Results of the 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships by RedBelt Digital
Jan 24, 2015
Elisabeth Akinwale, Stacie Tovar, Chris Spealler, and, “the Champ” Rich Froning are back—and ready to attack the team competition at the ECC this weekend.
Jan 23, 2015
Jan 22, 2015
The first-place individual women’s spot will be anyone’s for the taking this weekend at the East Coast Championships in Boston—last year’s champ, Talayna Fortunado, is not returning in 2015. “I've decided to focus on getting ready and trying to stay healthy for the Open,” she said. Just now getting back to training near 100-percent after suffering a quad strain at the 2014 Games, the three-time Games athlete (2012 “3rd Fittest Woman in the World”) is passing this year’s first-place torch to one of the 43 ladies competing at the ECC. Here, FloElite caught up with Fortunado on her advice for the 2015 contenders and her goals for 2015. Q. What was your experience like last year-first ECC? What were keys to your win? Last year at the ECC I really loved the programming and I was coming off of two back-to-back competitions so I wasn't sure how my body was going to react to a third. I felt great during the individual competition up until the last workout. When everyone else still felt warmed up, I was beginning to crash. I can only attribute that to the build up of the prior weeks, but with wins on 2 of the events I was able to hold onto the lead during the last one. It was so gratifying to win. I sometimes get a hint before a competition or a premonition that I'll do well, but I never know that for sure until I compete. I had it last year before the ECC. I think the other reason I did well was the WODs were shorter and skilled. I excel at those. The team part was probably my favorite though. Working with Emily Friedman and my other good friends Guido Trinidad and Noah Ohlsen was a treat. We almost took down the Dream Team until Froning showed what a monster he is with push jerks! Q. How have you been feeling since the Games last year? You were injured, correct? What happened and what did you do for recovery? I had a quad strain last year prior to the Games. I rested it before but not long enough to heal it and it was very painful at the Games leaving me unable to squat. I rested it a couple of months afterwards and started building back up my squat again. I got to within 5lbs of my max squat clean again and then had another set back. Since then I've gotten further treatment with PRP and dry needling, which has really been helping, but I've only been squatting for about a month now. Q. Since then, what have you been up to—training wise? I've been doing a lot of gymnastics while not squatting! Also trying to fix some of my movement patterns. Actually my volume has been reduced this fall and it's felt good. It's the first time I've treated an off-season like an off-season and my body needed it after 5 years of training without much of a break. Q. What are your goals this year for the 2015 season and what you are working towards? My goals for the 2015 season are to go back to the Games healthy. I'm not where I'd like to be strength wise due to last year's injury though, so if I feel that could lead to further set backs I'll have to evaluate if it's worth taking a year to fortify myself and come back stronger. It's a tough decision but it seems like everyone who has done it has come back better. In my career, I've been doing more continuing education for physical therapy. I'm learning dry needling and want to take the FSMA. At some point I want to do my transitional doctorate as well and eventually transition into working with athletes as my main population when I'm no longer as focused on being one. One thing at a time though! In life, I have a new puppy named Harvey. He's about 3.5 months old and I've been busy raising him. Other than that I don't have any set plans. Related Articles: FloElite To Stream The 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships The Bergeron Way KCECC Athlete Updates
Jan 21, 2015
It may be cold in Boston this time of year, but The East Coast Championships will certainly be hot. Happening this coming weekend, Elite CrossFit athletes from around the world will come together at the Seaport World Trade Center in the unique Seaport District for two action-packed competition days to test their training and abilities since some of the best of the best. Even if you can’t attend in person, you can catch all the action LIVE here on FloElite.com during both the individual competition on Day 1 (Individual competition) and the team competition on Day 2. While you’re at it, here are the top 5 things that you don’t want to miss! 1. Mat Fraser. This 2014 CrossFit Games athlete won the 2014 ECC when no one knew who he was. Now that he has a target on his back how will handle the pressure? 2. Individual Event 2, "The Clean & Jerk Elimination" WOD. This is going to be fast and heavy. The top finishers from this WOD will then go one athlete at a time. One platform. One Barbell. Building to a max Clean and Jerk. There will be some heavy hitters so watch out for Jeff Evans, Mat Fraser, Spencer Hendel on the Mens’ side and Lindsey Valenzuela, Lauren Brooks and Elisabeth Akinwale for the Women. 3. Hungry for More. Stacie Tovar, Sam Briggs and Lindsey Valenzuela are superstars of our sport, yet they failed to make the games last year. Will they make a statement at the ECC? 4. Team Work. The Team workouts on Day 2 require lots of teamwork. How will reigning CrossFit Games Team Champions "CrossFit Invictus" (a true team) match up against teams of all-stars that rarely, if ever, work together. 5. Benchmark PR? Athletes will see a repeat workout from the 2012 Games: The Chipper. Will anyone beat Rich Froning's winning time of 7:06? Related Articles: FloElite To Stream The 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships The Bergeron Way KCECC Athlete Updates
Jan 20, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FLOELITE TO LIVE STREAM THE 2015 KILL CLIFF EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Austin, TX — FloElite, a Flocasts media company dedicated to 24/7 elite fitness content, is broadcasting this year Kill Cliff East Coast Championships LIVE on January 24th-25th. WATCH THE KILL CLIFF EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE ONLINE Fans at home will have the ability to watch Froning, Spealler, Tovar and over 60 of the best elite fitness athletes compete at this year's event via FloElite's live broadcast of the entire event. Event director and renown WOD programmer, Ben Bergeron, is excited about this year's broadcast and mentioned that, "one of [his] primary goals for the Kill Cliff East Coast Championships every year is to create an amazing spectator experience. The ability to stream the 2015 KCECC online through FloElite for the second straight year is a big part of achieving that goal." Event coverage of the 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships can be found on FloElite.com. You can follow along with LIVE coverage of the event here. To watch the 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships LIVE on FloElite, you must be a subscriber to the their premium service, FloPro. FloPro subscriptions come in two pricing packages: $20/monthly subscription, $150/yearly subscription. ABOUT THE KILL CLIFF EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Hosted by one of the most highly esteemed boxes in the country, CrossFit New England, the 2015 Kill Cliff East Coast Championships brings the most revered fitness athletes to Boston, Massachusetts for two days of elite individual and team competition. 60 of the sport's biggest stars will compete for $60,000 in prize money across three competitions: Pro Male Individual and Pro Female Individual (held on 1/24) & the Team Competition (held on 1/25). Last year's event crowned Mat Fraser (2nd in the 2014 CrossFit Games) and Talayna Fortunado (3rd in 2012, 5th in 2013 CrossFit Games) as individual champions. The two athletes had to outlast the likes of Chris Spealler, Tommy Hackenbruck, Sam Briggs and Lindsey Valenzuela, to get atop the podium. Both athletes are back this year and excited to defend their Kill Cliff East Coast Championships individual titles. However, it was the team competition that had the fans in pandemonium at last year's Championships. It was there where the Dream Team, featuring long-time elite fitness superstars Rich Froning, Chris Spealler, Elisabeth Akinwale and Stacie Tovar, stole the show with a come-from-behind victory in the final event to top Team Dirty South (Talayna Fortunado, Noah Ohlsen, Emily Friedman, Guido Trinidad) by just three points. Luckily for us, the Dream Team is back as are super-teams featuring Emily Bridgers, Lindsey Valenzuela, Noah Ohlsen, Annie Thorisdottir, Julie Foucher and many more! ### ABOUT FLOCASTS Flocasts, an innovative sports media and events company based in Austin, Texas, changes the way athletes and fans interact with their passion in sports. Focused on untapped sports markets historically neglected by traditional media, Flocasts brings together fragmented communities and provides them the platform to connect with the sports they love through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, weekly studio shows, branded entertainment, and event creation and execution. Flocasts is dedicated to growing and elevating these communities that share a deep commitment to the sports that matter to them: Running, Elite Fitness, Wrestling, and Gymnastics.
Jan 19, 2015
Dani Horan Dani is out of the North East training at Champlain Valley CrossFit. She began CrossFit in 2010 after being a competitive equestrian jumper and has since dominated her region since 2013. She took the 1st place finish at the 2013 and 2014 regionals followed by an 18th place finish at the CrossFit Games both years. She’s improved every year since indulging in the sport, will be push her way to the top to take the podium stance at closing? Region: Southern California Affiliate: Valley CrossFit Height: 5-6 Weight: 148 lbs Games Competitor: 2013 and 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place Regionals Finish 2014, 3rd Place in 2014 “Sprint Sled-1” Games event. Elisabeth Akinwale Elisabeth Akinwale is the latest addition to the Kill Cliff East Coast Championship Competitors Division. Akinwale is known for her amazing Olympic Lifts and phenomenal strength numbers and displayed this strength during the 2014 CrossFit Games as she took the 1st place finish in the clean speed ladder. Will the workouts thrown at her in January be in her favor? Region: North Central Affiliate: CrossFit Construct Height: 5-7 Weight: 160 lbs Games Appearances: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place in the “Speed Clean Ladder”, 2014 Games, 1st Place in “The Cinco 1”, 2013 Games Clean and Jerk: 235 lbs Snatch: 191 lbs Jackie: 5:59 Rachel Martinez Rachel attended the CrossFit Games for the first time this year as an individual. In 2013 she was part of the CFNE team which placed 2nd that year at The Games. She is a former college gymnast and is known for being a well-rounded athlete. She dominates all body weight workouts and can hold her own when there is weight to be thrown around. Will this individual rookie surprise us all at the end of the weekend? Region: North East Affiliate: CrossFit New England Height: 5-1 Weight: 130 lbs Games Appearances: 2nd Place 2013 Games finish with CFNE team, competed as individual 2014 Games. Notable Finishes: third-longest max-distance handstand walk of any region at 2014 Regionals and 8th Place finish “Midline March” workout 2014 CrossFit Games. Rory Zambard Rory is a 2x qualifying Games Athlete. At the age of 22 she earned her first ticket to The Games, finishing in the top 15 overall. After being forced to pull out of the 2014 Games, Rory has since focused her training on recovering and weaknesses. Will this young newbie come in and surprise everyone at this year’s Kill Cliff East Coast Championships? Region: North West Affiliate: CrossFit Bellevue Height: 5-10 Weight: 165 lbs Games Appearances: 2013 and 2014 CrossFit Games Notable Finishes: 14th Place finish overall at the 2013 CrossFit Games C&J: 215 lbs Snatch: 185 lbs Deadlift: 315 lbs Back Squat: 315 lbs Christy- Phillips Adkins Christy Adkins is a six time CrossFit Games veteran placing within the top ten almost every year. She is one of the most experienced female athletes to grace us with her presence at this year's KCECC. Let's see if this chick still has what it takes to take the podium! Region: Mid Atlantic Affiliate: CrossFit MPH Height: 5-4 Weight: 135 lbs Games Appearances: 2013 and 2014 CrossFit Games Notable Finishes: 14th Place finish overall at the 2013 CrossFit Games C&J: 210 lbs Snatch: 158 lbs Deadlift: 330 lbs Back Squat: 265 lbs Fran: 2:49 Grace: 2:46
Dec 22, 2014
The words ‘Ben Bergeron’ and ‘Elite Competitor’ go hand-in-hand. Bergeron, the head coach of CrossFit New England, has built quite the name for himself and his programming over the past X-years that he has been coaching and a part of the CrossFit community. He regularly posts his programming for aspiring competitors at http://CompetitorsTraining.com and this year, will hold his third annual elite fitness competition, the Kill Cliff East Coast Championships, in Boston at the Seaport Trade Center the weekend of January 24-25th. As many former Games and Regionals competitors prepare to put this year’s hard work and training to the test at the two day competition, Bergeron is preparing to give athletes a one-of-a-kind experience. “The thing that separates the ECC from many other local competitions, ore than anything is that the primary focus is on fun. I really wanted to put on an event for some of the best athletes in our sport to have the opportunity for some really great competition, a competition that won’t leave them beat up, but still get to see where their training measures up to one another,” Bergeron said. The competition is open to approximately 50 female athletes, and 50 male athletes, and will comprise one full day of Individual competition, as well as one full day of Team competition (2 male/2 female teams). Back this year, the powerhouse team, comprising Rich Froning, Chris Spealler, Stacie Tovar and Elizabeth Akinwale have verbally committed to bringing the heat. Other notable names include: Noah Ohlsen, Nate Schrader, Jeff Evans, Rachel Martinez, Rory Zambard, Kenny Leverich, Dani Horan, amongst others. Bergeron has most certainly invested in the training up of the elite of the flite of the sport of fitness. And while many of the elite athletes in the sport have been covered, FloElite wanted to get to know a bit more about the man programming and hosting the East Coast Championships. Name: Ben Bergeron Age: 37 Title: Father, Husband, Affiliate Owner, Coach Location: Natick, MA Years you’ve been CrossFitting: 8 Years you’ve had an affiliate: 7 Q. What was your athletic background and how did you originally even find the sport of fitness? A. High School - Football, Skiing and Basketball. College - Rugby and Skiing. After College - Ironman Triathlons. Q. How did you get you into coaching for the sport of fitness? A. I was a strength and conditioning coach at an elite New England Prep School when I found CrossFit. At the time I had about a half dozen training Certifications from NASM to the CSCS. I learned more about strength, conditioning, health and wellness in the first week of researching CrossFit than I had in the previous 3 years. After seeing the results in my own fitness and my clients I left my previous position as a strength and conditioning coach to become a full time Affiliate owner. Q. What inspires you in your programming? Do you have any coaches, mentors or philosophies that have shaped you? A. I like to think my programming is simple, potent and authentic to the roots of CrossFit. For the first three years of programming for my athletes every time I programmed a workout for my affiliate I would ask myself if Greg Glassman would approve. I would imagine that Coach Glassman was reviewing my programming every week and would look for holes or areas of improvement. I like elegance in my programming; couplets and triplets with simple rep schemes and similar demand on every movement and every round. Q. Over the past several years, what have you learned about yourself as a coach? A. Over the past 10 years of coaching I have learned that I don't know much. Q. What have been some of your most memorable moments as a coach? A. I really enjoy the day before the Games starts. I always sit with my athletes in the hotel and and talk to them about the upcoming week. This talk is about mental toughness and focus strategies, but it is more than that. The athletes and I have been through so much by this point. So much emotion, so much determination, so much sacrifice to get to that point. It is a special moment that I always look forward to, and always remember. Q. Many athletes—and coaches— are on the lookout for ‘the best programming’—you’ve been in the fitness community for a little while—what, in your opinion, should an athlete or coach look for in a good training program? A. It sounds obvious, but athletes should be looking for a program that is targeted on helping them reach their goals. Many Games athletes follow programs that are too biased. Many people looking for better health and fitness are following a program with too much weight or volume. The best program is well rounded, but geared to bring the athlete to a certain end point. Q. What inspired you to start hosting the ECC? A. I didn't set out to create the KCECC to be what it is today. When I started the ECC I simply enjoyed running competitive events and took pride in running them as professionally as possible. The event started in my affiliate for competitors in the North East and has since snowballed into an elite competition with over 60 Games athlete and 6,000+ spectators. Q. What separates a ‘good event’ from a great ‘event’ when it comes to the vast amounts of fitness competitions held annually nowadays? A. The first thing I look at is their time line. If they are running on time, not rushed, and not keeping athletes late into the evening, they probably have a lot of the other processes in place for a well run event. Second would be the layout of the competition floor. Have they set up the venue and events so that it is easy for spectators to see the race and know who is winning, while keep the competition floor safe. Third is the little things - the warm up area, the athlete wranglers, how organized the volunteers are. And fourth would be the programming. Is it a balanced test of fitness without smashing the athletes? Is it simple and elegant? Is it entertaining? Q. When you are not coaching or programming, you are ______. A. Thinking about coaching or programming. A few faves of Ben: Favorite Healthy Eat: Cobb Salad Favorite Treat/Cheat: BBQ Chicken Pizza Goats: Dead Lifts Strengths in the gym: Ring Dips Pet Peeves: Chewing with mouth open, not waving "thank you" when you let someone go in front of you in traffic Bad Habits: Drive too fast Fav movie of all-time: “True Romance” Workout music of choice: Rob Zombie Favorite inspirational quote: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Related Articles: Badass Bridgers Brooks' Four Year Journey To The Games 2015 KCECC Athlete Updates
Dec 17, 2014
Following his four-peat winning streak as the ‘champ’ of the CrossFit Games, Rich Froning announced his retirement from the annual individual competition.
Dec 12, 2014
Jenn Jones Jenn is a CrossFit Games veteran and has competed since joining the sport in 2010. She was a competitive gymnast and is best known for her effortless, fluid techniques throughout workouts. She is a fierce competitor with a big heart. Will that be enough for her to take the podium at the ECC? Region: South Central Affiliate: CrossFit EaDo Height: 5-5 Weight: 150 Games Competitor: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place regionals 2012, 2013, 2014 and placed top 10 at 2013 and 2014 CrossFit Games Snatch: 170 lbs CJ: 225 lbs Back Squat: 245 lbs Deadlift: 305 lbs Fran: 2:42 Grace: 2:11 James Hobart James is a six-time returning CossFit Games veteran and has competed both as an individual and on a team. He is a member of CrossFit New England and has been at the top of the sport since taking part in it. In order to prepare for the 2014 Games he trained alongside Rich Froning. Will be overtake Rich and be stop the podium at this year’s ECC? Region: North East Affiliate: CrossFit New England Height: 5-8 Weight: 185 Games Competitor: 2011, 2012, 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place CrossFit Games 2011, 2012 and placed 2nd at 2014 CrossFit Games Snatch: 260 lbs CJ: 315 lbs Back Squat: 405 lbs Deadlift: 480 lbs Fran: 2:30 Annie Thorisdottir Iceland Annie is a returning Games Champion with a background in gymnastics and pole vaulting. She is best known for her super-power engine and all around strength. Annie has been a dominant name in the CrossFit industry since appearing, will she be the new East Coast Champion? Region: Europe Affiliate: Reebok CrossFit Reykjavik Height: 5’5” Weight: 151 Games Competitor: 2011, 2012, 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place CrossFit Games 2011, 2012 and placed 2nd at 2014 CrossFit Games Snatch: 156 lb CJ: 205 lb Back Squat: 253 lb Deadlift: 363 lb Fran: 2:37 Val Voboril Val is a 4th grade teacher, mother, and wife. She was a recreational gymnast with many active hobbies and I had never done lifting before CrossFit. She has been a top finisher every year that she has competed at the CrossFit Games, and was able to take the 3rd place podium spot in 2013. Val is best known for her workhorse engine and consistency in movement. Will this OG be the one to sweep in and win it all at the 2014 ECC? Region: SoCal Affiliate: Unaffiliated Height: 5-2 Weight: 135 lbs Games Competitor: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 Notable Finishes: Top 5 finishes at 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 CrossFit Games Snatch: 145 lbs CJ: 185 lbs Back Squat: 250 lbs Deadlift: 315 lbs Max Pull-ups: 40 Fran: 2:40 Michele Letendre Michele Letendre’s traveling from Crossfit Plateau in Montreal, Canada to compete in the ECC Competitors Division. Michele finished 4th this year at The Crossfit Games with a 1st place finish in the “Push Pull” workout. Letendre’s past athletics include water polo and swimming. Michele is a dual threat with strong Olympic lifts and amazing bodyweight and gymnastic movements. Region: Canada East Affiliate: CrossFit Plateau Height: 5-1 Weight: 133 Games Competitor: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Notable Finishes: 1st Place in “The Pool”, 2013 Games 1st Place in the “Push Pull”, 2014 Games Snatch: 185 lbs CJ: 225 lbs Back Squat: 275 lbs Deadlift: 305 lbs Max Pull-ups: 50 Fran: 2:10
Dec 8, 2014
Chelsey Hughes ECC & WDZ By: Lauryn Lax The Fall and Winter months are technically classified as the ‘off season’ for CrossFit athletes who train year round for the CrossFit Games season—beginning with the Open every February. Fitness competitions, like the Kill Cliff East Coast Championships in Boston and Wodapalooza in Miami, happening in January 2015, are opportunities for fitness enthusiasts and serious CrossFit contenders to get their feet wet for the approaching Games’ season. Chelsey Hughes of BRICK CrossFit is one of those athletes. Placing 1st in the ECC Online Qualifier and 2nd in the Wodapalooza Miami Qualifiers’ Elite Divisions, there’s no doubt the 2014 CrossFit Games’ team athlete has been working hard in the gym this year with one goal in mind. “Before I retire to working at a desk, I want to stand on the podium as an individual and as a team athlete at the CrossFit Games.” Hughes’ name is relatively new to the competitive CrossFit and fitness scene. She has been involved in the sport for the past three years, but only most recently begun to make a name for herself as a serious athlete. After taking the Stub Hub Center’s field for the first time last year, as part of Team BRICK CrossFit, she was bit by the fitness bug to see how she could fair as an individual in other local competitions. Her focus, now, has been preparing for a big Janaury. “I had a blast competing for Brick Nation at the Games this year, but being part of the team required my training to be team oriented through July. In August and September, I decided to do a few individual competitions (Hawaii VA Games-6th out of 10 Elite Women, and the Granite Games—8th out of 30) and then flew to Spain for work. My ‘offseason’ started the month I was in Spain and will continue until I compete in the ECC and Wodapalooza in January. Right now I’m concentrating on staying healthy, getting stronger, and cleaning up holes in a couple skill areas,” Hughes said. The former gymnast and collegiate cheerleader at Texas Christian University boasts a strong background in gymnastics’ skills, and her training has been aimed at building strength and working on her Olympic lifting technique this year, along with old-school conditioning (running, swimming and rowing). “A few days a week I lift in the mornings and have a full training session in the afternoons. I make it to the pool once a week and to the track once a week. I train mostly by myself unless I can convince someone to do a piece with me here or there! Tuesdays and Fridays I have Olympic sessions programmed by Michael Casey (“THE MAN!”), an I come up with all my other programming, under the watchful eye of my mentor and owner of BRICK Jarett Perelmutter. He makes sure I’m not overtraining, tells me when to rest, and provides a fair amount of spice to my sessions,” Hughes said. A training day from Hughes’ WOD log may look something like this: AM 1. Snatch 6 sets x 4 reps @70-75% 2. Clean & Jerk 3 sets 3+1 @70% 3 sets 2+1 @80% 1 set 1+1 @85% 3. Clean Pulls 4 sets x 5 reps @90% 2 sets x 3 reps @100% 1 set x 3 reps @110% 4. front squat 8x4 @ 197.5 5. strict press 8x4 @ 95
 6. GHD back extensions 3x10 no weight 

 PM - 
Row Workout 500m mod, 100m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 45 sec 500m mod, 200m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 1:00 min 500m mod, 300m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 1:15 min 500m mod, 400m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 1:30 min 500m mod, 300m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 1:45 min 500m mod, 200m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, rest 2:00 min 500m mod, 100m hard, 100m easy, 100m sprint, done!! Total: 6500m When she is not training, the 28-year-old Director of Operations of BRICK CrossFit is most often found ‘doing a number of things in the gym,’ like most gym rats. In fact, Hughes recently moved from L.A. to New York City at the end of October to help manage one of the affiliates’ newest locations. “I am still adjusting to the change, from L.A. to the Northeast—and getting use to having to train in sweats since it’s freeeeezing up here!” Hughes said. Keeping the ‘unfavorable’ elements in mind, Hughes is excited to take both Miami and Boston by storm in January. “I want to compete against the best! I sent so many emails last year trying to find a way to be invited (to the ECC in particular) and had no success. So I was really thankful to hear that both competitions would open up a few spots via a qualifier,” Hughes said. Above all, she’s keeping humble. “I could be worldwide champ of a million online qualifiers and it wouldn’t mean much. As an athlete its much more rewarding to stand on a podium when it really matters – at the end of a hard fought competition.”
Nov 30, 2014
Roy Gamboa-ECC Qualifier Week 1 By: Lauryn Lax Roy Gamboa from the South Central Region is a man on a mission. He is fighting his way back to make his third appearance at the CrossFit Regionals in 2015, and, hopefully, his second appearance at the CrossFit Games (former 2013 South Central Games competitor). In the mean time, Gamboa’s first place finish last week, during Week 1 of Coach Ben Bergeron’s Kill Cliff East Coast Championships’ Online Qualifier, proved he is doing something right. The Kill Cliff East Coast Championships is an elite individual and team competition, held at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston the weekend of January 24th and 25th. While many of the competitors for the event were invited by Bergeron prior to the Qualifier, several others have the opportunity to earn a spot on the roster through the three week online competition. Gamboa is one of them. In fact, Gamboa said his training this past year, in particular, has been the most focused that it’s ever been. “I have made my training geared towards strengthening my actual weakness and not about competing for a time or to beat anyone. This year has been about making me the best all around athlete I can possibly be and knowing and pushing MY limits,” Gamboa said. After a brutal upset on Day 3 of the 2014 South Central Regional last year, when he was knocked out of 1st place to 5th place, (and one-point away from finishing within the top 3), Gamboa said he walked away from the Freeman Collesium “humbled.” “Champions learn from failures and keep grinding. Last year’s upset has made me hungry, like I was when first began CrossFit. After making the Games my first year, I felt there was a bunch of pressure to make it back 2014. So, I did too much trying to make it back and end up learning a hard and great lesson about over training. Unfortunately I had to experience that at Regionals Day 3, but I’m glad I found out eventually,” Gamboa said. While there are still two more week left before the ECC Qualifier comes to a close, Gamboa is looking forward to the potential of competing in Bergeron’s elite competition, hosted in Boston, Mass. “I am not really one for competing all year round. Ya kind of get burned out with the Open and Regionals, so the ECC is the only competition I've tried out. The owner of my gym (Aaron Wesson) really respects Ben Bergeron and informed me that the ECC would be something good for me to try this offseason. So, my offseason needed some excitement and I decided this would be the perfect competition to bring that excitement,” Gamboa said.
Nov 10, 2014
Sign up HERE for the ECC Online Qualifier for you chance to compete against the best. Online Qualifier Factoids 3 weeks 3 20-minute workouts Multiple scored events Top Finishers will be invited to compete against the best in the world. The 2015 ECC will have 50 Individual men and 50 Individual Women's competing. We sent out 50 invites to Elite Athletes around the world. We will be filling in the "non accepting spots" with the top finishers from the Qualifier. For example, If 30 Elite men and 35 Elite women accept their invitations, the top 20 men and top 15 individual women from the Qualifier will be invited to compete at the 2015 ECC. Registration Rates: Before October 4th, "Early Bird Special" $10 Between October 4th and 17th, "Discounted Rate" $15 After October 17th, "Regular Rate" $20
Oct 3, 2014
