2011 CrossFit Games

The 2011 CrossFit Games return to the Home Depot Center with a $1 Million Total Purse

The Fittest on Earth™ compete for the crown July 29-31, 2011 in Los Angeles

The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA will be home to the 2011 CrossFit Games from July 29-31. The 125 acre facility, located on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills, is a fantastic venue for our sport, with the Tennis and Track stadiums being the main arenas again, each with 8,000 seats. Tickets go on sale Feb 1.

We're proud to announce that Reebok is the title sponsor of the Games. Reebok and CrossFit have created a ten-year partnership, and part of the Reebok commitment to the CrossFit community is a $1 million purse for the Games season, including a top prize of $250,000 each for the Fittest Man and Woman on Earth.

Approximately 50 men, 50 women, 50 teams, and 20 Masters for each division will qualify for the Games and the opportunity to compete for the title of Fittest on Earth™. The season begins in early March with the Open Qualifiers, and follows up with 17 Regionals in late May and June.

The competition will be fierce, so good luck to all in their training!

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86 comments on this entry

1. Chris Cooper wrote...

Excellent news! When can we expect a specific date for Sectionals, so that we can properly prepare for this amazing event?

2. Tony Budding wrote...

Chris,
The Open Sectionals start in early March (see our earlier post http://games2010.crossfit.com/blog/2011/01/update-2011-games,983/).

3. Mark Gleason wrote...

This is great! Will be interesting to the see how this'll change now that bigger money is on the line. A very early good luck to all the competitors...

4. Steven Platek wrote...

season? does that mean there are $$ to be won throughout the year? this is getting really interesting... !

5. cindy henson wrote...

. Early March is still very vague . So is ending mid April. We need specific dates, as we are planning family holidays around this whole thing.

6. CrossFit North County wrote...

All I have to say is awesome.

7. Bailey wrote...

Boom! That's awesome!

8. Slob wrote...

Will there be any type of competitive event this year at the Arnold Classic? Last year the environment was amazing! Any info would be appreciated.

9. Skip Chase wrote...

Wonderful news! Awesome! Exciting!

10. Gary wrote...

Question on the "20 Masters for each division"- is that 10 men and 10 women or 20m and 20f ?

11. Jeff wrote...

Phew!! That's a lot of cash. I think this will really pull some great athletes out of the woodwork and get them into the CrossFit games.

12. Web Smith wrote...

Let's go Lindsey Smith, Carey Kepler, Jeremy Thiel, Lisa Thiel, Jessica Sharratt, Jen Cardella, Crystal Nelson, Lance Cantu and the rest of the CrossFit Central crew (and everyone else competing)!!!

This is awesome.

13. Michael FitzGerald wrote...

Tony or Dave,

When will we find out about the Regional dates? Also, are the Games athletes from last year exempt from the sectionals this year?

Thanks Boyz

14. Jeremy wrote...

Any thoughts of it being televised, or will it be streaming again this year? Either way I'll be watching... AWESOME!!

15. rob wrote...

i know it is early but when do tickets go on sale?
am planning a holiday over from london to come and see the games so want to make sure i get everything sorted early

16. Tyler Sullivan wrote...

This is unreal! But then again, when sponsors enter the picture, more money is to be had. I just hope Reebok does not ruin it. And I hope Crossfit stays true to it's roots. This is amazing though!

17. RayG wrote...

Trying to form a training group to exchange ideas and traning strategies for the Masters group people, and especially 60 year olds. Anyone interested let me know. Check out the facebook group Crossfit Masters Competitors.

18. fulano wrote...

here we go...money and corporate sponsors. crossfit will no longer be the best kept secret of fitness, and it will be exploited and commercialized for a profit. i'm keeping my garage still dirty and grimey while crossfit covert to the new globo gyms.

19. Craig wrote...

I like it. These athletes deserve a purse. Fulano, you and I both know that CF is growing and it should grow... it is the best fitness program there is!

Tony, is there a list of the prizes for the other positions besides just the first place winners?

20. Andrew Hewison wrote...

Hi Tony,

Speaking to you from Melbourne Australia, Id like to say that I literally cannot wait for the season to begin. Last year I made the journey across the pacific to watch the 2010 Games and it was one of the best trips I have done and I will likely do it again, but I do have some criticism unfortunately.

Given the direction of the sport with its growth, Reebok sponsorship deal and potential television coverage, it seems you are stepping it up and would expect the same from the athletes competing in the sectional and regional events. Why then are hitting mid January and you are unable to release the dates of these competitions? Surely you have these organised?

Personally speaking, I train 7 days per week, sometimes twice per day in prep for the sectionals and regionals and hold down a full time job. It's be great to be able to plan the first half of my year well in advance.

C'mon HQ, the Crossfit community hangs of every word you guys post here, please give us some specifics. We don't even know the format of the sectional comps, other than roughly its going to be online....

Thank you,
Andrew

21. Jason wrote...

If there going to be drug testing. If so which policy will you be using? I fear with this significant increase in prize money there will be people looking to gain that advantage. Don't be naive to think that because "crossfitters" are generally good natured people that the use of performance enhancing drugs wont be prevalent.

22. barbara e taylor wrote...

RayG,

Tried to find your Facebook link without success. I am interested and 53.

Babs

23. Brittany wrote...

Hope I have the opportunity to judge the champ one more time!!

24. peter sernling wrote...

Where can I qualify for masters? I live in Sweden.

25. kodman wrote...

yikes...

26. Steve S. wrote...

It just keeps getting bigger and better. Good job head shed.

27. Leigh G wrote...

Holy crap that is a lot of money!! Congrats to HQ and the community for making the CrossFit Games huuuuuuuuuge

28. Pat McCarty wrote...

I dunno man. I get the sinking feeling this is growing faster than HQ can keep up with. Or that they enjoy wielding power in the form of limited information. Anyone interested in competing is most likley in the "i am a bit frustrated" camp.

I will give it a shot, but this open-qualifier process if going to get VERY messy.

29. Lori Rico wrote...

Babs, I found the Facebook Group:

CrossFIT masters competitors

30. Sergio wrote...

i love CF, but I still have my doubts with the words "a million dollars" in the CF vocabulary...I hope it stays true and doesn't become just another commercial hit within the fitness community. this year's games is going to be a crazy rat race!

all in all, good luck to all the competitors!

31. Glenn wrote...

I hope Reebok is willing to pony up for some adequate PED testing.

32. Doug wrote...

OK, the Games just officially got REAL gaddam serious.

$25,000 is good money but $250,000 is 5+ years of income for most of us.

It is hard to imagine that 4 years ago Greg Glassman handed James Fitzgerald a $500 stack of bills in a sheet metal building on a ranch in the middle of rural California.

I'm as concerned as anyone that prize money this serious requires drug testing that's at least as serious.

I think we have seen the last of the "friendly" competition and that's OK by me.

If the prize money stays at this level or increases I'm sure we will start seeing athletes jumping in that would not have considered it in the past.

Then we all get to see how high the celing really is.

33. Doug wrote...

I'm gratified to see that the mens and womens prize money is identical.

A huge pay gap exists in almost all women's sports compared to men's and of course in some sports women have no opportunities open to them at all.

In fact I think this level of prize money will likely increase the talent pool for the women even more than the men because of the lack of a payday like this almost anywhere else.

34. Raph wrote...

with money comes problems, i'm glad to see the elite athletes get prize money but this much i don't think is a good thing. i don't know, maybe i'm just like those old school metallica fans who got all butt-hurt when metallica started to get really big after they released one. feeling like our little sport is just getting too big for it's own good. anyway, i'm stoked to see the games this year.

35. jamesd3rd wrote...

Very cool. I missed last year and watched as it was streamed to my phone as I was shooting an AVP Volleyball game. Where can I get info on getting credentials to shoot some of the events?

36. Kelly Guillory wrote...

20 male Masters & 20 female Masters?

37. jake wrote...

Planet,
Nice poserish comment. Bring 'em on, we've been calling for them for years now. None of them have been able to bring it.

38. Danial Eros wrote...

Hey, is there a pool near by? I am just wondering if any of these athletes know how to swim. Im thinking the fittest man in the world should know how to swim...what do the rest of you think?
If you can do a muscle up hand stand push up or a 500lb deadlift you should also be able to swim across a pool. Personal oppinion, but I'm dying to find out what the crossfit community thinks about this?

39. Dave wrote...

Planet..you're right but it won't happen this year. I agree that there are superior athletes who don't know what a CrossFit competition is, but it would take a little exposure to some things they've never done. Next year and the year after you will see some real athletes barnstorm this sport if the money is there. Wherever the money is, the talent will follow.

40. David wrote...

Planet - I do Crossfit at home. No money involved. Is it still a fraud?

FACE

41. Eric Renn wrote...

This is huge for the future of our sport. A serious celebration is in order ASAP! Hats off to everyone involved in making this deal happen. Cheers!

42. Tony wrote...

Holy Cow, $1,000,000 purse, $250,000 for the winners. CrossFit is starting to hit the big time. In 5 years, ESPN baby!!!! Look for big name athletes to try their hand at it. Good luck to everyone thisyear!!!!!

43. Sam wrote...

This sounds awesome, too bad im in the UK! I watched the video of the crossfit pannel and Dave Castro mentioned that qualifiers will happen online and you just have to post a video with your time. Is this happening? Thanks

44. Cynical Bastard wrote...

Is it just me or did CrossFit really just partner up with the people that make Zigs and the Toner line (shirts, pants and shoes that are supposed to help you work out and lose weight with simple daily movements)... Is this not bullsh-t and does it not go against everything that CrossFit ever stood for? Were the hell are the principles? Is $1 million the selling point of the "soul" of CrossFit? Is it worth it?

Reebok doesn't even make a a lifting shoe... there is not ONE shoe that I would wear to CrossFit in... this is insane..

45. Chris Cooper wrote...

Thanks for the very quick reply, Tony! I read the post to which you linked several times for a clue in the direction of specific dates, but couldn't find any. 'Early March' is a bit vague for those training athletes who wish to compete; after all, it's mid-January. :)

46. MikeR wrote...

So I wonder, with $250,000 going to the winners will the games still be run by volunteers?

47. RobbyZ wrote...

Excited for this and what it may provide for CrossFit but taking a side with "Cynical Bastard". Doesn't seem to correspond with CrossFit philosophy. Also, with this kind of prize money, doping allegations are imminent.

48. RGO wrote...

"Cynical Bastard", Robby Z, check out CF Radio episode 151 from December 22. Reebok executive CHAD WITTMAN explains commitment to CF and current plans developing CF Apparel, including: shoes, clothes, gym equip, accessories etc. Good things to come

49. jake wrote...

RobbyZ and Cynical B.,

Are the companies that we consider "CrossFit" style companies able to front that kind of money? CrossFit is a new concept to the world so most companies won't be a perfect fit for all aspects of CF. Look at the list of sponsors below, are all of Under Armour's shoes zero differential? No. Are all of Progenex supplements completely Paleo? No, but they are sponsors and they support what we do. They allow us to have the Crossfit Games, the live webcasts, etc. Be happy that a company as well known as Reebok has agreed to a 10 yr partnership with us.

50. Joshua wrote...

I understand people complaining about "selling out" and all, BUT... If Reebok is willing to put up the purse and be that big of a sponsor, why not do it? No one is forcing anyone to endorse or buy Reebok stuff. Most serious CFers who know what they're doing are going to steer away from the typical Reebok shoes anyway, but I bet they'd still take their $250,000 if they win.

51. Christopher wrote...

Innovation has been sold out for a nice bid. Over the next 10 years look for an increasing purse, athletes who care less about the sport and more about show and dough, and refuse to enter the Home Depot Center unless transported in pimped out Reebok golf carts directly to their events, trash talking for popularity breaking up the Crossfit community's philosophy of encouraging each other. Will there be an immensely growing purse for teams, athletes jumping teams for higher bids? The appeal of Crossfit to this Everyman is fading with the sell out.

52. bingo wrote...

This just in...in an amazing upset victory the heretofore "outlaw", renegade, "alternative" sports snowboarding and skateboarding have failed to disappear with the advent of massive infusions of money, marketing, and stardom for previously tiny niche athletes like Tony Hawk and Shawn White. In an amazing fashion, contrary to all measures of strum und drang emanating from the early adapting cognoscenti, both sports continue to grow, with snowboarding now widely credited with saving the snow sport industry.

We now return you to your previously scheduled hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth...

Kudos to CF HQ for negotiating a marketing agreement that does not involve any relinquishing of control over not only the Crossfit Games, but indeed over anything Crossfit.

53. Michael wrote...

Reebok has an official affiliate at their HQ with 150+ attending athletes...Games competitors are visiting and providing input...this is nothing but wonderful for our sport.

April/May target for CrossFit designed gear...consistent access to quality gear at competitive price points...yeah that sounds horrible.

54. Kevbo wrote...

Bingo, you're my hero.

Progress can be scary, people. Change, all the more so. If this stuff is as good as we say it is, wouldn't you want it to continue to grow?

Nobody's going to change your (or my) garage gym, if we don't want it to change. You're still welcome to play pickup hockey on a local pond, or 3on3 at the basketball court down the street, despite the fact that MLB and NBA are huge, huge sports. This is no different.

I've seen a box grow from barely having room to do a power clean (seriously... scary compact) to a 2000 sq ft setup with all kinds of clients. It's growth. It's Crossfit.

Cheers all.
Become more. Again.

55. kevbo wrote...

*note - MLB is not taking over NHL haha. Pardon me. You get the idea, though... big sports can still be scaled to be as small as you like.

56. Steve - CF Ocean City wrote...

Thanks, trolls, for commenting here. You need to put your money where your mouth is and either compete or disappear. Please visit and comment on other boards where you'll find many others just like you hiding out in the ether. This board is reserved for CrossFitters.

57. Grant wrote...

Daniel - good comment about swimming. With a couple of swimming coaching articles, I think perhaps we can expect swimming - it would be an interesting change of pace. Also, congrats to Reebok on the sponsoring. I believe Crossfit is too tough to become very popular...but again, if 'Everyman' can scale, then this wonderful circuit training has very wide application.

58. Gus Harley wrote...

Things are definitely getting serious with prize money like that. I understand people worrying about CrossFit getting huge but didnt you see it coming? It has always been about the fitness but don't be foolish and think that it's not a business as well. I remember when it was $500 a year to be a box and you could only get certified in Santa Cruz. EVERYTHING in this world revovles around making money so don't be surprised if CrossFit goes commerical. They have put years of effort and time into making CrossFit what it is, just like any other business, and it's about time they reaped the harvest of their work. If you want to see my point just look at the bottom of this page and see all the companies who sponsor with the goal of trying to make MONEY off CrossFit.

59. Moose wrote...

Thanks to HQ for modifying the Masters Division. While I love to beast it out with the youngsters, fit 45 competing with fit 25 is probably not that much of a contest. I'm glad the cutoff was lowered and that there will be opportunities for fit folks over 45 to demonstrate the great fitness we are attaining with a good and constant CrossFit program.

60. Tim Retzik wrote...

With that much money on the line where are qualified judges for the games going to come from? There is already so much integrity in question with the whole qualifying process. The top 10 spots are always decided by a second and without good judging a judging mistake by a judge is going to have "significant" meaning. I have participated in the the games the last two years and the judging has been unprofessional to say the least. 09 there were not even enough bodies to judge the events and the people who filled in had no experience judging a crossfit competition. 2010 wasn't much better. It takes more then just being a good coach or trainer to judge an event of this magnitude. It will take experience judging crossfit competition. Where is that experience going to come from and how exactly will it be qualified?

61. Luke Mullen wrote...

@38 Danial Eros: "Hey, is there a pool near by?"

As the broken record, I have written previously that Crossfit 2011 Games could easily (?) have something similar to an "Odyssey Custom Made PORTABLE Pool", 80ft x 130ft, 60in deep, costing ~ $40K. It might fit in the parking lot of HDC or in one of the stadiums.

Furthermore, Coach Glassman point blank mentions a pool as a possibility during the 2011 Games. The mention occurs during an audience member filmed video during the 2010 CrossFit Endurance Sports & Fitness Expo "Exec Panel"

There are photos of Odyssey Custom Portable Pools here ... http://www.quickpools4less.com/customportablepools.htm ... it might fit in the HDC parking lot.

One can imagine, 2011 Event #2a is either a straight metabolic single event (swim AMRAP) or a multiple modality event along the lines of:
For time or AMRAP
(a) KBS, thrusters, etc (weighted movement)
(b) swim pool-length
(c) Air Squats, push-ups, burpees, etc (gymnastics movement)
(d) swim back pool-length
(e) repeat X rounds

Finish entire thing with Event #2b: Throw a standard USCG life ring as far as possible over dry land or as close to a dry-land target as possible (first contact with ground counts, rolling does not).

P.S. Event #1 would be Crossfit Total (CFT) as would the last event ;-);-);-)

62. Brad L wrote...

All the cynics remind me much of those who protested globalization in the late 90's, trying to stop something that could not be stopped, and trying in all the wrong ways. Growth, is not something that can be stopped, or even well channelled unless we all choose to take a stand by spending our money and our time in a way the is emblematic of our own personal ideals. If you don't personally find the Reebok deal resonating, buy from someone else. If you feel Crossfit is moving in the wrong way, spend positive time making it what you want it to be. We still choose where we are headed and how we will get there...Spend your time and your money as you see fit and this shouldn't be that big a deal...Don't be fearful. And, remember that being contrarian just for the sake of being contrarian is the worst way to become one of the masses. Get after it...

63. B. Broadway wrote...

Good Luck to all who intend to participate.

64. Milkface wrote...

Can someone scream BOOMSAUSE!!!!!!!

65. BK wrote...

You would think the fittest man on earth title will have a water element in the very near future, we test em out everywhere else.....

66. Mario A wrote...

Congrats!

It's amazing to see how fast CF is growing. I'm fortunate to have found CF when I did and as an affiliate owner will continue to do what I can for the community to bring true fitness to the entire world.

67. Luke Mullen wrote...

Here's the link to the video where Coach Glassman mentions the possibility of a swimming pool at Crossfit Games 2011.

It's at about time-stamp 1:58 ... http://sicfit.com/coverage/237836-SOC-Reebok-Partnership-Address-Orange-County-California/video/365958-The-Future-of-the-Sport-and-the-Community

68. Mitch wrote...

Price of Games tickets???

69. Matthew wrote...

This is the first year that I won't be deployed and a couple of my Marine buddies and I want to go watch the games this year. Where can we purchase tickets?

70. joe wrote...

RayG,
Would love to communicate with and share ideas about the over 60 Masters group. Is there another way besides Facebook as I am not a fan of that site.....

71. Dan wrote...

I would like to see a sprint distance triathlon or even better quadrathlon (swim, row, bike, run) included in the games. What better way to prove whether CrossFit increases work capacity over broad time and modal domains than to include a multi-sport endurance event like this along with the traditional regime of events? The winner of a CrossFit games that included such an event would be much more broadly accepted as the "Fittest on Earth".

72. Cici wrote...

that much money.. and no drug tests? They should really screen athletes. Once you get money involved along comes steroids and enhancers.

73. bingo wrote...

Cici, @72, the athletes at the Games have been drug tested for the last 2 Games, and this year will make it 3. Nowhere has it been said or implied by anyone associated with CF or the CF Games that there would not be drug testing. Indeed, one of the Affiliate teams was very publicly DQ'd after 2 failed tests.

You are incorrect.

74. Tyler Eggimann wrote...

The CrossFit games web site is very hard to navigate and it is difficult to find information on Open qualifiers, sectionals, the games, and how and were to registar. The site definitely needs to be worked on to make that information easily available to potential competitors.
After that note i would like to thank the men and women who put the games together, it is freaking amazing.
Were can i find info on the Open qualifiers for Organ/idaho or Utah/Nevada?

75. Harlan wrote...

How would you regulate the swimming? Hmm, wondering what the standards would be. All the talk of it has made me start working on my poor swimming skills." Practicing and learning new sports"... check :)

76. Grant wrote...

Spot on Tyler (74),

The games sight is so poorly put together.

I'd love to see some information on the Aussie qualifiers...how the hell do i find it...

77. RayG wrote...

The Masters Ompetitora web site went live last night .... Please join us at www.masterwod.com all masters and masters wannabes!

78. Craig Flynn wrote...

In no way is this good for Crossfit.

Those that made Crossfit what it is today did so out of passion, and out of a dedication to, and for, a lifestyle, and a community.

Should "CF HQ" continue down this "corporate" sponsorship path, they will undoubtedly lose their most passionate community (and asset) that built Crossfit into what it is today.

While "$1mm" will of course help grow the sport, and introduce others to the benefits of leading a healthy CF lifestyle... there are most certainly dangers in accepting monies from companies that don’t believe in the purity of the sport, and for that matter, the culture.

Crossfit is about dedication and challenge, yes? It’s quite easy to grab $1mm from the Adidas Group (bought Reebok for $3.8 billion), that also owns Taylor Made (golf).

Shouldn’t CF HQ challenge themselves to raise “$1mm” from true CF organizations/businesses? Wouldn’t this keep the sport REAL? If you can do a muscle-up, why not challenge yourself (CF HQ) to go outside of what’s “easy” (Adidas Group) and raise said funds elsewhere.

Although, I must say, I can’t wait for the Crossfit labeled Reebok shoe – YAY!!!!! (sarcasm intended)

CF HQ - you have my name and e-mail; I'm more than willing to share ideas and thoughts to save your great sport/lifestyle that was started many years ago.

Respectfully,
Craig

79. Gerard Gautreaux wrote...

Can you expand more on Masters qualifications? 20 from each division--- what are the divisions? And how many winning places will there be at the games

80. Jen wrote...

most inspiring weekend of my life!

81. Glen wrote...

I just watched the challenge last night. It was the first time I had ever even heard of it. I've been a trainer for several years and know the benefits of training different disciplines, but did not know they had their own games. I was motivated to register for this years open, just to see where I stack up against other guys in my age class. Masters 50 - 55, so does anybody know how this works exactly?

82. Clen wrote...

This article on games2010.crossfit.com gives the light in which we can observe the reality.

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84. Crowyns wrote...

Does anyone know if this competition is available on blu ray or DVD?

85. Luis Manrique wrote...

Guys i dont try to hate this event at all, I love it big time BUT, i give you a 1 big huge bet that im very sure few of the Players are were on the Juice Steroids HGH or some other Juice, and its just sad in this event are not making any juice steroids/hgh test before entering to this competition. Believe me People on the Olympics few of them were on the Juice and they got caught you think in this small event this people wont use any juice ? heck yeah ... .

86. Luis Manrique wrote...

with all respect to all this players and? everyone, i have a question ?

Any players from this event are they all tested for Steroids/HGH human growth hormone Use, are they all tested or is no need to be tested ? Do they test for that staff at all ?

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