Noah Ohlsen Joins Team Red Bull with Laura Horvath and Jonne Koski

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• 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.

• We know that the “intensity” part of CrossFit’s definition — ”constantly varied, functional movement, performed at high intensity” — is where the magic happens. But can too much intensity, too often, be a bad thing in training? Learn more today.

• Headed to TYR WZA Miami Beach? If so, check out our guide to eating, drinking, and caffeinating near the season’s premier fitness festival.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I remember starting my mountain bike races and [seeing] the cool-looking Red Bull DJ booth on top of a heavy-duty vehicle as I rolled in to finish my race. The company has always been supporting sports and events that I was interested in, and seeing their documentaries on snowboarders and their never-before-seen projects online has made me excited.” - Laura Horvath, 2023 CrossFit Games champ, on why becoming a Red Bull athlete appealed to her.

INDUSTRY

Noah Ohlsen Joins Laura Horvath and Jonne Koski as Newest Red Bull Athlete

Red Bull, one of the biggest and most impactful names in the energy drink space, recently signed Noah Ohlsen and renewed partnerships with Jonne Koski and Laura Horvath to serve as brand athletes. 

A brand that represents athletes in a broad range of sports from skydiving to BMX, wakeboarding to ultrarunning, Red Bull is broadening its reach in the fitness space as we head into 2025. 

Why This Matters 

Red Bull joins the list of other brands, like Adidas, that, while not endemic to the CrossFit space, have entered the market, creating new products and partnering with elite athletes to represent their name. 

• Red Bull is currently available in 175 countries, and more than 12 billion cans were consumed in 2023 alone. 

The signing of these athletes coincides with the brand’s latest sugar-free drink, Red Bull Zero. This new energy-packed offering touts a different flavor than sugar-free Red Bull while keeping the company’s trademark pre-workout boost and midday pick-me-up. 

It’s currently available for purchase. 

What the Athletes Are Saying 

We reached out to Horvath and Koski, who noted that Red Bull aligns with their values and goals as athletes. 

Horvath shared that ever since she was young, she was very active in cycling and winter sports. She took part in local events and remembers seeing the “indistinguishable Red Bull arch.”

• “I remember starting my mountain bike races and [seeing] the cool-looking Red Bull DJ booth on top of a heavy-duty vehicle as I rolled in to finish my race,” Horvath told Morning Chalk Up. “The company has always been supporting sports and events that I was interested in, and seeing their documentaries on snowboarders and their never-before-seen projects online has made me excited.” 

A MESSAGE FROM NOBULL

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Grab yourself a couple of pairs...or three...or four.

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!

• And, bundle and save on 2025 CrossFit Open shirts and Judges course registration here.

🗑️ 🗣️ Talkin’ Trash with the Boys: With the title “Let the Trash Talk Begin,” two-time Games champ Justin Medeiros; 2024 Second Fittest, Dallin Pepper; and 2024 Fourth Fittest, Jayson Hopper dropped what might….maybe…be a new podcast featuring the three of them. Follow their YouTube channels (here, here, and here) and get caught up.

👟🌎 New R.A.D ONE V2: Just in time for TYR WZA Miami Beach, the R.A.D ONE V2 is a redesign of the original R.A.D ONE and offers a more flexible, durable shoe, ideal for athletes seeking both comfort and longevity right from the start.

• The ONE V2 is part of R.A.D’s new “Tuned for Training” campaign, dropping January 23 in the U.S. Get them 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: The worst-kept secret in CrossFit is now official…The 2025 Games will move to Albany, NY. Maybe the bigger news is that it will only be three days long.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

The Myth of Maximum Effort: Why Training Hard Might Be Holding You Back

"Go hard or go home."

• It's a mantra many CrossFitters have internalized. 

We believe we're not making progress unless we're pushing ourselves to the absolute max every session.

But this belief is not only misguided — it could sabotage your fitness.

Intensity Isn’t All or Nothing

One of the biggest misconceptions in CrossFit is that intensity equals maximum effort.

• We assume that to get results, every workout needs to leave us completely gassed on the floor. But there's a key distinction between high intensity and maximal intensity.

High-intensity training is about challenging yourself, raising your heart rate, and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. It's an essential part of any effective fitness regimen. 

• However, maximal intensity — going all out, giving 100% effort every single time — is unsustainable and counterproductive.

COMPETITIONS

Where to Eat, Drink, and Caffeinate in Miami During 2025 TYR Wodapalooza

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in South Florida as we gear up for the 2025 TYR Wodapalooza. 

• During the weekend of January 23-26, fitness enthusiasts will descend upon Miami, FL, to compete and celebrate countless incredible CrossFit athletes. 

If you are heading to Miami Beach to watch the action, you will need to refuel if you plan on making it through the weekend. 

Check out some fantastic spots to caffeinate, grab a meal, and kick back with a cold one.

Pour Me a Strong One

Neverland Coffee Bar 
Location: 17830 W. Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL, 33160

If you like your coffee with a touch of whimsy, head north to the Neverland Coffee Bar. 

• This vintage-inspired cafe is cozy and peaceful and offers coffee and a full range of tea, beer, and wine. 

Neverland also serves food, including all-day brunch, salads, pizzas, and more. In a rush? Hop on their app and order in advance.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

• 🍼Congratulations to the Endertons, who welcomed their first baby into the family.

• Congratulations to Willy Georges on this 200-kilo/440-pound front squat PR.

• Congratulations to Karlie and Brian Causey on the birth of their new baby.

• 🔥Check out firefighter Nathan Harpster as he loads himself up 140 pounds of fire gear, all in a day’s work.

• Take a look at these three-person rotating burpee box jumpovers from Grid League athletes. Maybe your gym’s next warm-up?