By: Anthony Rinaldi 

The sixth annual OC Throwdown takes place this weekend, January 9-11, at the OC Fair and Events Center in Costa Mesa, California. Competitors from across the globe will participate in seven events over three days. Read on for analysis and individual athlete picks for each workout. How do you stack up against CrossFit's elite?

 

Event 1 – Runway

A grueling down-and-back chipper. With high skill movements and heavy unilateral loading, this workout takes a page out of the GRID playbook.
 

-Kenneth Leverich had no finishes outside the top 10 at the 2014 SoCal Regional, including maximum distance handstand walk and Nasty Girls V2.
-Cassidy Lance is a member of the Miami Surge and former collegiate gymnast. She excels in this domain.

Predicted Men's Champ: Kenneth Leverich 

Event 2 – Weightless

A quick test of vertical jumping and coordination. Athletes have 90 seconds to jump eight hurdles of ascending heights.

-Ben Stoneberg is the model of consistency and being well-rounded. His CrossFit Games finishes are on an upward trend—16th in 2013 and 9th in 2014. His track and field background should serve him well.
-Jennifer Smith ran track and field at the University of Kentucky. Her 5'6" frame should have no problem with even the tallest hurdle of 46".

Predicted Women's Champ: Jennifer Smith 

Event 3 – Jetfuel

A couplet of heavy deadlifts and burpees over a wall with a quick rowing buy-in.

-Neal Maddox is one of CrossFit's most powerful athletes. He finished sixth in his region on Open workout 14.3, the ascending deadlift and box jump couplet.

-Alessandra Pichelli took first place in workout five of the 2013 NorCal Regional, the 21-15-9 couplet of deadlifts and box jumps. The heavier weight here should not slow her down.

Predicted Men's Champ: Neal Maddox

Event 4 – Ignition

Another quick test. This time of speed and precision in Olympic weightlifting. Athletes have 90 seconds to snatch five barbells twice each of progressively heavier weight.
 

-Neal Maddox hang snatched 295 pounds at the 2014 NorCal Regional, taking first place and beating every other individual male across all regions. He also finished first in the Clean Speed Ladder at the 2014 CrossFit Games. Neal knows how to lift heavy, and quickly.

-Alessandra Pichelli hang snatched 170 pounds at the 2014 NorCal Regional and placed 10th in the Clean Speed Ladder. Expect her to power through this test.

Predicted Women's Champ: Alessandra Pichelli

Event 5 – Rocketsled

Four shuttle sprint repeats with just one minute rest after the previous event.

-Will Moorad is no stranger to this style of running—he played Division I soccer at Belmont University.

-Jennifer Smith placed seventh in the Zigzag Spring at the 2013 CrossFit Games. She's adept at running short and long distances with minimal rest.

Predicted Men's Champ: Will Moorad

Event 6 – Fireproof

A wicked twist on Fran, the most infamous of benchmark workouts. This couplet has ascending weight on the thrusters and progressively harder pull-up variations.
 

-Gerald Sasser is a four-time CrossFit Games competitor from the Central East region. He placed highly in Open workout 13.5, a couplet of thrusters and chest-to-bar pull-ups.

-Jessica Coughlan is from Australia and placed first in the 2015 OC Throwdown qualifier. She is an ex-gymnast and has a 2:35 Fran time. Nothing should trouble her in this event.

Predicted Men's Champ: Gerald Sasser

Event 7 – Gravity

A moderately loaded sled drag through sand.

-Neal Maddox comes to mind whenever sleds are mentioned, and for good reason. He crushed Sprint Sled 1 and 2 at the 2014 Games and his football background should prove invaluable once again.

-Alessandra Pichelli is a former collegiate rower and proven weight mover. She should pull the 55 pound sled with ease.

Predicted Men's Champ: Neal Maddox

Event 8 – Touchdown

The final. The OC Throwdown ends as it began—with a grueling chipper. Running is mixed with heavy barbell movements and tall rope climbs.

-No picks here. With the volume and intensity a competition like this requires, this event is any one's for the taking. Sheer determination and grit will push the athletes to the finish line within the 18 minute time cap.

Who are your picks to win the 2015 OC Throwdown? Post thoughts to comments. 

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