2024 TYR Wodapalooza SoCal — TYR Cup: Roster Breakdown
The official 2024 CrossFit Games individual season may be over, but the major offseason competitions are about ready to kick off, with the 2024 TYR Wodapalooza SoCal leading the charge.
The inaugural TYR Wodapalooza SoCal competition takes place in Huntington Beach, CA, from September 20-23. It will host community events and an exhibition called the TYR Cup, which will feature two teams of eight elite athletes going up against each other.
[Related: Best Cross-Training Shoes]
What Is the TYR Cup?
The TYR Cup takes center stage at TYR Wodapalooza SoCal, featuring a new team format, with rosters made up of some of the best CrossFit athletes in the world.
- We saw a version of this exhibition-style team competition at the UK’s FitFest last season, where two teams of four squared off for bragging rights.
The TYR Cup, however, is putting quite a bit of money on the line, so while this competition will be a spectator experience, it won’t be all fun and games for the athletes.
- The prize purse totals $210,000, with the winning team taking home $160,000 ($20,000 each) and the runner-up team taking home $40,000 ($5,000 each). The MVP will also receive a $10,000 prize.
This head-to-head style competition features two teams: “World” and “North America.”
The full rosters for both teams have been announced, so let’s see who will be competing in a few weeks.
Team North America – TYR Cup Roster
Arielle Loewen, Jeff Adler, Alexis Raptis, Justin Medeiros, Danielle Brandon, and Pat Vellner were announced in July, leaving spots open for the final male and female on the team.
To fill out the roster, the community voted on the team captains — Brandon and Vellner — who then chose the final two members.
[Related: Best Creatine Supplements]
- The North American team captains selected Emily Rolfe and Dallin Pepper, completing their team roster.
Comprised of athletes from Canada and the United States, Team North America is a collection of veterans — two Fittest on Earth winners and three Games podium finishers, including Vellner, who has now qualified nine times.
Team World – TYR Cup Roster
Seher Kaya and Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr were announced as part of the Team World roster early on. Originally, they were going to be joined by Lazar Ðukić, but after the tragedy at the Games, there was much speculation as to who would take his place.
The spot appears to have been given to Ðukić’s close friend, Brent Fikowski, with Guilherme Malheiros and Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson rounding out the final six predetermined roster places.
- Toomey-Orr and Gudmundsson were elected the team captains, and the leaderboard was finalized with the addition of Grace Walton and Aniol Ekai.
Team World is just that — a representation of the broad reach of our sport.
The team represents six countries and boasts the Fittest Woman on Earth, podium finishers, and two 2024 CrossFit Games rookies.
- In a cheeky Instagram post, Vellner sent a little trash talk Gudmundsson’s way, saying that he hopes he “steps up better for Team World than [he] did for CHAD.”
[Related: Best Electrolyte Supplements]
In another recent post, Vellner began with a sentimental ode to his dear friend Fikowski, expressing how lucky Team World is to have such an asset on their team. He then went on:
- “Just remember at those moments when things are tough and you feel alone out there on the floor. When you see only one set of footprints in the sand… those are the moments you’re carrying him. Keep your backs strong. He’s not light,” followed by some pretty great hashtags.
With the competition still weeks away, we can expect (and hope) to see some more trash-talking from both sides.
The Bottom Line on 2024 TYR Wodapalooza SoCal
The teams will face off with six workouts, each with a different format.
If Miami’s TYR Wodapalooza is any indicator, it will be a weekend to remember and definitely one worth attending.
After a very heavy month, it’s an event many of us look to with excitement and anticipation as we hope to connect with friends, share laughs, and enjoy the sport we all love.
More CrossFit Stories
- Your Guide to the Major 2024 CrossFit Offseason Events
- Northern California Classic Partners With PFAA to Approve Open-Water Swim Event
- “Many Mixed Emotions”: Emily Rolfe on Her CrossFit Games Podium Finish
Featured image: @wodapalooza, @chadmueller / Instagram