TRI-FITNESS ~The Ultimate Fitness Challenge
By Lindsey Rosen Photos By: Ed Johnston, Thomas Oed, Carl Thygesen, Rick Schaff,Tom Yip
Tri-Fitness was founded in 1997 when Al Rosen created an event which would challenge an athletes’ fitness level. Over the last 13 years, the event has taken place in Tampa Convention Center, Tropicana Stadium, Miami “South Beach”, Orange County (California), Washington, D.C, Clearwater Beach, Hermosa Beach (CA) and Las Vegas.
The event consists of a 160 yard Obstacle Course, Fitness Skills (3 elements – box jumps, bench press, and shuttle run), Fitness Routine and bedazzling Grace & Physique Event. The Tri-Fitness offers 3 challenges – Women’s Tri-Fitness Challenge, Men’s Ultimate Fitness Challenge and Children’s Fitness Challenge. Recently, the Tri-Fitness added another event, 230 yard True Grit Challenge. See True Grit Challenge description and video on True Grit page of this site. In some Tri-Fitness Events, the Tri-Fitness Model (swimwear and theme wear) will take place.
Women’s Tri-Fitness: Women can compete in ALL or ANY of the 4 events: Obstacle Course, Fitness Skills, Fitness Routine, Grace & Physique. There are age/height groups: teen, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 &over (both short and tall).
Tri-Fitness is made up of all 4 events; Dual Optional has the OC, Skills, and Grace & Physique; Dual has the OC and Skills. Awards are presented in each individual event and in age/height classes. At the World Challenge, the athletes are divided into East and West Teams so a team award is presented to all the athletes.
Men’s Ultimate Fitness Challenge: Men compete in the Obstacle Course and Fitness Skills. The Fitness Skills differed from the women only on the Bench Press where the men have to lift 80% of their bodyweight.
Children’s Fitness Challenge: Children challenge themselves on a 100 yard Obstacle Course and the Shuttle Run (5 bean bags instead of the adult 10 bean bags). The Rock Foundation Children’s Fitness Challenge is a “in school” program which is spreading across the country. The mission is to have Children feel the Power of Accomplishment.
Obstacle Course: The 160 yard course never changes as athletes attempt to beat their previous best time. The course consists of a 10 foot wall, 15 foot running grid, 24 foot incline decline monkey bars, 12 foot balance beam, l5 foot cargo net, shuttle run, 3 (30 inch) hurdles, 20 inch steeple chase, 36 inch under bar and a 40 inch over bar.
Scoring of the Obstacle Course: 200 (minus) time (divided) by 15.85 = score
Fitness Skills: Box Jumps, Bench Press, Shuttle Run
The Box Jumps are performed on a 20 inch box with a 2 inch cheerleading floor used as the jumping surface; thus the jump is 18 inches. The dimension of the box is 2 feet by 4 feet. The box jump is an event where the athlete performs 50 repetitions. A repetition is when both feet touch the top of the box and come down with both feet making contact with the floor. In the Tri-Fitness event, the athlete can run/step the box (both feet must make contact for at least a split second with the top of the box at the same time). The clock starts on movement and ends when the athlete contacts the floor on their 50th jump.
Scoring of box jumps: 200 (minus) time (divided by 16.25) = score
The Bench Press is performed with an Olympic bar (45 lbs) and a bar pad on the Olympic bar. A repetition is complete when the bar touches the athlete’s chest and arms extend. There is no penalty as far as arching, feet coming off the floor, bouncing, etc. The weight is determined by the athlete’s body weight. Women compete with 60 percent of bodyweight (to the closest five lbs) and men with 80 percent of their bodyweight (to the closest five lbs.)
Scoring of bench press: 5.0 start value with .1 credit per repetitions. Example: 33 repetitions is 5.0 + 3.3 = 8.3
The Shuttle Run is a 20 foot agility run. There are 10 bean bags placed 20 feet from a double stack of Reebok risers. The starting line is even with the front of the riser. The bag must be released from within 4 feet of the risers. Penalty for not clearing the 5 foot line is 2 seconds. When a bag is missed, the athlete must attempt to put it in the riser the next time down. Penalty for not making the attempt is 1 second. If the last bag is missed a 2 second penalty will be added. Time starts when the athlete moves and ends when the last bag (#10) hits the ground or riser.
Scoring of shuttle run: 200 (minus) time (divided by 17) = score
Fitness Skill overall score: Add up the Box Jumps, Bench Press, and Shuttle Run scores and divide by 3.
Grace & Physique Event: This event is scored in 4 categories: Symmetry, Feminine Firmness, Grace & Poise, Overall Appearance. Each of the four categories is scored between a 1.25 and a 2.5. The athlete does an individual presentation where they must hit 4 spots on the floor and do 3 full turns.
Fitness Routine: The athlete performs a maximum 2 minute choreographed routine. The routine is scored in 5 categories: Strength Moves, Flexibility, Choreography, Execution, Enthusiasm and Appearance. Each category is scored between 1.0 and 2.0. The routine is performed on a cheer floor (18 feet by 44 feet).
Tri-Fitness Model Event: Has 2 categories: Swimwear and Theme wear. The swimsuit is to be not as extravagant as the Grace & Physique swimsuit. In Theme wear, the model presents their self in a creative way and models to a one minute soundtrack.
For more information, see www.trifitnesschallenge.com
or call the international hotline at 813-263-2779.