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CrossFit Fernie to host second Festivus games

It will be survival of the fittest when CrossFit Fernie hosts its second Festivus games on Saturday.
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CrossFit Fernie co-owner Jana Wenzlawe (green shirt) coaches Karrie Tapley (white shirt). Kimberley Vlasic/The Free Press

It will be survival of the fittest when CrossFit Fernie hosts its second Festivus games this weekend.

About 40 athletes from across the Kootenays are expected to flex their muscles at the competition on Saturday, which will coincide with hundreds of others being staged around the world.

They will complete four workouts – known as WODs – before the top five men and women in each category are chosen and the fifth and final workout is revealed.

CrossFit Fernie co-owner Jana Wenzlawe said it would be the fittest, not the strongest, athletes that would succeed.

“CrossFit kinda hits everything – from strength to endurance, cardio, speed, balance,” she said.

“A properly programmed competition is not going to favour just the strong people or just the endurance people… You have to be the fittest overall in every different event.”

While the October games featured partner workouts, Saturday’s event will be an individual competition with three categories – novice, intermediate and masters for athletes over 45.

Local athletes will go up against others from Trail, Nelson, Cranbrook, Pincher Creek and Invermere.

“CrossFit has got a really big community aspect to it,” said Wenzlawe.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to invite other CrossFit gyms into Fernie.”

For Miriam Leishman, Saturday’s games will be her first competition.

The Fernie mother-of-two started CrossFit six years ago.

“I was a judge for the last Festivus we did and it seemed really fun. I was kind of sad that I didn’t do it so I thought I’d do this one,” she said.

Since joining the Fernie gym, Leishman feels she has become stronger and fitter.

She also enjoys being part of the CrossFit community.

“My kids come here with me and my son does CrossFit kids, it’s been a big part of our lives,” she said.

Wenzlawe and her husband have been steadily growing membership since opening the gym in 2012.

“I think more and more people are realizing the importance of strength and conditioning, especially in the Elk Valley where we have a really big endurance population,” she said.

“Strength and conditioning can help keep them safe as far as reducing the chance of injury and maintaining a fitness base throughout the year.”

Athletes will be briefed at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Registration closed on April 14 but the event is open to spectators.