Talking Elite Fitness

The rules of the Affiliate Cup have changed but the outcome may be the same.  Once again Rich Froning has assembled a formidable group of athletes to represent CrossFit Mayhem.  Froning joins Sean and Tommy fresh off the announcement that Taylor Williamson, Andrea Nisler and Chase Hill will be competing alongside him him this season.  He talks about how the opportunity to add them came about, what it's like competing alongside former rivals and how he and his team plan on approaching this season.

Dan Bailey knows a lot about fitness, but how much does he know about movie soundtracks?  Captain Beef Pillows himself goes up against Sean and Tommy in this week's edition of Podium Picks.  Strategy is key this week as each participant needs to fill five different categories of soundtracks with their picks.  You get to decide who winds up in the "Danger Zone" and who is crowned the heavyweight champ.  Hold on to your butts!

The 2021 Season continues to come into focus but not as quickly as many people would like.  Sean and Tommy try and offer some reassuring words to the community based on conversations they've had with people working to get the season together.  Plus, five-time individual Games competitor Pat Vellner stops by to give his thoughts on the new season structure, how he's feeling coming back from a groin injury and his relationship with his coach Michele Letendre.

A new year brings a new format for Podium Picks!  Five-time CrossFit Games athlete Jacob Heppner joins Sean and Tommy as they pick their favorite fight scenes from movies and television in a five round snake draft.  Superhero slugfests, Sci-fi sword fights and a Bob Barker beatdown all come off the board.  It's up to you to decide whose draft comes out on top!

Ben Bergeron has been busy.  Sean and Tommy discuss the CompTrain Academy, what it could become in the years to come and why they love the approach he plans on taking with teenage athletes.  The start of the 2021 Season is still two months away, but that doesn't mean we can't start speculating about what might happen.  Sean and Tommy offer some way too early predictions for the season.  Plus, why Nickelodeon may be on to something when it comes to sports broadcasting and Tommy's big gambling weekend.

The rulebook for the 2021 CrossFit Games season has been released.  Sean and Tommy held a live Q&A with their patrons and discussed changes to the team competition, the addition of new individual divisions and the debut of adaptive athletes in the Open. 

Mat Fraser and Rich Froning finally go head-to-head, but not in the way that everyone wanted.  Sean and Tommy briefly discuss what happened and why it's getting blown out of proportion.  Some big name athletes moving to be closer to their coaches.  Regionals won't be coming back, but something similar is taking their place.  Sean and Tommy talk about the new competition boundaries and what events might be in line to be part of the new structure. 

The calendar for the 2021 Games season is starting to fill in.  Rogue announces the Invitational will be held in Austin, Texas in October.  Sean and Tommy discuss that decision and what it could mean for other events.  There are more reports about a potential sale of Reebok.  A rap mogul and former NBA star could soon be the new owners.  What does that mean for Reebok and what could it mean for CrossFit?  Plus, some positive press for CrossFit in a fitness publication.

Christmas is the time of year when plenty of great memories are made.  Some are good, some are funny and others are downright crazy.  Sean and Tommy share their favorite Christmas memories in this edition of Podium Picks.  Assault with a saw, a game of HORSE gone wrong, one of the best gifts ever and the near destruction of the family tree all make the list in this episode full of tales from Christmases past.

CrossFit gave us an early Christmas present last week when they released the framework for the 2021 Games season.  Sean and Tommy discuss what they like, what they don't and the things on which they need more information.  CrossFit Christmas is back for the second year.  It's time to hand out some thoughtful and useful gifts to Games athletes!  Find out what Mat Fraser and Tia Toomey have waiting under their trees after you unwrap this Christmas-themed episode.

The framework for the 2021 season has been announced.  CrossFit's Director of Sport Dave Castro joins Sean and Tommy to talk about the changes that were made, how they affect the different divisions and the details that still need to be determined.  

Christmas music is everywhere this time of year.  While there are a lot of good songs, there are only a few that can be considered great.  Sean and Tommy list their favorite songs of the season in this edition of Podium Picks.  Classic crooners, an instrumental favorite, one of the best rap groups in history and a SoCal punk band all make the list, but who makes the top of the podium? Pour yourself a glass of egg nog, put on a yule log, sit back and enjoy an episode full of holiday cheer. 

Tia Toomey has already competed in the Summer Olympics.  Now she may be on her way to competing in the Winter Olympics.  Sean and Tommy discuss her recent move to South Korea to train with the Australian Bobsled Team.  Reebok has signed another CrossFit athlete while some interesting things are taking place regarding the future of the Adidas-owned company.  Plus, Alec Smith makes an acrobatic return to Crazy Things We Saw This Week.

The CrossFit Invitational was an annual team event that ran from 2012 through 2017.  It featured some of the best individual athletes in the world competing together for national glory.  Sean and Tommy list their favorites including an epic head-to-head battle of strength, frenzied fans mobbing the athletes and an event comeback that laid the groundwork for a future super team.

Jillian Michaels is saying dumb things about CrossFit again.  Sean and Tommy discuss why what she said is so off base and what can and needs to be done about misinformation like this now and in the future.  A Northern California box owner is keeping his gym open despite local restrictions and fines, another elite CrossFit athlete is interested in getting into a bobsled and people are doing more ridiculous things in the latest edition of Crazy Things We Saw This Week.