Justin Cotler's Underdogs Athletics Prepares for a Busy 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• The news has been coming fast and furious lately, and yesterday, CrossFit revealed the matchup and location of the CrossFit Open 25.3 live announcement. Get the details below.

• Jason Ackerman from Best Hour of Their Day lays out his six pillars of effective leadership for affiliate owners.

• Next up in our 2025 training camp preview: Underdogs Athletics.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It is important to understand that when an athlete, especially one at the highest level, chooses you to be their coach, they are putting what they hold the most dear, their career, which is so short-lived, in your hands.” - Justin Cotler, Head Coach, Underdogs Athletics.

CROSSFIT GAMES

CrossFit Open Announcement 25.3: First Look and Predictions

The third and final week of the 2025 CrossFit Open will start with the 25.3 live announcement, where three of the best male athletes in the sport will throw down against each other: James Sprague, Dallin Pepper, and Jayson Hopper.

This is the first Open announcement event for all three athletes. Here's how they fared at last year's CrossFit Games:

• James Sprague — First place

• Dallin Pepper — Second place

• Jayson Hopper — Fourth place

Remind me: Over the last two weeks, details for 25.1 and 25.2 were announced via Instagram. The week one announcement will be hosted at CrossFit Mayhem on February 27, marking the start of the 2025 season. Week two will be hosted by CrossFit Incendia on March 6. 

• Get caught up on the new format for the season, along with both major and minor rulebook changes. 

According to CrossFit's Instagram post, the 25.3 Open announcement will be hosted by CrossFit Spur in Glenmont, NY, on March 13 at 12:00 p.m. PT. It will be streamed live on the CrossFit Games website and YouTube channel. 

• “It’s a trio that watching go head-to-head is a nice storyline. I’m really excited about the athletes all the weeks, but specifically week three,” Dave Castro said during his Week in Review YouTube series. 

The only thing we know about these workouts is that one of them will be a repeat Open workout from a previous year. It’s still unknown which week it will appear. 

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SPEED READS

💪 👴 Age Group Athlete (Teens and Masters) Feedback: Jason Grubb, five-time Games Masters champ and member of the CrossFit Athlete Council, has asked for some feedback from age group athletes (teen and masters) that he can take to CrossFit HQ. Learn more here.

🇦🇺 👟 The WOD Life Rebrands to “TWL”: Originally founded as a grassroots fitness brand based in Australia, The WOD Life, now “TWL,” has evolved into one of the leading names in e-commerce for fitness athletes. Check out the new look here.

🏋️🎟️ World Fitness Project Spectator Tickets: Want to attend the inaugural World Fitness Tour Event? Spectator tickets are available now for the Indianapolis, IN, event on May 9-11. Get them here.

🎥📺 Brute UNSCRIPTED: Last week, Brute Strength launched a new YouTue series that takes a behind-the-scenes look at Brute athletes. The first episode is live now and features 2024 Crossfit Games champ, James Sprague.

🚨🚨 The CrossFit Open Is Coming: The 2025 CrossFit Open will take place from February 27 to March 17, so sign up now!

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

ICYMI: A number of CrossFit Games athletes announced that they would not participate in the 2025 season over the past few weeks. Get caught up and see the list here.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

The 6 Pillars of Effective Leadership for CrossFit Affiliate Owners

As affiliate owners, we can lead our teams and communities, which is essential to the success of our businesses.

Over many years in this industry, I've identified the "Six Pillars of Leadership" – a framework for how to level up as leaders to serve our members and staff better.

Pillar 1: Do Hard Things

Great leaders aren't afraid to step outside their comfort zone.

I encourage you to consistently challenge yourself, whether tackling a difficult workout, having a tough conversation, or making a risky business decision.

• I experienced this first-hand during one of Brian “Tosh” Chontosh's "Diesel Days" – a grueling 24-hour endurance event. It was 2 a.m., pitch black, and I was alone in the woods when I dropped a 55-pound weight on my foot. 

For fifteen minutes, every fiber of my being wanted to quit.

• But then I asked myself, "What's the next right thing I can do?"

As affiliate owners, we're going to hit bumps in the road. There will be days when we want to give up. In those moments, just focus on the next right thing.

Embracing discomfort helps us grow and sets an example for our tribes. Commit to excellence in everything you do, from coaching class to cleaning the toilets.

Your effort will earn respect and inspire others to match your standards.

CROSSFIT GAMES

2025 CrossFit Training Camp Preview: Underdogs Athletics

When you picture an intense and animated coach yelling and pouring every ounce of emotion and energy into their athletes on the competition floor, you are imagining Justin Cotler. 

• Never one to mince words, the founder, co-owner, and Head Coach of Underdogs Athletics in Las Vegas has been working with teams and individual CrossFit athletes for over 13 years. 

And like so many coaches and athletes, Cotler came out of the 2024 CrossFit Games unsure of what the future would hold.

• In our conversation, Cotler described how it felt: “Once the Games were over, I told my athletes to take all the time they need and just give me a shout when they’re ready because they generally know when it’s time. And some need more time than others.”

“I just give them the autonomy to come back to me and say, ‘Hey, Coach, I’m ready to go,’” Cotler continued.

The 2025 Season

After letting things shake out, the dust started to settle (slightly). 

The majority of Cotler’s athletes at Underdogs Athletics plan to participate in the CrossFit season, and there is the possibility of competing in person much more than in years past, thanks to in-person CrossFit Games Qualifying Events and the World Fitness Tour.

Cotler understands how this fact makes his job as a coach even more important and difficult.

• “You have to be smart about how you plan, the schedule, and how you program,” Cotler said. “There’s going to be a lot more tapers and peaking – you’re going to have to play things very differently, which I’m cool with. I love the idea that the athletes are going to have more opportunities to compete!” 

In addition to the competitions, there is a lot to consider when it comes to travel.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

• 💕Happy anniversary to Arielle and Dillon Loewen.

• Happy birthday to Eric Sherred.

• Check out this bench press set of two for Victor Hoffer at 140 kilos/308 pounds.

• Great work to Emma Tall, who just completed the Swedish Functional Fitness qualifiers that resulted in a back squat PR at 140 kilos/321 pounds.

• 🙌Congratulations to David Shoruke, who competed in his first powerlifting meet and PRed both his bench and his back squat. His final total was 606 kilos/1336 pounds at a body weight of 107.9 kilos/238 pounds.

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