World Champion Paddleboarder in Our Own Backyard

Earlier this month our very own Lina Augaitis competed in the Paddleboard World Championships, here is her story.

Like most things in life my connection with CrossFit Vancouver is a mix between luck, passion, and exploring opportunities. I walked into the gym in 2010 as an adventure racer, student teacher, and excited about cool different things… not really knowing that four years later I would still be walking through that gym but as a qualified teacher who just took a leave to pursue her childhood dream of being a professional athlete and in the midst of accomplishing those dreams. CrossFit Vancouver  MADLAB school of fitness has been a huge part of my life, especially my athletic life in the last four years. I may not have always fitted the same mold as others in the gym but I think that is why I was so attracted to the place… HA! I am an endurance athlete, outdoors lover and vegetarian who bike commutes everywhere, BUT also love how CrossFit has added a touch of different to my life.

Now I am a professional stand up paddleboard athlete and I miss the gym when I am away travelling for races. What does the gym provide me? How does it make me a better athlete? It forces me to move my body in different ways. For me, an endurance athlete, it works on my power and strength which on my own I don’t tend to work on as much. I use CrossFit as a cross training tool for racing. It helps me stay aware of my body, my aches and pains, my strengths and my weaknesses because I am always moving my body in different ways.

I really enjoy a solid warm up when I come to the gym. It helps me get mentally prepared to work hard and get a good quality workout in. During the warm up I tend to work on my weaknesses as well as movements I know I don’t get to do in my other activities or daily life. I enjoy lifting weights, it really helps me build my strength and therefore build the power which I need for SUP. The workouts really push me in developing my power which will help me in sprints, finishes, and in every stroke I take on the paddleboard. I don’t really “compete” in the WODs anymore, though in the past it mattered to me more and I got a bigger kick out of it. Now CrossFit means something entirely different to me. I am focussed on my end goal which is to win SUP races, but I do also enjoy having other people around me, which gives me that extra push when I need it.

I really love the community we have at CrossFit Vancouver MADLAB School of Fitness and I want to thank the coaches for all their help and expertise as well as all the athletes in the community for the positive atmosphere.

I am also able to take little bits of CrossFit with me when I travel, and put workouts together in areas where I can’t always access a gym.

Thanks Crossfit Vancouver/MADLAB!!!!

Below are just a few of Lina’s accolades.

-World Distance Champion (ISA World Championships 2014)

-Canadian Champion 2013

-BC Champion 2013

-World Series #2 Overall Championship 2014

CONGRATS LINA!!!

Wednesday

Warm-up:

20 Dislocates
8 Wall Angels
25 Band Pull Aparts
8 Wall Angels
15 Handcuff Press
10 Inch Worm to plank
20 Hollow Rocks

Strength: Shoulder Press (5, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1)

Workout: Core-Run-Core

2 x 8 Strict toes to bar (rest as need between sets)

400m Run

2 x 60 seconds weighted planks (with one minute rest in between sets)

400m Run

2 sets of 15 Hollow rocks (for quality – rest as needed)

400m Run

2 x 20 Russian Twists with a KB or Medicine Ball

400m Run

*This workout is for quality, not speed. That being said, hit the 400 meter runs hard! And catch your breath during the core work.