🌎 CrossFit Reveals 2026 Semifinals Dates and Locations

October 30th, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🏋️‍♀️ Semifinals Set for 2026: CrossFit just announced details on the 2026 Semifinal events that will qualify athletes for next year’s CrossFit Games.

  • 🧘‍♀️ Pamela Gagnon shares why chasing balance — not burnout — has been the secret to her longevity as an athlete and coach.

  • 📺 How to watch — the 2025 Rogue Invitational lands in Aberdeen from October 31–November 2, the final year at P&J Live before it moves again.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

I'm excited for her to be back out there. Obviously, there are some nerves…But I think we're both really excited.”

Justin Cotler, HWPO Training’s director of coaching, on his athlete, Alex Gazan’s return to competition at the Rogue Invitational (story in tomorrow’s newsletter).
CrossFit Games

2026 CrossFit Semifinals Dates, Locations, Games Invitations Announced

Credit: CrossFit Games

On Wednesday, CrossFit announced the 10 in-person Semifinals events that will serve as qualification competitions for 30 individual men and 30 individual women to earn invitations to the 2026 CrossFit Games next July in San Jose, CA.

Eight of the events were In-Person Qualifying Events last season, while two are new this year: the Legends Championship and MAD Fitness Festival.

Locations, Dates, and Available Qualifying Spots

  • Mayhem Classic: Cookeville, TN, April 17-19 (3 men, 3 women)

  • Legends Championship: Del Mar, CA, April 24-26 (2 men, 2 women)

  • Copa Sur: São José, Brazil, May 1-3 (2 men, 2 women)

  • Far East Throwdown: Busan, South Korea, May 1-3 (1 man, 1 woman)

  • French Throwdown: Paris, France, May 15-17 (3 men, 3 women)

  • Torian Pro: Brisbane, Australia, May 22-24 (3 men, 3 women)

  • Rebel Renegade Games: Johannesburg, South Africa, May 21-24 (1 man, 1 woman)

  • Syndicate Crown: Knoxville, TV, May 29-31 (3 men, 3 women)

  • MAD Fitness Festival: Ciudad Real, Spain, May 29-31 (3 men, 3 women)

  • Northern California Classic: Sacramento, CA, May 29-31 (2 men, 2 women)

Additionally, the Online Semifinals will be held from June 11 to 15, during which seven men and seven women will receive final Games invitations.

  • Continue reading for more details on the 2026 Semifinals schedule, including the two Masters-specific in-person Semifinals.

A MESSAGE FROM VELITES

Velites Presents: The HOLO Fall Collection

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With its second-skin feel, superior stretch, and minimalist design, the HOLO collection embodies what Velites stands for: innovation, functionality, and passion for training.

Train hard. Move free. Look bold.

*This newsletter relies on our sponsors. Please consider supporting them.

SPEED READS

🔴 🧠 Infrared Saunas for Mental Health? A small but promising study shows sauna sessions could help treat depression. The secret may lie in how heat regulates the body’s stress and sleep systems.

🔥🏋️ Mayhem Goes All In for Rogue: Check out this behind-the-scenes look at Haley Adams, Roman Khrennikov, Gui Malheiros, Austin Hatfield, and Paige Rodgers (Powers) during their Rogue prep. The Mayhem crew isn’t holding back.

🌿👩‍💻 Gen Z’s Wellness Revolution: According to a new report from Wellhub, younger workers are rejecting the “tough-it-out” hustle-culture model and demanding workplaces that support wellness, flexibility, and mental health.

🎥🏋️‍♀️ The Untold Story of Mattie Rogers: One of America’s most iconic weightlifters opens up in a raw new documentary — from childhood trauma to world records. It’s a story of resilience, redemption, and what it really takes to rise.

ICYMI: ❤️‍🔥 At Mach983 CrossFit, one affiliate owner’s mission to help his community turned into something much bigger.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

The Case for the Slow Lane – How Choosing Balance Over Burnout Made Me a Better Athlete and Coach

Credit: B.A.W Photography

When you reach your 50s, you’ve lived enough life to know a thing or two, and maybe share a few lessons others can learn from.

  • Every experience, whether a challenge or a win, has shaped who I am today.

What I want to share might help you reflect on your own journey — in CrossFit, in business, or simply in how you approach growth and purpose.

Of course, everyone’s path is different. But listening to others’ experiences has always helped me find perspective and direction, and I hope this story does the same for you.

My Story – Pursuing Balance

I took the slower path in gymnastics.

At first glance, that might sound strange. I was a Division I scholarship gymnast, a multi-time Masters Games athlete, and a USAW state record holder. But what I’ve learned over the years is this: “slow” doesn’t mean “unproductive.”

Let me explain.

POLL

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 What are you most excited to watch this week at the Rogue Invitational?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last week, we asked: 🥗 What’s your post-WOD meal strategy?

  • 🍗 Protein + carbs = recovery mode. (62.5%)

  • 🥤 Shake + snack and out the door. (23%)

  • 🍕 Whatever I can grab. (5%)

  • ⏰ Forget to eat and regret it later when the hanger hits. (5%)

  • Something else? (Tell us in the comments.)

“Protein + carbs” is the hands-down winner this week, and we are glad to see it (as are our resident nutrition contributors Tracy Tucker and EC Synkowski!).

COMPETITIONS

How to Watch the 2025 Rogue Invitational and Schedule of Events

Credit: @rogueinvitational / Instagram

​​The 2025 Rogue Invitational is heading to P&J Live in Aberdeen, Scotland, from October 31 to November 2. 

This is the second and final time the event will be held at P&J Live in Aberdeen. It was originally held at Rogue Headquarters in Columbus, OH, and then moved to Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX.

  • The Rogue Invitational is one of the highest-profile CrossFit competitions outside of the Games and has the largest prize purse during the offseason. 

How to Watch 

The live stream for CrossFit, Strongman, and Strongwoman events will be available for free on YouTube. Additionally, Zach Telander will host the Iron Game Tailgate Show, featuring top athletes from the Invitational and beyond.

Who’s competing: Here’s the full roster of athletes throwing down this weekend, along with a breakdown of the Rogue Iron Game Prize Purse.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 💕Happy anniversary to Rory and Angela McKernan.

  • Congratulations to Matilde Garnes on becoming the 2025 National Champion of Norway.

  • Well done to Leorah from Voldelgym in the Netherlands on her first bar muscle-up.

  • Check out this two-mile suitcase carry through a tunnel at the recent Hybrid Con Games. Congratulations to Emily Loogman on the overall win.

  • 🤸Great job to these Keala Foundation kids on their burpees and on making exercise fun!