To the Games we go: Eunice's take from the sidelines
I didn’t know I could have so much fun watching other people compete.
There was a lot on the line at UBC this weekend. Unlike last year, where twelve teams from our region qualified to California to the CrossFit Games, there were only two spots available this year. And the competition would be much stiffer than last year.
The first event was a rowing and handstand push-up event. Bradleah was the first to start her handstand push-ups. She obviously followed Patty’s pre-competition advice: “No sex for you two newly weds for an entire week before the competition.” Sexually frustrated or not, B pretty much put on a clinic, busting them out faster than I personally have seen her ever do. Kermit followed suit, and same thing. We got to the handstand push ups in fourth or fifth place, and suddenly we were in third.
After this event, the entire CrossFit Vancouver crew kind of breathed a sigh of relief – we knew we would be able to contend. Whether we could come top two, we still weren’t sure, but we knew we had a chance.
Then event two came around, and contrary to popular opinion, it turns out Andy has in fact been working on his thrusting motion. While most of the competitors were power cleaning, resetting their feet, and then going for the heavy thruster, our Urban Monk squat cleaned and thrustered every single thruster of the workout, in one fluid and consistent motion, saving him both time and energy, one after another after another. There were only two athletes left in the event who hadn’t been knocked out yet, so all eyes in the building were on our Monk, who at the age of 35, thrusted 255 pounds over his head, the most of any athlete in the competition, in both the team and individual competition. We were in second place going into the second day of competition.
After this, team member after team member stepped up. Saturday morning was the Brown Owl’s time to shine. Once again, the Monk did his part killing the competition on his deadlifts and box jumps, and then the Brown Owl did more than hold her own. She stayed calm and stuck to her game plan to lift the 185 pound deadlift in three sets of seven. No problem. Barely resting on the box jumps, the Owl competed with a strength that morning that we didn’t know she had. It was unreal to watch.
Event four: Seamless. The team had 250 chest to bar pull-ups to get through. The Afghan, Lumber, B and Kermit had a plan. While most other teams busted out a ton of them when they were fresh, but then tired fast and started to fail, our team took the conservative road, holding 5 chest to bar pull-ups at a time for the entire 250 pull-ups. Boom. Second team to the kettlebell swings, where Lumber figured out how to do speed kettlebell swings. Next up – the double unders, notoriously CF Van’s nemesis. Not this day. The Afghan and the newly weds ripped them off with ease. Chris Schaalo from CrossFit Taranis came up to me after that event and said, “Since when did CF Van learn how to do double unders?” Fuck yeah we did! And then our men, Lumber and the Afghan, were by far the fastest males of the competition at busting out their overhead squats.
The fifth event was Kermit’s time to shine. The itty bitty Kerm was slightly concerned because she’d have to squat snatch her personal best snatch over and over again in the workout. But the muscle ups were first. Andy continued his dominance, doing all 9 muscle ups in a row, and then Kermit completed her nine muscle ups faster than any other female competitor. On to the snatches. With Andy there to coach her, one by one, Kermit hit snatch after snatch after snatch. In the end, Kermit got through 16 snatches. Here’s my challenge to you: Try snatching your max. snatch 16 times. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s pretty unbelievable what Kermit did that morning. I was brought to tears.
We were so safely in second place going into the last event, behind CrossFit Taranis, that we didn’t even need to show up to the last workout and we still would have qualified to the Games.
I’m so proud of this team. From performances to watching the way this team’s chemistry flowed together, was completely uplifting.
** Also, a huge shout out to the Afghan, who organized so many logistics for this team. From e-mails to registration, to pumping the team up, to planning workouts and training times, to a whole bunch of other not so fun tasks that I’m probably forgetting, Dan, your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
To the Games we go!!!
Eunice
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By Crystal 30 May 2011
Good job you guys….your strength and determination is unbelievable. Emily…great writing!.
By Girlyman 30 May 2011
Congrats team! Sounds like there were some amazing performances!
By Joel Fridman 30 May 2011
I wish I could watch those performances. Are you guys posting videos on that? Pleeeeease.
Way to go, congrats, you all deserve it.
By Dan F 30 May 2011
Thanks for the kind words Em. It was a great experience flying the flag and competing against some great athletes from Canada! Lions and Taranis in particular were a pleasure to battle with in every workout. Next up, the hot Cali sunshine and the big stage!
I think Kermit’s performance was the most heart wrenching of the weekend. I’d say there were at least 30 or 40 of us holding our breath with her on every single snatch attempt!
By Alex 30 May 2011
Glad I was there to watch and cheer on! Awesome job team. My highlights were Lumber’s speed kettlebell AKA power-snatch and Dan mashing the T2B. Also Kermit killing it on the C2B, and finishing her 7 snatches with 30 secs left to let Andy crush 5 MUs right before time! Wicked…
By Lumber 30 May 2011
Have to agree with Dan, the Monk was dominant over the course of the three days but Kermit’s performance in that workout was outstanding. Especially with everything on the line it was the game winning workout that guaranteed us the silver medal. Many people were almost in tears watchin Kermit destroy the competition. It was one of the more inspirational things I have seen in a while.
Last night at YTBP I thought I heard scotch slurred chants of MVP directed at Kermit on behalf of the Pink Pig.
By Pinky 30 May 2011
I gotta say I love all of you guys! I watched each snatch, knowing Kermit would do it-I could see her calmness down there and she couldn’t have had a better partner for that wod-Andy is our voice of reason for sure (calm, cool, and collected). Shout out to owl: holy crap! She killed that workout, amazing deadlfts!! Dan, nice ohs, seriously speed-ohs!! Andy, I rose out of my seat as you got that last thruster!! In awe!! And last but not least, I can always count on my man. Mike knew what he had to do, performed so well, and that last row of the first wod, oh my god!!! I was seriously worried about his legs, rowed his heart out!
Yay California!!!
By patty 30 May 2011
I am so fucking Hung over
Big shout out to my mentor Greg Glassman
Who picked up a $7,000 bar tab last night.
and to Crossfit Taranis…..class act
By Brown Owl 30 May 2011
It was nothing short of an amazing awe inspiring weekend!!! Kermit you are my hero!!! Dan, Andy, Lumber and Pinky you are all the real deal!! Also can’t forget about everyone who came out to cheer us on. Your love and support each day was unbelievable. I feel truly blessed to be part of such an amazing community!!! You guys rock. Love you all. Next stop California!!!
By Too Tall 30 May 2011
Impressive!!! First time watching Crossfit Nationals, I am inspired by the CFV team.
Kermit…all I can say is WOW! You never gave up, thanks for inspiring me..
Wish I could go to Cali and cheer you on!!!
By Prof 30 May 2011
Amazing efforts from ALL team members if you ask me. Each one gave 110% (yes I know that is a cliche — but true of this group).
Damn it was tough to judge another team when a couple of stations over CFV was going for it — I sneaked a few looks when whomever I was judging took a break.
I judged Taranis in the Amada WOD and that was impressive — but CFV was way out in front of all other teams except them. The best two teams by a long way made it to California.
By Bus 30 May 2011
You guys are amazing – so proud of you. Next California, and then Andy and Kermit need to become stars on ice. With lifts like those, I think they might be the next big thing!