Lindy Barber Leaves Team CrossFit Mayhem Freedom

It seems like just yesterday CrossFit Mayhem Freedom was standing atop the podium at the CrossFit Games (not for the first time), but change has already arrived. Team member Lindy Barber announced on Instagram that she’s leaving the team and Cookeville. Check out her post below.

I have never been someone who makes the “popular” decision, the “right” decision or the “expected” decision. I chose to lift again after being told I couldn’t when I broke my back. I chose to leave grad school after being told it would ruin my future. I chose to quit playing soccer after being told that I was giving up on my dream- and I choose to leave Cookeville after winning my second “Fittest on Earth” title with my team. I am someone who has always made the decision that I felt was right for me- no matter what. And it has always been a very hard decision. . While that has never been completely understood in the moment by those around me, it has always proven to be the right decision for my life’s path. It has always led me to happiness and good things that enhance my life’s value. This life is full of excitement and opportunities that I do my best to take full advantage of. . I love the life that I have and created so far. I am so excited for my future and the adventures I have ahead of me, and I can’t wait to bring y’all along for the ride 🙂 #1,000thpost #stillnotgonnatellyouyet #?

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While we don’t know what Barber’s got planned from here on out, we’re sure it’ll be another amazing adventure. Team Mayhem Freedom won’t be the same without her, though!

Main image: Lindy Barber/Instagram

This is How Mat Fraser Warms Up

We all have our own way of warming up. Some of us like a light jog; others have a stretching routine. Sam Dancer likes to take a 455-pound front squat for a spin. No big deal. Then there’s Mat Fraser. In a recent Instagram post, Mat shared his warm-up while at CrossFit Mayhem, and his friends even got in on the action. We spy with our little eye Rich Froning; and Lindy Barber, is that you?

Mayhem knows how to make fitness fun. Need to get warmed up before a big WOD? An hour and a half of handball should do.

An hr and half later… well warmed up. #handball #HWPO

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Main image: Mat Fraser/Facebook

Why are Khalipa, Fraser and Froning Working Out Together?

Since 2012, Cookeville’s Crossfit Mayhem, owned by Rich Froning, has opened the doors for many top-level athletes, including Sara Sigmundsdottir, who trained for a long time in Cookeville before recently moving to California. Last month, Sammy Moniz, Matt Fraser’s girlfriend, officially announced their move to Cookeville. And now, we are seeing pictures of Froning, Fraser and Jason Khalipa working out together — something that definitely caught our eye. What’s going on here? 

A few days ago, Froning posted on Instagram suggesting two teams — Team Independence and Team Freedom — from Mayhem, given Dave Castro’s latest announcement that teams going to the CrossFit Games will now have four athletes instead of six. Based on this and Matt Fraser’s recent move, could we speculate they might be teaming up for some squad madness? Possibly! But more than likely, they are probably just getting in a good sweat sesh together. 

We can dream, though.

08 | 16 | 11 …Some fitness happened today. #HWPO

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For those asking! #davecastroisaprick

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Who do you think will make up CrossFit Mayhem’s teams?

Main image: Mat Fraser/Instagram

Here’s How Rich Froning Addresses Limited Mobility in Squatting

Is limited mobility negatively impacting your squat? You’re not alone. Mobility issues in the ankles and hips make it hard for many of us to properly perform a squat the way they’re meant to be. Fortunately, there are a lot of little exercises and tricks for working on your form.

Rich Froning takes one athlete through an exercise that involves squatting down to a medicine ball that you keep inching toward the wall, without ever touching the wall with your hands. This helps improve your mobility while also forcing you to stay upright. And let’s be honest: who better to take advice from than one of the biggest names in CrossFit? Check it out!

Main image: Rich Froning/Facebook

Dethroned: Wasatch CrossFit Claims Affiliate Cup Championship

When stepping on the competition floor, there is one objective: to win. In a competition like the Team division at the Reebok CrossFit Games, that can seem like a big goal especially when Rich Froning and CrossFit Mayhem is the team to beat. But it’s certainly not impossible.

photo: Instagram (@wasatchcrossfit)

Wasatch CrossFit lead by Adrian Conway proved that. Together, they may have been a rookie team, but Conway has taken the competition floor both as an individual and as part of a team, just like Froning. Wasatch CrossFit and CrossFit Mayhem made it a tight race with equal skills and strength, but in the end, Wasatch CrossFit stopped the Mayhem. They finished over 50 points ahead of the two-time defending Affiliate Cup Champions and for the next year, the cup will call Utah home.

No competitor enjoys taking second place. Rich Froning and the rest of the CrossFit Mayhem team are no exception. A legend in the sport, Froning has stood on the podium eight times. Only two of those times were one step down from the top. Both he and his team have experience at the Games and they fought for the title every step of the way. Wasatch CrossFit just proved to fight a little bit harder. Regardless, being the second Fittest Team on Earth is still a huge accomplishment and one to be respected.

photo: CrossFit

Ending the weekend behind CrossFit Mayhem is the team from CrossFit Fort Vancouver. The Washington based team is one of the only teams to compete in the Affiliate Cup since it’s inception nine years ago. They closed out the weekend with seven Top 10 finishes and a total of 786 points.

photo: Instagram (@dunkcfpd)

By Katie Ferraro

Anything Can Happen: Day 3 Recap

There days down, one to go. Anything can happen.

Event after event, the leaderboard has been turned on it’s head as athletes battled through a day of heavy lifting. It all started with Strongman’s Fear where athletes were given three heavy objects to move across the field in any order they wanted. The caveat? In order to get to each element, they had to walk…on their hands. It is The CrossFit Games, after all.

photo: CrossFit Games

The women’s side saw a new name at the top of the leaderboard in the middle of the day and three way tie going into the third and final event for the day, but it was Tia-Clair Toomey back on top at the close of Day 3. While two time reigning champ Katrin Davidsdottir is over 100 points away, it’s a tight race at the top. Behind Toomey is Kara Webb who secured herself yet another event win in Heavy 17.5, her third event win for the weekend. Sara Sigmundsdottir, Annie Thorisdottir, and Tennil Reed-Beuerlein sit third through fifth with 20 points or less between each position. Tomorrow is going to be wild.

For the men, Mat Fraser has proven to be virtually unstoppable ending his Day 3 with two back-to-back event wins, increasing his lead to 174 points. Trailing behind him is Noah Ohlsen, who moved from the fourth place spot at the beginning of the day, to second place to close out the day. Ohlsen, in his fourth Games appearance is hungry for his first spot on the podium. He has never placed higher than 8th on the big stage.

photo: CrossFit Games

Speaking of hungry, Brent Fikowski will begin the final day of competition in third place. Last year, he narrowly missed the podium in his rookie season after being edged out by fellow countryman Patrick Vellner. Then, there is Ricky Garard, the rookie from Australia who has also made an impressive rookie debut sitting right behind Fikowski in fourth. Only 44 points are separating second through fourth.

However, none of these men are safe, especially with Games veteran Scott Panchik in contention, rounding out the top 5. Panchik has experience, six years of Games experience if you count 2017, and his worst finish is 6th place. He’s never made it on the podium, either. Over the past three days, he’s made a slow, quiet assent up the leaderboard and is definitely going to be an athlete to watch during the final day of competition for the 2017 Reebok CrossFit Games.

Looking across the leaderboards for both the Individual Men and Women, something to take notice of are the diversity in the standings. Between the two fields, there are over six countries represented. The most in Games history.

photo: CrossFit Games

The Teams kicked off Day 3 with Big Bob. The event was a silent killer as teams first had to pull the six man sled, totaling 1135lbs, 150 feet, just to turn around and push it back. It was a quick burn as almost every team completed the event in under two minutes. That was just the first event.

Following Bob was “Couple Couplets” which featured synchronized bar muscle-ups, GHD sit-ups, calories on the Assault Bike, and partner deadlifts. The final event, like the strongman event for the individuals, empowered teams to choose their own order and the exercise best suited for each pair. The pairings were the bookends of worm cleans.

Wasatch CrossFit chose wisely as they earned themselves their second event win of the day, positioning them 60 points ahead of defending Affiliate Cup Champs, CrossFit Mayhem. Over 100 points behind them is CrossFit Fort Vancouver, one of the only teams to compete in the Affiliate Cup since it’s inception nine years ago. Reebok CrossFit One and CrossFit Milford sit fourth and fifth. Will the Wasatch Brutes be able to hold off Rich Froning and Team Mayhem? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Check out our viewing guide for the schedule of events and how to watch here.

By Katie Ferraro

Rich Froning – [Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Pull-ups, Double under WOD]


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Rich Froning – [Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Pull-ups, Double Under WOD]

The CrossFit Liftoff is well behind us, but Event 3 proved to be a great test to even some of the most experienced CrossFit athletes. If you can remember back a few months, Rich Froning (508 reps) and Sam Briggs (507 reps) took first place in this event.

Can you beat (or get close to) their scores?

Event 3

12 AMRAP

6 SNATCHES

3 CLEAN AND JERK

9 CHEST-TO-BAR-PULL-UPS

54 DOUBLE UNDERS

Watch the champ crush it here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta4Qmwzrm94
Video Creds: Metcon Action

Weekend Workout with Team Merica and Rich Froning

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Weekend Workout with Team Merica and Rich Froning

Looking for a weekend workout? Take a page out of Project Mayhem and grab two mates to hit this triplet.

Form a Team of 3 Athletes

GRACE (30 Clean and Jerks at 135lb / 62.5kg) or 95lb / 42.5kg for Women

ISABEL (30 Snatches at 135lb / 62.5kg)  or 95lb / 42.5kg for Women; then

30 Bar Muscle Ups.

For Time

Workout Instructions

Athlete 1 starts and completes Grace. Once they have completed Grace, they then tag Athlete 2 who commences Isabel. Once Athlete 2 has completed Isabel, they then tag Athlete 3 who will then begin the 30 Bar Muscle Ups. The workout finishes and time is recorded when Athlete 3 finishes the 30 Bar Muscle Ups.

Can you beat Rich Froning, Ben Smith and Matt Hewitt of Team Merica?

Watch Now:

Credit: Project Mayhem

Credit: CrossFit Mayhem

Project Mayhem Workout – Snatch EMOM

Project Mayhem Workout - Snatch EMOM

Want to hit a workout with “The Champ” Rich Froning?

We all love to throw the barbell around, so get involved with this Snatch EMOM thanks to Project Mayhem.

WORKOUT

EMOM

6 reps on min for 5min at 135lb/ 62kg rest 2 min

4 reps at 185lb / 84kg rest 2 min

3 reps 205lb / 93kg rest 2 min

2 reps 225 / 103kg rest

Rich then throws up a few singles:

255 / 116kg

265F / 120kg

270  / 123kg

Watch Now Project Mayhem Workout – Snatch EMOM