Depending on your Instagram algorithm, HYROX might already be a household name but for the uninitiated it’s an epic fitness endurance competition created in Germany in 2017 and it’s coming to the Auckland Showgrounds in February 2025.
The comp—which has a distinct CrossFit flavour—follows in the footsteps of Spartan Races and Tough Guy, Tough Gal but this one’s streamlined, intense and, perhaps unexpectedly, being touted as ‘a sport for everybody’. The rationale? Unlike CrossFit, most of the movements don’t require a tonne of skill.
So when RedBull slid into our inbox offering us a sneak peek, we couldn’t resist the urge to get amongst. And that’s how we ended up on board a boat with a group of fitness influencers en route to a mystery workout destination—as you do at 6.25am on an overcast Thursday morning.
Image credit: Graeme Murray
The boat took us under the Auckland Harbour Bridge and towards the Chelsea Sugar Factory and then we were dropped… on a blue astroturfed pontoon, complete with kettlebells, sandbags, SkiErgs and a DJ—RedBull isn’t messing around and evidently neither is HYROX.
Image credit: Graeme Murray
Our warm up was led by Micah Stininato (StudioBox & Sala) and NZ HYROX ambassador Abbas Nazari. Then the workout proper: 45 minutes of HYROX-inspired moves: a team challenge and rotation of farmer’s carry, sandbag walking lunges, burpee broad jumps and racking up as many metres as possible on the ski erg.
Let’s just say your P.T. will call it “fun” but you might choose other expletives adjectives. Then again, nothing reminds you you’re alive quite like your lungs almost bursting out of your chest. Jokes aside, we’re siding with your PT—you don’t get the treats without putting in some serious mahi but it also really is a helluva lot of fun.
Image credit: Graeme Murray
The cool thing about HYROX is you know what’s around the corner. 1000m SkiErg, 50m sled push, 50m sled pull, 80m burpee broad jumps, 1000m row, 200m farmers carry, 100m sandbag lunges and 70-100 wall balls. Oh, and you’ll start with a 1km run which you’ll repeat between every exercise. We only wish February would come sooner.
If some of those exercises are a hard no for you, don’t count yourself out just yet. You don’t have to do HYROX on your own. You can tackle it in a double (divvying the exercises out as you like) or as a relay team of 4 where everybody runs 2x 1km stretches and completes 2 workout stations. Either are perfect for first-timers.
Image credit: Graeme Murray
For those keen to give it a go, training is essential—the annual lol-jk-I’m-doing-Round-The-Bays-without-training isn’t going to cut it. HYROX World Champ, Jake Dreaden, recommends a 5-6 day training schedule. Of course, if you’re a beginner with not a whole lot of gym experience, jumping into a 5-6 day training schedule isn’t recommended. Best you start with 2-3 days and build up slowly to ensure you don’t burn out prior to race day.
You’ll also want to think about the impact on your nervous system. If your work is super stressful, jumping into high intensity interval training is just likely to stress your body further so you might like to add wind down sessions like restorative yoga flows into your routine to help you chill out post-session.
And if that all seems like A Lot and you’re dubious as to whether you’d be able to tackle it on your own, rest assured NZ HYROX Ambassador, Abbas Nazari, has put together a programme that’ll be available to racers. Register for the comp then slide into his DMs for the goods.
The Details
What: HYROX Auckland
When: 1 & 2 February, 2025
Where: Auckland Showgrounds, Ellerslie
Entry fee: $169-219 per person or $22 for spectators
Ready to go? Get yourself kitted out in the best activewear to shop in Aotearoa right now.