Age Group Semifinals Start Today!

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Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• In-Affiliate Semifinals kick off today — get the judging and location details necessary to validate your workouts.

• Fuel smarter on training and rest days with targeted snack tips.

• Mayhem’s Jorge Fernandez takes on the first In-Person Qualifying Event of the season at home in Cookeville. Learn more about his journey.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Everyone is throwing weights around, and I see these banners. I didn’t know then, but they were banners for Josh Bridges and Lauren Fisher.” - Jorge Fernandez on his free trial week at CrossFit Invictus.

CROSSFIT GAMES

2025 CrossFit In-Affiliate Semifinals – What to Know About Judging and Location Requirements

The second phase of the season has begun, with registration for the In-Affiliate Semifinals for Age Groups and both the Age Group Semifinals and the first In-Person qualifying events kicking off this weekend.

• Age Group In-Affiliate Semifinals —Virtual, April 3-6.

• Mayhem Classic Invitational (In-Person Qualifying Event) — Cookeville, TN,  April 5-6.

With nearly 4,900 athletes qualifying for the Age Group Semifinals, many athletes and affiliates are gearing up for the weekend ahead. 

The first weekend of Semifinals will feature the largest field:

Note: These totals are based upon the CrossFit Games rulebook and CrossFit’s In-Affiliate Semifinals article. Per the rulebook, there is no plan to backfill beyond these numbers. 

Key Takeaways

• Each athlete needs two judges: a Head Judge and a Floor Judge.

• All judges must hold a current CrossFit Level 1 or Online L1 certification and pass both the 2025 Judges Course and Advanced Judges Course.

• Workouts must be completed at an affiliate in good standing.

• Athletes must submit a public YouTube video for each workout for community evaluation and CrossFit review if needed.

A MESSAGE FROM PUSHPRESS

If You Ran CrossFit, Would You Do It Differently?

PushPress CEO Dan Uyemura and CRO Nick Reyes sit down to explore a question every CrossFit fan has quietly asked: What would you do if you ran CrossFit HQ?

In this episode, they break down the friction between sport vs. business, who CrossFit’s real customer is, and why storytelling might be the brand’s most powerful tool. Whether you’re an affiliate owner, coach, or lifelong member, this conversation hits on what matters most for the future of the methodology.

Hear where CrossFit’s heading—and where it should go next.

🎧 Listen on Apple
🎙️ Listen on Spotify
📺 Watch on YouTube

SPEED READS

🎟️ 💪 2025 CrossFit Games Tickets: Tickets for the 2025 CrossFit Games at MVP Arena in Albany, NY, are on sale now.

👴 🏋️ 2025 CrossFit Age Group In-Affiliate Semifinals: The Age Group In-Affiliate Semifinals start today!

• The workout details for the 2025 CrossFit In-Affiliate Age Group Semifinals were released earlier this week. Check them out here.

🌎 🏆 WFP Athlete Withdrawal: Emma McQuaid and the World Fitness Project announced earlier this week that the signed athlete has withdrawn from WFP Tour Event I in Indianapolis next month.

• A WFP press release stated that “backfill her vacated spot with an athlete from the Online Challenger Qualifier. The women’s Pro Division will now feature 19 signed athletes and 11 challengers.”

🏆 🇺🇸 United Grid League Schedule: The UGL 2025 schedule was announced this week, with events running from the end of May through July. Details here.

ICYMI: The 2025 season kicks off with CrossFit’s first-ever In-Person Qualifying Event — the Mayhem Classic Invitational — this weekend. Check out our preview and podium picks here.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Smart Snacking Tips for Training and Rest Days

What you eat before, during, and after your workouts significantly influences your performance, recovery, and overall energy levels. 

While full meals lay the foundation for proper nutrition, snacks are essential tools for fine-tuning energy intake, supporting muscle recovery, and preventing fatigue. However, not all snacks are created equal—what is effective on a heavy training day might not be suitable for a rest day.

Training days require strategic fueling to optimize performance, maintain endurance, and support recovery, while rest days demand a different approach that focuses on muscle repair and managing overall calorie intake. 

• Understanding the appropriate types of snacks for each scenario can help athletes sustain energy levels, enhance adaptation, and maximize long-term progress.

In this article, we’ll break down the best snacks for training and rest days, discuss their optimal timing, and highlight research-backed reasons why these choices can boost your overall performance.

PROFILE

Interview: How a Free Week at CrossFit Invictus Changed Jorge Fernandez’s Life

An athlete since the age of four, Jorge Fernandez participated in various sports, but his focus narrowed to baseball as he entered adolescence. After experiencing a series of ups and downs, as well as injuries during his time as a collegiate pitcher, Fernandez eventually found his way to his local CrossFit box.  

• He believes that his path to this point in life was meant to be all along. 

Set to compete this weekend at the Mayhem Classic in Cookeville, TN, Fernandez reflects on how his journey began and the twists and turns that led him to the competition floor.

Some Background 

In high school, Fernandez, a two-way player (shortstop and pitcher),  received a walk-on offer from Texas State University and became a Bobcat. 

Close to his home in Del Rio, TX, Fernandez enjoyed his freshman year – it was the perfect balance of sports, academics, and plenty of partying. 

It didn’t take long before Fernandez was cut from the team. He faced two options: remain at TSU as a student, give up his dream of playing baseball, or transfer to a smaller school that would accept him and have a spot for him on their team.  

• “I gave myself one night, and I cried. The next morning, I emailed a bunch of junior colleges. I got one email back from (San Jacinto College) in Houston,” Fernandez told Morning Chalk Up.

POLL QUESTIONS

HIGHLIGHTS

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

• 🎂Happy birthday to Erin Weber and Rebecka Vitesson.

• Check out this 148-kilo/327-pound split jerk triple from Isaac at Verdant CrossFit in Boise, ID.

• Congratulations to Ellyott from Wilson Family YMCA CrossFit in Augusta, GA, on this 61-kilo/135-pound snatch PR.

• Great work to Peter Ellis on this clean complex at 150 kilos/330 pounds.

• 😳Check out this new version of bar muscle-ups from Loredana of CrossFit Alioth in UAE.

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