Four in a Row: Team Taranis

April 5, 2014

Chris Cooper

“There was more competition last year, and even though we feel like we've gotten stronger, they’ve all gotten stronger, too.”
~Angie Hay

The CrossFit Taranis team gets its programming strictly from CrossFit.com. The team has qualified for the Games every year since 2011, and wants to continue that streak in 2014.

Team Taranis’ best finish at the Games came in 2011—fourth overall—but since then finished 36th in 2012 and 25th in 2013.

“We follow dot com all year,” said team member Angie Hay. “Some of the team members have a supplemental strength program, but main-site workouts are always in the mix.”

As the Canada West team competition gets tighter, Taranis clings to one of the longest-running regional dynasties. At the 2013 regional, Taranis qualified by one point, taking second place over CrossFit Calgary. Though they’d finish higher than the regional winner—CrossFit Fraser Valley Centaurs—at the Games, Hay said she knows the team can’t take a Games berth for granted.

“Taranis has qualified every year, but there are only two spots, so we always feel pressure,” Hay said.

She believes the competition in Canada West is getting better every year.

“(The Centaurs) look even stronger this year, and all these other gyms have gotten way better this year,” Hay said. “You see all these girls throwing around heavy loads and doing muscle-ups, where a few years ago only a few girls could do them.”

“The level is just rising,” she added. “There was more competition last year, and even though we feel like we've gotten stronger, they’ve all gotten stronger, too.”

This year, the Canada West Regional is scheduled for the first of four weekends of regional competition.

“Last year we were the last to go, so you get a few weeks to strategize. This year we'll only have a few days to learn the workouts. It changes the strategy,” Hay said. “You have to cover everything and just work on your conditioning. It adds more pressure, but everyone’s in the same boat.”

Despite the rising challenge, Hay said Team Taranis is confident as May 9 approaches. She said having three years of Games experience helps. Hay herself has been to the Games twice as an individual.

“It sounds cliché, but it's ridiculously inspiring at the Games,” she said. “You’re surrounded by people of amazing abilities and athleticism. Everyone comes away fired up to be better for the next year.”

Taranis has managed to hold most of the same team members together in 2014. Hay said she’s considered the “team mom.”

“We have five out of six of us returning,” she said. “Some of the younger people on the team have aspirations to go indie eventually, but this year I'm holding them in. Our two returning guys have gotten stronger, and so have the other two girls. Strength was our weakness last year. We had great teamwork but weren’t as strong as some of the others.”

The team will continue to follow main-site programming through regionals, while adding some team-specific practice. With a Leaderboard this tight, every second will count in Vancouver.