Question about deadlifts and CF Total

[toddmr]

Gentlemen,

There's a thread over on CF's message board in which the following is asserted:

1. a "sumo" deadlift is not a "deadlift"
2. sumo deadlifts are not allowed in the CrossFit Total.

I've looked at Rip's original article on the CFT and don't see any reason a sumo deadlift wouldn't be permissible based on what he's written there.

Will you address the two above assertions, please?

Thanks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

The rules I wrote specifically state that the knees must be inside the grip:

A. The bar shall be loaded on the platform in a position parallel to the front of the platform, with the lifter facing the head judge. The lifter assumes a position facing the bar, with the bar parallel to the lifter?s frontal plane. The bar is gripped with both hands outside the legs, and pulled with one continuous uninterrupted movement until the lifter is standing erect with knees and hips fully extended, the chest up and shoulders back. Any failure to attain a fully erect position is a missed attempt. The attempt starts when the bar leaves the floor.

[justinbass]

But why?

[Mark Rippetoe]

For the same reason as we include the press: to act as a distinguishing criterion from powerlifting.