Both Northern and Southern California have always been known as strong regions of CrossFit competitors.

 

Names such as Jason Khalipa, Neal Maddox, Dan Bailey, Kenneth Leverich, Josh Bridges, Valerie Voboril,Lindsey Valenzuela, Kristan Clever, Rebecca Voigt have become staples at the elite level—competing year in and year out at the CrossFit Regionals and Games. 

 

And it makes sense—after all, CrossFit really got its roots on the West Coast, in Santa Cruz, California over a decade ago. 

 

This weekend, all eyes will be on the region where CrossFit all started, as the California Super Regional kicks off at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California, for the second round of Regional events this season. 

 

Will we see which region is actually stronger (NorCal or SoCal)?

 

And how about the fresh faces and talents donning the leaderboard during the 2015 Open this year—will they make a statement?

 

Here are some of the athletes we’ve got our eyes on:

 

Men

Kenneth Leverich: “Ken Doll” Kenny Leverich is no stranger to Regional and Games competition. Known for his skilled Olympic lifting, the 1-rep max snatch event (that many other competitors have talked about being ‘risky’) will not hold Leverich back after completing his 250-feet handstand walk. With a 19th place finish at the 2014 Games, 28th place in 2013, and 17th place in 2012, there is no doubt that Leverich is hungry to keep working his way up the ladder—out of the middle of the pack. 

Ryan Hignell: A Regional athlete at the NorCal Regional every year since 2011. Last year, Hignell had to pull out of competing at the Regional, last minute, after an 11th place finish overall in the Open, due to his mom coming down with an illness. This year, after finishing first in the Wodapalooza Miami Qualifier last fall, and 3rd in the NorCal Open, Hignell is ready to make some noise.

 

Jason Khalipa: You don’t see his name on the Individual roster because…he’s going team this year, as part of his affiliate team: NorCal CrossFit. His absence from the individual playground leaves some room for the other boys of the Cali region to have their shot at the podium. 

 

Neal Maddox: Five time Games athlete…can he go for round six? According to Maddox, following his 15th place finish at the Games last year in 2014, he said he learned, “I am a year older and I can overtrain myself faster.” This year, in order to snag a place on the podium his approach is simple: “Stay focused and go hard. I am focused on myself and getting the rest my body needs,” he said.  

 

Ben Alderman: The now four-time Regional athlete took 7th place at the NorCal Regional in both 2013 and 2014. This year, after taking 5th overall in the Open, Alderman said he’s going in to the 2015 arena with more stamina, “I increased my aerobic training this past year. Focusing on being able to survive those long workouts! They have been my nemesis. Jason Khalipa and Chris Hinshaw have shared valuable insight for me on developing this area as an athlete,” he said. On preparing for the weekend, Alderman said he’s been practicing—diligently: “Since the workouts came out I have been trying to get the three days of workouts in every two days. That way I could run through them more times. I don't take many rest days....I went 12 days straight doing pretty much double days the entire time. This may seem drastic to some, but to those of us out there this weekend it's normal,” he said. 

Rasmus Wisbech Andersen: A transplant from Odense, Denmark, Andersen moved to beautiful and sunny San Diego, California last year to train with Team CrossFit Invictus—he ended up making the team, and going on to win the Affiliate Cup at the 2014 CrossFit games. When interviewed by HQ last year about his goals, Andersen said his eyes were on individual competition: “My goal is to make it to the Games as an individual in the future, but I still think that it would be an amazing experience to compete at the Games on Team Invictus. Then hopefully the experience will make me more ready to go individual for the 2015 season,” he said. After a 1st place finish in the SoCal Open…it seems like he’s ready. 

 

Women

 

Lindsey Valenzuela: 2013’s “2nd Fittest Woman in the World” missed out on making it back to the Games in 2014 by one spot—in what was considered a ‘huge upset’, along with Samantha Briggs’ missed ticket punch as well. Briggs had the opportunity to earn her spot back to the Games last weekend at the Atlantic Regional, and if that’s any bit of foreshadowing that is to come, so will Valenzuela. Valenzuela has been training her butt off for this weekend, and she will make it back to Carson. 

 

Chelsey Grigsby: The 25-year-old former collegiate softball player, originally from Bend, Oregon, is fairly new to the CrossFit scene, but a 3rd place finish overall in the 2015 Open (after placing 22nd in 2014) most definitely is turning heads to see who she is and what she’s all about. Grigsby’s competitive CrossFit debut was at the 2014 Southern California Regionals last May where she took sixth place. There seems to always be room for new blood in the sport of CrossFit-and Grigsby may just have a shot at filling that role.  

 

Lauren Fisher: “Little Fish” as she is affectionally known, as the little sis of South East competitor, Garret Fisher, Lauren’s weightlifting accomplishments are what have gotten her far in this sport at only the age of 21. With a Snatch of 170 lbs., Clean and Jerk at 235 lbs. and Backsquat at 290 lbs., the 5’5’’ 135 lbs. Fisher knows how to lift some weight. Fisher made her Games’ debut last year in 2014, placing 9th overall; she also won the USA Weightlifting Junior National Championship (Women’s 63kg weight class). This year, after taking first in the Open by a 10-point gap—above many Games veterans—she’s been hard at work out of CrossFit Invictus to make bigger moves at the 2015 Regional. 

 

Chyna Cho: She’s beauty and she’s grace, she’s Miss…Chyna Cho. Cho first competed at the 2010 CrossFit Games, however every year after that, she fought to return, competing at Regionals and missing the mark by only small margins. Missing the mark, that is, until last year, where she finally placed second overall in NorCal, and advanced back to the 2014 Games—claiming 15th place. Cho has all eyes forward this year to make it back again. 

 

Kirsten Pedri: First place in the NorCal Open this year after placing 19th in the NorCal Open in 2014 and 12th at the NorCal Regional later that season. We are watching to see what this chick does this year. 

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