2012 Reebok CrossFit Games set to kick off tomorrow morning.
The big show is about to kick off at the Home Depot Center.
While the Individual competitors kicked things off with a surprise day of competition on Wednesday at Camp Pendleton, more than 300 Team and Masters athletes have yet to prove their fitness.
That will happen tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. when the Masters women start putting bars overhead. Teams will enter the fray a little later with the Sprint Relay and Big Bob events.
Thursday, however, was the final day of prep at the Home Depot Center. Rogue has been busy building more than 400 feet of pull-up bars and sneaking secret equipment around the back lots. The athletes’ area has been tricked out and moved into the soccer stadium this year, and metal mountains of temporary bleachers have been erected at the track and above the tennis courts.
Of key importance to CrossFitters is Vendor Village: it’s bigger, and it’s filling fast—to be emptied by credit card by Sunday.
And yes, you can get in a workout while you’re at the Games. Just follow the grunting to a workout area and get it done.
Big names are also starting to roll in. Gymnastics expert Carl Paoli is out and about, as are Jeff and Mikki Lee Martin of CrossFit Kids, Rob Orlando of CrossFit Strongman, and Kelly Starrett of CrossFit Movement and Mobility. A few CrossFitters have already tried to sneak up on combative expert Tony Blauer as a joke, and most almost got cracked in the jaw. Blauer isn’t wired to accept a fake sneak attack. Outside 90, dude.
The fittest Media Team in the world is also ready to roll and includes two former CrossFit Games champs (Tanya Wagner and Caity Henniger), as well as former Games competitors Miranda Oldroyd, Josh Everett, Katie Hogan and more.
Around 3 p.m., teams started arriving inside the venue and got their first look at the Home Depot Center.
“We love it. We’re impressed,” said Evert Viglundsson of CrossFit Reykjavik. “We’re just looking forward to getting started tomorrow.”
The always quotable Starrett surveyed the growing crowds and was moved to reflect on the growth of the Games.
“Right now, I feel like we’re in a Renaissance of strength and conditioning … , a Renaissance of people taking their health and wellness back. If this is a Renaissance, then this is a Renaissance festival,” the Supple Leopard said.
He was also pumped up to see how Individual athletes would respond to four hard days of competition rather than the traditional three.
That competition is now less than a day away, and the whole thing kicks off tomorrow morning. Follow the scores on the Leaderboard and watch the event live online. Check out constant updates on Twitter and Facebook.
And keep training. The 2013 competition season starts Monday.