The 2026 Competition Path is designed to guide affiliates and athletes through a full year of progressive, periodized training from The Open preparation to off-season rebuilding and community events. Programming balances competitive intensity with scalable fitness options, ensuring all members stay engaged and progressing.

Two primary paths are available:

• Main Path (Flagship): Competitive focus with high-skill gymnastics, Olympic lifting, and qualifier-style metcons. Includes fitness-based scaling options.
• Axis Path: Balanced blend of power, hypertrophy, structural balance, and varied conditioning. Ideal as a standalone program or to cherry-pick sessions.

Many affiliates successfully blend both paths week-to-week based on member needs.

Detailed Cycle Breakdown

Apex Cycle | Open Prep (7 weeks)

Purpose: Prepare for the CrossFit Open with heavier lifting under fatigue and competition-style conditioning.

Strength Targets: Clean complex, CrossFit Total, Olympic lifting under fatigue, upper body strength-endurance.

Conditioning: Chippers, couplets, triplets, strength ladders; wide variety of time domains and movements.

Skill Focus: Pull-ups, TTB, wall walks, burpees, pistol mobility, 2k row, quarterfinal movements.

Apex Cycle | Competition Peak (6 weeks)

Purpose: Align directly with the Open (first 3 weeks), then transition while maintaining intensity.

Strength Targets: Peak Olympic lifting, CrossFit Total retest, upper body gymnastics strength-endurance.

Conditioning: Weekly structure mirrors competitive season (normal days, stingers, Open workouts).

Skill Focus: Pistol volume, 2k row continuation, mixed burpee volume, quarterfinal-style intervals.

Novus | Phase 1: Base (7 weeks)

Purpose: Post-competition rebuild with Murph prep and foundational patterns.

Strength Targets: Pause variations, upper body push/pull hypertrophy, novel/multi-planar strength.

Conditioning: Longer single-modality efforts, simple repeatable pieces.

Skill Focus: Handstand development (Phase 1), 5k run (Phase 1), strict ring muscle-up/pulling, core compression.

Novus | Phase 2: Limiter (8 weeks)

Purpose: Target individual bottlenecks, reintroduce higher intensity.

Strength Targets: Linear progressions on slow lifts, bodybuilding accessories, Olympic lift reintroduction.

Conditioning: Muscle endurance tests, mixed-modal with pacing practice.

Skill Focus: Handstand development (Phase 2), 5k run (Phase 2), strict ring muscle-up/pulling, core compression.

Resurgence Cycle (8 weeks)

Purpose: Off-season strength and aerobic capacity build leading into Super Summer Sizzler.

Strength Targets: Olympic peaking, maximal upper body, gymnastics capacity tests, overcoming isometrics.

Conditioning: Increased running/cyclical work, mixed aerobic CrossFit workouts.

Skill Focus: Kipping ring muscle-up, pistol/jump rope alternates, 5k run/echo-row alternates.

Persist Cycle (8 weeks)

Purpose: Final off-season peak before in-season demands.

Strength Targets: Continued Olympic/power peak, heavier weighted gymnastics, high-intensity barbell work.

Conditioning: Traditional CrossFit metcons, gymnastics skills under fatigue, barbell cycling.

Skill Focus: Snatch technical focus, GHD sit-ups/rope climbs, strongman/odd object (Phase 1).

Ultimus Cycle (8 weeks)

Purpose: First in-season block with strength endurance and competition-specific density.

Strength Targets: Fatigue-resistant squat max, upper body speed (push press/jerk), barbell cycling endurance.

Conditioning: Mixed-modal across time domains, grip endurance focus, Winter Is Coming integration.

Skill Focus: Static handstands/handstand walking, burpee/row progressions, GHD/rope climbs under fatigue, strongman/odd object (Phase 2).

Additional Resources

• TTT Axis Path Sample Week
• Scaling & Modifications Guide
• RPE Chart
• Warm-Up Games
• On-Ramp Systems
• Specialty Classes Sample
• Beyond Scaling Series Sample
• Consult with a Coach – Free 15-minute consult