As the CrossFit season kicks off with Open Workout 24.1, athletes from various age groups and divisions are embarking on the months-long process to record Open scores and earn a ticket to the CrossFit Games.
The youngest of the group, athletes between the ages of 14 and 17; They’re competing for the chance to head to Three Rivers, Michigan over Labor Day weekend to be crowned the fittest teen on the planet..
[Related: CrossFit Open Workout 24.1 Livestream Numbers Surpass 2023 Figures]
detail: This year, Pitt Fitness Ranch will host three separate events for young athletes. In addition to the Teenage CrossFit Games, there will also be the original Pit Teen Throwdown and Pit Collegiate Throwdown.
In addition to events at the ranch, teens also compete at the Wings Event Center, which is just a short drive away. At the Wings Center, athletes have access to a VIP lounge, vendor and media spaces, a large playing field, and livestreams.
2024 CrossFit Games for Teens
Unlike in previous years, the Teenager, Masters and Adaptive divisions will hold the CrossFit Games on a separate date and location from the individual and team divisions in Fort Worth, Texas. Pitt Fitness Ranch will host the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games from August 29th to September 1st.
Teens will continue to follow the normal procedures to qualify for the games. Thirty men and 30 women will compete in Three Rivers after passing through the qualifying rounds through the online open, online quarterfinals, and online semifinals. As before, participants will be divided into two categories (14-15 years old and 16-17 years old), with a total of 120 players.
Pit Teen Throwdown
Pit Teen Throwdown is going on as usual. To qualify, athletes must register and compete in the Open. Beyond that, there are no online qualifiers. However, when I spoke with Pitt Teen Throwdown Director of Operations Stephanie Price, she explained that athletes are encouraged to compete at the highest level possible. For example, if an athlete qualified from the Open to the quarterfinals, she would encourage them to compete.
Registration for Throwdown begins June 17th and is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are 90 places available and the event will be held on August 28th.
Pitt University Slowdown
For the third year, athletes can compete in the Pitt University Throwdown. This is open to athletes between the ages of 18 and 22 (whether enrolled in college or not) who first compete in the Open, then for a six-week period beginning June 9th and ending July 21st. You can qualify by participating in multiple qualifying training sessions. The top 60 young men and women will qualify. They will advance to Michigan State in August after qualifying.
There is also speculation that some athletes who compete in the spring individual semifinals and fail to qualify for the CrossFit Games may also compete at Pitt University Throwdown.
Price said he is trying to emphasize and grow college slowdowns this year. She and her team see this competitive group as being at an age where they sometimes fall between the cracks and need to keep competing, training and setting goals.
- “In the big picture, when you turn 18, you get older. Besides Darrin [Pepper]maru [O’Brien], [and] haley [Adams], outliers lose out competitively for about 4 to 5 years. But this is an important demographic. When you compete as a teenager, some people go from third place to 18,000 when they compete as individuals,” Price told Morning Chalk Up.
- “We really want to develop this era as its own division. Kids can choose to compete in college throwdowns or, in some cases, games. CrossFit has been so incredibly supportive of this and helping us grow it and become something big in its own right,” Price said.
Price said CrossFit has been deeply involved in planning, logistics and operations in every way. Together, they strive to provide teen athletes with an authentic and meaningful competition experience, further enhanced by new locations and dates.
- “Before, teens were relegated to the barn. [The 2023 CrossFit Games] It was the first year they were able to compete in the Coliseum,” Price said. “And I have nothing against anyone at CrossFit for that. It was a big logistical challenge because all the departments come together at once, and we also had limited bandwidth. Young people are focused on themselves. We can put all of our money, time, energy and resources into them.”
[Related: 9 Tips To Be a Low-Maintenance CrossFit Open Participant This Year]
Price and her team meet regularly with the directors of WheelWOD (organizers of the Adaptive CrossFit Games) and Legends (organizers of the Masters CrossFit Games). They discuss important parts, wins, challenges, and bounce ideas off each other.
PFAA Mentorship Program
New this year is a partnership between Pit Teen Throwdown and the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) in the form of a mentorship program. CrossFit helps foster this relationship, with Games athletes such as Pat Boerner, Ariel Rowen, Alex Gazan, Griffin Roel, and Tim Paulson participating.
Each mentor athlete has committed 13 hours of practice over the summer to lead a group of six to eight athletes. They set up communication channels, share tips, defuse tensions, and answer questions. Google meetups and streaming group workouts are scheduled, with mentor athletes coaching her teens and providing feedback. Mentors are encouraged to participate in the Teenage CrossFit Games and support young athletes.
conclusion
Price’s enthusiasm for next season is palpable. She and her team are excited about the changes that are coming and the countless opportunities that will be available to athletes in their development and coaching.
“We have a long-term outlook. We are developing not only athletes, but leaders who will be the future leaders of the world,” Price said.
Featured Image: Pitt Teen Throwdown