An outdoor area for the use of heavy sandbags and a SkiErg, a machine that simulates a type of cross-country skiing.

 

ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Golden Bear Games made their return to Elk Grove Oct. 10, hosted by CrossFit 916. The first event started at 8 a.m., and lasted until 5 p.m. This annual same-sex-partner competition serves the fitness communities in the greater Sacramento and Northern California areas.

Each event/workout was inspired by professional bull riding, testing not just the fortitude and resilience of the athletes but their grit. Knowing that something is going to be difficult but having the mindset to push themselves past the fear of failing was necessary for success.

CrossFit 916’s outdoor warmup area is shown here.

Workouts like handstand walks, legless rope climbs and barbell snatches were just some of the harder workouts that each athlete was going to need to endure. Combining Olympic lifting with calisthenics, each pair of athletes was split into five divisions for both men and women: scaled, RX, intermediate, masters and adaptive.

The scaled division was for athletes who are relatively new to CrossFit. They can modify the weights along with having adjusted movements. The RX division does the standard workout at full intensity.             

Although the scaled and RX divisions are opposites, the intermediate and masters divisions are relatively the same. Intermediate and masters athletes do the same workouts as the RX division, but they will struggle with higher reps and higher-skilled workouts. The difference between the two is the masters division is for athletes 40 and older.

Two athletes doing the biking portion of the competition.

The adaptive division stands alone. It is for anyone who has impairments. It allows athletes in the division to compete in a structured and fair environment, where the programming of events and certain movements are adjusted to the athletes’ abilities. It allows everyone a chance to compete no matter their age or physical ability.

While athletes competed, local vendors manned booths selling food, drinks and clothing. And since the competition was inspired by professional bull riding, there was a mechanical bull for everyone to enjoy and try to ride. CrossFit 916 is more than a gym that hosts events and competitions like the Golden Bear Games.

It provides a community of support for athletes, providing a sense of belonging. CrossFit 916 accomplishes this through workouts and shared goals among athletes as well as coaches that want the best for athletes, no matter what level of experience they have.