

  1. Tweaking their diet. 

  2. Taking supplements.

  3. Adopting sleep hygiene habits.

The allure of a "quick fix" in the form of trendy foods or pills is strong. 

But a clear pattern emerges when we cut through the hype and look at the evidence. 

While diet and supplements may help, consistent (albeit unsexy) behavioral practices are the foundation of true restful sleep. 

Let's explore why.

The Dietary (Dis)Connection

On the surface, the idea that certain foods can enhance sleep is appealing – especially to somebody who touts fruits, vegetables, and adequate protein as much as I do. 

Indeed, some studies suggest a correlation between "healthy" diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and better sleep quality. Conversely, diets high in ultra-processed junk foods are associated with poorer sleep. 

  • However, these observational studies can't definitively say diet directly causes these sleep outcomes. 

People who eat healthier may also engage in other sleep-promoting behaviors like regular exercise and stress management. 

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: Carlos Fleury

2025 CrossFit Games Prize Purse to Decrease ~30% from 2024

The 2025 CrossFit Games prize purse is estimated to be about $1 million lower than last year. This estimate is based on total Open registrations after the sign-up window closed. 

As of 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 3, the unofficial registration total for 2025 was 233,815 individuals. With that registration total, the 2025 CrossFit Games prize purse is set at $2,338,150, according to the Fran Lung Analytics Prize Purse Calculator.

Keep in mind that a small number of athletes will continue to register for the next two weeks, but traditionally that number has been quite small.

  • This is a decrease from last year when the prize purse was a total of $3.3 million.

  • While the 2025 Open registration number is unofficial, compared to 2024, it’s down 32 percent yearly. This is the lowest registration total since 2014. 

The details: The details about the cash prizes for the Games season are laid out in the CrossFit Rulebook, 

  • Rule 1.33 states: “The exact number of winning placements in each category and competition region will be determined at the close of Open registration (Monday, March 17, at 5 p.m. PT).”

  • Rule 5.17 states: “A percentage of Open registration fees will go toward the Games cash prizes. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top performers. All cash prizes will be paid in U.S. dollars. Prize values will be released prior to the beginning of competition.”

  • Appendix F: Prize Money Distributions provides a full breakdown of the prizes and percentages of total registration fees allocated per division.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🔥Congratulations to Jon from Skyline CrossFit in Houston, TX, on the deadlift PR at 229 kilos/505 pounds.

  • Congratulations to Noah and Joann Ohlsen, who are expecting their first baby later this year.

  • Congratulations to Willy Georges on his recent weightlifting competition. He topped out with a 130-kilo/286-pound snatch and a 170-kilo/374-pound clean and jerk.

  • Congratulations to Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr and James Newbury, who took second place in the Pro Mixed Doubles category at the Brisbane Hyrox with a time of 54:11.

  • 🍼Congratulations to Amanda and Wesley Bernhard, who are expecting a baby later this year.