Crossfit Total

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

Wanted to get some big picture thoughts on the Crossfit Total, from you. I think most people here would agree that CF Total is a better, more pure, expression of usable strength than the modern powerlifting meet. Mostly for two obvious reasons:
(1)the press being a more functional movement than the bench (which sometimes resembles more of a "belly bump tricep lock out")
and (2) the lack of all the ridiculous specialized equipment that (in my opinion) takes away alot of credibility from the sport of powerlifting (and yes I do realize that there are unequipped competitions).

Can you see a future for a CF total meet to have the type of wide spread noteriety and participation from the lifting community that PLing currently enjoys? Do those in the CF community even want this, and if so, what efforts might be underway to spread this type of competition to a wider audience?

[Mark Rippetoe]

We had a CFT meet this weekend in Seattle at CF Eastside, a great turnout and a lot of good lifting. I'm doing one in Houston on March 8 at one of the affiliates there, and I hope it goes as well. My hopes are that it catches on, and there are signs that it might. We had some interest expressed from a PL organization that wanted to sanction CFT meets, but I haven't heard from anyone about it again. For it to really catch on, both PLers and OLers will have to see it as another viable competitive venue that allows them to lift in meets outside their primary sport, and CFers will have to get interested in strength for it's own sake. I look forward to helping this process along.

[Mark Rippetoe]

The CrossFit Total meet will be held in Houston at Breakaway Speed 8715 W Loop South. This is the map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...1&z=11&iwloc=A

The rules are here: http://www.crossfit.com/journal/libr...06_CFTotal.pdf

The entry with times info is here: http://www.thefittestgames.com/image...ge_Details.pdf

More to follow...

[ChaseT]

Mark,

I think that having a centralzied place (a la PowerliftingWatch) to announce CrossFit Total meets would help to increase participation. Even a stickied thread at the top of this forum where CrossFit affiliates could post notices about upcoming CrossFit Total meets would be better than what's currently available (word of mouth). I live close enough to drive to some of those meets in Washington, but they don't seem to be mentioning them on their websites until after the fact. Maybe you could even talk to the people who maintain the CrossFit HQ website.

[Mark Rippetoe]

That's a good idea. Now, who will volunteer?

[Polynomial]

For it to really catch on, both PLers and OLers will have to see it as another viable competitive venue that allows them to lift in meets outside their primary sport

Don't forget about the strongman folks who don't belong to either of the two groups.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Of course. Everyone is welcome.