All data included was gathered from the Games.crossfit.com individual athlete profiles.

Out of all 15 of the 2019 Crossfit sanctioned events which of them turned out to be the toughest and weakest in terms of competitors.

In other words, which Sanctionals had the toughest lineups to compete against as an athlete and which had the “easiest”.

If you are a Crossfit Games hopeful looking to find the easiest path to the Games, besides finishing top 20 worldwide in the Open or becoming a national champion, the results below may be very useful in planning out your 2020 season.

Rogue Dumbbells – Only $60 for a 35lb Pair

How Strength of Lineup Was Determined

To determine how tough it would be to compete at a certain Sanctional the lineups were ranked by taking the average worldwide 2019 Open rank as well as the combined number of Crossfit Games appearances of the top 10 finishers of each Sanctional.

These two factors were chosen based on the following:

Crossfit Games appearances = high levels of experience

Average Open rank = ability of non-Games athletes present

STRENGTH OF COMPETITION RESULTS

Strength of competition will be listed in order of toughest to weakest. In closer comparisons Games appearances outweigh average Open rank.

ROGUE INVITATIONAL

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 34

Average 2019 Open rank: 30

Notable athletes: Mat Fraser, Patrick Vellner, Cole Sager, Streat Hoerner, Travis Mayer, Scott Panchik, Noah Ohlsen, Willy Georges, Rasmus Andersen

*No athlete outside of the top 87 worldwide in the Open.

WODAPALOOZA

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 20

Average 2019 Open rank: 132 (55 Without Drew Wayman who finished 826th)

Notable athletes: Patrick Vellner, Travis Mayer, Noah Ohlsen, Saxon Panchik, Dakota Rager

DUBAI CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 18

Average 2019 Open rank: 29

Notable athletes: Mat Fraser, Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson, Willy Georges, Travis Mayer, Streat Hoerner, Jason Smith, Roman Khrennikov

CROSSFIT FITTEST IN CAPE TOWN

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 19

Average 2019 Open rank: 69

Notable athletes: Sean Sweeney, Cole Sager, James Newbury, Streat Hoerner, Tim Paulson, Lucas Parker, Jason Smith

*Dubai Crossfit Championship becomes more competitive than Fittest In Cape Town due to the presence of Mat Fraser and BKG, although Fittest In Cape Town has more combined Games appearances.

CROSSFIT ITALIAN SHOWDOWN

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 17

Average 2019 Open rank: 87

Notable athletes: Roman Khrennikov, Scott Panchik, Noah Ohlsen, Lukas Esslinger

CROSSFIT FRENCH THROWDOWN

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 16

Average 2019 Open rank: 74

GRANITE GAMES

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 16

Average 2019 Open rank: 611 (92 without Ben Smith who finished 4,765th due to injury)

Notable athletes: Travis Mayer, Brent Fikowski, Ben Smith

Because the Games.crossfit.com site does not include a Games appearances count before 2012 a couple of athletes such as Ben Smith were given a score of 7 Games appearances instead of 10. If Ben Smith had been awarded 10 appearances instead of 7 this would move the Granite Games above Fittest in Cape Town and The Italian Showdown. However, because those 2 included a larger number of Games athletes as well as a better overall Open average they are still ranked more competitive than the Granite Games.

REYKJAVIK CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 11

Average 2019 Open rank: 76

Notable athletes: BKG, Streat Hoerner, Roman Khrennikov

MIDATLANTIC CROSSFIT CHALLENGE

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 8

Average 2019 Open rank: 186

Notable athletes: Samuel Kwant, Paul Castillo, Tyler Christophel

AUSTRALIAN CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 7

Average 2019 Open rank: 139

Notable athletes: James Newbury, Zeke Grove

DOWN UNDER CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 6

Average 2019 Open rank: 193

Notable athletes: Jacob Heppner, Jay Crouch

CROSSFIT STRENGTH IN DEPTH

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 6

Average 2019 Open rank: 232

Notable athletes: Roman Khrennikov, Elliot Simmonds, Adrian Mundwiler

ASIA CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 6

Average 2019 Open rank: 290

Notable athletes: Brent Fikowski, Zeke Grove

*All 6 Games appearances came from these 2 athletes.

BRAZIL CROSSFIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 5

Average 2019 Open rank: 180 (64 without John Wood who finished 1,106th)

Notable athletes: Will Moorad, Saxon Panchik, Sean Sweeney

CROSSFIT LOWLANDS THROWDOWN

Combined Crossfit Games appearances: 2

Average 2019 Open rank: 231

Notable athletes: John Coltey, Cedric Lapointe

According to the information above The Crossfit Lowlands Throwdown, The Brazil Crossfit Championship, and The Asia Crossfit Championship are the 3 least competitive Sanctionals of the 2019 qualifying season.

Although those 3 Sanctionals may have the lowest competitive scores they may however not be the best choice for a Crossfit Games hopeful. Instead, competing at the #1 most competitive Sanctional, The Rogue Invitational, is actually the best place to focus your efforts.

This is due to the fact that 12 out of the 19 male athletes that competed at this year’s Rogue Invitational had already qualified for the 2019 Crossfit Games going into competition. As one of the remaining 7 competitors you would only have to beat out 6 other athletes in order to secure a spot at the Crossfit Games.

The easiest path to the Crossfit Games and strength of Sanctionals will likely change next year due to the 13 added Sanctionals (28 total) included in the 2020 Sanctionals season but the competition with the most pre-qualified athletes should remain one of the most efficient paths to the Games.

One last thing to note is that although The Rogue Invitational, Wodapalooza, and The Dubai Crossfit Championship are the 3 most competitive events they also offer the most prize money.

Heatonminded on Facebook & Instagram