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Open 26.1 CrossFit: WOD, athletes, schedule and Scott Panchik analysis

Feb 26, 2026

By Alfonso Prim

It's here! If you also get that typical flutter in your stomach from the Open, we're with you. This Thursday, February 26 the 2026 CrossFit Games season officially kicked off, and unsurprisingly, at Velites we got to work so this first WOD doesn't catch you off guard.

This year the announcement traveled to the air base at Moffett, California. A military, imposing environment that already hinted at what to expect: endurance, discipline and, without a doubt, a WOD that will make your lungs beg for a breather.

Roadmap: Dates and times for 26.1

The 26.1 announcement was a major spectacle presented by the Air National Guard.

The night's protagonists were: the current CrossFit Games champion Jayson Hopper, who arrived accompanied by Dallin Pepper, Colten Mertens and Austin Hatfield.

Event	Details	Time (Spain)
Live announcement	26 February 2026	21:00 CET
Invited athletes	Jayson Hopper, Dallin Pepper, Colten Mertens and Austin Hatfield	---
Location	Moffett Air National Guard Base	California
Results submission deadline	Monday, March 2	02:00 CET (Tuesday)

What 26.1 consists of

Confirmed: Dave Castro has designed a pure endurance test for the legs and the heart. The 26.1 is a FOR TIME with a pyramid structure that will force you to manage rests very well.

WOD structure (FOR TIME with a 12-minute Time Cap)

20 Wall-ball shots
18 Box jump-overs
30 Wall-ball shots
18 Box jump-overs
40 Wall-ball shots
18 Medicine-ball box step-overs
66 Wall-ball shots (The critical point!)
18 Medicine-ball box step-overs
40 Wall-ball shots
18 Box jump-overs
30 Wall-ball shots
18 Box jump-overs
20 Wall-ball shots

Standards and weights by category

Rx'd (Men): 9 kg ball with a target at 3 m / 60 cm box.
Rx'd (Women): 6 kg ball with a target at 2.7 m / 50 cm box.
Scaled: Walking up onto the box (step up) instead of jumping. Ball weight drops to 6 kg for men and 4 kg for women.

Golden rule: It is mandatory to step down from the box (first one foot, then the other). Jumping down is not allowed in any category. Also, in the step-overs, the ball cannot touch the box nor rest on your thighs.

To ensure your result is valid and you don't lose a second, take into account these official notes from CrossFit Games:

Start: The athlete begins standing upright. On hearing "3, 2, 1... Go!", pick up the ball to start the throws.
End of the WOD: Time stops exactly when the ball impacts the target on the final throw of the 20-rep round.
Safety: The box must be placed at a minimum distance of 3 meters (10 feet) from the Wall-ball.
Equipment: Only a single medicine ball is allowed for the entire workout. The box must have a minimum surface of 38x38 cm.

The deciding factor: The Tiebreak

If you don't finish the WOD within the 12 minutes, your place on the leaderboard will depend on your Tiebreak.

When is the time taken?: The judge will record the time each time you complete a set of Box jump-overs or Box step-overs.
Which one counts?: Your official tiebreak time will be that of the LAST box set that you have completed in full.
Importance: If you tie on reps with another athlete, the one with the tiebreak faster will win the tiebreak. Athletes who finish the WOD before the time cap do not need a tiebreak score.

Scott Panchik's tips for 26.1

Here are Scott's impressions and advice to tackle this WOD:

These are the practical tips from Scott that will help you approach this WOD:

Know your capacity: The number-one factor for success is having a general idea of where you'll finish the workout within the 12 minutes.
The "mountain" of reps: For most, completing the final 66 repetitions of the pyramid will be a very difficult task.
Absorption technique on Wall Balls: You should not catch the ball and then descend; ideally you catch and absorb the weight while descending into the squat in one motion.
Rhythmic breathing: Breathe in deeply on the descent and exhale forcefully at the top, just as you throw the ball.
Efficiency on the box (Box Jump Overs): Scott recommends visualizing a line down the middle of the box and aiming to land with one foot on each side to ease stepping down and maintain cadence.
Managing fatigue in Stepovers: You can hold the ball in a front rack position or on the shoulder. Scott suggests keeping it in front when heading to the wall to preserve the shoulders and using the shoulder support when leaving the wall if fatigue sets in.
Transitions and rests: Plan short, quick rests on the Wall Balls to eliminate time spent standing idle.

The face-off: Hopper vs. Mertens resolved

This year we've seen different profiles facing the same suffering:

Jayson Hopper: The reigning CrossFit Games champion. Today he is the one to beat.
Colten Mertens: The dominant force of Open 2025. Pure explosiveness and efficiency.
Dallin Pepper: Always close to glory. 2026 could be his definitive year.
Austin Hatfield: Constant progression personified. He arrives after a fifth place at the last Games.

Well then, the result was as follows:

Colten Mertens has once again shown why he is the king of the Open, taking victory with a spectacular time of 11:16.

Colten Mertens: 11:16
Jayson Hopper: 11:33
Dallin Pepper: 349 reps
Austin Hatfield: 311 reps

But there are more athletes climbing positions among them little by little. This could change significantly until Monday.

The women's leaderboard for Open 26.1

These are the results so far, taken directly from the official leaderboard on the leaderboard.

Grace Strachan has shown that her engine is ready to dominate the 2026 season, taking the win with a strong time of 11:45.

Grace Strachan: 11:45
Danielle Ford: 11:52
Hayley Adams: 344 reps
Renee Wadsworth: 333 reps

Your Velites equipment list for this WOD

For this WOD 26.1, which Scott Panchik describes as a true steady 12-minute effort with massive leg and shoulder volume, the right equipment is key to maintaining efficiency on every rep.

Here are Velites product recommendationsVelites to dominate this WOD:

1. Hybrid 1.0 Shoes: Comfort that maximizes performance

Why: With a pyramid that forces you to perform up to 247 Wall Balls and dozens of jumps and steps over the box, you need an ultra-stable base.
Benefit: The structure of the shoes Hybrid 1.0 provides a firm landing on the box and perfect force transfer on every ball throw, preventing fatigue from destabilizing your posture.

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