WHAT IS THE CROSSFIT OPEN?
In simple terms, the Open is an all-inclusive competition that spans all corners of the globe. It is a true test of fitness spotlighting everything we love about CrossFit: Community, Hard work, Progress, PR’s and Camaraderie.
The Road to the CrossFit Games starts with the worldwide OPEN, the largest participatory sporting event on Earth. During the three-week competition, one event is released online each Thursday, and athletes have four days to record and submit scores. Anyone from the age of 14 old can sign up and join in the first stage of the CrossFit Games season.
The Open allows hundreds of thousands of individual athletes to quantify their performance and rank themselves with peers. Think of it as everyone in the world belonging to the same CrossFit box for one day per week, and instead of recording your score on the whiteboard you do it on the CrossFit Games website!
WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
If you’ve competed in the past, you know how rewarding the experience is. But if you’re new to the sport of CrossFit (or just need a little extra motivation), here are a few reasons why you should sign up for the 2023 CrossFit Open:
A Supportive Community. How often do you get to pursue your goals with a roomful of people cheering you on? Yes, the Open workouts are HARD, but you will not find a more supportive community of athletes.
The Open is for Everyone. Just like every WOD at CFOT, Open workouts are scalable. Everyone, regardless of their level of strength or experience, is welcome to participate.
New Friends. It is not uncommon for a long-time 5:00am athlete to never cross paths with a dedicated 5:30pm-er. The way we structure the In-House open allows you to connect with athletes who typically attend different classes than you do.
Competition=Motivation. Been a while since your last PR? The In-House open fosters just the right amount of healthy competition to give you that little boost to run faster, push harder, and lift heavier.
A Unique Opportunity. You are doing the same exact WODs as the best CrossFit athletes in the world. You are sharing the same leaderboard as Mat Fraser and Tia Toomey. How cool is that?
Why Should I Do This If I’m Not Going to the Games?
First pull-ups, cheering, memories — that’s all well and good, but still: “I’m not a competitive athlete,” you might say, “so why would I do this?”
We hear you, and we are here to tell you that we hear that a lot. But that’s like not signing up for a marathon because you won’t finish in the top five or qualify for the Olympics. There are many benefits to completing the event independent of where you finish.
If you’re not in it to win it, the Open is a way to check in on your fitness, hold you accountable to moving forward and staying motivated for the upcoming year, accomplish personal goals, and celebrate with the community.
WHEN IS IT?
The CrossFit Open lasts for three weeks. The workouts are announced on Thursday evenings. We will be completing these workouts during Friday Night Lights on the following dates:
February 17th, 5-7pm
February 24th, 5-7pm
March 3rd, 5-7pm
HOW WILL IT WORK AT CFOT?
We will be completing the Open Workouts during Friday Night Lights. Every Friday night for the 3 weeks of the Open. The gym will be set up in a competition-style format and FNL athletes will complete the Open workout for that week in a series of heats, with judges, spectators and all! HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Go to the CrossFit Games Website. Make sure you sign up under CrossFit OT as your Affiliate. Once you have finished registering, be sure to share it on social media or in our members group to show who has signed up and to give a nudge to those hesitating!
DOES IT COST ANYTHING?
CrossFit charges $20 to register for the CrossFit Open via the Games website. There is no additional fee for CFOT members for Friday Night Lights.
WHAT IF I CAN'T DO SOME OF THE MOVEMENTS/WEIGHTS? SHOULD I STILL REGISTER?
Absolutely! This isn’t about what you can or can't do. It is not about what other people in the gym can or can’t do. This experience is about YOU. We want you to push outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Besides, who knows when you might get that first Double Under, HSPU, Pull Up, etc.? Also, CrossFit HQ does an excellent job of offering scaling options for each workout, so they do not have to be completed “Rx’d.
I CAN'T MAKE IT ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE?
Yes! We know that Fridays will not work for everyone. Our goal is to get as many people in on Friday nights as possible to support and inspire one another. However, if you can’t make Friday night, the scheduled and recommended make-up day/time will be Saturday, Sunday and Monday during Open Gym time. Remember, though, whenever you may choose to complete (or redo) the workout, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure someone will be available to judge you. No judge, no valid score. Remember, sign up before February 16th! And even if you choose not to register, feel free to join in the fun and come on out to one or all of the Friday Night Lights events and get your workout in and cheer on your fellow CFOT athletes!