The Reps Ahead Pro 2 Showcase Preview: Dallin Pepper, James Sprague, Fee Saghafi, and Alexis Raptis Square Off
One on one. Face to face. Mano a mano.
There is nowhere to hide during a Reps Ahead event. All eyes are on the two competitors, who know they are either going to win or lose. There is no second place. This is a knockout-style fitness competition, and fans will get their next taste of it when the Pro 2 Showcase takes place on Saturday, March 30, at CrossFit Tailwinds in Jacksonville, FL.
Founded by Phil Thomas, Reps Ahead follows a unique functional fitness competition format. It’s a one-on-one throwdown where athletes try to get a set number of reps ahead of their opponent.
There is a programmed workout sequence in which the athletes work through a set number of intervals or until one reaches the required “reps ahead” margin.
[Related: 5 Functional Exercises to Improve Warmups, Movement, and Overall Fitness]
What Is Reps Ahead?
The first Showcase event with professional athletes was held at Black Goat Fitness in Liberty Lake, WA, in October 2023.
Games athlete James Sprague came from behind to defeat Semifinal athlete Tyler Eggiman in a hard-fought match that featured chest-to-bar pull-ups, box jump overs, and hang squat snatches. Eggiman held the lead for the first few rounds, but by round five, Sprague pulled away and managed to separate himself by 14 reps and earn the Pro 1 Showcase win.
“The suspense and intensity as an athlete from the start to finish feels elevated in this kind of format, and I was hooked from the second the clock started,” Sprague said after winning the Pro 1 event.
Four professional CrossFit athletes (and a lineup of high-level amateur athletes) will take center stage in a grueling head-to-head matchup of fitness at the Pro 2 Showcase.
The main card features two-time Games athlete Fee Saghafi taking on four-time Games athlete (two as a teen and two as an individual) and the sixth Fittest Woman from 2023, Alexis Raptis.
On the men’s side, two-time Games athlete (once as a teen, once as an individual) and defending Reps Ahead Pro Champion James Sprague will battle Dallin Pepper, a five-time Games athlete (three-time teen champion) and fifth Fittest Man in 2023.
The workout for the throwdown on Saturday is:
- 36 Double-Unders
- 6 Hang Squat Cleans (165/110 pounds)
- 6 Bar Muscle-Ups
Athletes will face a possible seven rounds of work — two minutes on and then one minute of rest. The first athlete to get 40 reps ahead at any point will be crowned the winner. If neither athlete achieves the 40-rep margin within the seven rounds, the athlete with the most reps at the end will win.
[Related: The Best Full-Body Bodybuilding Workout for Beginner to Advanced Lifters]
What To Expect
Reps Ahead founder Phil Thomas wants it to become a fixture within the fitness community while showcasing athletes in a way that’s engaging and easy to follow for the fans. He envisions storylines unfolding throughout the events.
“The story of the match only exists within the match itself,” Thomas tells the Morning Chalk Up.
The athletes shared their enthusiasm about the upcoming throwdown with the Morning Chalk Up, too.
“What’s fun about this one is there is absolutely no pressure in it and it allows me to have fun exploring new strategies, new limits, and tapping into some extra turbo buttons in a healthy competitive way with myself,” Saghafi says.
Pepper followed suit, saying: “I think this new event provides a special opportunity to showcase athletes and their stories. It also gives fans an incredible opportunity to watch what everyone loves to see: two athletes absolutely suffering while throwing punches back and forth.”
Over on Instagram, Raptis wrote: “It’s like no other competition that’s been done…Fee and I are going to put on a show, so be sure to tune in.”
Additionally, they expressed their thoughts on their specific opponents, as both pairs of competitors are very close friends.
“Alexis has become such a great friend of mine and I just love seeing her success these last years! Any time we are together, we pull the best out of each other,” Saghafi says. “We competed on a team at WZA in 2023 and realized quickly how well we connected immediately! Having an opportunity to give our all alongside each other brings more fun to the whole experience!”
[Related: The Best HIIT Workouts for Any Fitness Goal]
“I’m stoked to be competing against James, having known him for so long. I know it’s going to be an absolute battle with no quit from either of us,” Pepper says.
The Bottom Line
Thomas has plans to grow Reps Ahead further, mapping out future throwdowns at locations throughout the United States and beyond. He also sees it as an opportunity to help others along the way by partnering with nonprofit organizations.
For the Pro 2 Showcase, the athletes have chosen to donate $1,000 of their earnings to the nonprofit New You Cares Foundation, an organization that provides fitness and nutrition support for veterans.
Saturday’s event will be streamed live on the B.Friendly Fitness YouTube channel.
Featured Image: @repsahead / Instagram