Pilbara athletes take on CrossFit challenge

Athletes pushed themselves to the extreme on Saturday, June 29 at a CrossFit competition in Karratha which tested the limits of the human body.

Dual Carnage III was run by IMPACT Strength and Performance and saw 92 competitors from Karratha, Wickham, Roebourne and Hedland form 46 teams and test what their bodies were capable of.

It was the third competition IMPACT had run, with the previous two being mixed-gender, but this year’s consisted of same-sex pairs.

IMPACT co-owner Shari Taylor said it was great to have the whole Pilbara CrossFit community there, not just Karratha’s.

“It was really nice to see the talent from everywhere,” she said.

“The competitors from Hedland were phenomenal athletes and they moved really similar to our own people.”

Athletes tested themselves in three categories — Rx, which was exercises as prescribed; scaled, which was modified exercises; and beginner.

The Rx division had six events including finals; scaled had five; and beginner had four with no finals.

Taylor said the competition gave athletes in the Pilbara something to focus on.

“You can train all year round, but without a goal to work towards, people tend to plateau,” she said.

“The comp is something to work towards, so it makes people push themselves harder during the year.”

Taylor said the best part of CrossFit was the community, which was on full display at Dual Carnage III.

“Every time you walk into a gym you get a nice welcome,” she said.

“It’s very motivating, people are always supporting you and you’re always getting a cheer or a high five.”