Working in CrossFit media, we have an obligation to remain as unbiased as possible when reporting on breaking news, amplifying community stories, profiling athletes, and covering competitions.
That said, we’re only human, and the truth is that we are biased and can’t always be 100% impartial. We have friends in the CrossFit space, we have athletes that we root for, and we look forward to certain live events above all else.
For me, every single year, it’s TYR Wodapalooza.
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The Spectacle
Before I began working in CrossFit media, I was a CrossFitter and avid spectator.
- I streamed pretty much every event on my laptop before I began attending them in person. The draw of each competition, for a spectator, is different.
One comp may have innovative programming with workouts that incite drama and tight finishes, challenging athletes with new movements and testing them with heavy lifts.
Another comp may draw in headline athletes with a roster packed full of fan favorites. And yet another could be held in a unique setting that serves as the main character in the story.
TYR Wodapalooza is the entire package.
The first time I attended the event in person was overwhelming. Everywhere you looked, something or someone would capture your attention.
- There are elite athletes wandering around, meeting fans, and chatting with you in line to grab an acai bowl. There’s music booming and multiple stages being prepped for the day’s events.
The vibe is unique. While there is pressure to win at TYR Wodapalooza, the athletes, coaches, fans, and volunteers are really there because they want to be. They’re there because they love it. It’s a stark contrast to the palpable tension among the athletes at Semifinals and the Games.
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The Setting
There are so many events held throughout the world that celebrate their setting. Just think about the Marbella Championship in Spain or Wod on the Loch in Scotland, where the workouts and weekend events tie into the energy, history, and culture of a city.
- TYR Wodapalooza takes the unique vibe of Miami — a place that celebrates diverse cultures and art — and translates all of that into a fitness competition that is held rain or shine (and you’re almost guaranteed to get both).
Now, with the addition of the LATAM Cup, TYR Wodapalooza highlights the Latin American melting pot in Miami in a deeper way. This is a full-on celebration of Latin American athletes from eight different countries as they compete against one another for the title of the annual LATAM Cup winner.
The Community
Elite athletes travel to Miami to compete each winter, and year after year, the lineup is made up of many of the fittest men and women on Earth. However, our CrossFit community is so much more than those few extremely talented athletes at the top — we are all levels, all abilities, all ages.
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- TYR Wodapalooza gives opportunities for so many competitors to participate in such a large-scale competition, one that is renowned by CrossFitters throughout the world.
It’s an experience the competitors never forget. Elites compete on the same stages as the teams, teens, masters, scaled, intermediate, and adaptive athletes.
TYR Wodapalooza has been a pioneer, giving adaptive athletes an opportunity and platform to compete, only to watch the adaptive divisions grow over time. It has set the standard on inclusivity, inspiring other competitions to follow suit.
Besides the competitions, there are countless community activities, activations, and moments to meet people, celebrate, and become inspired.
Imagine watching Gui Malheiros on one stage, throwing up a 310-pound hang snatch complex, then wandering over and participating in a weightlifting demo with Zach Telander. You then ogle at the strongman feats of Mitchell Hooper, only to then run back over to the comp stage to witness Tom Miazga’s clean PR, screaming alongside everyone watching. It can only really be done at TYR Wodapalooza.
It’s all something you can only fully grasp in person. By streaming the event, you’re only experiencing a small part of what this event has to offer. It’s not just about the workouts and the elite athletes — it’s about the crowd. It’s about the community. It’s about the energy. It’s about Miami.
The New Venue
This year, the competition moves across the bay, and I couldn’t be more excited.
The one downside to the Bayfront Park setting of years past was the lack of a beach experience. And truly, there is no better beach experience than Miami Beach. The cerulean blue water, the rainbow hues of the lifeguard stands, the Art Deco buildings lining Ocean Drive, and the fine white sand will all serve as centerpieces for this year’s competition.
It’s tough to articulate everything that makes TYR Wodapalooza so special, but I realize that this sentiment is shared by its organizers and the athletes who have taken part throughout the years.
So I guess I’ll just say it’s loud. It’s live. It’s bright. It’s a party. It’s our community at its best, and it’s the greatest weekend of the year.
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Featured image: Enrique Villaseñor
