SASSFit’s athletes and support crew after their successful weekend at the 2TOA Aotearoa competition in Rotorua. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
CROSSFIT
ELISA VORSTER
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Athletes from Masterton’s SASSFit gave a creditable account of themselves when six of their athletes gained top three placings at the 2TOA Aotearoa CrossFit competition.
The two-day competition at Rotorua had athletes competing in disciplines ranging from running to weightlifting to swimming in the iconic Blue Lake.
SASSFit entered 10 paired teams for the competition which catered for all levels with beginners, intermediate, teens, masters, advanced and RX separated into divisions.
Director and coach Tania Karaitiana said it was the first time competing for many of the athletes – something which proved quite daunting for some.
“Every Sunday, we would have pre-competition training and went over the benefit of mentally succeeding,” she said.
She said all the coaches were “blown away” by the effort and success of the athletes, including new coach Matt Couper who teamed up with fellow coach Rima Marurai.
Couper had been working hard with the athletes to push their training to the next level.
The pair led by example by placing second in the advanced male division.
Hitiri Turner and Laurie Matthews won the beginner male division, edging out team-mates Jared Hardie and Nick Scott who placed second.
Overall, the SASSFit team came home with one first, two seconds, a fourth, a fifth and a seventh placing from their respective events.
“It was a really fierce competition and if it weren’t for a few injuries, the placings could have been different again,” Karaitiana said.
Karaitiana said SASSFit hoped the success of the athletes would inspire others to get involved in functional fitness with like-minded people.
“It’s about being humble and doing the best we can.
“You can be first or last but at the end of the day, last place gets the biggest cheers here because of the friendship and camaraderie.”
She said the centre offered CrossFit style workouts, strength and circuit workouts “with a bit of spice on the side” for its members aged from 14 to 79.
