NorCal Classic 2025: Everything You Need to Know

NorCal Classic 2025 represents the final In-Person Qualifying Event of the CrossFit Games season, raising the stakes for all competitors heading to Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. This crucial competition features 48 men and 43 women battling for just two qualifying spots each at the upcoming CrossFit Games in Albany, NY.

After this event, only one ticket remains for each division, to be determined during the Last Chance Qualifier the following weekend. Athletes qualified through January’s online qualifier or based on their 2025 CrossFit Open performance. Fans can watch the action live on The Sevan Podcast YouTube channel for the second consecutive year. The competition promises intense challenges, including “Heavy Isabel” with athletes performing 30 snatches at 225 pounds for men and 155 pounds for women.

Additionally, Sacramento’s hot daytime temperatures may affect performances, especially for those unaccustomed to competing in heat. The women’s field is particularly competitive, featuring experienced Games athletes like Emily Rolfe (5 appearances) and Kristin Holte (8 appearances), with Rolfe potentially competing despite recent injuries.

NorCal Classic 2025 Dates and Event Schedule

The 2025 Northern California Classic kicks off on June 6th and runs through June 8th at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. This three-day fitness festival serves as the final opportunity for athletes to secure their spot at the CrossFit Games through an In-Person Qualifying Event.

Athletes must arrive on June 5th for mandatory check-in between 5:00-7:00 PM, with an athlete briefing scheduled immediately afterward. Notably, the NorCal Classic features a unique competition format with different event schedules for the men’s and women’s divisions.

Here’s the complete breakdown of the competition schedule (all times Pacific):

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

• 10:48 AM – Heavy Isabel (Women)
• 12:48 PM – Ring Shuttle (Men)
• 2:48 PM – Ring Shuttle (Women)
• 3:45 PM – Heavy Isabel (Men)
• 5:30 PM – Stow and Go (Women)
• 6:39 PM – Stow and Go (Men)

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

• 12:12 PM – Pumphouse (Men)
• 2:54 PM – Farmnastics (Women)
• 7:42 PM – Farmnastics (Men)
• 7:42 PM – Pumphouse (Women)

Unlike typical competition formats, Saturday evening presents a unique challenge for spectators as the elite men and women compete simultaneously on different stages. This scheduling decision creates an exciting atmosphere but requires strategic planning for those wanting to watch both divisions.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

• 8:38 AM – Double Twos (Women)
• 9:06 AM – Double Twos (Men)
• 2:00 PM – Hero Ball (Women)
• 2:20 PM – Hero Ball (Men)

Furthermore, the stakes couldn’t be higher at this event. The top two finishers in each elite division will secure coveted spots at the 2025 CrossFit Games in Albany, NY. The competition offers substantial incentives beyond qualification, with prize money totaling $85,000 USD.

Initially, 50 elite athletes qualified through either the NCC Online Qualifier (35 spots) or by finishing in the top 1% of the CrossFit Open (15 spots). These competitors now face three days of intense challenges across seven grueling events, making the NorCal Classic one of the most anticipated competitions of the season.

How to Watch NorCal Classic 2025 Live

For the second year running, fans can catch every moment of the NorCal Classic 2025 through a comprehensive live broadcast. Whether you’re following specific athletes or simply enjoying the competition, several viewing options exist for this crucial qualifying event.

The Sevan Podcast YouTube channel will exclusively broadcast the NorCal Classic 2025. This marks the second consecutive year that Sevan Matossian’s team has provided coverage for this event. Matossian, a CrossFit pioneer and filmmaker known for his outspoken podcasts, has gradually expanded into the competition live-streaming space.

The Sevan Podcast crew has built substantial experience covering major CrossFit events, including the recent Syndicate Crown IPQE. Their portfolio also features successful broadcasts of the Zelos Games in Las Vegas and Crash Crucible in South Carolina over the past two years.

NorCal Classic 2025 Workouts

The NorCal Classic 2025 features seven diverse workouts designed to test athletes across multiple fitness domains. Each challenge represents a unique combination of strength, endurance, and skill elements that will determine who earns the coveted CrossFit Games qualification spots.

Heavy Isabel

This grueling test requires athletes to complete 30 snatches for time at significantly increased weights. Men will lift 225 pounds while women tackle 155 pounds—representing a 66.6% and 63.1% increase respectively from the standard Isabel workout. At the 2025 Mayhem Classic, this same workout saw impressive performances with Abigail Domit winning the women’s division at 3:55.53 and Guilherme Malheiros finishing in 3:58.61. Elite athletes typically complete regular Isabel in under 2 minutes, hence this heavier version demands exceptional technique and strength.

Ring Shuttle

This workout combines gymnastic elements with sprint work. Based on available information, competitors will likely perform shuttle runs (25 feet down and back) interspersed with challenging gymnastic ring elements. The format forces athletes to maintain technical proficiency while managing cardiovascular fatigue—a classic CrossFit testing methodology.

Stow and Go

While specific details remain under wraps, this workout presumably tests loading and unloading capabilities combined with rapid transitions. The name suggests athletes will need to efficiently move equipment or weights between stations, challenging both strength and strategic pacing.

Pumphouse

This event likely emphasizes muscular endurance and hypertrophic stimulus. Competitors can expect high-repetition movements that create significant muscular “pump”—potentially including dumbbell or kettlebell cycling with minimal rest periods.

Farmnastics

As suggested by the name, this workout combines traditional farm implement training with gymnastics elements. Athletes might face challenges like farmers carries paired with handstand walks or pull-ups—testing grip strength alongside body control.

Double Twos

This workout presumably incorporates double-unders, a CrossFit staple involving jump rope passes twice under feet per jump. The name suggests pairs of movements or potentially double-double-unders (four passes per jump)—an advanced skill requiring exceptional coordination.

Hero Ball

This final test likely incorporates medicine balls into a hero-style workout format. Hero workouts typically honor fallen service members with particularly challenging combinations of movements. Athletes should prepare for wall balls, ball slams, or other dynamic medicine ball exercises within a grueling time domain.

NorCal Classic 2025 Roster

The elite competition at NorCal Classic 2025 features an impressive lineup of 91 top-tier athletes battling for coveted CrossFit Games spots. This roster includes 48 men and 43 women, all vying for just two qualification spots in each division for the upcoming CrossFit Games in Albany, NY.

Among the women’s competitors, the field boasts extraordinary depth with five athletes who have competed in the CrossFit Games at least three times. This includes Kristin Holte with eight appearances, Bethany Flores with seven appearances, and Emily Rolfe with five appearances. Rolfe, last year’s CrossFit Games bronze medalist, comes in despite dealing with a recent back injury that forced her withdrawal from the World Fitness Project Tour Event I.

Alex Gazan stands out as a strong contender, having chosen to skip the In-Affiliate Semifinals to focus entirely on this competition. Moreover, the women’s field includes other Games veterans like Hattie Kanyo, Sydney Wells, and Rebecca Fuselier, alongside rising stars Trista Smith and Caitlin Bernardin.

On the men’s side, only three athletes with individual Games experience appear on the roster. Interestingly, two of them—Chris Ibarra and Colten Mertens—have already qualified through earlier events. This leaves Spencer Panchik as the sole Games veteran still seeking qualification.

Several would-be rookies bear watching in the men’s competition:

• Drake Lewis (three-time Semifinals competitor)
• Jorge Fernandez (three-time Games team competitor and 2023 champion)
• Max Krieg (narrowly missed Games qualification the past two seasons)
• William Leahy (three-time Semifinals athlete)

The roster reflects the culmination of a rigorous qualification process. Altogether, 50 elite athletes earned their spots either through the NorCal Classic Online Qualifier (35 spots) or by finishing in the top 1% of the 2025 CrossFit Open (15 spots). With $85,000 in prize money at stake, the competition promises to be fierce as athletes push for both financial rewards and Games qualification.

Athletes to Watch at NorCal Classic 2025

With Games qualification on the line, the NorCal Classic 2025 features several standout athletes poised to make their mark in Sacramento. As the final In-Person Qualifying Event of the season, competitors face intense pressure knowing only two from each division will advance to Albany.

Top male contenders

Spencer Panchik emerges as the sole unqualified Games veteran in the men’s field, as both Chris Ibarra and Colten Mertens have already secured their tickets to Albany through earlier events. Consequently, this creates opportunities for several would-be rookies to claim their first Games appearance.

Drake Lewis brings substantial experience as a three-time Semifinals competitor who recently placed 41st at the In-Affiliate Semifinals. Alongside him, Jorge Fernandez presents a formidable challenge with his impressive team background, having won the CrossFit Games team competition in 2023.

Max Krieg has narrowly missed Games qualification for two consecutive seasons, finishing 15th and 16th respectively at the North America West Semifinals. William Leahy likewise deserves attention after competing in three Semifinals seasons and securing 19th place at the recent In-Affiliate Semifinals.

Top female contenders

The women’s field is exceptionally deep, featuring five athletes with at least three Games appearances: Alex Gazan (3), Emily Rolfe (5), Bethany Flores (7), Caroline Prevost (3), and Kristin Holte (8). Above all, Gazan has positioned herself as the frontrunner after skipping the In-Affiliate Semifinals to focus exclusively on this competition.

Emily Rolfe merits close attention as last year’s CrossFit Games bronze medalist, though she’s been managing a back injury that forced her withdrawal from a recent competition. Certainly, other Games veterans cannot be overlooked, including 2024 Games rookie Hattie Kanyo, Sydney Wells, and Rebecca Fuselier.

Up-and-coming athletes Trista Smith and Caitlin Bernardin add further intrigue to an already stacked women’s division. Given such depth, the female competition will likely remain undecided until the final event, with at least six to eight women realistically contending for the two qualifying spots.

Final Words

The competition stakes have never been higher as the NorCal Classic 2025 marks a critical juncture in the CrossFit Games season. Once the dust settles in Sacramento, only one qualifying opportunity will remain in the 2025 season. Essentially, after this weekend’s battles, 29 out of the 30 men and women who will compete for the title of Fittest on Earth in Albany, NY this summer will be determined.

The gravity of this event cannot be overstated. For many athletes, this represents their final realistic chance at securing a Games berth before the Last Chance Qualifier next weekend. Given the $85,000 prize purse at stake, competitors face dual motivation—immediate financial reward and the prestigious opportunity to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

In the women’s competition, a fascinating battle brews between established veterans and hungry challengers. Kristin Holte with her eight Games appearances, Bethany Flores with seven, and Emily Rolfe with five will face off against Alex Gazan and other determined competitors. Their experience provides invaluable strategic advantages across the seven challenging workouts.

Conversely, the men’s field presents a different narrative. Spencer Panchik leads a group of eager challengers, many seeking their first-ever Games invitation. His Games experience could prove decisive, yet several newcomers possess both the physical tools and competitive mindset to upset expectations.

The qualification process has already been grueling. Fifty elite athletes earned their spots either through the NCC Online Qualifier (35 spots) or by finishing in the top 1% of the CrossFit Open (15 spots). Now, only the top two finishers in each division will advance, making every rep, every second, and every strategic decision potentially season-defining.