[Future Snake Eater]

This year has seen a major shakeup in terms of who is competing. In years past, former Games champions received invititations to the Games regardless of how they placed in the Regionals. Some regions (most notably Central East, the SEC of the CrossFit world) were able to send more than three people. This year--no invites, no more than three people per region.

Last year's women's champion, Sam Briggs, did not place high enough to qualify for the Games in the Europe Regional, largely due to her weakness in the handstand walk event. Mikko Salo, the 2009 men's champion, bowed out once again due to injury. Matt Chan, also a multiple-Games veteran, is not competing this year due to injury. Annie Thorisdottir, the women's champion in 2011 and 2012, sat out last year's season due to a back injury, but she won the 2014 Europe Regional and is back at the Games along with another no-show from last year (due to her pursuit of a MD), Julie Foucher.

Last year's rookie and Jason Khalipa-protege, Garrett Fisher, did not make the cut in the NorCal Region, though his 20-yr old sister, Lauren Fisher, did. Kristin Clever, the 2010 women's champion, bowed out of individual competition and is now on a team, whereas 2012 and 2013 champion team leader Tommy Hackenbruck of Hack's Pack Ute is back in the individual competition this year. Six-time Games veteran Chris Spealler, who claimed he was retiring in 2012, made another run in 2013 but failed to qualify for the Games. He's back again this year for his seventh (and, supposedly, final) trip to the Games.

Then there's the biggest name in CrossFit--Rich Froning. The three-time Games champion (2011, 2012, and 2013) is going back for his fourth title. Froning has claimed that this will be his last year as an individual competitor which, if he holds to that, does not rule out the team competition or even a position in the newly-formed NPGL.

Now, go throw on your favorite Rogue t-shirt, grab a paleo snack, and open a delicious bottle of water, and let's watch the fittest people on Earth battle it out in 2014!

[Future Snake Eater]

Ping to this year’s Games!

[raybbr]

Man, those one legged squats with the kettle bell? I was in pain just watching the women do them.

[goodwithagun]

Thanks for the thread!

[Theoria]

Thanks for the ping. Lets see if Rich can go out on top.

I heard he won this past Central East while having bronchitis.

[Future Snake Eater]

The Beach event is over!

The top 3 men’s finishers are Jordan Troyan (former collegiate swimmer), Jonne Koski (Mikko Salo protege), and Josh Bridges (former Navy SEAL). Rich Froning, who usually starts pretty weak in the Games and is usually weakest in swim events, came in 8th place, so that makes him even more dangerous than usual.

The top 3 women’s finishers are Anna Tunnicliffe (former Olympian), Chyna Cho, and Kara Webb. Julie Foucher and Annie Thorisdottir came in 13th and 15th places, respectively.

Next up is the Overhead Squat event. It’ll start at 6:30pm Pacific for the women and 7:30pm Pacific for the men. That’s definitely past my bedtime on a work night on the East Coast, so I’ll update tomorrow!

[ZinGirl]

Please excuse the hijack. I had to read this thread because my daughter Christina has recently (since spring) gotten into CrossFit. She loves the community and camaraderie. Being at college, she feels she doesn't fit into the partying scene too much, but fell in love with the people she met at CrossFit. She wanted to go to the Games in May in DC, but didn't make it. When she came home at the end of the semester, we let her join the local one...and she loves it even more!

She is abroad now in Melbourne, Australia, and we had a Skype session the other day where she was a bit upset with us because we aren't necessarily going to pony up the $$$ so she can join the St. Kilda CrossFit near her.

Then today....she is very ill. And we are so far away. I think for the first time, I posted a vanity thread for prayer for my family. If any of you fellow CrossFit peeps feel led to pray or send some thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it. It would make her DAY to know that I had posted on a CrossFit thread and that others were encouraging her! Thank you in advance...and I hope it's not too much of an intrusion on this thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3185032/posts

:( I'm so sorry...I can't seem to get it to hyperlink. :(