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Team Semifinal Workout Sparks Debate
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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.
In today’s edition:
Run course rules spark fairness concerns ahead of Team Semis.
Your gym might not need more leads. It needs better retention.
Wodland Fest kicks off this weekend with four Games tickets on the line.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Teams hoping to qualify for the CrossFit Games MUST have video evidence of their run course available on request. Failure to provide video on request may result in disqualification.”
CROSSFIT GAMES
Credit: Mike Halpin
Run Rules Raise Questions Ahead of CrossFit’s Team In-Affiliate Semifinals
On Monday, CrossFit announced the workouts for the upcoming Team In-Affiliate Semifinals, sparking much conversation and criticism online.
The main concern expressed by athletes and fans centers on Workout 4 – a gymnastics and monostructural test featuring three 800-meter runs – and how it may complicate efforts to ensure fair competition. Secondary concerns include logistical challenges and the potential for cheating.
Workout 4 for the upcoming Team Semifinals is:
800-meter run
100 pull-ups
800-meter run
100 chest-to-bar pull-ups
800-meter run
100 ring muscle-ups
All athletes must complete each 800-meter run together; they will then work one at a time to complete the gymnastics reps, which they can break up as needed.
One big thing: While Semifinals teams are not required to upload videos of their workouts to YouTube like individual and age-group athletes, “teams hoping to qualify for the CrossFit Games must have video evidence of their run course available on request. Failure to provide video on request may result in disqualification.”
“Evidence,” as defined by CrossFit, includes photos and/or screenshots of a GPS tracking device that show the run course. Furthermore, CrossFit requires teams to produce “an uncut video of the course being measured.”
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SPEED READS
🥩🥦 Eat Like the Second Fittest Man: Curious about what an elite CrossFit athlete eats in a day? Follow Dallin Pepper, the second fittest in 2024, as he shares a full day of eating while training for the CrossFit season. Watch now.
🎥 📺 Jayson Hopper UNSCRIPTED: Brute Strength has launched a new YouTube series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the athletes in its camp. Check out the new drop featuring Jayson Hopper.
ICYMI: Here’s the UNSCRIPTED episode featuring 2025 Games qualifier, Fee Saghafi.
🥇📊 Age Group Semifinal Leaderboard Update: CrossFit announced earlier this week that the Age Group Semifinal leaderboard is now locked. Check it out.
🌎 🤝 WFP x Velites: The World Fitness Project has announced that Velites is its official partner for jump ropes, hand grips, and wristbands. Velites becomes the second brand partner revealed, joining pliability.
🏋️🏋️♀️ Tracking “Heavy Isabel”: Fran Lung Analytics is tracking “Heavy Isabel” results across Qualifying Events this season. See who’s on top.
📋✍️ Join the BarBend Forum: The BarBend Forum is live now. Join the conversation about all things CrossFit and training.
ICYMI: Check out some key takeaways from a wild Copa Sur weekend.
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Why Retention Matters More Than New Members
Credit: @besthouroftheirday / Instagram
Your affiliate is scrambling for leads, running flash promotions, and posting relentlessly on social media — but membership numbers remain stagnant.
Sound familiar?
After 16 years as an affiliate owner and working with over 800 CrossFit affiliates, I've seen this pattern repeatedly.
The harsh truth? You may not have a lead problem.
You have a retention problem.
CROSSFIT GAMES
6 Things You Need to Know About Wodland Fest
Credit: @wodlandfest / Instagram
The third 2025 CrossFit Games In-Person Qualifying Event (IPQE) begins this week in Málaga, Spain.
The Wodland Fest features deep rosters of elite individual men and women, all fighting for four spots at the Games (two each for the men and women).
The complete 30-person Games rosters for men and women will be assembled as follows:
In-Affiliate Semifinals – 11 men and women.
In-Person Qualifying Events (10 competitions) – 18 men and women (each event offers one or two Games tickets).
Last Chance Qualifier – one man and one woman.
The details: Wodland Fest takes place from April 25 to April 27, hosted by MAD Events.
All events will occur at the UMA Sports Complex. Tickets are still available here.
Athletes qualified to compete at Wodland through an online qualifier in January.
As we get ready for an action-packed weekend in Spain, here are six things you need to know.
POLL
Who is your 100% lock, top pick to earn a Games ticket at Wodland Fest this weekend? |
HIGHLIGHTS
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.
🎂Happy birthday to Travis Williams.
💕Happy anniversary to Sean and Sheena Woodland.
Happy affiliate anniversary to Coast Range CrossFit in Gilroy, CA.
Check out these heavy snatches from Kaique Cerveny. That’s a lot of reps with a lot of weight!
🔥Noah Ohlsen is jumping on the split jerk train as he preps for World Fitness Project Tour Event 1. Nice work, Noah!
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