Reposted from original article online at Games.CrossFit.com | Sept. 10, 2020
Starting Thursday, Sept. 17, at 3:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. GMT, CrossFit will go live from its studio in California to guide fans through an action-packed weekend of competition. Tune in for live updates on event results on Games.CrossFit.com.
Niki Brazier and Sean Woodland will keep you informed as scores roll in and standings are released on the CrossFit Games Leaderboard. Guest analysts and hosts from around CrossFit’s global community will join the pair throughout the weekend.
Recordings of the athletes’ full workouts and additional coverage will be released throughout the weekend.
Follow the live shows on the Games website or through the CrossFit Games Facebook, Games Instagram, or the new CrossFit Games YouTube account to stay up to date on breaking news and competition highlights.
You can also keep up with your favorite Games athletes through their individual Instagram pages.
HOW WILL THE GAMES WORK THIS YEAR?
The 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games will take place in two stages: 1) an online competition in athletes’ home countries from which the top five men and top five women will advance and 2) an in-person finals in California to compete for the titles of Fittest Man and Fittest Woman on Earth.
STAGE ONE COMPETITION FORMAT
For the first time, the final stage of the CrossFit Games will begin in CrossFit affiliates around the world. The top 20 women and top 20 men from the Open leaderboard along with the 10 women’s and 10 men’s qualifiers from Sanctionals will compete in a virtual competition beginning Friday, Sept. 18.
Each event can be performed only one time. Once an athlete finishes an event, they may not attempt it again. There are no restarts. The workout must continue to completion once the timer begins.
More than US$500K in prize money is on the line for athletes placing in 20th through sixth place in stage one.
The top five men and top five women will advance to compete in person for up to US$1.3 million, with the Fittest Man on Earth and Fittest Woman on Earth earning US$300K each.
Related: Which Athletes Benefit Most in the Online Format?
WOD ALONG WITH GAMES ATHLETES
A list of required equipment has been emailed to the 2020 Games athletes and CrossFit affiliates. Athletes are required to have the following equipment:
- Barbell of 35 lb. (15 kg)/45 lb. (20 kg)
- Standard bumper plates (18-inch diameter)
- Be prepared for a max lift using Olympic bumper plates
- Event loading will be noted in lb. with the corresponding kg conversion
- Change plates (1 lb. minimum)
- Barbell collars
- Pull-up bar
- Squat rack
- GHD machine
- Running route with one turnaround (maximum of 300 meters out and 300 meters back)
- Concept2 Model D rower
- Jump rope
- Wall for handstand push-ups
Required support equipment:
- Body-weight scale
- Distance wheel
- Measuring tape
- Gaff tape or similar marking tape
- Gym timer
The wait has been long, but it is almost time for the 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games! Keep checking Games.CrossFit.com for more information as the competition nears.
The above article is reposted directly from original content found at Games.CrossFit.com.
FITAID is a proud partner of the 2020 CrossFit Games. Good luck, athletes!
You can follow along on Instagram for updates on FITAID athletes who are competing this weekend: @fitaid
> > > Stay well.
Reposted from original article online at Games.CrossFit.com | Sept. 10, 2020 Starting Thursday, Sept. 17, at 3:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. GMT, CrossFit will go live from its studio in California to guide fans through an action-packed weekend of competition. Tune in for live updates on event results on Games.CrossFit.com. Niki Brazier and Sean Woodland will keep you informed as scores roll in […]
Dear Affiliate Owners—
As many of you within the fitness community know, during June of this year our brand took a stand against gross missteps by our longtime partner, CrossFit®, and announced the withdrawal of our sponsorship for the 2020 CrossFit Games.
Since that time, we have been in active dialogue with the new CrossFit leadership including Eric Roza, to understand how CrossFit will address needed improvements to policy, attitude and direction, and we are confident positive change is underway. There is an exciting new chapter ahead for CrossFit and its partners, one that emphasizes respect, a strengthened and aligned community, greater humility and needed inclusivity.
We believe in new beginnings and have been impressed enough by what we’ve seen over the past two months, so we have decided to return as a partner of the 2020 CrossFit Games.
As longtime CrossFit partners, Orion and I feel their company is heading in the right direction. As a partnering voice, we will be doing our part to help them rebuild and continue to deliver on promised changes.
We encourage all CrossFit partners, affiliates and members to ask the hard questions of the brand’s new leadership so you can make your own decision, like we did, about if and how you want to support CrossFit in the future.
If you wish to contact Orion or me about why we felt it was the right time for LIFEAID to reinstate our support, please email us (or DM me on Instagram at @aaronhinde). We’d love to hear from you and offer whatever insights we can.
Thank you,
Aaron Hinde and Orion Melehan
Cover photo courtesy of Unsplash.com
> > > Live well.
Dear Affiliate Owners— As many of you within the fitness community know, during June of this year our brand took a stand against gross missteps by our longtime partner, CrossFit®, and announced the withdrawal of our sponsorship for the 2020 CrossFit Games. Since that time, we have been in active dialogue with the new CrossFit […]
It has been more than two weeks since Aaron Hinde, the co-founder of LIFEAID Beverage Company, and his family lost their home in Santa Cruz, California, to the wildfires. The experience still haunts them.
“There was a mountain of fire. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” Hinde recalled minutes before his own property was engulfed in the CZU Lightening Complex fire, which has reportedly destroyed more buildings in Santa Cruz County than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Hinde was quick enough to evacuate his family and pets from their home once multiple spots of fire started inching towards them. Through thick smoke and burning soot, they managed to find a nearby hotel to stay temporarily before moving into a RV for several days.
When the fires finally calmed down in Bonny Doon, Hinde came back and took a nostalgic look around. He later posted several images on Instagram, including himself standing in a large woody debris, and a fully cooked deer that couldn’t escape.
“There’s nothing to come home to,” Hinde recently told me via Zoom. “It looks like the devil itself came through and cleaned up everything.”
Despite his own devastating situation, Hinde and the rest of LIFEAID Beverage team decided to launch a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help support displaced people in the community by distributing essential supplies and resources.
The campaign quickly garnered over 100 donors, many of whom are also entrepreneurs and investors in the food and beverage industry, including ÈSSE Water’s co-founder Adam Leja, Olipop’s CEO Ben Goodwin, and Filipp Chebotarev, partner at Cambridge Companies SPG.
Hinde said: “Thanks to the enormous support from the industry, outside of our community, and social media, we are able to continue working with the local fire department, and supporting those who are poorly insured to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”
While the rescue and rebuilding efforts take much longer than expected, Hinde notes how his personal entrepreneurial journey of building LIFEAID has helped him tremendously during the process.
“Entrepreneurs are people of action,” he said. “Instead of being paralyzed by fear, my team came together in such an amazing way… I am not a fire victim, but a fire survivor.”
Hinde has carried along the idea of helping people even before co-founding his functional beverage business with Orion Melehan nearly a decade ago, when he was a clinic director helping athletes recover from sports injuries and pain.
“Those patients I had during my old clinic days was really the first group of our consumers [at LIFEAID],” Hinde said. “We don’t have any external marketing because it’s all done by referral… It was an amazing experience of working with individuals one-on-one, and now our products can benefit the health of millions of people.”
He added how a strong customer relationship has also helped LIFEAID alleviate the financial pressure from COVID-19, which is increasingly driving CPG brands to sell online.
“It’s been challenging since gyms represent a significant portion of our revenue — about 35% overall,” Hinde noted.
“Although that channel was shut down overnight, [making] a lot of brands pull back and save on the expense side of P&L, we took a different approach by selling directly to gym members, and doing a $15 kickback per case to gym owners to keep their businesses afloat during this time.”
The LIFEAID team remains optimistic for the rest of 2020, as the company has recently expanded its international footprint through acquiring European distributor HPF Solutions. Hinde also believes obstacles, including the pandemic and wildfires, exist for a reason.
“I may not see it today, but 20 years from now, I’ll see why that was necessary to go through,” he said. “We are going to be better as a company, community, and nation.”
Original article as posted in Forbes | Sep. 5, 2020 at 5:26pm EDT Written by Douglas Yu | Cover image courtesy of MEDIANEWS GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES It has been more than two weeks since Aaron Hinde, the co-founder of LIFEAID Beverage Company, and his family lost their home in Santa Cruz, California, to the wildfires. The experience still haunts them. […]
Because love is thicker than smoke The Santa Cruz community continues to rally behind those affected by the devastating wildfires in Northern California this past week. While over 77,000 acres continue to burn, local SC company LIFEAID has created the Santa Cruz Fire Aid to help distribute all donated supplies and funds to displaced families, […]
LIFEAID has proudly been a Santa Cruz company since 2011, and is completely devastated for our local community as a result of the destruction caused by the ongoing CZU August Lightning Complex wildfires, which have now spread to more than 77,000 acres, with only 13% containment (updated as of Aug. 24). Many of the LIFEAID team's own families and loved ones have been evacuated and/or had homes destroyed by the flames.
Heartbroken, the LIFEAID team has created the Santa Cruz Fire Aid to collect and distribute supplies, funds, and resources for the immediate needs of those in their local community who have been affected by or are still battling the SC wildfires.
You can make a monetary donation to the Santa Cruz Fire Aid at GoFundMe.org
100% of funds & supplies collected will be distributed directly to those in need: Local firefighters, displaced families & wildlife rescue efforts. (Supply list included below with mailing instructions.)
WANT TO DONATE SUPPLIES?
Evacuation centers in the area are also in desperate need of the following items:
CLOTHING
- New clothing, the basics (assorted sizes)
- Underwear & socks (new, in package)
- Hats
SUPPLIES
- Toiletries (sample-size)
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Hand sanitizer & face masks
- Pillows & bedding (sleeping bags/sleeping pads)
- Clean towels
- Plastic tarps
- Family-size tents
- Large plastic storage bins
- Backpacks or luggage
- Pet carriers
- AA batteries
- Reusable water bottles
- Empty spray bottles
- Children's games, books & coloring books
FOOD
- Canned goods, snack-size & non-perishable food items
- Ground coffee
- Granola/energy bars
LIFEAID team members are driving all donated supplies directly to multiple locations throughout the city, to help triage the emergency supply item needs as they are requested. (Over a dozen LIFEAID team members have volunteered to help assist with donated supply drop-offs locally.)
DONATION STATUS UPDATE (as of Thursday, Aug. 27):
• Thanks to all of your generous donations of goods, the Santa Cruz Fire Aid has currently completed over 52 drop-offs of supplies & essentials to areas in and surrounding Santa Cruz (including fire & police stations, evacuation centers and animal shelters/rescues).
• More than 10,000 cans of FITAID has been dropped off for firefighters and evacuees at locations all over Santa Cruz County.
• This amazing community has raised over $12,000 so far (which goes directly to evacuee support & wildfire relief efforts).
• A special THANK YOU to all of the brands who have generously donated additional dry goods, water, essentials & much-needed supplies to be distributed, including: Caffeine & Kilos, Chomps, CrossFit One World, Fantasy Cookie, Flow Water, Olipop, Pamela's Cookies, Rolo Roast, Tosi, and Zola
LIFEAID team members are driving all donated supplies directly to multiple locations throughout the city, to help triage the emergency supply item needs as they are requested.
Monetary donations will be directed (but not limited) to:
• www.cfscc.org
• www.nativeanimalrescue.org
• www.bonnydoonfire.org
FURTHER INQUIRIES ABOUT HOW TO HELP?
Please contact our LIFEAID team via email at: team@lifeaidbevco.com
ABOUT THE SANTA CRUZ FIRE:
Wildfires which broke out in San Mateo County & the Santa Cruz mountain area after a record-breaking number of lightning strikes this past Monday (Aug. 17, 2020) have now more than tripled in size, spreading to over 77,000 acres. The fires are only 13% contained (updated as of Monday, Aug. 24).
More than 200 structures have already been destroyed by the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, while over 25,000 structures are still at risk. That number only continues to rise as San Mateo & Santa Cruz County residents are experiencing ongoing widespread mandatory evacuation notices.
The entire LIFEAID team's hearts and thoughts go out to those affected by the wildfires. We are hopeful for everyone's continued safety and that the Santa Cruz Fire Aid will help support the needs of those who have been relocated, evacuated, or are fighting diligently to save our loved ones, homes and land.
> > > Stay safe, everyone.
LIFEAID has proudly been a Santa Cruz company since 2011, and is completely devastated for our local community as a result of the destruction caused by the ongoing CZU August Lightning Complex wildfires, which have now spread to more than 77,000 acres, with only 13% containment (updated as of Aug. 24). Many of the LIFEAID team’s […]
Cover photo By Matt Stone / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald
LIFEAID randomly surveyed 135 gym owners in July of 2020, in order to find out how they are handling re-opening, keeping members safe, plans for reinvigorating memberships, stocking their fridges with FITAID, and more...
HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY:
Q: How long has your gym been in business?
Q: Has your gym re-opened (as of July 2020)?
Q: What percentage of your members has returned to your gym for regular workouts?
Q: How long do you think it may take for your gym to return to pre-COVID attendance numbers?
Q: Do you plan to continue offering Zoom/virtual class options to your members?
Q: Which LIFEAID products do you currently offer members at your gym?
> > > Stay well.
Cover photo By Matt Stone / MediaNews Group / Boston Herald LIFEAID randomly surveyed 135 gym owners in July of 2020, in order to find out how they are handling re-opening, keeping members safe, plans for reinvigorating memberships, stocking their fridges with FITAID, and more… HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY: Q: How long […]
The FITAID Five: Helping Gyms Reopen Safely & Successfully LIFEAID co-founder Aaron Hinde and daughter Trinity share the top-five steps to help our community safely return to the gym, as doors begin reopening nationwide. We know how important fitness is to our overall well-being, so please stay safe and stay fit out there. We’re all […]
Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman
Athletes around the world have become all-too familiar with the struggles of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise regimen while gyms have been temporarily closed worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing our quarantine experiences and struggles with our fitness friends has become a major way for us to connect and stay motivated in a time of social distancing.
But what has quarantine been like for professional athletes?
We interviewed four FITAID athletes—Kelsey Kiel, Jacob Heppner, Neal Maddox and Jackie Perez—to get their take on how they’ve been not only staying fit but also what key learnings they may be taking away from their time in quarantine so far. Here's what they had to say!
QUESTION 1
FITAID: Isolation coupled with a massive change in our normal day-to-day life can be tough for everyone. What obstacles have you experienced and overcome during quarantine?
Kelsey Kiel: I think one of the biggest things people (including myself) weren't used to when we started this whole quarantine is the "being alone with yourself" thing. I always thought I was independent (I still think that), but being separated from normal life and interactions, you really have to be okay with sitting with yourself (all the thoughts and feelings that come with that). It was a tough thing for me at first, but I've really embraced FEELING and THINKING and BEING. Which is a bit abstract, but I think it's helped me grow.
Jackie Perez: Quarantine has forced me to really take a look at what I rely on for happiness. Total isolation has shown me that I rely on others and events to make me happy or motivate me. I have overcome this by trying to focus on the things that bring joy to me. The things that if they were taken away, they wouldn't take my joy. I've started doing things I would never stop and take the time to do like read and go on walks or journal. Things that don't require much but truly make me happy.
QUESTION 2
FITAID: As many of our local CrossFit boxes have been closed, what are some ways that you've been keeping fit during quarantine? What is the most unique thing you've done so far for fitness?
Jackie Perez: I created a Running Club because I found myself very unmotivated to workout. It was a huge success and had over 500 people sign up. I thrive on community so I created one where we all pushed each other and kept each other accountable. Nothing replaces the community vibe of being at the gym, but we must adapt to the current situation instead of letting it control us.
Neal Maddox: I tend to go for bike rides a lot. I put together a home gym so I am able to train still.
QUESTION 3
FITAID: Staying positive and tuning in to our emotions have been very important lately. How have you been staying present, positive and connected?
Jacob Heppner: For those of you that know me you know I'm already a super positive and connected person! One thing I recently did during the quarantine period was to start Fitness Related Awesome News (FRAN) which shares positive and uplifting news from around the globe in the fitness space!
Kelsey Kiel: I've been doing a lot of self work and reading and writing. It's also been helpful to have people around me (not necessarily physically, haha) who have been there—FaceTiming, phone calling, and connecting that way. My dog also helps me stay positive because he's so dang cute.
QUESTION 4
FITAID: Describe how you've been focusing on nutritional wellness during this time. What have been some of your favorite healthy dishes you've made during quarantine?
Kelsey Kiel: I track my macros regularly, and I recognized after a few weeks that nutrition and food is something I can control, so it actually helped me feel a sense of normalcy to continue to count and track my macros and eat the normal, healthy and tasty things I normally would.
Jacob Heppner: I've actually spent a lot of time focusing on my nutritional wellness and realized that so many others need that help and need accountability! So I recently started "Functional Eating" which is a nutrition company with a 1-on-1 coach, the same coaches I use for my diet and nutrition for competing at the Games. Our main focus is giving every person that accountability and relationship instead of just a plain ol' diet template that doesn't keep you accountable!
QUESTION 5
FITAID: What advice do you have for other athletes during quarantine? What have you personally taken away from this experience?
Neal Maddox: Advice I could give is this: get off social media and pick up a book. I have been basically going back to school and gathering as much knowledge as possible. The reason is because I want to come out of this pandemic a better person and great coach for my clients.
Jackie Perez: The best advice I can give is to only focus on what you can control. See opportunity in the situation that will help you grow. It's a great time to get back to the fundamentals and make them bullet proof. We won't have this kind of time to rebuild from square one again so focus on the basics and get really good at them so when things go back to normal, we can continue to build.
C O N C L U S I O N
This experience has shown me just how important it is to control our thoughts. This can either be the biggest tragedy we have had to deal with or an opportunity for growth in areas of our lives we have ignored because we were too busy.
As Jackie Perez mentioned in her interview, “Nothing replaces the community vibe of being at the gym, but we must adapt to the current situation instead of letting it control us.”
While it can be easy to lament the temporary closing of your local gym, remember that everyone—even professional athletes—are going through the same experience, and with that knowledge we can move forward together towards a positive and healthy future.
All images are the property of respective athlete and FITAID, all rights reserved.
About the Author:
Georgia native Tiffany Ammerman is the thru-hiker and CrossFitter behind the travel blog The Goodish Traveler. She spends the majority of her time traveling, eating sushi and searching for hiking trails. When she's not blogging, Ammerman can be found training at CrossFit LaGrange and teaching art to kids.
> > > Stay well.
Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman Athletes around the world have become all-too familiar with the struggles of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise regimen while gyms have been temporarily closed worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing our quarantine experiences and struggles with our fitness friends has become a major way for […]
#BlackoutTuesday This Tuesday, social media is providing humanity with a rare opportunity to come together, listen and empower the voices of those who have been silenced for too long. We’re here, we’re muted, and we’re listening. Please consider joining the movement. A Reminder to Those in Sports: Use Your Platform Wisely During this time of […]
The New York Times recently released their top recommendations to help gyms in the U.S. reopen successfully this summer. LIFEAID co-founder Aaron Hinde and his daughter Trinity share the FITAID FIVE with their community. Knowing how important fitness is to our mental and physical health and overall well-being, please stay safe and stay fit out there. We're in this together!
> > > Stay well.
The New York Times recently released their top recommendations to help gyms in the U.S. reopen successfully this summer. LIFEAID co-founder Aaron Hinde and his daughter Trinity share the FITAID FIVE with their community. Knowing how important fitness is to our mental and physical health and overall well-being, please stay safe and stay fit out […]