Lifestyle

Most everyone has heard of Afro Brutality apparel. It is a brand out of Harlem, U.S.A. It represents a By Any Means Necessary attitude and flair that only owner Syn Martinez can produce.  It is a CrossFit original and yes, the brand has originality. Especially in a time when there is a slew of Life AsRX competitors named after buzzwords and workouts. 

So about Afro Brutality's new shirt? It is really red. Certainly for the gym; definitely not meant to wear in casual settings. The monochromatic contrast between red and white is coarse and exhausting to the eye. While the garment blank is American Apparel (considered an A- to A+ brand for garment blanks) the paint used isn't of the best quality. The design and font isn't at all unique to the Afro Brutality brand. Neither is the concept of a barbell club shirt. See Rogue. 

But what makes this shirt is appealing is that this brand doesn't try to be anything beyond rugged, raw, and to the point. With the eloquences of design and premium production aside, is it enough for you to add to your list. What do you think? Rate this apparel 1-10*. 

*We'll take the average of the first 20 submittals. Submittals must be legitimate, non-derogatory ratings with a short but detailed justification for the rating. They must also be logged-in to receive the 20% discount on apparel via email. 

Photo by Lindsey Spurck Schrock

This past weekend, a lot of us were hanging out, SUPing, or vacationing, Kris Kepler, Zach Hughes, and SICFIT's J. Elliot Schrock took on the legendary Leadville Trail 100 Mile Race. Two of them braved 40 miles of the brutal race, at elevation. One of them finished. Kris Kepler finished the race, with a smile, in under 30 hours. Pretty amazing accomplishment to finish an Ultramarathon by training with CrossFit and 10 mile runs. It is a nod to both the efficacy of Brian Mackenzie's CrossFit Endurance programming and strength of Kris' will to finish. 

Congrats to each of the men and their support team. Carlos Ibarra, Kristen Dymmel, and Tim Dymmel served as race pacers. The wives of Zach and Elliot were on the scene manning every pit stop for first aid, moral, and loving support. Twitter was going wild in support of his efforts, from a distance. Congratulations to Kris for his amazing athletic accomplishment. 

Video of the finish can be seen here. 

Are you training for an endurance race or another sport with the CrossFit methodology? Let us know and we'll feature your competition. #SICFIT

Because, on occassion, we could all use a special track to get us through our training. This features Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Benny Benasi. It is a re-imagining of Watch The Throne's N****'s in Paris. This PR MuSIC was programmed by Jess Holland (of Team Dangerous fame). 

Photo By Mary Siani

Best caption wins an upcoming SICFIT apparel. Name the athlete and we'll make you the same offer!

Warrior Dash. Windham, NY. The photo is by Jules Blight. 

Chad Hobbs is a former college basketball player and CrossFit athlete hailing from CrossFit Bloomingon. Michael Clarkson is an athlete from CrossFit Leeds, which lies in a suburb of West Yorkshire, England. These two members of the world-wide crew called the SICFITERATI repped completely different genres of music, both types of which were downright dope in their own unique ways.

The breakdown. Chad went with typical American bangers (not to be confused with the sausage that our friends across the pond pair with mashed potatoes). He went with an Eminem classic, a Tupac hit, and Jay-Z's On to the next one - a track produced by Reebok's current creative director. You really can't go wrong with those classics and it showed. Chad received over 10% of the total vote putting him in second place overall. What got Chad? The unverified votes. 

Michael Clarkson used his considerable influence on his personal facebook page, with his affiliate's Facebook page, and using his Twitter account to spread the message, "Log-in to SICFIT before you place your verified vote!" This is an initiative that we put in place to prevent duplicate votes. His choices were considerably diverse. He chose a great mix that included" Example's Kickstarts, Fort Minor, and Bon Iver's Skinny Love. He received heavy international support that was fortified by a strong coalition out of the United Kingdom, to include the entire lineage of the Crisp family. Anyhow, it was a bit of positive news for our friend from Leeds, an area that saw reported "pockets of disorder" throughout the England Riots. He finished with 35.5% of the vote. 

Clarkson, a member of the duo that we fondly call SICFIT UK, is the winner of the first epic #PRMuSIC contest. He demonstrated great taste in music, social media influence, and the SICFIT swagger that translates everywhere. Not only is he going to snag every shirt that we've made but we are putting him down for the next two shirts that come out. Oh, and we're paying for a year membership to Spotify. Easily one of humankind's best inventions. It was a fun contest and a great showing of participation and support for other competitors. One thing is for sure, our culture is everywhere. CrossFit has no boundaries and neither does the lifestyle that we call SICFIT. 

Read more about Michael's PR MuSIC experience: here

The Nike U.S. Open of Surfing just concluded just two days ago. Down the road from ESPN's X-Games. Which was down the road from the Reebok CrossFit Games. You get the picture. Los Angeles and its surrounding areas were brimming with sports that are passionately followed by smaller, more intensely engaged niches. It also seems to be an overlap in a more than a few ways, especially with the U.S.O.S. featuring BMX and skate, less than an hour away from the event that is known for those sports. 

Many of these sports are enjoyed by the CrossFit community, a talented pool that boasts a diversity of people with a range of interests that span well beyond our gyms. With the growth of the CrossFit Games, well beyond the imagination of many in this community, we continue to outgrow "yesterday". While in the figurative context, this matter may also be true in the literal. Even with the minority who still holds on to the dustbowl days of Aromas. Really? Can you still imagine if we were on the Castro ranch in Aromas with nowhere to go for food (besides Panda Express) after the one mom and pop corner store across the road from the strawberry fields closed at six PM? Excuse the run-on sentence but consider the point. 

We outgrew the beloved Aromas ranch after 2009. Amidst all of the complaining and yearning for nostalgia, a lot of us were saying, “Yes, well that makes sense.” Regardless of wherever "next" is, it will probably make sense to just let it ride and pipe down on the "but's", "why's", and so forth. The Home Depot Center may not be big enough to handle what grande vision is likely brewing in the minds, on the notepads, and at mastermind meetings of those who influence the next iteration of the competition to be seen at the CG6. 

We are huge fans of board sports, so surprisingly, it didn’t dawn on us to take our eyes off of CrossFit and X-Games highlights for a second to check out the thousands in attendance watching Kelly Slater and the best in the world surf the waves of Southern California. When Madeleine Letchford of the CrossFit Sports Series crew went out to watch the event, we paid attention. When SICFIT's Jeremy Thiel sent in these photos from Huntington Beach, it got us thinking more about the concept of temporary stadiums. On the drive to to downtown L.A. for the after party, we noticed the X-Games’ outdoor venue. A highly branded, magnificent structure that would host a majority of the X-Games events - while serving as a massive billboard for title sponsors. What if this is the next step for the CrossFit Games? 

With the record intensity of the beach event (a huge surprise to the skeptics), the growth of the CrossFit Sports Series, and spectator space at a premium in L.A., the following could be a solution. A beach full of CrossFitter’s, in a spectator village all our own, and tens of thousands of passers-by all wondering what the commotion is all about. If nothing else, it would be a great, official co-venue for the next CrossFit Games season. We can visualize the SUP, HSPU, sled pull event at CrossFit Games 2012, now. The possibilities are endless.

By Web Smith |  SICFIT Co-Owner and Action Sports Junkie

We've selected the top ten Mu(SIC) playlists! Based on expert feedback from music connoiseurs Kris Kepler and Bentura Flores of the famed SICFIT "Shop Boys". Now, it is up to you. Below, you have the opportunity to log-in and endorse your friend's favorite playlist (you must be logged in for a counted vote). Voting closes on midnight of Thursday, August 11. What music is the most SIC music to warm-up, train, and live to? Congratulations to the top ten! 

1. Michael Clarkson: Example, Remember the Name, Skinny Love
2. Wayne Richard: Beautiful People, Skills to Pay The Bills, Rockstar
3. Dan Schreiber: Don't Play No Game I Can't Win, Love Is Real, My Prerogative
4. Guerrillafit Tim: Blackstone Cherry, Aww Naww!, The Way Simple Men Are
5. Melissa Harrison: Finally Moving, All You Go To Do Is Say Yeah, Come As You Are
6. Andre Urquiza: Renegades of Funk , Saliva, Korn
7. Jessica Estrada: Sabotage, Bloc Party, Ruff Ryders Anthem
8. Carin Huggins: Burning Down the House, Fireball, Open Your Eyes
9. Chad Hobbs: Till I Collapse, Can't See Me, On To The Next One 
10. Brandon Gunsolus: Last Man Standing, It's My Time, Get Up

Steph McCormack, sporting her SICFIT watch from The After Glow VIP gift bag. 


Joe Petrusky in his black SICFIT watch from The After Glow VIP gift bag

Are you a fan? Let us know your thoughts on these limited edition SICFIT watches. Should we expand them to our online market? 

Photograph By Mary Siani

Several things I’d like to touch upon here but first and foremost: Jeremy Thiel, Web Smith, Ruben Rojas, Team Dangerous and the SICFIT crew know how to throw a party. If you are planning on attending the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games then staying in L.A. through Monday for the SICFIT after party is a MUST. I'll bet you a PROGENEX chocotini you won’t regret it.

So, after three days of fun in the sun, watching the top Crossfitters battle it out for the title “Worlds Fittest”, one experiences a sense of not wanting the festivities to end. For those of us that showed up to the Exchange LA club on Sunday night, the story kept going…and it went a little something like this: 

As you walk into the Exchange L.A. you’re greeted by Web Smith, Ruben Rojas and Team Dangerous. After exchanging pleasantries with this committee, head over to the red carpet and get your photo taken by a professional photographer. Then get out of the way, because a line of several other super attractive, in shape, type-A's are waiting behind you. (NOTE: if you don’t believe me, check out the red carpet photos for various aesthetically pleasing figures i.e. Melissa Einbinder and Najla Kayyem).

Now, if you’re a VIP (you bought a ticket, you work for CrossFit HQ, Reebok, or you’re an athlete) head upstairs and pick up your gift bag. Included is gear from Forged, Life AsRX, Fashletics, and an exclusive metal band and watch from SICFIT.

In case you have too much to drink (anything over one drink for those that have been competing or screaming in the sun for the past three days), I highly suggest just wearing all your new toys throughout the evening; you’ll lower your chances of losing your new stuff. At this point you should head into the bar and check out the scene.

Dancefloor: Like any good WOD, once the dancefloor got moving, it was AMRAP-jammed-packed until the club closed. If you were to take a lap, you could easily crash into any number of crossfit “celebs”: Libby DiBiase, Lindsay Smith, Ronnie Teasdale, Crossfit Central, Carey Kepler (killer boots, man!), Head Judge Adrian Bozman (he no-reped “the Worm” but “the Dougie” was allowed) and many more. If you had your cell, you could send a text to the jumbo screen behind famed platinum producer - DJ Felli Fel - and watch your words roll down as you get down.

VIP upstairs: Notables included the Life AsRX crew, Forged crew, the PROGENEX crew, Auvie Kincer II, Nick Urankar, team CFNE and many others. PROGENEX was kind enough to serve chocotini, which meant though you got a hangover, at least you had some refueling and bulking action.

All in all, the SICFIT after party was the perfect cap to 2011 Reebok Crossfit Games. I’ll leave you with a few Memorable Quotes that are still afterglowing in my mind 4 days later:

“It’s kinda nice seeing people dressed up for a change. Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing half naked bodies…but this is classy.”

“Camille: will you slow dance with me?”

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Darwin Hunt is a self-professed "below average CrossFitter" that has way too much energy. He is the creator of the 2012 CharityFit Calendar and a Crossfit enthusiast. He trains at the 6am and/or the 6pm class at Crossfit Pasadena. He rarely wins but always looks good in argyle socks.