Inspiration
Whatever challenge #1: Marcus Ericsson
First up in the Whatever challenge is our Swedish rising star, Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson. He's the ear-piercing genius who fell in love with go-karting at the age of 8, a love that would take him around the world – and he's currently in his fifth season in the world's most prestigious racing series: Formula 1. Whatever challenge – what is your biggest challenge now? It's definitely the ongoing Formula 1, it's my fifth participation and after a couple of tough years there are still many qualities that I haven't had the chance to show yet. On the other hand, the conditions have never been better, with my team and the investment that Alfa Romeo is making, I'm more than ready. If you look at a typical training week, what do the workouts look like? What type of training do you do? Motorsport is so much more about physics than many people seem to think. The races are often up to 2 hours long, there are high g-forces and on average I am at 75–80% of my maximum heart rate: it is tough and places high demands on me. That is why I train six days a week and vary between cardio and strength exercises based on my body weight. It is important to find a good balance: to be able to train hard but not build too much muscle, I don't want to gain weight. I like CrossFit-inspired exercises! F1 involves an extreme amount of travel. How many travel days do you have in a year? That's about 260 travel days per year. Sometimes it feels like I live on an airplane! How do you maintain your focus? It's largely about myself, that I feel as good as I can. I eat right, train hard, live a healthy life and make sure to focus on what's important. Also, my environment plays an important factor, that I have good people around me. What inspires you the most: realistic plans or bold dreams? For me, it's really important to dare to dream: I set high standards for myself and have tough goals to aim for. Therefore, it's also important for me to have smaller, short-term goals that are easier to achieve in order to feel like I'm succeeding. Who inspires you? (Private person, public person, fictional) I am very interested in hockey, I trained ice hockey myself until I was 15–16 years old and the turning point came when I had to choose between hockey and racing. A great role model is Peter Forsberg and if I had not chosen motorsport, it is likely that I would have continued on the ice. In motorsport, Michael Schumacher is of course a great role model and one of the reasons why I dreamed of – and decided to – become a racing driver. What do you think is the best thing about CLN Athletics products? They are very comfortable to work out in. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are also stylish, but most important to me is that the fit is good and that the garments are functional. In fact, I don't have a favorite garment, but wear and enjoy pretty much everything from the collection. Finally, what do you do when motivation dips? I have two tips that almost always work for me. The first is that I push myself to the gym, that's where I always get going. My second tip is to hang out with positive people who make me happy!
Learn moreCLN OPEN UP: LINUS "THE THING" JOHANSSON
It's almost time for the Open 2018 and our athletes are pumped up! We had a short chat with Linus "The Thing" Johansson and not only got to hear about his recipe for success and goals for the upcoming competition - he also reveals who his toughest opponents are! Current status summed up in 3 words? Ready, pumped and excited! How is the form compared to the Open 2017? The form is actually completely different, I have a different drive compared to last year. I thank Anders Fernette and running for that. What does your upload look like this year? It consists of a strict diet, beetroot juice and sleep. Describe your expectations! I expect a better result than last year, but I am also humbled by the fact that it is a tough challenge. What is your goal for the Open 2018? To qualify individually for the CrossFit Games Regionals. Who are the country's three toughest opponents? There are many talented guys in Sweden, but Lukas Högberg, Viktor Långsved and Alexander Elebro are three people who are tough to beat. What do you do right before you go out to compete? I adjust my grips (if they are being used). Then I try not to think too much, I just go into myself and do what I have to do. Your best recipe for motivation! Have a WHY and do it with people you like. Why have you chosen CLN Athletics training clothes? CLN offers functional clothing at a high quality. They are not only comfortable to wear but also have a stylish design. I am happy and proud that CLN provides me with the clothes I need to train and compete as often as I do!
Learn more“EITHER WE DO IT REALLY FUCKING WELL – OR NOT AT ALL”
What does CLN Athletics owe a late August evening to – and who are the guys behind the upstart in the jungle of workout clothing? Get to know the founders and learn about their exciting vision, where a broader international launch is soon to come. How was the idea for CLN Athletics born? The year was 2013 and we were new to the sport of CrossFit. High on endorphins after a tough workout, we were breathing out into the warm sunset of a late summer evening, when the conversation turned to a fact we had noted a few months earlier. Design nerds that we are, we realized early on that the best-designed training garments for the sport were both too voluminous in fit and disappointing in quality. We then realized that with our experience in design and product development, we could do it better ourselves. Tell us about the name! Shortly after the idea was born, we started thinking about a name. We both like stylish, clean design and we often meet in it and exclaim: “Nice, really clean!” We quickly realized that “clean” is part of the vocabulary of most CrossFit practitioners: for example, clean as in freewheeling and clean and jerk – at the same time as the idea of eating a clean diet had just caught on. Paleo and LCHF, the trend was so clear: there was a craving for the clean and simple. In symbiosis with the word sport, we were at home and CLN Athletics was born. What does product development look like? From day one we have had a rule: either we do it really damn well – or not at all. Per-Oscar Berggren has over 16 years as a product designer at 8848 Altitude behind him, where he is also a co-owner. Together with Robin Rudholm, former racing driver and now CEO of the advertising agency R3 in Borås, the conditions were and are optimal. From having produced sample shorts for ourselves, to t-shirts especially requested by friends of the box – to sales of a few hundred thousand in the first year itself. Since the beginning, we have been designing with a flirtation with the fashion world, rather than other sports brands. Trends, details, cuts: we are adaptive and like to try new things. However, the focus is always on the athlete's needs: garments that allow maximum movement during high-intensity training. We have short decision-making paths and in addition to the two major collection releases per year, there is the possibility of continuously releasing smaller collections. It's great fun and we are hungry: this is just the beginning! … and the brand's development in general? We have grown organically and the biggest investment has been time. It was a 9-1-1 job at the beginning: when the kids were asleep we would text each other and do a night race. Nowadays Per-Oscar works full-time as a product designer and Robin with the advertising agency R3 contributes with expertise and brand building, much of it via social media. The importance of really good-looking images is enormous and for that we have Patrik Johäll at Superstudio in Borås to thank. Furthermore, we have consciously chosen not to sell our products through traditional sports chains, we stick to our e-commerce and various boxes around the country: around 30 at present and we are always looking for new collaborations. Speaking of collaborations, do you actively work with team athletes and ambassadors? That's right, it started back in 2015 when we contacted Lukas Högberg. Then as now, he belongs to the absolute elite in the sport and he rhymes very well with CLN. It gave the brand the best possible start and we had a fantastic collaboration. Now we stand strong with an impressive group of team athletes and ambassadors, who all greatly inspire us and our followers. A wonderful group that we look forward to expanding further! Tell us about the future of CLN Athletics. The core and our DNA is the CrossFit athlete. However, we can now see how the sport is developing and we are responsive. We also see that the products can be used outside the box to a greater extent in the future, for example during the circuit workout or the run in the forest. 2018 will be a very exciting year for CLN Athletics with launches in at least two more markets. Our goal is to be seen internationally as a given player in the high-intensity training segment. The future looks bright!
Learn moreCONGRATULATIONS ON TOP 12 IN GAMES, @JOCKEOXEN!
Congratulations Jocke! How does it feel? It feels really good. I started 17th, was in eighth for a while and ended up in twelfth place. I'm happy! This was your first time participating in the Games, what did you think? A crazy cool experience! So big, the best from all over the world are there and everything is captured by the many TV cameras. Did it make you want to keep going? It would of course be fantastic to experience it all again, but it requires so much of you. I'm going to mentally land now and feel it. Which moment was the toughest and the most fun? The toughest part was during the “Bar Fights” event on Saturday, when I really tore my hands up. The most fun part, however, was the very first “Run Swim Run” event, where I went really well. I have an easy time running and was first in the water, so that was great! What's next? We'll see! I'll sit down with my coach and discuss it, but for now and the next two weeks – much-needed rest!
Learn moreJocke Bengtsson – qualified for the Games!
We are proud to announce that our athlete Jocke Bengtsson has qualified for the Games in the masters class! With a steel forehead and total dedication, you can go far – despite dubious expectations. We had a chat with Jocke to get a feel for the competition nerves. Congratulations Joakim on the Games qualification! Was this expected? Thank you very much. No, I actually didn't think I would qualify this year. I've been feeling in worse shape than last year so this was a surprise. What does the upload look like now? I will train as usual but will increase the amount of training sessions the closer we get to the competition. What are you hoping for in Games? Oh, that's really hard to answer. But I would have been really happy with a top 10 placement. Who will you watch out for? I have zero awareness of my competitors, no focus on them. It just takes a lot of energy – better to put it into my training! What is your recipe for success? Smart training. Listen to your body. If you feel tired and worn out, it's better to take an extra day of rest. Better with quality workouts than a large amount of training that just breaks you down. How does the competition work? There will be three days of competition with 3–4 events each day, where we are tested on different skills. The lowest placing in each event gives the highest points. After three days, the one with the highest points has won. What are you most looking forward to before the Games? Just having fun. And enjoying this time that I've been fighting for for 3 years. Which CLN item has a given place in your suitcase for the Games? It will definitely be my orange CLN Impact Shorts.
Learn more5 HURRY UP WITH MATHIAS JEPSON!
Mathias Jepson discovered the allure of CrossFit almost five years ago, when a good friend introduced him to “The Seven.” Lying on the floor after a workout, he immediately felt that ‘this’ was for real: the box was where he belonged. As a CLN athlete, he now represents CrossFit Onyx the Usual Suspects, with his sights set on The Meridian Regional. Your favorite workout song right now? “I'm So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters. What are your expectations for the Open? To advance to The Meridian Regional, teaming up with my team: Crossfit Onyx The Usual Suspects. What do you do right before you go out to compete? I go through my game plan in my head and visualize how everything will go out in the arena. Describe what CrossFit means to you in 3 words. Friendship, competition and joy. Favorite product at CLN right now? It's definitely the CLN Impact Shorts, because they are designed with such precision and skill that I get the best of both worlds. On the one hand, I'm wearing a nicely designed workout garment, which at the same time has the functionality that allows me to move unhindered - regardless of the workout!
Learn more5 quickies with Kaitlynne Rahner!
Meet Kaitlynne Rahner, the Borås girl who, after a figure skating career, completely changed her mind – and fell in love with the enchanted world of CrossFit. Your favorite workout song right now? Right now I'm training to "Blackout" by Tritonal feat. Steph Jones (Madison Mars Remix). It's perfect for a sweaty and dirty workout, you can't stand still! Tell us about your expectations for the Open! Personally, I expect five tough and fun weeks, where I obviously want to advance as an individual athlete – but I also expect my team: Team Vagnhallen Crossfit to advance to Regionals. What do you do right before you go out to compete? Crossing my fingers with both hands and kissing each hand once – always! I can't go out and drive until I've done that. It brings me luck! Describe what CrossFit means to you in 3 words. Joy, challenge, life. What are your goals for 2017? My goals for 2017 are of course to compete in Regionals (as an individual athlete or team) and I would like to compete more abroad. I did that last year and it went really well. I've got the appetite for more. I also have smaller goals, like I want to snatch 90 kg, clean & jerk 110 kg and jerk 120 kg. But right now the biggest goal is Open/Regionals, that's where I'm putting all my focus.
Learn moreInterview with the lovely @boxliv!
How was @boxliv started? The idea was born in the spring of 2016, one early morning. The close-knit 5:30 a.m. gang at CrossFit Ibex in Borås had just completed a powerful workout, followed by a mandatory stretch in the northwest corner of the facility. During the stretching sessions, they talk about everything and nothing. They often discuss the day's WOD, but also more serious topics that affect life in general. This particular morning, there was one person in the group who had completed the workout in an exemplary manner, whereupon he blurted out in a cheerful mood: – Wow, what a wonderful life we live here in the box! The next member filled in: – A real “boxing life”! After talking about it for a while, where we felt the word "boxliv", we understood that this was something that everyone should be able to take part in: our wonderful Boxliv! Said and done, right after the session the Instagram account was started: @boxliv and the ball was rolling. The start of our success story was a fact. Who are you who are participating? Many people wonder who is in @boxliv. The answer to the question is simple: everyone who lives in the box. Especially the athletes who find their way there at 5:30 and 6:30, every weekday. However, who or what publishes the posts on Instagram is a well-kept secret. What is the idea of @boxliv? That everyone who wants to is welcome in a group of athletes, where all WODs are performed with impressive discipline every morning, every week, every month and year - regardless of gender and qualities. The goal is to make a few posts per week. However, sometimes #sexlife, #businesslife and #privatelife get in the way – which are, after all, ingredients for a rich #boxinglife. What do you get to see if you follow @boxliv? There are often very personal and colorful texts, where the published image/film sequence of the athletes is described. The texts are always written with a twinkle in the eye and irony is often present. It's great fun to scroll back in the feed and read our posts over and over again, it usually ends with a big smile on our faces. We are not elite super athletes, but more the upper class of exercisers - who have taken CrossFit to their hearts. What does a typical @boxliv-WOD look like? We all have our personal favorites, but if we had to choose, it would of course be a dirty chipper – preferably with a time cap of at least 40 minutes. This is what it might look like: 30 HSPU 30 Powerclean (60/42.5) 30 Pistols 800m Row 30 Power Snatch (60/42.5) 30 OHS (60/42.5) 30 CTB 800m Row 30 Burpees 30 STOH (60/42.5) 30 Wall climbers 800m Row You feel proud and happy after completing a powerful workout like this: the endorphin level is extremely high and you can easily take a weekend off with a clear conscience. Were you in the Open last year? Many in @boxliv have been in the Open for several years now, we consider it the highlight of the year when it comes to training. We train extra sessions, special train on our weaknesses and discuss different WOD's left and right. The competition between the athletes in @boxliv is also important, it may not be stated but everyone takes it very seriously. This is what it can sound like in the locker room: - Hope it comes HSPU - then you're screwed! - Heavy thrusters, I'm just saying! Heavy thrusters! - You look a little out of sorts, I'm going to crush you at the Open this year! The atmosphere is raw but heartfelt and deep down we love each other. Expectations for the 2017 Open? Everyone has very high expectations for the Open 2017! We also have a good self-awareness and recognize our personal limitations. Injuries put a damper on some athletes, which is inevitable when we train as much as we do. Despite that, everyone will be there and do their best in every WOD. Ask any of us and the answer will of course be: – I will win! What is the goal of your training? Getting up at 5:00 AM every morning to go to the gym and train is not something you just do. It's a lifestyle and a way of life. It's not always the training itself that drives you out of bed, but the fact that it's so extremely fun to meet all the like-minded athletes and yell shit in the locker room. We live a powerful boxing life (as we have chosen to call it) and it is a bit like practicing a team sport – with all that that entails. The fact that we then become extremely fit is just a welcome bonus.
Learn more5 Fast With Axel Lundgren!
Meet Axel Lundgren, our youngest CLN athlete. With a determination rarely seen, he manages his schoolwork from home – never missing a training opportunity. At just 18 years old, he is now competing in the 2017 Open, with his sights set on Regionals. Your favorite workout song right now? It's easy to "Bounce back" with Big Sean. Drake's songs are also an obvious choice. What are your expectations for the Open? I just competed in the Teen Games, in that division and with their standard. During the Teen Open 2016, it was almost no different compared to the Senior Open – it was almost as tough. But I'm going big, my goal is to reach the top and with it the Regionals. Europe is hard though and everyone in the top 30 is really good, so at least reaching the top 200 would make me very proud. After all, I'm only 18 years old. What do you do right before you go out to compete? I calm down. It may sound strange, but sometimes you get too excited and do something completely crazy, instead of following your game plan. A thousand thoughts go through your head and you have to focus on the right thing: with your absolute best you are home. Describe what CrossFit means to you in 3 words. Fulfillment, self-confidence and family. What are your goals for 2017? Considering that this is my first time competing in the Senior Open, my goal is to reach the top 200. Also, I want to win the French Throwdown.
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