👟 TYR Returns to Gymreapers Wodapalooza

August 11th, 2026

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🌴👟 TYR is back at Gymreapers WZA — while Gymreapers remains title sponsor, TYR returns to Wodapalooza as the “Official Footwear Sponsor.”

  • 🎬➡️🏋️ From movie theater to mega gym.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

There is so much potential and opportunity…to build a health and fitness hub, where we have everything people need so they’re not running all over town.”

Matthew Haynes, on his vision for Westwood Fitness.
INDUSTRY

TYR is Back. As the Official Footwear Sponsor of Gymreapers Wodapalooza

Credit: Scott Freymond

TYR announced yesterday that they are returning to Gymreapers Wodapalooza as the Official Footwear Sponsor, both at the upcoming Gymreapers WZA SoCal in Huntington Beach, CA, and at Gymreapers WZA Miami Beach next March.

Remind Me

From 2022 to 2025, TYR was Wodapalooza’s title sponsor. 

Then, last season, the title sponsorship changed hands, with Gymreapers taking over as the title sponsor for both Wodapalooza SoCal and next year’s Miami event.

Though not the title sponsor anymore, Corey Berger, TYR’s Director of Business Development and a two-time CrossFit Games team athlete, insists their commitment to both WZA and the greater CrossFit community has never wavered since the world-renowned swim brand began investing in CrossFit in 2021.

  • “The CrossFit community is very important to us, and we’re still making strong investments, committed to making investments in the community and the sport,” Berger said, adding that the company also supports about 1,400 CrossFit affiliates directly by providing them incentives, such as discounts and early access to products.

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

SPEED READS

🚀⏳ Every Day Is Day One: CrossFit's latest Essentials article argues that lasting health isn't built around New Year's resolutions or arbitrary start dates — it's built by deciding to begin today, then showing up consistently. The methodology isn't about chasing motivation; it's about creating daily habits that compound into lifelong fitness, resilience, and better health.

🧬⏳ Train CrossFit to Slow Biological Aging: According to physician and researcher Jose Ostaiza, combining strength, cardio, and high-intensity training can help support telomere health, improve mitochondrial function, and reduce chronic inflammation — key markers linked to longevity.

📅🔥 The Countdown Is On: CrossFit has announced the dates for the 2027 Open, giving athletes their target as the road to next season officially begins.

🩴🔥 Recovery Tech News: Nike and Hyperice are doubling down on recovery with the new Air Zoom Hyperslide—a recovery sandal that combines Air Zoom cushioning with built-in heat and vibration.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

From an Empty Movie Theater to a “One-of-a-Kind Gym:” How Matthew Haynes Built Westwood Fitness

Credit: @westwoodfw / Instagram

Most of us would walk into an abandoned movie theater and see darkened rooms with rows of empty seats and an old concession stand, as memories of oversized, buttery popcorn came flooding back.

Matthew Haynes saw something else.

When he walked into what had been Ridgmar Movie Tavern in Fort Worth, TX — a small movie theater with six screens before it closed in 2018 — he saw the ideal facility for a state-of-the-art gym and health center where people could train, recover, see a medical professional, work, and connect — all under one roof. Others in his life remained skeptical.

  • “I took my dad to see it, and he was like, ‘I don’t know how you see all this. All I see is a movie theater,” Haynes said. 

Haynes, a gym owner since 2018, trusted his instincts and made an offer to buy the movie theater. That marked the start of the long process of transforming the space.

Finally, on August 1 of this year, Haynes’ dream became a reality when Westwood Fitness opened its doors for the first time.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🕷️Spider-Man’s Tom Holland’s been using CrossFit to train for his role, and he recently logged a 27-round Cindy!

  • Watch Anna Sjokvist rip this three-rep-max front squat (from the ground) at 122.5 kilos/270 pounds.

  • 🐣Congratulations to Jelle Hoste and his wife Zoe Boute on the birth of their new baby girl, Odette.

  • Congratulations to Cole Learn, who just won the Pro Men’s Division at the AirAsia HYROX Chiba in Japan with a time of 54:37.

  • 🔥Check out Kyra Milligan’s Grid League debut last weekend - great job Kyra!