The CF Open is a yearly community driven global competition that is all about testing your fitness, connecting with the community and celebrating your achievements together. This year, the Open takes place over three weekends: February 27/28, March 6/7 and March 13/14. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what the Open is, how it works at UnScared, and why you should join.
What is the CrossFit Open?
The CrossFit Open first took place in 2011. At the time, the idea was pretty bold: athletes from all over the world completing the same workouts, in their own gym, and submitting their scores online.
The goal behind the CrossFit Games season is to ultimately find "the Fittest on Earth." To do that, the Open casts a very wide net. Everyone starts on the same playing field, regardless of location or experience, and that’s what makes it unique.
If you sign up internationally, your scores will appear on a worldwide leaderboard. International registration costs $20 and can be done via the CrossFit Games website. This route is meant for people who want to be officially ranked in the race toward the CrossFit Games.
At UnScared, you can also take part in the CrossFit Open without registering internationally.
Participation at UnScared costs 1 credit per workout. To know your scores, there will be judging, which you can read more about below.
Who is the CrossFit Open for?
The CrossFit Open is for everyone.
For some, the Open is something they look forward to every year. It’s a fixed moment in the training calendar where everything comes together and training gets a different focus for a few weeks.
For others, the Open is a fun and useful test alongside other CrossFit competitionst hey take part in throughout the year. It’s a clear, familiar benchmark to check where you’re at.
The Open is also very much for people who are new to CrossFit or new to training atUnScared. Every workout can be scaled, which means you participate at a level that fits you.
What all of these groups have in common is that doing a shared competition is different from taking a regular class. When everyone does the same workout, at the same time, with people watching and encouraging each other, it brings out something extra.
As the CrossFit Games put it perfectly: many of us came to CrossFit, because we wanted more for our health and fitness, and the Open gives us a way to stay accountable to that effort.
Why sign up?
As you’ve probably noticed by now, training together gives you a massive boost in motivation. That same spirit is what makes the Open such a powerful experience and that’s why it’s not uncommon for people to get their first Pull-Up or Double Under during theOpen.
The Open challenges you to test yourself, with the support of the community around you.
What does the Open look like at UnScared?
At UnScared, the Open is about celebrating the work you’ve already been putting in.
Across the three Open weekends (February 27/28, March 6/7 and March 13/14), we create dedicated time slots where you complete the workout, judge others and submit scores. Each week, there are two slots of two hours on Friday and one slot of two hours on Saturday.
We work with four Team Captains who are there to guide you, answer questions and help everything run smoothly.
You don’t need to register for the official CrossFit Open to take part at UnScared.
Joining a time slot costs one credit. Scores will be logged inSportBit and used to create an in-house leaderboard.
What else can you expect?
For a few weeks, you’ll train under slightly more pressure than during a regular class, but still in a familiar environment. Workouts are challenging but scalable and designed to reveal strengths and areas to work on, not to reward perfection.
Some workouts will feel great. Others won’t, just like in regular training.
The Open gives you a snapshot of where you are right now. It’s information, not a judgement.
Also! Expect some extra fun, like the VrijMiWod and our birtday party during the final Open Weekend on March 13th!
Wait… judging?
Judging means helping another UnScaredian by counting reps and checking movements according to the standards for that workout.
It is essential for a fair and meaningful test. It’s the only way a worldwide comparison can work and say something about progress over time.
At UnScared, you’ll judge each other, and you’ll receive clear instructions, so you know exactly what to look for.
What kind of workouts can you expect?
Over the course of three weeks, three different workouts will be released to test different aspects of fitness.
Every Thursday evening at 21:00, the workout of the week is announced via a livestream. During this announcement, the movements and standards are explained, and you’ll see athletes perform the workout.
At the same time, the workout becomes available online, including the full description, scaling options, movement standards and setup guidelines.
If you are registered internationally, you’ll have until Monday to submit your score to appear on the worldwide leaderboard.
How can you prep?
Lucky for you, our Crossfit programming is already gearing up towards the Open.
This means that if you regularly follow our classes, you will be well prepared for the workouts to come. Next to that, you might want to work on your skill development before the Open is here, to increase your chances of getting your first Double Unders, Pull Up or Muscle Up during the Open (although doing the workouts scaled is already a good test of fitness if you're not yet there).
One last practical note: how does it work?
- Register: Sign up through SportBit (and for official scores at games.crossfit.com/open/registration).
- Team: Join one of the 4 teams you can find on the poster in the gym
- Scaling: Choose a version (Rx'd, Scaled, Foundations) that fits your ability; technique over weight.
- Submit Scores: Enter scores in SportBit and/or online by the Monday deadline to appear on leaderboards.
- Attendance: Of course you can still join the CrossFit Open at UnScared even if you can't make all 3 weekends.
If you still have any questions, feel free to reach out to andrea@unscared.fitness or rutger@unscared.fitness. Happy to help!
Now good luck with your preparations, and enjoy the process!
