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Getting into the Crossfit Nationals last month raised a sweat in itself for two local competitors.
The qualifier consisted of five workouts, which were scored and the information loaded online. The scores had to be within the top eight in the country for their age group – something that around 40 athletes did successfully, including father and son John and Kaea Taurua of Stanmore Bay.
John and his wife Quanita own Crossfit Hibiscus Coast, so Kaea, aged 14, grew up around the sport. He began training seriously around 18 months ago after completing the Crossfit Kids programme. He also plays rugby for Orewa College.
John was introduced to Crossfit by a group of Americans while on deployment in Afghanistan in 2011 and was immediately hooked on its workouts, which are based on functional movements performed at high intensity.
At the nationals in Cambridge on July 20-21, after a gruelling eight workouts over two days – including a 400m swim, 2km row, typical Crossfit workouts and heavy lifting – Kaea and John both took third place in their respective age groups.
