Wellllllcommmmeee back everyone, for what for many predict to be the most exciting Open this year!
There have been plenty of openings happening around the world since we last got together. Kendrick opened for the Superbowl and reopened some FBI cases against Drake. P Diddy opened his last bottle of baby oil (outside of prison anyway) and California Firefighters opened fire hydrants but nothing came out.
Who could forget last season's results, with Green coming from behind to take home an unforgettable victory. If only the Gold team could have gone a combined 24 seconds faster on the final workout, they would have won. Even after her team begged her to redo the workout, team captain Jess straight up refused. While it could have resulted in Green's first ever loss, it will forever remain another "what if".
Due to the impending Cyclone Alfred, this year we decided to bring in a 6th team and a new captain. Welcome to Team Pink and new team captain, Chris "don't call me Lofty" Loftus!
In case you missed the teams, here they are:
Pink Panthers: Captain: Chris Team: Mick, Albert, Peter, Tom, Cooper, Ryan B, Colin H, Maddy, Michelle H, Bella, Nat, Chantel
Golden Gods: Captain: Jess Team: Lawson, Marcus,Tyler, Adam, Caian, Shaun, Juli, Grace, Kayla, Kate M, Emma, Karen
Blue Sky Bisons:
Captain: Wacey
Team: Fin, Be, Ervin, Fergus, Andrew T, Mike W, Ben C, Jess Ha, Claire D, Bec V, Emma B, Ching
Red Rockets: Captain: Nate Team: Laurence, Anthony B, Lane, Justin. Tim, David Ha, Duncan, Noah,. Molly, Cristina, Lucy
Purple Prodigy Captain: Nikki Team: Angus, Dillon, Katon, Ryan L, Pete, Tom M, Rach Pl, Aoibhan, Emily, Tobey, Laura G
Green Dragons Captain: Jason
Team: Brett, Joseph, Kyle, Usaid, Fraser, Quentin, Caleb, Chloe, Kritina, Milla, Helen
CrossFit Claremont ended up with 83 registrations which is super cool, the 11th most in the Oceania region.
25.1 was a little bit of De-Ja-Vu from last year's first workout, and for those who love burpees, it was an absolute Shangri-la. Friday Night Lights was pumping with over 60 people running through heats!
We had some late sign-ups, although their scores won't count towards week 1. Welcome: Lauren to Green, Kat to Yellow, Georgia and Julia to Purple, Robert and Ryan D to Red, Josh E to Blue and Will to Pink!
By the numbers: 0 - Number of times Green has ever lost the faction competition.
1 - The number of people who didn't log a score for week 1! Quentin, although you're on a family holiday in Iran where there are no affiliates and you had a combination of sickness and injury - enjoy this year on Green because it will be your last.
3.19 - Seconds per rep for Fraser's score.
9 - Different countries represented at CrossFit Claremont in the open.
20 - CrossFit Claremont's team ranking for week 1 in Oceania! 25 - Justin's increased score on his redo, massive! (great chassis too! His wife usually comes to the same classes as him - sorry ladies). 1014 - The worldwide places that Pete lost by doing 1 rep less. Things Gary heard:
Thanks to an anonymous sender for this gem: First, let's set the scene. The timer has sounded signalling the end of the heat. Pete is on the floor, gasping for air. Like the undertaker, he begins to rise giving a death stare, and pointing a finger directly at his judge, Lawson. A young, bright-eyed, high potential only trying to do the right thing..
Pete: “LAWSON, YOU ARE GIVING ME THAT LAST REP”
Lawson: “No the timer went”
Pete: “ARE YOU SERIOUS! YOU EVEN NO REPPED ME FOR THAT BURPEE”
Lawson: “Well you didn’t do it properly”
Pete, still on the ground looking up at Lawson with both hands in the air, full Italian style with a shoulder shrug and all - “LAWSON GIVE IT TO ME!! YOU’RE GIVING IT TO ME”
Tyler pipes in.. - “I reckon that counted”
Pete: “THANK YOU!! LAWSON DID YOU HEAR THAT”
Tyler: “Free knee reconstruction in the future Pete??”
Lawson - “Nah …”
Tyler: “Good thing you’re not studying to be a surgeon”
Lawson: “Haha yeah ….” (He’s studying Physio).
Anyone with any leads on FIFO jobs please see Lawson who has now been blacklisted from the medical and healthcare field.
"I'm too tired to judge" Jess Hayes who was MIA when she was required to judge. but was later found making stories for the gram. Content > being a contributing member of society.
"Can you notice I've got a fake tan?" Tyler to Kyle.
"Hurry up!!" Albert yelling at Tyler who was at that moment resting.
"You really need to sort out your Burpees" - Jason to Lauren, seconds after finishing the WOD. Second top score for the girls wasn't good enough obviously.
Notable Performances:
Well done to the people doing the Open for the first time: Adam, Albert, Andrew T, Caian, Caleb, Chloe, Dillon, Emma, Finn, Jess Ha, Joseph A, Josh E, Julia, Kate M, Lawson, Lucy Kramer, Maddison T, Marcus, Rach P, Robert D, Ryan L, Ryan D, Tom J and Will. Help them out where you can!
Chris Loftus is on top of the world: Now a reigning Community Award winner, coach and faction captain. However his euphoria was short-lived when ex long-time member and ex girlfriend Laura Turner signed up last minute. After a messy breakup nearly a decade ago continues the heartache continues with a last-minute sign-up to destroy his score.
Claire taking over for Blue team captain for the night. If you've ever spoken to her after a few drinks you'll know she is an ex coach and regionals (sub) athlete, so I think this was the natural next progression.
The photographer getting a photo of all teams except Pink, had he seen something from their performances?
Fergus not wanting to ruin his rep, started doing DB snatches instead of clean to overhead.
Kyle doing grief burpees then channelling The Undertaker and coming back to life halfway through the workout and speeding back up again.
Lauren only signing up to The Open because there were burpees. Paying about 50:1 to complete all 3 weeks.
Purple for sinking Marianas' trench low and getting Jason's kids in the Team Purple photo.
Angus was pretty chuffed after taking top score on Friday night. Monday morning Fraser said to his housemate he "was heading out for breakfast" but ducked into the gym and jumped in a heat and beat Angus with his redo.
Caian and Kate Moore a mother and son duo both in Gold doing their first Open!
Josh Ellis decides he's done enough, spitting the dummy and walking away with 30 seconds left.
Week 1 standings:
The key to this week was exercising faster, the end results came out as:
6th place with 2042 reps: Pink 5th place with 2044 reps: Red 4th place with 2070 reps: Blue
3rd place with 2092 reps: Gold 2nd place with 2129 reps: Purple 1st place with 2262 reps: Green While there are still 2 weeks to go, I think its safe to send the trophy off for engraving now so its ready for the end of week 3. See you next week!
On a serious note, well done to everyone who registered. While it's not something that worries me if people do or don't do The Open, and it's something the coaches don't want to push on people - I'm incredibly proud that every year we have such great participation rates. It's never easy putting yourself out there, giving it your all, being vulnerable and putting your name up alongside the whole world.
I really love everyone getting together as a community, cheering each other on, celebrating PRs, pushing boundaries and pushing to a place that they previously didn't think they were able.
But my favourite thing about The Open is everyone's own personal growth. It's hard. For many and most, it is scary doing the workout alongside someone else while also being counted and judged. You do feel nervous when putting up a score alongside other people in the world. It's a great chance to overcome something and come out the other side more confident in your ability to be resilient and challenge yourself.
If you're worried or waiting until you're "ready", or "fit enough" or "can commit fully" then don't worry - that day will never come. I've done every Open workout since it began 15 years ago and not once have I thought before, "Yeah I really feel great" or "I'm fully prepared". Once again, this is another mirror to life. You will probably never feel ready for what's coming, however you will have to do it anyway, and you always make it through, just like you'll make it through this!
At times you will be put outside your comfort zone, but you will also create some lasting memories. Ask anyone about any of the open workouts they've done - they will be able to tell you something they remember. So for the first-year rookie, lean on the veterans. Veterans help out or give some encouragement to someone new and tell them something you wish you had known. But most importantly - have fun, relax and enjoy the experience! Just like any other CrossFit workout: everyone is too wrapped up in what they are doing to care about your score - so don't worry! Well done to every single person in a faction who has put themselves out there and registered. I'm extremely proud of you all. And while midway through several workouts you may be questioning why you signed up for this, you will look back and be glad you did!
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