Ready for the Best: CrossFit Fraser Valley Centaurs

July 9, 2013

Kate Rose

“When the entire team needs to perform and complete difficult tasks, we don’t really have a weak link. We can all do so many things, and do them well.”



Landscape photo by Julie Leveridge

The Centaurs are getting ready to compete with the best in the world.

After finishing first in four of the seven events at the Canada West Regional, team captain Nate Beveridge says the team is almost in peak condition.

Their dominance was impressive, but the CrossFit Games is another level, as the Centaurs well know. They competed at the Games in 2012, and they’re busy dialing in every tiny detail before July 22.

“We still have a lot of work to do if we want to compete on the world level. That being said, we also realize that we are close,” Beveridge says.

“When the entire team needs to perform and complete difficult tasks, we don’t really have a weak link. We can all do so many things, and do them well,” he says of the team members.

Beveridge knows every qualifying team will have six incredible athletes, and the Centaurs are trying to cover all the bases, including team harmony. The team practices together two or three times a week, balancing everyone’s hectic schedules. While working together, they focus on heavy loads and high-skill tasks.

“Individually, we are all working on cycling the barbell, max efforts, and aerobic power and endurance. You never know what is coming, so we need to be prepared for anything,” Beveridge says. “We have been there before and know what to expect. We know just how hard you really need to push to be successful.”

They plan to go hard, all the time. No rests and no wasted breaths.

“Our plan is to go HAM on everything,” Beveridge says. “We learned last year there is no room for breaks, ever. Everyone is so good, pacing doesn’t exist, especially in the team event. If you aren’t on the bar, you are falling behind.” 

The Centaurs have three goals for the Games: win; repeat as top Canadian team; and make the final event.

“Anyone who says they aren’t there to win is setting their sights too low,” Beveridge says. “If we make the final event, then both (goals) one and two will be within our reach. Anything can happen in that final event.”