Even if you’re brand new to CrossFit, you’ve probably heard people referring to “The Open” as they stand around waiting for class to begin (or waiting to recover after the WOD)! The goal of today’s post is to explain a little about the CrossFit Open and get everyone excited for this once-a-year competition that’s rapidly approaching!
What is the “Open?”
Officially, the Open is the first level of competition required for CrossFit athletes to qualify for the world championships – the Reebok CrossFit Games. The CrossFit competition season has three distinct stages: the Open, Regionals, and the Games. For an in-depth explanation of the CrossFit Games season, check out this article: “The 2013 Games Season.”  For more about the championship competition, aka the CrossFit Games, check out this video: “What are the CrossFit Games.”
Who Should Participate in the Open?
The Open is the most inclusive competition in the world â it is open to everyone/anyone who wants to participate. At ICA, we encourage EVERYONE to register! Although “elite” CrossFitters see the Open as the first step in qualifying for the Games, that doesn’t mean you need to be an elite athlete to participate! For 99.999% of CrossFitters, the Open is simply a once-a-year opportunity to push yourself to new limits, test what you’re really made of, and see how you stack up against CrossFitters around the world! Take two minutes to watch this short video: “I’m Competing in the Open Because…”
When is the “Open?”
This year, the Open will run from March 6 through April 7.  Every Wednesday for 5 consecutive weeks an Open workout will be posted to the Games website. Registered athletes will have until that Sunday to complete the workout and post their scores online. All scores must be validated by a qualified judge.
When and Where Can I do the Open WODs?
At ICA, we will run the Open WODs on Saturday mornings, in lieu of our regular classes. You can join us on Saturdays to work out even if you’re not formally registered for the competition… but we encourage everyone to register! If a registered athlete can not make it to a Saturday workout, we will do our best to accomodate. Please let us know about your conflict as soon as possible, so we can arrange for a judge to be available during the Thursday Make Up Session or, if needed, outside of normal class times.
Other FAQS:
1. How do I qualify for Regionals?
All athletes compete individually in the Open, but the top scores from each affiliate are also combined to form a “team” score. At the end of the Open, the top 48 men, top 48 women, and top 30 teams from each region are invited to the Regionals. There are also Masters divisions in 5 year increments for athletes over the age of 40. Masters do not compete at the Regional level. Instead, the top 20 in each age category after the Open are invited directly to the CrossFit Games.
2. What if I need to scale an Open WOD?
In order for your score to count in the worldwide competition, you have to complete all the workouts as prescribed. Most workouts are designed so that everyone can get at least a few official reps in. (For example, most workouts that involve very heavy weights or tricky gymnastics movements have some lighter/easier movements first… so you can get some legitimate points on the board.) At ICA we’ll encourage everyone to try the workout as prescribed, and if you hit a point where you absolutely can’t continue we’ll write down your score, and have you continue “off the books” at a lighter weight or with scaled movements. That way you get an official score and you still get a great work out in!
3. How much does it cost to register for the Open?
Registration is $20 for individual athletes.
4. Will the Saturday morning Open WOD count as one of my classes for the week?
Yes, the Saturday morning WOD will count as a class, so punchcard and 2x/week members should plan accordingly.
5. Okay, I’m Sold. How Do I Register?
Register on the CrossFit Games website starting January 30, 2013. Remember to choose CrossFit Phoenixville as your affiliate! If you have any questions, talk to John, Nikki or any of your coaches.
