Masters In Motion

Stuff I Wish a CrossFit Judge Had Told Me
Jason Grubb and Rick Stevenson sit down with veteran CrossFit judge and former competitor Dave Hardie to explain what athletes can do before, during, and after a competition to avoid preventable no-reps and penalties.
Dave has judged at every level of the sport. He shares the lessons he wishes he had known while competing: stay out of the gray area, train movement standards before competition day, film qualifier videos so every rep can be judged, and communicate with the head judge before taking the floor.
They also discuss how experienced athletes respond to a no-rep without losing time, what makes an appeal useful instead of emotional, why signing the scorecard matters, and the growing shortage of experienced judges in CrossFit.
In this episode
* Why clearly valid reps beat living in the gray area
* How to train movement standards before competition day
* Video-submission mistakes that cost athletes reps
* Why your camera angle and judge choice matter
* What to communicate in the corral and on the competition floor
* How top athletes respond to a no-rep without wasting time
* What to include in a useful competition appeal
* Why CrossFit needs more experienced judges
* How to begin judging local and major events
Chapters
* 00:00 Meet Dave Hardie
* 05:09 Stay out of the gray area
* 09:41 Train to competition standards
* 11:55 Video-submission mistakes
* 15:05 Use a judge who actually judges
* 19:07 Review your video before submitting
* 22:43 What athletes need to know in person
* 27:03 How the best athletes handle no-reps
* 28:24 Watch the head judge
* 29:02 Sign the scorecard and leave the floor
* 31:14 How competition appeals work
* 37:09 CrossFit's judge shortage
* 39:12 Why judging is worth it
* 43:27 How to become a CrossFit judge
* 45:09 Does judging pay?
* 47:03 Where to find Dave
Sponsor
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Programs and links
* Bolder Athlete training
* 1:1 training and 12-week programs
* Instagram
* Jason's deals/partners


Get full access to Masters in Motion at jasongrubb.substack.com/subscribe

Dave Castro on Programming the 20th CrossFit Games—and What Comes Next
Jason Grubb and Rick Stevenson sit down with Dave Castro to discuss the challenge of programming the 20th CrossFit Games and where the competition could go next.
Dave explains why programming a full Games week is more than choosing individual workouts. Event order, recovery windows, venue limitations, staffing, and athlete flow all affect whether the competition works. He also shares what he learned from this year's schedule and the feedback he received afterward.
The conversation then turns to the Masters divisions: what Masters athletes represent for CrossFit, where the competition currently works, and what better integration could look like without creating a logistical mess.
In this episode
* Why the 20-event anniversary format was difficult to program
* How event order changes athlete recovery and safety
* What Dave learned from the biathlon, obstacle course, and throw events
* The logistical limits that shape Games programming
* How CrossFit HQ views the Masters divisions
* Field size, staffing, sponsor, and media constraints
* What Masters athletes demonstrate about long-term health and performance
* How future competitions could integrate divisions more effectively
Chapters
* 00:00 Introduction
* 00:48 Dave Castro joins the podcast
* 02:18 Programming 20 events for the 20th Games
* 07:20 What worked and what Dave learned
* 08:40 Athlete feedback, logistics, and recovery windows
* 10:00 Event callbacks and the throw event
* 13:00 The biathlon and obstacle course
* 15:30 Masters competition and consistent separation
* 16:30 CrossFit HQ's view of the Masters divisions
* 19:50 Field size, volunteers, and athlete experience
* 23:30 What Dave values about Masters athletes
* 25:20 Sponsors, media, and the economics of competition
* 27:30 Future integration and venue options
* 29:30 Longevity and the larger CrossFit message
* 30:00 Closing
Watch on YouTube
Watch Episode 129 on YouTube
Sponsor
Better recovery starts with better sleep.
Thirdzy's Rest & Recovery Collagen helps you fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake up more refreshed—without melatonin or sedatives.
Save 20% at Thirdzy.com with code Jasonzzz.
Programs and links
* Bolder Athlete training
* 1:1 training and 12-week programs
* Instagram
* Jason's deals/partners


Get full access to Masters in Motion at jasongrubb.substack.com/subscribe

Powered by Bolder Athlete — Training for Masters by Masters - get 3 weeks free here: bolderathlete.com
In this episode of the Masters in Motion Podcast, Jason Grubb and Rick Stevenson take a deep dive into XENOM, the new Decathlon of Fitness built around 10 standardized events completed over two days.
Rick is preparing to compete, so the conversation goes beyond a basic event preview. Jason and Rick examine the competition format, scoring system, athlete divisions, event logistics, and the challenge of preparing for strength, endurance, gymnastics, and high-intensity tests within one weekend.
They break down the first day of events, discuss unfamiliar equipment and movement combinations, and explore how athletes should manage pacing, recovery, and effort across multiple tests. Rick also shares his thoughts on the clean ladder, the challenge of lifting heavy after accumulated fatigue, and how training for a fixed-event competition differs from preparing for the unknown programming common in CrossFit.
XENOM uses a points-based scoring model inspired by the Olympic decathlon, creating a repeatable benchmark athletes can use to compare performances across events and competitions.
Whether you’re considering competing, following Rick’s journey, or curious about the future of multi-event fitness competitions, this episode provides a clear look at what XENOM is trying to build—and what athletes should expect.


Get full access to Masters in Motion at jasongrubb.substack.com/subscribe

Powered by Bolder Athlete — Training for Masters by Masters - get 3 weeks free here: bolderathlete.com
In this episode of the Masters in Motion Podcast, Jason Grubb and Rick Stevenson take a deep dive into XENOM, the new Decathlon of Fitness built around 10 standardized events completed over two days.
Rick is preparing to compete, so the conversation goes beyond a basic event preview. Jason and Rick examine the competition format, scoring system, athlete divisions, event logistics, and the challenge of preparing for strength, endurance, gymnastics, and high-intensity tests within one weekend.
They break down the first day of events, discuss unfamiliar equipment and movement combinations, and explore how athletes should manage pacing, recovery, and effort across multiple tests. Rick also shares his thoughts on the clean ladder, the challenge of lifting heavy after accumulated fatigue, and how training for a fixed-event competition differs from preparing for the unknown programming common in CrossFit.
XENOM uses a points-based scoring model inspired by the Olympic decathlon, creating a repeatable benchmark athletes can use to compare performances across events and competitions.
Whether you’re considering competing, following Rick’s journey, or curious about the future of multi-event fitness competitions, this episode provides a clear look at what XENOM is trying to build—and what athletes should expect.


Get full access to Masters in Motion at jasongrubb.substack.com/subscribe

Powered by Bolder Athlete — Training for Masters by Masters - get 3 weeks free here: bolderathlete.com
In this episode of Masters in Motion, Jason Grubb and Rick Stevenson break down the upcoming CrossFit online semifinals, sharing strategy, preparation tips, and key considerations for athletes heading into the next stage of competition.
They start with a recap of the Magic City Games, highlighting what went well, what stood out from the venue and execution, and why the judging and event flow set a strong standard for future Masters competitions. Jason and Rick also discuss the importance of continued communication with CrossFit HQ and how athlete feedback can help improve the structure and experience of future events.
From there, they dive into the newly released online semifinal workouts, including pacing strategies, movement considerations, judging standards, and how athletes should think about workout order and recovery. The conversation covers everything from lateral burpee box jump overs to a Jackie-style test, plus a unique deadlift ladder and clean workout that brings a very different challenge to the weekend.
Whether you’re competing, coaching, or following the Masters field, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for approaching semifinals with better planning, smarter pacing, and a clearer mindset.


Get full access to Masters in Motion at jasongrubb.substack.com/subscribe