Firstly, here are the important details for the 2017 CrossFit Open.
DATES
Feb 23 – March 27
REGISTRATION OPENS
Now! So sign up here
STRUCTURE
One workout per week for 5 consecutive weeks
“Anyone aged 14 or older can compete in the Open. All you have to do is sign up at Games.CrossFit.com and log your score each week. Workouts are released on Thursdays at 5 p.m. PT, and athletes have four days to complete the workout for the week and submit their score. Scores are due before 5 p.m. PT the following Monday. Complete the workouts at a CrossFit affiliate with a judge, or film your effort from anywhere in the world and submit a link as proof.”
- 17.1: Feb. 23 – 27
- 17.2: March 2 – 6
- 17.3: March 9 – 13
- 17.4: March 16 – 20
- 17.5: March 23 – 27
At the end of five weeks, the fittest move on to the next stages of competition: The Regionals and The Online Qualifier.
SO WHY SHOULD I ENTER THE 2017 CROSSFIT OPEN?
8. UNCOVER NEW WEAKNESSES
One of the best parts of Crossfit is its constant ability to help you uncover personal weaknesses that need to be improved. This is true for athletes of all abilities, from CrossFit Games winners right through to complete newbies. Look at Katrin Davidsdottir and Rich Froning on rope climbs. Each of these CrossFit Games athletes met an exercise that they had not mastered, and severely struggled with it during each respective workout.
The point is that this can happen to you regardless of ability, and that it is a good thing because ultimately it will lead you towards becoming a better athlete. Entering the CrossFit Open 2017 will surely uncover a weakness or two for you to work on and improve upon in the future.
7. CONNECT WITH THE WORLDWIDE CROSSFIT COMMUNITY
Undoubtedly you have a great community at your Box, which is why it’s fun and productive to train there. The CrossFit Open 2017 gives you the opportunity to expand that community internationally. Instead of your small group of fellow Crossfitters that go through the shared suffering of each workout, you will now be working out with the world! There are hundreds of thousands of other Crossfitters experiencing the same hardships, triumphs, and sense of achievement that you will.
6. BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SURPRISE YOURSELF!
Stepping out of our comfort zone is always easier said than done. Humans are wired to seek balance and safety and familiar surroundings, but signing up for the 2017 CrossFit Open will give you 5 new workouts to try, and allow you to test yourself against some of the best athletes in the sport.
You still complete the workout in your Box, but the context is different, and that added dimension can be helpful for pushing you further and harder, hitting PRs and new exercises for the first time.
Last year many people nailed their first bar muscle up when it was revealed to be in one of the Open WODs. The added pressure can often be a huge help to spur you on to surprise yourself!
5. TRAIN YOUR COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
We are all competitive in different ways and to varying degrees. If you are one of the top athletes in your Box, then the open lets you compete against the best from your area, country and other potential Regionals athletes. If you are very new to Crossfit, the Open will enable you to see how you are doing against many other newcomers from all around the world.
Source: RX'd Photography
4. LEARN FIRST HAND JUST HOW GOOD THE TOP ATHLETES ACTUALLY ARE
Additionally, for the fun of it, it can be very interesting to measure own your score against the top athletes in Crossfit. This gives a powerful impression of just how fit and talented they actually are! Watching Camille Leblanc Bazinet clean and jerk twice her bodyweight on Instagram is impressive and motivating, but very different from comparing times when you’ve both just finished the same workout!
So finally clean and jerk ? double body weight!!! #grunt #causeyourabeast Hahahahahaha that’s exciting! #tokyo2020 #olympicdreamcomingatya #workhard #beproud #mint @cjinvictus #tinybutmighty @haloneuroscience
3. RECONTEXTUALISE TOUGH MOVEMENTS
Do you have any exercises that you still struggle with? Double unders, muscle ups, handstand push ups or walks for example? Sometimes its easy to put these movements on a pedestal, which often makes them even harder to achieve. The Open can help to change that framework.
Last year I watched a Crossfitter at the Berlin Throwdown string together rows of 5 or 6 muscle ups in quick succession, and by the end of the workout she was elated! Prior to the competition, she had never been able to complete more than one. The atmosphere, change of scenery and competitive environment allowed her to completely step up her game. The same can happen to you!
2. IT IS SUITABLE FOR ALL FITNESS LEVELS
Since 2015 there has been a scaled division in the Open. This is great because whatever level you are, each workout can be scaled to suit you, yet still lets you compete. Whether that means working with an empty bar or doing jumping pull ups instead of muscle ups it doesn’t matter. You still get the chance to workout, enjoy the atmosphere, sense of international community and measure your times against others of your level (if you want).
Emily Abbott and Chyna Cho compete alongside other beginner Crossfit athletes
1. BECAUSE IT’S FUN
This reason is pretty simple and speaks for itself. Just enjoy the experience and give the 2017 CrossFit Open a go.
Image Sources
- abs workouts: RX'd Photography
- muscle-up: RX'd Photography