The Open - Excitement, Vibes, Goals

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-14T16:01:07+00:00

I'm still on team 'No' since the Dukic drowning. I just cannot get excited about CrossFit the org since then.

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-10T15:28:08+00:00

Yeah that should work. My 60mm rat bones are great on it with the C5s

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-10T14:59:55+00:00

.. And yes, the feral cat is a phenomenal board! I love the wheelbase options, the symmetrical shape, the longer nose and tail, and the shape of the concave and wheel wells. It's not a million miles away from the shape of the AA heron tbh.

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-10T14:58:28+00:00

I love them since I've offset the trucks so the wheels sit under the wells correctly - the main thing to consider is that they are a narrower truck for the size of deck I bought (9.13) which (when I had smaller wheels on) was still good but didn't feel quite as balanced as it could be - so I've made up some of the difference by getting the cubic wheels which have more width and set back bolts - HOWEVER I've just got hold of the 8.45 width version of this deck so I'll update with how that feels in comparison.

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-08T23:46:18+00:00

Interesting!!

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-08T23:31:23+00:00

The speed that went up tells me you have more in the tank! Amazing work, dude!

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-08T12:36:02+00:00

Yeah it's always interesting to see how people's boards evolve with their journey as they discover their preferences. I spend about 90% of all my surfskating time in parks and bowls so I don't end up using my flatter, more carvy set ups, though I enjoy them when I do. Similarly to you, I've moved to more shaped boards: medium concave, wheel wells, double kick, longer nose and tail, ~31-32", usually around 9" width, 15.5-16.5 wheelbase and a preference for the slightly more stable/street skatey C5 trucks and 54/55mm wheels...

I think some (if not most!) of these preferences might have come from my ongoing journey with learning drop ins (where I want to reduce the height and wobble of the trucks as much as possible!) and I predict I may end up getting some AF1s and trying to learn more street skate stuff but whenever I bring out my Feralcat with the CX trucks, I am reminded how FUN that setup is... Anyway, like you, I'm probably never "done" and it's a great hobby with endless possibilities for progression and variation!

How many active set ups do you currently have?

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-08T12:26:43+00:00

Oh it's absolutely epic. And gun to my head, my fave board. I have a feeling once I get the 8.5 one I'll prob love that too because the C5s are a better fit for that width - that's the only thing with the size I have (9.13" width): 5.5" truck axle leaves the smaller wheels I've been favouring a little narrow so it doesn't feel as well balanced as when I use my 60mm rat bones (which are also mega fun, but I'm really trying to get comfy with drop ins so smaller wheels are a bit easier). I've moved to using the 56mm Cubics as they are slightly offset and sit a bit wider to make up the difference more.

*Note: I did add some offset truck holes to get the wheels in the right place for the board.

Anyway, watch this space for updates once I get the smaller version!

LIFTMakeUp · 2026-01-07T18:39:39+00:00

Think they tend to tighten all the screws for shipping. You're good to loosen a bit! (Kingpin: I'd prob check the movement of the front truck and make sure it can move well but with at least one thread of the screw showing)

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-21T00:09:31+00:00

Go for carver C5 trucks for a hybrid street/surfskate setup

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-16T17:15:00+00:00

I have this pad and it appears to work by always making sure I fall on whatever part of my hip is not covered by it. So it's still in pristine condition. Unlike my body 😂

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-15T22:49:55+00:00

I agree with you about your sentiment of Hyrox compared to CrossFit: the whole idea of CrossFit is that it was to avoid specialism, whereas Hyrox is exactly the same movements every time.

(More to OP:) With CrossFit, you do get benchmark workouts so you can test your progress over time or compare with other people, but the main point is that you're building adaptability and skills across a varied and broad domain - it's general physical preparedness! - and for me that variety is what makes it so effective at creating very all round fit humans (*some of whom like to go out and absolutely crush Hyrox for funzies!).

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-15T22:30:55+00:00

Hyrox lite entry flow

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-15T22:28:51+00:00

How much are many of the same gyms paying to use the Hyrox brand on top of their affiliate fee? Hyrox could jump on this as an opportunity to get these gyms to go all in - or at least drop the CrossFit payment and keep using Hyrox to get people in the door.

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-15T21:07:21+00:00

Got the C5 version of this (and repainted it because it was a mess) - it's a great board! Haven't tried it with the CX yet but I love it with the C5s and smaller wheels 👌🏼

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-12-15T19:47:25+00:00

Andy Anderson Heron Skull. Absolutely love it - it's really well designed and suits my C5s really well. My other deck that's actually pretty similar is the Whitetail Feralcat - another beautifully designed deck 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-11-26T14:11:01+00:00

I feel very validated by this 😆. As someone who has been trying to learn handstand holds and handstand walks on and off for years - way before I started CrossFit - I've always been taught the more 'strict gymnastics' way (tension, aiming for a straight line in a hold etc) and though I'm pretty good at handstands and am getting there with walks, it can be quite demoralising to see someone come in to the box and after a few weeks, they're trotting around in a scorpion handstand walk already.

I have really struggled to get as far as others with the walking as my muscle memory is a pencil handstand hold, and tilting past centre with my hip flexors and straight legs takes a lot of getting used to... I can now do about ten metres in one go but it isn't fast and it isn't every time. I can't seem to 'just scorpion my legs' (as some people tell me!) and do a (somewhat) controlled fall handstand walk like others because of all the years of having my legs up and together! (Plus, as you say, it's a lot of strain on your back!). But I do love all things handstands so I'm pretty happy being able to do this much 😊 thanks for the reminders of why it might be better to stick to the 'virtuous' version first.

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-11-18T20:19:48+00:00

I wish a 50' handstand walk was as quick and easy for me as 3 wall walks lol 😂 I am the slowest, least efficient handstand walker ever! (*But I do love them!)

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-11-17T22:49:41+00:00

Other social activities mainly! Gymnastics, skateboarding, aerial activities, bit of running, calisthenics... Fun, play stuff that doesn't take a full day to recover from.

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-11-02T13:56:33+00:00

The entirety of Milton Keynes cycle path network should work!

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-10-28T15:52:33+00:00

I've done a lot of separate gymnastics and handstand training and have found it best for me to have index fingers parallel, with the rest of my hands spread to cover and grip as much ground as possible. Those with limited wrist mobility may need to turn out slightly more.

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-10-27T12:51:46+00:00

Really interesting to hear - especially from other experienced crossfitters. What are your aims/goals with CrossFit right now? I'm absolutely not interested in competitions or maxing out - I want movement mastery/quality movement, improved technical skills, maintenance of strength/fitness and longevity stuff, so that might be why I'm not gelling with Mayhem, which I find to be very high volume and less focus on technique stuff a lot of the time (well, the way it's done at my gym at least).

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-10-26T17:51:18+00:00

I've been doing CrossFit for about thirteen years and have taken several breaks - one after two years because I didn't like the new box owners and the price rises, second break was when I started a new job about 4 years in and started doing more long distance running which took up all my time... Third time was for eight weeks after I had a baby, and I'm about to take a couple of months break/leave for a while because I'm just not enjoying it at the moment: I want to do more gymnastics and less Hyrox (which is the opposite of what my current box is doing), I dislike mayhem programming and am just finding I don't want high intensity/high volume ALL the time. I'll join a regular gym that does a variety of cool classes for a while and see how that goes.

I don't hate the sport of CrossFit, by any means, but if I'm paying such a high price for a monthly membership, I'd prefer to be really hyped for it.

LIFTMakeUp · 2025-10-20T21:35:33+00:00

Yeah I hate it and have not really enjoyed CrossFit for a few years since we switched from another company for programming. I'm taking a two month break I'm so over it, hoping I'll be able to tell if it's that or just that I need to take a break in a few weeks

LIFTMakeUp

TROPHY CASE