4 Top CrossFit Trends (2024 Data)

As we close out this year and head into 2024, the CrossFit community has seen a surge in new methodologies, gear, and nutritional strategies.

Here are the four top CrossFit trends, based on the latest data, that are shaping the way we approach this high-intensity workout regimen.

1. More Virtual CrossFit Competitions

The advent of virtual CrossFit competitions marks a significant shift in the fitness competition landscape, and this trend of course began in 2020 during quarantines.

Platforms like WODProof and Competition Corner have reported record numbers of sign-ups for virtual meets, indicating a robust and growing interest in remote fitness challenges.

The accessibility and convenience of competing virtually have democratized the sport, allowing even those in remote areas to participate and rank on global leaderboards.

Great examples of this include:

Online qualifiers for competitions such as Wodapalooza, Rogue Invitational, and many others
The CrossFit Open
The first part of the 2020 CrossFit Games
Online community events leading up to the CrossFit Games

2. A Continued Increase in Wearable Fitness Trackers

The integration of technology into fitness has been seamless, and nowhere is this more evident than in the CrossFit arena. The use of wearable fitness trackers has skyrocketed among athletes looking to quantify every aspect of their performance.

From monitoring heart rate variability to tracking sleep patterns, wearables like WHOOP straps, fitness rings, and advanced multisport GPS watches are becoming a staple in a CrossFitter’s toolkit.

In fact, back in 2021 WHOOP was already valued at $3.6 billion after raising another $200 million at the time.

This trend is not just about the data. It’s about the community and competition that come with it. Leaderboards for recovery scores and strain metrics are fostering a new kind of camaraderie and rivalry within boxes worldwide.

As we move into 2024, the data suggests that this crossfit trend and the market for fitness wearables will only expand, with more CrossFit-specific features being developed to meet the demands of this rigorous sport.

3. Individuals and Teams Only Competitions

The CrossFit Games just announced that beginning in 2024, the CrossFit Games will no longer feature other divisions such as teens, masters, and adaptive athletes, in order to focus all of their energy on the division that gets the most attention and brings in the most money – the elite individuals and teams.

Although this was somewhat controversial in the community, it is likely the best move for the sport of CrossFit moving forward.

The teens, masters, and adaptive divisions will still be competing, but they will have their own separate competitions.

This is one of a few crossfit trends that is likely going to spread throughout the industry as some of the smaller competitions look to save money and maximize profits.

This allows the events to run with fewer volunteers, easier schedule, less equipment, and less prize money needed.

4. Cryptocurrency Prize Purses

The massively successful CrossFit competition, the Rogue Invitational paid out an incredible amount of $1,628,017 to the 2o men and 2o women that competed last week.

Their prize purse had a guaranteed minimum of $1,275,000, but all of the extra growth came from Bitcoin.

A large part of that prize purse was increased thanks to the growth of Bitcoin during the time of Rogue’s investment. Here’s what they did:

$275,000 of Bitcoin purchased at $16,000 per coin. Any growth on this coin will add to the purse and will be paid out at the valuation at the time the prize purse is locked. – Rogue Fitness

At the time of the competition when Rogue sold their Bitcoin in order to pay out the prizes, Bitcoin had jumped to about $33,000, more than double what they paid for it at $16,000 at the beginning of the year.

Thanks to that growth, the athletes’ prize purse increased almost $400,000.

Here’s a quick look at the payouts:

First Place: $280,028
Second Place: $97,684
Third Place: $52,098
Fourth Place: $39,073
Fifth Place: $29,305
Sixth Place: $26,049
Seventh Place: $22,793
Eighth Place: $19,536
Ninth Place: $13,024
10th-20th: $6,512

This is one of those CrossFit trends that may have people skeptical at first due to the volatile nature of cryptocurrency, but there is a chance that some bigger competitions follow after the Rogue Invitational and invest a portion of their prize money contribution into Bitcoin, hoping for an increase in the overall payout.

Final Thoughts

These are just four of the main crossfit trends that we see having the best chance to continue into 2024 and beyond, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see some new things come out of the next year as well.

You should also check out 19 CrossFit Statistics 2023 (New Data)

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FAQ: 4 CrossFit Trends

What is the significance of virtual CrossFit competitions?
- Virtual CrossFit competitions have marked a notable shift in the fitness competition landscape, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They’ve opened up opportunities for individuals even in remote areas to participate in global competitions. Platforms like WODProof and Competition Corner have seen a surge in sign-ups, indicating a growing interest in remote fitness challenges.
How are wearable fitness trackers impacting the CrossFit community?
- Wearable fitness trackers have become an integral part of the CrossFit community, helping athletes monitor and analyze various aspects of their performance. The trend is not just about collecting data but also fostering a sense of community and competition through leaderboards for recovery scores and strain metrics. The market for fitness wearables is expected to expand further with more CrossFit-specific features being developed.
What changes have been announced regarding the divisions in the CrossFit Games starting 2024?
- Starting 2024, the CrossFit Games will focus solely on elite individuals and teams, discontinuing other divisions such as teens, masters, and adaptive athletes. While this decision was somewhat controversial, it’s seen as a move to concentrate resources on the most attention-grabbing and financially beneficial division. The other divisions will still compete but in their own separate competitions.
How are cryptocurrencies being incorporated into CrossFit competitions?
- The Rogue Invitational, a major CrossFit competition, introduced a cryptocurrency prize purse by investing in Bitcoin, which significantly increased the prize money due to Bitcoin’s value appreciation. This trend, although initially met with skepticism due to cryptocurrency volatility, may inspire other competitions to allocate a portion of their prize money to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, hoping for an increase in the overall payout.
What are some notable payouts from the cryptocurrency prize purse in the Rogue Invitational?
- The Rogue Invitational saw a significant increase in the prize purse thanks to Bitcoin’s growth. The prize purse had a guaranteed minimum of $1,275,000 but grew to $1,628,017, allowing for substantial payouts to competitors, with the first-place winner receiving $280,028. This trend might lead to a new way of funding prize purses in CrossFit competitions, potentially attracting more participants and sponsors.

4 Top CrossFit Trends (2024 Data)