Hi everybody! Sean Woodland inside the CrossFit Update Studios
being joined now by the second Fittest Woman on Earth.
She is making her fifth appearance at the Invitational.
She was a member of the 2013 World Team that won the Invitational, and the helped the Pacific Team
finish 3rd last year in Oshawa at the Invitational, as well.
She is, of course, Kara Webb. Kara, thank you so much for being here today.
Kara: Hey guys. Thanks for having me.
Sean: This is the first time that we get to hold the Invitational in Australia.
What's it going to be like to be able to compete in front of your home fans?
Kara: Oh my god, it's absolutely amazing. I feel like I've been nagging people for so long
to bring the Invitational to Australia. You know, Aussies are massive sports fans
and, obviously, I've been in the sport for a while.
It would just be so amazing to be able to share that with the Aussies.
And I think that it worked out perfectly this year–having some Aussies on the podium.
You know, a couple.
And Tia's obviously been up there a few years, now.
So I feel like we've kind of earned that right. [laughs]
To have it here, so it's going to be epic.
Sean: You are one of the most experienced Invitational athletes on any of the rosters.
So you know what it takes to win there.
What does it take to be successful at the Invitational?
Kara: At the Invitational, it's quite different.
You know, ultimately–hopefully each individual athlete has been training well
and is sort of on top of their own fitness.
And then it's a matter of trying to marry all of those qualities together and–
You know, really using your personal skills and your communication skills, and being able to actually
interact in order to–to get the most out of our individual skills.
Trying to bring those together and to compliment each other and to highlight each other's strengths and
carry each other's weaknesses. Ultimately that's really what it comes down to.
So like every year, we'll spend a little bit of time together just as people
getting to learn where each other's at–and how we are mentally and physically,
and then how we can esentially carry other team members when we need to.
And how we need to be carried in return.
Sean: Speaking of experience, you have your entire team from last year back, except for
Chad McKay, the coach. James Newbury is the coach,
and also participating, as well.
How does that help you when you get to Melbourne?
Kara: I think it's actually amazing. This'll be the first time that we've had the same team carry over
from one year into the new year. And we had such a blast last year with our team.
I think now we get to just build on that. We've spent a little bit of time with each other, now.
We already have set that foundation.
We get to just build on that and grow, essentially.
And just have some fun in our country.
But I think it will be–yeah, it will be that little bit further ahead than we would have been last year.
Obviously we are in the same country now, so we can actually get together a couple of days beforehand
and have a little bit of extra time that we haven't been able to have before.
Sean: You're time in Melbourne is limited, as a team.
You only get a couple of practices.
How do you make sure that you're getting the most out of that time together as you possibly can?
Kara: We've already opened up a line of communication. James is obviously an amazing athlete
and he's being very thorough in helping guide the team.
We're all kind of taking on that leadership role in different ways, for each other.
We've already been in communication with each other and we're sort of
a few things. And we're already doing things behind the scenes.
With people in our gym, and practicing in that regard.
Then we'll meet up a couple of days earlier in Melbourne.
Like I said, we have that benefit this time.
That we are nice and close.
And we'll spend that little bit of extra time. The line of communication has been open for a while.
We're just sort of doing what ever we can behind the scenes, so that when we get there
we're kind of ready to go.
Sean: Since this is your second go around with the team, this is my final question.
Probably the most important one.
Who is the biggest practical joker on the Pacific Team?
Who's the person you really have to keep your eye on to make sure you don't wind up with
something either missing or added to your equipment bag that you didn't want there?
Kara: Oh man. I'm really innocent and good, so I would never do anything like that.
I'm really sensible. Probably the mature one of the team.
I'm going to say that Rob is riddled with dad jokes.
And he is like–if there's someone who's going to do something, it's probably going to be Rob.
There's definitely an even amount of banter between all of us, but
the dad jokes come out in full force when we all get together.
I'm expecting some sort of shenanigans there.
Sean: It's going to be a lot of fun, Kara. We really look forward to watching you and the Pacific Team
throw down there at the Invitational. And thank you so much for being here with us today.
Kara: No worries. Thanks for having me. Can't wait!
Sean: The 2017 Reebok CrossFit Invitational is in Melbourne, Australia.
It takes place on November the 5th
at Margaret Court Arena. Tickets are still on sale.
For all the information, you can go to games.crossfit.com.