How the 2025 CrossFit Games Prize Purse Works

January 17th, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • We take a deep dive into how the 2025 CrossFit Games prize purse will work and who stands to gain and lose.

  • Tracy Tucker from Training Think Tank digs into how to handle fueling during your deload phase.

  • Headed to TYR WZA Miami Beach? Check out all the great places to work out near the season’s premier fitness festival.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s a great time to compete. There are more opportunities now than there really have ever been in our sport.” - Justin Cotler, Head Coach, Underdogs Athletics, on earning opportunities for athletes in 20205 (full story coming soon).

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: Susana Rodriguez

How Does the 2025 CrossFit Games Prize Purse Work?

From its humble origins as a wad of cash ($500 each, to be exact) that passed from Dave Castro’s hand to James “OPT” Fitzgerald and Jolie Gentry in 2007, the CrossFit Games prize purse has grown significantly to around $3.3 million in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The top prize for the Fittest Man and Fittest Woman on Earth was $315,000 in these seasons. 

  • Over the past 14 years, the prize purse has been supported by title sponsors like Reebok and NOBULL. More recently, it’s been supported by presenting and apparel sponsors, like GORUCK and Northern Spirit, and by CrossFit LLC itself.

This all changes for the 2025 CrossFit Games prize purse.

One big thing: CrossFit is betting big on community backing as they will now fund the prize purse for the season based upon 50% of every $20 Open registration fee. 

  • As illustrated below, this new system of funding the season opens up some earning opportunities for affiliates and some individuals while likely limiting earning opportunities for the majority.

Remind Me 

At a virtual Affiliate Town Hall meeting in November, General Manager of Sport Dave Castro announced that “the Open for all stages, for all athletes, for the community, fundamentally [will be] the foundation for the [CrossFit Games] prize money.”

In “Appendix F: Prize Money Distributions” of the rulebook, HQ stated that half of each 2025 Open registration ($10 per $20 registration fee) will fund the 2025 CrossFit Games Season prize purse. 

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SPEED READS

🏋️ 💪 Follow the 2025 Arnold on Barbend: The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival is a little over a month away and will feature some of the biggest bodybuilding and strongman competitions of the year. Keep up with all the latest news and event previews by subscribing to The BarBend Newsletter.

 🚨🚨CrossFit Open Registration is LIVE: The 2025 CrossFit Open will take place February 27-March 17, so get signed up now!

  • Bundle and save on 2025 CrossFit Open shirts and Judges course registration here.

📈📉 Fran Lung Analytics Prize Purse Tracker: CrossFit is betting heavily on the community to fund the 2025 CrossFit Games by tying the prize purse to Open registration. Check out this real-time prize purse tracker from our friends up North, Fran Lung Analytics. And give them a follow for lots of great data and breakdowns.

📊🗓️ Known and Knowable Open Registration Tracker: From now through the Open, Known and Knowable will provide daily numbers and year-over-year comparisons for Open registrations. Follow here.

😬🌟 AIRWAAV is HSA/FSA Eligible: Thanks to its partnership with Truemed, AIRWAAV Performance and Recovery Mouthpieces are now eligible for purchase with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

ICYMI: Red Bull announces the addition of Noah Ohlsen to its brand athlete roster. The CrossFit Games legend joins 2023 Games champ Laura Horvath and European Games vet Jonne Koski.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: Frank Nguyen

How to Handle Your Nutrition During a Deload

A “deload” is a planned reduction in training intensity, volume, or both. 

  • It is typically implemented after a period of intensive training to allow the body to recover and repair. This is to give athletes a break from the stress and intensity on their muscles, joints, and nervous system. 

Deloads help prevent overtraining, reduce the risks of injury, and can ultimately enhance long-term progress by allowing the body to adapt and come back stronger. 

How Should You Adjust Your Nutrition?

First, we need to consider some variables:

  1. What is the purpose of this deload?

  • Injury flare-up, recent PR streak, life-stress overload, times of grief, or is it simply time given the progression of whatever training cycle you’re in?

  1. What will your activity look like during this time?

  • By what percentage is your volume reduced?

  • Are there bouts of intensity on your deload days?

  • Will you be supplementing with more movement outside of the gym?

COMPETITIONS

Credit: @dtscmia / Instagram

Where to Work Out at 2025 TYR Wodapalooza Miami Beach

Nothing makes you want to work out more than watching some of the best in the world take to the competition floor and give it everything they have at TYR Wodapalooza Miami Beach. 

After all, who needs a rest day when the area is full of affiliates open for drop-ins? 

  • Here is a totally non-comprehensive list of places to get your fitness on while visiting Miami Beach.

In addition to regularly scheduled programming, many affiliates are offering special workouts with elite athletes and brand activations. Keep an eye on the Morning Chalk Up Instagram feed for more.

Where to Work Out in Miami Beach during 2025 TYR Wodapalooza 

Location: 6802 SW 81st St, Miami, FL 33143
Instagram: @peak360fitness 

Peak 360 Fitness has been serving Miami since 2010, prepping countless athletes for “peak” performance. 

Drop in to check out the training floor and even get a workout outside when the sun is out.

  • CrossFit and Sweat 360 classes are offered daily (except Sunday), with tons of Open Gym time available.

  • Drop-In Fees: 1 Day ($25), Weekly ($75). Head here to register in advance.

They will be hosting a range of special clinics and workouts, including: 

  • RAD Sling and send - Friday, January 24 at 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

  • Skyhill Clinic - Friday, January 24 at 5 p.m.

  • Clinic with Chris Hinshaw 

  • Workout sponsored by RHO Supplements 

If you download the Peak app, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial and drop in.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🎂Happy birthday to Emma Gardner.

  • Happy birthday (1/19) to Mariah Moore and Emily Rolfe.

  • Congratulations to Ammar from Crossfit 9616 in Lebanon on getting his first bar muscle-up.

  • 🏋️Nice work to Ben from CrossFit Rapture in Brightwaters, NY, on the 88-kilo/195-pound snatch and the 127-kilo/280-pound clean and jerk.

  • 🇧🇷Check out 12-year-old Pedrinho from Brazil knocking out these chest-to-bar reps. Incrível, Pedrinho!