Predicting 15.1—The First Workout of the 2015 CrossFit Open

The wait is almost over. Tomorrow, at 5 p.m. PT Dave Castro will announce the first workout of the 2015 Open live from Reebok CrossFit One in Canton, MA. Moments later, four-time Games champ Rich Froning and 2014’s 2^nd Fittest Man Mat Fraser will perform the workout, giving us a taste of what’s to follow for the rest of us.

Almost as fun as watching the live announcement and performing the workouts themselves is trying to guess what each Open WOD will be. Everyone has their suspicions for what 15.1 will entail, with solid ‘reasoning’ to back it up, and the BoxLife Team is no different. Taking multiple factors into consideration (including the athletes on show and past Open workouts), we present our pick for the first workout of the 2015 Open:

15.1

10 minutes of:
3 Rounds
30 Snatches (75/55lbs)
15 Toes-to-bar
Then, with remaining time, AMRAP of:
30 Snatches (135/95lbs)
15 Toes-to-bar

To clarify, the format of our proposed 15.1 workout would require the athlete to first perform the three rounds of 30 snatches and 15 toes-to-bar while the clock is running. As soon as the third round is complete, they can then move on to the AMRAP with the heavier weight.

The reasoning:

• To begin with, the 10-minute AMRAP has been the most commonly used workout format in the history of the Open. It has been used at least once in every Open dating back to the start of the competition in 2011—where it was actually the format for two separate workouts.
• The first workout of the Open has usually been a couplet (two movements paired together). We saw this last year in 14.1—an AMRAP of 30 double-unders and 15 snatches—a workout that was a repeat of 11.1. The first workout of 2013 was a couplet of burpees and snatches. In fact, the snatch has almost always been one of the two movements in a couplet workout during the Open—save for 12.2, which was an ascending weighted ladder of 30 snatches.
• Speaking of snatches, this movement (along with toes-to-bar) has been featured in every single Open. Therefore, it’s a safe bet to assume they’ll make another appearance in 2015.
• This workout is inclusive yet ‘sexy’. Every athlete that has registered for the RX division should be able to perform each movement relatively easy, and it’s easy to scale down for the Scaled division. With that being said, it still allows for a show to be put on—especially when you consider the two men that will be going head to head on Thursday night. Rich Froning and Mat Fraser are barbell specialists. They know how to move weight, and both would reach the hypothetical 135lb. snatches with ease. This would be a very balanced fight between the two. Under the bright lights of Reebok CrossFit One, Froning and Fraser would surely put on a show as they combine power, skill and grit with tactics and flair.

What are your predictions for 15.1?

Photo courtesy of Jota Murillo