The Open is More Than Just a Competition
The CrossFit Open is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of everything that makes our community special. It’s a test of fitness, mental resilience, and the ability to push past limits you didn’t think possible. But more than anything, the Open is about belonging.
For me, my first Open was in 2012, and it was a game-changer. Since school, I hadn’t experienced that level of camaraderie—the feeling of being part of a team, of people cheering you on, of pushing yourself harder than you ever have because your community is right there with you.
It reminded me of an old first-team rugby game, with teammates screaming for you, giving everything, and leaving it all on the field. I had missed that.
The Open brought it all back. It made me feel like I was part of something bigger than myself, and it showed me why the CrossFit community needs the Open.
Why the Open is Essential for Our Community
Over the past few years, we’ve seen inconsistency in the CrossFit community—not necessarily in training, but in vision. But we need to remember:
✅ We don’t do the Open because of what an organization tells us to do.
✅ We do it because it’s a true test of our fitness.
✅ We do it because it brings us closer together.
✅ We do it because it puts us in uncomfortable situations and proves we can overcome them—just like in life.
The Open isn’t about winning. It’s about seeing people achieve things they never thought possible. I’ve seen members get their first pull-up, finish a workout they thought they couldn’t, and realize they are stronger than they believed.
That’s the magic of the Open. It unites us, reminds us why we train, and gives us something to strive for. This is why we need it.
My First Open Experience
I’ll never forget my first Open workout in 2012. It was seven minutes of max burpees to a target—right in my wheelhouse, but brutal. The energy in the room was electric. I went faster and harder than I should have because of the atmosphere—the elevation of competition.
I did it at B4C CrossFit, and I remember watching an athlete, Darney Du Preez, the year before absolutely crush the Open. It was inspiring. Seeing someone push their body to its limits motivated me to sign up the next year.
That’s what the Open does—it makes you want to be better. It’s a pure test because there’s nowhere to hide. No shortcuts, no shaving reps. Just you vs. the workout.
And that’s why I believe every single CrossFitter should do it.
Why YOU Should Do the Open
If you’ve never done the Open, I get it—it can feel intimidating. But here’s the truth:
✔️ It’s not about winning—it’s about testing yourself.
✔️ It doesn’t matter if you scale—everyone does it at their level.
✔️ It’s an incredible way to track progress—many people don’t realize how much they’ve improved until they retest an Open workout from a previous year.
✔️ It gives you an extra push—that little bit of voema you need to keep progressing.
The people who don’t do the Open often don’t realize where they actually stand in their fitness journey. They don’t know if they’re improving or not. The Open is a yearly checkpoint, and it keeps you honest.
How We’re Running the Open at CrossFit Alberton
At CrossFit Alberton, we’ll be doing the Open on Fridays during class times and Friday evenings from 5:30 PM. This is open to everyone—whether you’re officially registered or just want to take part.
If you’re on the fence about registering, I highly encourage you to sign up. It’s not just about doing the workouts; it’s about being part of something bigger. Plus, registering gives you an official worldwide ranking—so next year, you can look back and see how much you’ve improved.
That being said, if for any reason you can’t make it on a Friday, chat to Coach Cam, and we’ll figure out a plan to make sure you still get the Open experience.
💥 Let’s get those registrations in, guys! We need you to make the Open awesome.
Tips for First-Timers
If this is your first Open, here are some things to keep in mind:
⚡ Don’t compare yourself to others – You’re on your own journey. Racehorses wear blinkers for a reason—focus on your own race.
⚡ Scale if you need to – One workout is not worth an injury. Train smart.
⚡ Use it as an assessment – If you’re disappointed in your performance, don’t let it get you down. Instead, use it as motivation.
⚡ Talk to your coach – If you identify weaknesses, don’t ignore them. Work on them. Come up with a plan to improve.
⚡ Enjoy it – The Open is meant to challenge you, but it’s also meant to be fun. Soak in the energy, enjoy the camaraderie, and give it your all.
Let’s Smash the Open
This year, let’s go all in. Let’s pull together as a gym, support one another, and make the Open an unforgettable experience.
This isn’t about CrossFit HQ or the Games. This is about us.
💪 Our community.
💪 Our members.
💪 Our progress.
Let’s show up, throw down, and push each other to be better.
🔥 If you’ve never done the Open before, this is your year.
🔥 If you’ve done it before, you already know how powerful it is.
Let’s do this. Let’s make 2025 our best Open yet.
#BeLekker #CrossFitAlberton #WeAreCFA #CFA2.0 #HyroxTraining #BeYourBest #Biogen
