Western Canada’s Premier CrossFit Competition, the Okanagan Valley Throwdown, will take place at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Feb. 8, 2014.
CrossFit is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with nearly 140,000 people competing in the International CrossFit Open this past year. The sport combines Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics and high intensity interval training along with many other sport specific movements and challenges.
It is the “ultimate fitness competition.”
Not just cardio, but a test of skill, strength, speed, stamina, cardiovascular endurance, power, agility, accuracy, balance, flexibility and co-ordination rolled into one. A competitor must overcome various physical challenges in order to complete in an event and any activity is game, the individual or team with the best overall fitness will win.
The Okanagan Valley Throwdown will be held at the SOEC, which will make it one of the largest indoor venues for this style of event in North America. A real draw for athletes from all over Canada and the U.S.
”Not only do we pride ourselves on bringing world renowned acts to the SOEC, we also work hard at looking for opportunities where we can partner with different businesses in the city and assist in creating local, community minded events that have the potential to grow and create substantial, positive economic impact to our city,” said Global Spectrum’s Dean Clarke, general manager of the SOEC. “The inaugural Okanagan Valley Throwdown is a perfect example of the type of event creation we know will be successful in our City and we are excited to be a part of it.”
The Okanagan Valley Throwdown will be an annual event, held in February with a goal of hosting the CrossFit Regional’s within the next four years. The regional’s bring more than 10,000 people over a three-day event, so the potential for the area is huge. Sponsors, organizers at Hoodoo Adventures and partners at CrossFit South Okanagan are looking forward to growing the event for Penticton.
“We are really excited about bringing this event to Penticton” said Lyndie Hill of Hoodoo Adventures and Co-coordinator of the Okanagan Valley Throwdown in a statement. “We have no question that the event will sell out to our athletes and we encourage spectators to come out and check out all the action. It is not only a jaw dropping sport for all ages to watch, but half of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the South Okanagan Children’s Charity, a local charity that we are very proud to support.”
“I am incredibly excited and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of organizing this event that celebrates the lifestyle and the sport of CrossFit in the Okanagan," said CrossFit South Okanagan Co co-ordinator Brent Hayter. "It is an incredible venue and an amazing opportunity for people from all over the province to come together and to see that the sport of fitness has arrived in the valley in a big way. I believe that in the near future huge numbers of people will participate in Crossfit competitions both competitively and recreationally, just like they do in running and cycling events today.”
The event has been designed in consultation with Crossfit affiliates from around B.C. This event is mainly for people who already take part in CrossFit either competitively or recreationally. While competitive CrossFitters represent approximately 10 per cent of people who CrossFit; 90 per cent of people do it for fun or for the lifestyle and for the challenge. This event will attract them all, from competitive individual men and women, recreational groups, masters (over 40) and teams.
"We have a huge crew that are looking forward to competing with new people, having fun and challenging themselves at the Okanagan Valley Throwdown,” said Garth Cooke of CrossFit North Okanagan, “Many people now have a new goal to train for in the new year and are excited to see such an event in their backyard. There are some nerves, but since they are entering with their teammates from their box they find it less intimidating. Everyone is excited to throw down and crush it in Penticton."
Online pre-registration opens Dec. 1 and spectator ticket sales will be available at the Valley First Ticket Box at the SOEC. For more event information and to register for the Okanagan Valley Throwdown, visit www.okanaganvalleythrowdown.com.