Jes' CrossFit Blog: 2012 CrossFit Games!

Sold out!

This was my second time attending the CrossFit Games and wow, it has changed so much in one year. Not only was it completely sold out this year, but everything was turned up a notch. There were a lot more spectators, vendors, food options, commercials, and coverage. There was even a performance from elite jump ropers. This is just some of the differences from last year. I cannot even imagine how it was back when it was held in Aromas.

The Games actually started on Wednesday this year, with a triathlon followed by the Infantry Obstacle Course. However no spectators were allowed since it was held at Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps Base. Also new this year, was a programmed rest day on Thursday. Over the span of the weekend, athletes completed 13 workouts! The scoring system was also different: the athlete with the highest score wins. Workouts were out of 50 or 100 points, and athletes were awarded more points for a better finish.
Some of the photos below were taken by Gymnastic WOD.

The workouts:

On Friday there were four workouts and the opening ceremony. Before the ball toss, athletes had to do a max distance broad jump. There was a prayer in the opening ceremony, given by Rich Froning's pastor. That had to be the most ridiculous thing ever.

3. Go to 15:52 for the prayer.

4. Previous CrossFit Games winners.

Ball Toss (50pt): For max total distance, sitting on a GHD:

Throw as many medicine balls (4#/2#) as possible

5. Neal Maddox on the ball toss.

Track Triplet (100pt): Immediately after ball toss. 13min time cap. Three rounds for time:

8 Split Snatch, must alternate legs 115#/75#
7 Bar Muscle Ups
400m Run

6. Lots of running in the games workouts!

7. Neal & Jason on split snatches.

8. Bar Muscle Ups.

Med-Ball / HSPU (100pt): 10min time cap. Three rounds for time:

8 Medicine Ball Cleans 150#/80#
100ft Medicine Ball Carry
7 Parallette Handstand Pushups
100ft Medicine Ball Carry

This was probably one of my favorite workouts to watch at the games this year. Almost half the athletes could not complete this workout within the time cap. Yet just looking at the workout on paper, did not give that impression.

9. Awaiting WOD details.

10. Med ball cleans

11. Men on HSPU.

There were also four workouts on Saturday, two at the track and two at the stadium. Two cuts were also made. We walked around vendor village, hoping for some new deals to emerge. Although there were a lot more vendors, Vendor Village was pretty crappy this year. Most of the tanks were all the same cut with some ridiculous quote on it. Not too much contests or giveaways and almost no specials. I did manage to enter an L-Sit contest, but that's about it. The spectator experience this year was not nearly as good as that of last year's. There was no beach volleyball, SUP, slack line, etc. The main site WOD area was bigger though and had more equipment.

12. The only contest I entered this year.

13. And in vendor village... that's a 305# clean and jerk! Pretty cool.

Sprint (50pt): 300yd sprint for time.

Run to the 50yd line and back
Run to the 100yd line and back

14. That's Dan Bailey with a big lead on the sprint!

Rope / Sled (100pt): Immediately after sprint. 13min time cap. Five rounds for time:

20ft Rope Climb, 1 ascent
20yd Sled Drive (sled+90#/sled)

15. Annie Sakamoto on the rope climb.

16. Jason cheering his training buddy, Neal on.

Clean Ladder (100pt): 1-rep clean every 30s with progressively heavier barbells

Men's Weight, 10# increment: 245#, 255#, 265#, 275#, 285#, 295#, 305#, 315#, 325#, 335#, 355#, 365#, 375#, 385#
Women's Weight: 140#, 150#, 160#, 170#, 180#, 190#, 195#, 200#, 205#, 210#, 215#, 220#, 225#, 230#, 235#

17. Elisabeth Akinwale completes and wins the female clean ladder! 235#.

18. Jason PRs his clean and takes 2nd! 355#.

19. Neal wins the clean ladder! 365#!

Chipper (100pt): Top 36 athletes. 15min time cap. For time:

10 Overhead Squat 155#/105#
10 Box Jump Overs 24"/20"
10 Fat Bar Thrusters 135#/95#
10 Power Cleans 205#/125#
10 Toes-to-Bar
10 Burpee Muscle Up
10 Toes-to-Bar
10 Power Cleans 205#/125#
10 Fat Bar Thruster 135#/95#
10 Box Jump Overs 24"/20"
10 Overhead Squat 155#/105#

20. Camille on OHS.

21. Box jump overs.

22. Annie Sakamoto on heavy fat bar thrusters.

The top 24 athletes advanced to Sunday. All the WODs on Sunday were unknown until minutes beforehand. The team final event was the same as last year (meh), and the individual event was a variation of that, where cuts were made after each workout. The final event was: Elizabeth, Isabel, and Fran for time, with 3 athletes eliminated after each girl. They made the athletes wait in the hot sun during the final event. It was hot enough in the stands!

Double Banger (100pt): Top 24 athletes. 9min time cap. For time:

50 Double-unders
Low Banger
50 Double-unders
Down Banger
50 Double-unders
Mid Banger

23. Julie Foucher on the Double Banger. Her performance that entire weekend was so impressive!

24. Cheering little Annie on.

Elizabeth (100pt): Top 18 athletes. 6min time cap. For time, 21-15-9:

Power Clean 135#/95#
Ring Dips

25. Waiting in the hot sun to workout. I would die.

26. Rich Froning did Diane unbroken in 2:22! Insane.

Isabel (100pt): Top 15 athletes. 6min time cap. For time:

30 Snatches 135#/95#

27. Elisabeth Akinwale on Isabel.

28. Chillin between the final WODs.

Fran (100pt): Top 12 athletes. 6min time cap. For time, 21-15-9:

Thruster 95#/65#
Pull-Ups

29. Talayna Fortunato and Kris Clever neck to neck on Fran.

30. A close battle for 3rd place.

Another year, another spectacular show. So many impressive performances. After going to the games, I don't know how one would be able to walk away from it not inspired. Awesome job to all the athletes who competed in the games! And congratulations to Annie Thorisdottir and Rich Froning for winning the CrossFit Games again this year!