"Let's be honest. Top three. That would be sick." ~Rachel Siemens
They were the classic underdog success story of the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games. At the start of the weekend, most people didn’t know who CrossFit Taranis was, let alone what their capabilities were.
By the end of the weekend, the CrossFit world took notice of this team from Victoria, B.C., who found themselves on the podium with bronze medals around their necks, capturing the hearts of their Canada West community in the process.
This year, the same community is playing a role in helping the country’s top team return to the podium this July. Last weekend, Team Taranis made a trip to the mainland of the province to hit multiple workouts at six different boxes in two days.
The affiliates that challenged Taranis during the weekend tour were CrossFit BC, CrossFit Lions, CrossFit Squamish, CrossFit North Vancouver, CrossFit Vancouver and the other Canada West team that qualified for the Games, Hybrid Athletics.
The Taranis Tour
The first stop of the weekend was downtown Vancouver at CrossFit, B.C., against the team that placed fourth at the recent Canada West Regional competition.
Although these two teams were rival competitors just last month, Jen Dober of CrossFit BC explained the rivalry has dissolved, and it’s time to cheer for the team representing her region.
“The dynamic was awesome on the weekend,” Dober says. “It was a really fun event with tons of energy and lots and lots of loud fans.”
The idea of the event was for CrossFit BC to program a workout that suited the home team, providing visiting Taranis with a major challenge.
CrossFit BC took the early lead, getting ahead of Taranis after the sprint relay, but Taranis clawed its way back and eventually defeated CrossFit BC because of the strength on rope climbs and handstand walks.
“They deserved the win,” Dober says.
Dober will be closely following and cheering for Taranis at this summer’s Games. “I was always cheering for them, but now I am even more,” she says.
Team Taranis member, 25-year-old Myriam Barreda, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team last summer, says this is the exact kind of camaraderie her team was hoping the tour would generate.
“The idea of this tour was built on trying to find a way to incorporate the other boxes who helped us get here,” Barreda says. “We want to go represent Canada, but we also want to build a connection with the other boxes in the process. Them helping us train is huge, so we wanted to make sure we take advantage of the fact that there are so many great athletes in the area to work with.”
Matt Carapella is another athlete who took on Team Taranis in Vancouver on Sunday. Carapella, who lives and trains at CrossFit London, in London, Ontario, was on vacation in Vancouver last weekend. For the 25-year-old former college football player who is new to CrossFit this year, the workout against Taranis was the highlight of his trip.
“Getting a chance to throw down against Taranis was amazing. I couldn’t even sleep the night before I was so excited,” he says.
His goal is to make it to the CrossFit Games one day.
For this Canada East athlete, the experience brought him closer to the west. “I hope Taranis kicks ass at the Games, and I will most definitely be watching and cheering them on,” he says.
Next stop: California
With the Canada West community 100 percent behind the team, Taranis coach Chris Schaalo admits the team feels more pressure this year than last, which has made preparing for 2012 tough.
“Honestly, I think the fact that we were third last year has affected our confidence negatively,” Schaalo says. “The guys put a lot of pressure on themselves. They feel a lot of weight on their shoulders because of what others expect from them now, but they need to remember that they’re still just six people that nobody knows, going to California. And they just have to do what they know they can do.”
If they do this, Schaalo is confident in the team. A team that has three returning Games veterans – Barreda, 26-year-old Andrew Roodbol, and 22-year-old Rachel Siemens – will quite possibly have the talent to return to the podium this year.
They also have the hunger. Sean Janzer was an alternate last year and traveled to the Games, but he was relegated to watch his team compete as he drank beer in the stands.
“It was amazing being there, but it was also really hard watching. I remember they were all going through the tunnel. There was a sign that said ‘Athletes Only,’ and that was the moment where I was like, ‘Next year, I’m going in,’” Janzer says.
Janzer spent the last year working with Schaalo on his barbell strength.
Siemens, who is undoubtedly one of the team’s top athletes, is confident in her team’s chances this summer. “We’re stronger this year, and we’ve grown a lot,” she says. “We know a lot more about each other, and we strategize well together. We’re better at thinking on our toes when we’re competing too.”
“Let’s be honest. Top three. That would be sick,” Siemens says with a smile.