The second annual Okanagan Valley Throwdown is growing along with the sport.
Three hundred and fifty athletes took up all the spots within two hours of registration opening for the crossfit event, which combines Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics and high intensity interval training along with many other sport-specific movements and challenges. However, injuries prevented 50 athletes from competing to bring the numbers lower compared to last year.
That didn’t diminish the success.
“We had nothing but positive feedback. Just really happy athletes and everybody is excited to come back next year and see the event growing,” said Lyndie Hill of Hoodoo Adventures, which helps organize the event, adding that some of the injured athletes showed up to watch. “We were really happy with it.”
Where Hill wants to see growth is in the stands.
The weekend event attracted 1,500 spectators.
“We want to get people excited to come and watch the event. We don’t have an issue selling out to the athletes,” she said. “It would be really great to pack out the stands. That is our goal for the next year.”
Hill said they had video footage on the Hoodoo Adventures Facebook page to help give people an idea of what to expect.
“We invited friends down and they were just blown away by how cool it was to watch,” she said.
Getting more butts in the stands will also allow the event to contribute more money to charity. This year they raise $2,000 for the Canadian Institute for the Blind, while money was also donated to a local athlete who recently found out their child was diagnosed with cancer. Half of the ticket money goes towards the charity.
When it came to the competition, Sean Cassidy, one of the organizers, said Penticton athletes finished well finding spots in the top 10, including BCHL referee Dustin Minty, who placed fourth. In the mixed pairs, one of the new categories with teams, The Bald and the Beautiful took third. In the women’s masters 45-plus, Jo-Ann McCullough took first among the two people in that division and competed with a replaced knee.
Cassidy said it was great to see family members cheer on their loved ones, while other spectators also showed support so the athletes could perform at their best. That support is what impressed Cassidy, who placed eighth in competitive men, the most.
This year’s event attracted a large contingent of athletes from Vancouver, Alberta, Washington and as far as Nebraska.
For results, check www.competeonline.ca and click view details by Okanagan Valley Throwdown.
