WZA Stories: Natalia Volya “I have learned so much about myself, my abilities and what my body can do. A year ago, I fully recommitted myself to it and could not be happier. My trainers are the best and believe in me so much. You need that.” Russian athlete Natalia suffered an accident by electrocution…
WZA Stories: Emma Cary Emma Cary is a 2019 CrossFit Games Champ in the 14-15 age groups. Without a doubt, teens are the future of the sport, so we asked Emma what she’s hoping to show the youth who look up to her. Emma: I hope to show the youth we shouldn’t limit ourselves. I…
WZA Stories: Guilherme Malheiros Odds are, you’ve run across a video of Guilherme Malheiros pulling unreal weights on Instagram. The Brazilian Beast, as he’s known by many, is just 20 years old and already at the top of his game in his home country and rapidly gaining recognition globally. We dug into his background (and…
WZA Stories: Josie Portell Josie Portell is a 2x WZA Champion vying for her 3rd title this weekend. Watching her on the competition floor, her intensity is unmistakable. We asked her about the phrase, “Never whine, never complain, never make excuses,” stitched on her chair. “There’s going to be no point in doing that [whining].…
WZA Stories: John Glaude on Weight loss, Crossfit, and inspiring others Some of the best stories can be found in the crowd at Wodapalooza. Like John Glaude, better known to many as @obese_to_beast. John is a source of inspiration for hundreds of thousands looking to improve their own health. John shed 180 lbs through a…
After Party | Veza Sur The party never stops in Miami! Let’s keep the celebration going at the official 2020 WZA After Party on Sunday night! We’ve got the details on the place to be, so join us to raise a glass (or two) to all your hard work this weekend. I’m so in, where…
Athlete Heat Schedule Here’s your shortcut to the heat schedules this WZA weekend! Tap the link, select Individual or Team, and choose your Division.
Jason Wiese: From 400 Pounds to Wodapalooza BY EMILY BEERS Originally Posted by The Morning Chalk Up Jason Wiese isn’t sure how much he weighed at his heaviest. “I know I saw 397 pounds. I have no idea if that was the highest point or not,” said the 30-year-old Wiese. Unlike many people who…
Tia-Clair Toomey vs Sara Sigmundsdottir has fans salivating for Wodapalooza this weekend Written by BRIAN FRIEND Originally Posted by South China Morning Post Arguably one of the biggest Sanctionals of the CrossFit season, Miami’s 2020 Wodapalooza is also poised to be the premier display of talent before August’s 2020 CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin. A…
The VIP Experience at WZA Miami 2020 Now is your chance to see Wodapalooza like never before! Join us for an unforgettable VIP experience with exclusive access to unique events and special access. VIP Ticket Perks: Access to the VIP Beach Daily – Includes VIP Lounge, Dedicated restrooms & Exclusive Bar Access Dedicated seating at…
DROPPING IN: WZA MIAMI EDITION Looking to hit up a gym while you’re in Miami for Wodapalooza? Look no further! Here are some of our Community Partner’s premier facilities: DOWNTOWN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING 15 SE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33131 Class Schedule: Monday – Friday: 6:00- 9 am, 12:00 pm, 4:15- 7:15 pm Monday -…
The WZA Strong Experience: Friends, Competitors, and Business Partners Dominick Maurici and Rafael Paredes Last year, Wodapalooza introduced WZA Strong, a brand new competition. It was inspired, petitioned for, and run by a CrossFit legend, Rob Orlando. He has been wanting to do something like this for a long time and was absolutely ecstatic about…
Complete Guide to the 2019 WZAOC Team Challenge The WZAOC Individual Challenge is over but who wouldn’t want more WZA?! The second act of the WZAOC kicks off with the Team Challenge. Teams of 4 (MMFF) take on 10 workouts that must be completed over a 10 day period. The first step is to register!…
WZA Raises Funds for Relief and Recovery Efforts in The Bahamas Our hearts are broken by the devastation in the northern Bahamas this week from Hurricane Dorian. Early estimates report that roughly 60% of Grand Bahama Island is flooded and 13,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. A short plane or boat ride away, The…
BTS: Chandler Smith Takes on Indy WZAOC – WOD 5/6 Chandler Smith takes on WOD 5/6 of the Indy WZAOC at Bayfront Park in Downtown MIami. See how he approached the workout, how he feels about the Beatles, and his estimated heart rate while completing the WOD. 2019 WZAOC – Indy WOD 5/6 With…
2019 WZAOC: FAQs We’re breaking down all your WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier (WZAOC) frequently asked questions in a quick and easy blog post! PRESCRIBED VS ALTERNATE New this year, we will only offer two versions of each workout, Prescribed and Alternate. In previous years, there were several versions of the workouts posted, but…
Beginner’s Guide to the WZAOC by Kristen Chandler Toth Take the plunge! Sign up and start planning. New to CrossFit but hungry for a real challenge? Maybe you just finished an intro course at your gym or you’ve been training with CrossFit for several months now – either way you’re curious about pushing to the…
International Online Qualifier Four Events. One Qualifier. The International Online Qualifier We’re excited to announce our partnership with the CrossFit Atlas Games, CrossFit Filthy 150 and the SouthFit CrossFit Challenge events, to bring together our four qualifiers to form the single, united, International Online Qualifier! The International Online Qualifier (beginning August 21st for individuals)…
2019-2020 Wodapalooza Season What’s coming up for Wodapalooza this season? We truly believe in celebrating fitness, community and life in a variety of ways and bringing an elite experience to each and every member of the WZA Community. From athletes to volunteers, spectators and partners, we’ve got something for everyone! Stay up to date -…
10 Reasons Why the WZAOC is Your Next Big Test by Kristen Chandler Toth We’re CrossFitters. We like to measure and assess, test ourselves and see if we’re better than last time. Competitions are naturally popular in our community- but there are loads of online qualifiers, so why should you sign up for the 2019…
Wanna Join the WZA Demo Team?! Wodapalooza is amped about the changes to their 2019 Season, and now you can be part of creating the magic of competition behind the scenes. Last Week, WZA announced changes to this year’s competition, which include the addition of divisions, expansion of others, and minor qualification changes,…
WZAOC: 2019-2020 Season Updates Another year of the Wodapalooza Miami CrossFit Festival season is almost upon, and with it, the qualifying piece to earn a spot to compete in Miami is set to begin: The WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier. Looking for more information on how the WZAOC works? Check out this blog post! WZAOC…
Who Receives Invites to WZA Miami? Top athletes will be able to bypass the Wodapalooza Online Challenge & Qualifier to compete at Wodapalooza Miami in February. This is based on past Sanctional and CrossFit Games finishes. Individual Elite CrossFit Games CrossFit Games 2019: Top 30 Men & Women CrossFit Games Podium, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015:…
How Does the WZAOC Work? Have you seen one of our posts that include the acronym WZAOC and secretly wondered what it meant? Let us fill you in on exactly what the WZAOC is and why you’d be crazy not to get involved! It stands for The Wodapalooza Online Challenge and Qualifier. The WZAOC is an…
Eat. SLEEP. Exercise. We are all aware that there are many factors that go into creating an environment in which our bodies will thrive. Some of the first things that come to mind are physical conditioning – in whatever your sport may be – along with properly fueling your body to achieve your goals and…
Why You Should Do The Transformation Challenge How’d that New Years resolution go? Yeah, we were afraid of that answer. Either you gave it your best, lost motivation, never did one or maybe you just didn’t know where to start. Whatever the reason, we have some great news. Our 4th Annual “WZA Transformation Challenge” kicks…
Where to Watch: 19.5 Open Announcement The CrossFit Games Open is headed to Miami! Celebrate the final workout of the 2019 CrossFit Games Open season live from Miami, Florida featuring a showdown of WZA Champions and CrossFit Games athletes from around the world. Not only is 19.5 giving you the World’s Fittest, Mat Fraser (@mathewfras)…
The Original Swole and Flexy Athlete Written by Kristen Chandler Toth It’s a common CrossFit story. The former high school athlete looking for fitness as an adult finds a random website in 2006. Watches fuzzy instructional videos and teaches him- or herself weightlifting and gymnastics and then experiences the thrill, success, and devastation of this…
If She Cantu, So Can You Written by Evelyn Curry “I hated what I saw in the mirror. I didn’t recognize her anymore,” Vanessa Cantu remembered. At the age of 15, Vanessa was in a car accident that left her paralyzed. But when she got pregnant at 30, 5 years ago, Vanessa knew she needed…
Teams of 4 Take Miami Written by Brian Friend The WZA Elite Team of 4 Competition is a Must Watch Event The new CrossFit Games Team format allows for athletes from anywhere to come together and compete in the Sanctioned events for an opportunity to earn an invitation to the Games in Madison this August.…
WZA Kicks Off Season for Age Groups Written by Brian Friend As the sport of fitness has continued to evolve, so have the arenas in which we, as fans of the sport, get to appreciate the incredible capacity, strength, and persistence of the best athletes. The top individual men and women get the most headlines,…
Promising Young Athletes Compete at WZA Written by Brian Friend These young athletes aren’t well-known names yet, but with their impressive performances in recent years it’s only a matter of time. The new Sanctionals™ format gives them that opportunity, and they’ll all be in Miami for Wodapalooza to showcase the hard work they’ve been putting…
Who will stop Toomey in Miami? Written by Brian Friend Second. Second. First. First. Not much else needs to be said when it comes to Tia-Clair Toomey. At 25 years-old, she’s got quite the rap sheet. In the last 3 years at the Games, in a total of 42 events, she’s taken 1st place…
Get Ready For an Epic Showdown in Miami WRITTEN BY BRIAN FRIEND As the second CrossFit sanctioned event of the season approaches all eyes are narrowing in on Miami. If you’re familiar with Wodapalooza, you already know that it’s a fitness-focused, community event with a festival-like atmosphere, nearly 40 competition divisions, and has no shortage…
Dropping In: WZA Miami Edition Looking to hit up a gym while you’re in Miami for Wodapalooza? Look no further than some of our Community Partner’s premier facilities: CROSSFIT WYNWOOD 56 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 33137 Class Schedule: Mon.-Thur. – 6:15a, 7:15a, 8:15a, 9:30a, 4:30p, 5:30p, 6:30p, 7:30p Fri. – 6:15a,…
WZA Sanctional Partnerships We’re excited to announce our partnerships with other sanctioned events in an effort to support the CrossFit Sanctional system and provide WZA athletes with more opportunities to qualify for the CrossFit Games. CROSSFIT FITTEST IN CAPE TOWN The CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town event seeks to bring…
6 Reasons You Should Run the Gauntlet Written by Kristen Chandler Toth The expression “to run the gauntlet” means to put yourself through a series of tests or tasks. These sequential tests don’t usually cause serious injuries, just a little bearable pain, a feeling most CrossFitters are familiar with. Often the rituals associated with running…
Las Mujeres Fuertes de WZA: Brenda Castro “En tiempos donde la gente quiere construir muros, hay buenas personas que los están derribando, que están ayudando a abrir puertas para personas como yo. Me siento muy honrada de estar en esa posición”. Al igual que la mayoría de los novatos de CrossFit Games, nada ha sido…
What is the WWF? A weightlifting competition like you’ve never seen before. Under the lights of WZA Miami, on Biscayne Bay, the WZA Weightlifting Faceoff (WWF) takes weightlifting to a whole new level in bracketed, head-to-head format. Thursday, January 17, 2019, athletes will be challenged in an opening round with the snatch, and after a brief…
How Many Teams Qualify For WZA Miami? You’re registered and ready to go for the WZA Online Team Challenge & Qualifier. But what are your chances of qualifying? For the Online Challenge, athletes will complete 10 workouts over 10 days, all released between November 2nd & 3rd, 2018. Registration ends…
Open Registration Athletes who don’t qualify during the WZAOC (Online Challenge & Qualifier) have another chance to compete on the floor at WZA Miami through Open Registration. On a pre-identified date, registration for Scaled & Beginner divisions will open to all eligible athletes who completed the WZOAC in its entirety (completing all workouts, submitting…
Jacob Heppner Does The Impossible He’s back! This week Jacob Heppner, completes WOD 7 of the 2018 WZA Indy Challenge in it’s entirety. They said it couldn’t be done…but he proved us wrong! 2018 WZAOC – Indy WOD 7 Every 2 minutes on the 2 minutes complete: 8 burpee box jump overs 8 power…
WZA Donates 10% of WZAOC Registrations to Barbells for Boobs 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. This statistic is huge, scary, and very real. Wodapalooza believes in Barbells for Boobs’ mission to mobilize and empower people to take action in breast cancer. That’s why for the rest of October, WZA…
Jacob Heppner Takes On WZAOC WOD 5 Jacob Heppner, a 3 times CrossFit Games athlete based out of Cobra Command CrossFit in Basehor, Kansas, takes on WOD 5 of the 2018 Indy WZAOC! Watch his full workout video here to see how he strategized this 15-minute chipper! 2018 WZAOC – Indy WOD 5 30…
WZAOC – WOD 7 Strategy with Team Soul Training The last workout of the 2018 Indy WZAOC is a repeat! Danny Lopez, of Team Soul Training, gives his insight on the best way to game this workout.
2019 WZA Miami Prize Purse Proving yourself at the Wodapalooza CrossFit Festival just got a lot more profitable. In addition to the collection of prizes from their partners, WZA is increasing the cash prize purse for athletes competing in Miami this January by over $100,000. Not just podium finishers receive cash, but 1st – 10th…
WZAOC Indy WOD 5 Strategy with Misfit Athletics Who’s ready to get gymnasty?! Seth Page of Misfit Athletics breaks down the best way to approach Week 2 – WOD 5 of the 2018 WZAOC Indy Challenge!
WZAOC Indy WOD 4 Strategy with Street Parking You know if Street Parking is involved, we’re going to see devil presses. For some of us, this is our first time seeing them in a workout. How should you tackle this challenge? Miranda Alcaraz of Street Parking breaks Indy WOD 4 down…
WZAOC – WOD 2 & 3 Strategy with CompTrain The 2018 Individual WZAOC is in full force with 3 workouts announced in the first week. Max Schneider from CompTrain gives us his full assessment and breakdown of the best approach for WODs 2 & 3. Wanna join in on the fun? Registration is open until Monday,…
Individual WOD 1 Strategy with Deka Comp At this point, you’ve probably seen the first workout of the 2018 WZAOC Individual Challenge. But do you have a plan on how you’re going to approach it? Michele Letendre of Deka Comp shares why the WZA Programming Collective decided to use this workout to kick off the…
What’s New with the Sanction? WZA Miami Qualification CrossFit Inc., & WZA jointly announced their sanctioning partnership for the 2019 Wodapalooza & CrossFit Games Season! This is definitely a very exciting time for the entire WZA Community, but you may be wondering, “how does this affect me and my chances for qualifying for WZA and…
CrossFit, Inc. Officially Sanctions Global Fitness Festival Wodapalooza Exciting news that will enhance the overall WZA experience was announced via a joint press release between both CrossFit and Wodapalooza: “CrossFit, Inc. today announced that Wodapalooza, a global fitness festival and inclusive competition, is joining the roster as the 7th event to be sanctioned by CrossFit.…
According to Seth Page, of Misfit Athletics, athletes “will have to put on a show to make it happen for themselves” with this year’s WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier. Register for the 2018 WZAOC here!
WZA Programming Collective: Deka Comp “The events that we came up with a think are very elegantly simple”, says Michele Letendre of Deka Comp. Don’t take that as the workouts being easy, though… Sign up for the 2018 WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier here!
Danny Lopez from Team Soul Training gives us a tasteful preview of what to expect from the 2018 WZAOC workouts… Grab your spot in the 2018 WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier here!
Street Parking‘s, Miranda Alcaraz, breaks down how the WZA Programming Collective wrote the workouts for the 2018 WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier and what people can expect from this year’s workouts. Don’t miss out on any of the action! You can register for the 2018 WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier here
Amy Williams, owner of CrossFit Carnivore, is no stranger to Wodapalooza. In 2017, CrossFit Carnivore had 85 of their members compete in the WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier (WZAOC). Amy and CrossFit Carnivore are a huge piece of the WZA Community! Amy’s journey in CrossFit, however, has not always been easy. Before she turned 30, her…
Introducing the WZA Programming Collective 7 functional fitness programming arms, CompTrain, MisFit Athletics, WheelWOD, Street Parking, Team Soul Training, Deka Comp and Brute Strength came together to program the Wodapalooza season, starting with the WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier. This is the first time a competition has collaborated with multiple industry experts to program an…
Strong WZA Women: Ehea Schuerch “To people who question what I look like or how I dress, I love being female. But even better than being female is being a badass female. That’s what I’m trying to be.” Ehea (pronounced “E”) Schuerch, from Spokane Valley CrossFit in Washington, has always relied on self-motivation to make…
Why You Should Take on the WZA Transformation Challenge! It’s the time of year when many people may have given up on their New Year’s resolution to transform themselves in 2018. For others, physical transformation isn’t always about weight loss but about adding muscle and strength. Working with Renaissance Periodization, the 2018 WZA Transformation Challenge…
WZA RX Teams Qualify For Regionals Competing as an individual athlete can be a daunting challenge whether it’s in Miami at Wodapalooza, or at Regionals for the CrossFit Games. Having skill is one thing, but working with others for the benefit of a team takes a lot of heart, communication, and practice. Some of the…
WZA Rx Make a Splash in CFG Open Although they lack the festival feel, sunshine and excitement of the south Florida fitness community, there are plenty of other fitness competitions outside of WZA. Because of that, most of the athletes who participate each year continue to compete all year long, including in the worldwide CrossFit Games Open. While…