Samsung Brings CrossFit to Beaches of Rio de Janeiro

Whether you’re watching the sunset from the beach with a chilled glass of caipirinha or partying the night away at Copacabana’s nightclubs, it doesn’t take much to realize why Brazilians refer to Rio de Janeiro as Cidade Maravilhosa, the marvelous city.

Less known is the fact that Rio’s beach culture also includes a bit of sports. The year-round warm climate and sun make the sandy beaches ideal for a leisurely game of beach volleyball or soccer, while the swells of Barra da Tijuca make Rio a paradise for surfers.

The beaches of Rio also make a good spot for CrossFit, and a growing number of the cariocas, as Rio locals are widely known, seem to agree on this point.

Starting May 18, we started driving around Rio in the Samsung Training Truck, a CrossFit box on wheels. The Training Truck transports CrossFit equipment (e.g. olympic bars, kettlebells, plyometric boxes) along the 8 km stretch of beaches along Rio’s coastline. As long as there is ample amount of sand, a CrossFit box can be set up on any scenic location, whether it’s Copacabana, Leblon or Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.

The free training sessions take place six days a week, and around 1,500 locals and tourists have so far participated. With the exception of Sunday, multiple training sessions are offered everyday between 6:00PM and 9:00PM. Each session is limited to 30 participants, and the Workout of the Day (WOD) can include the likes of burpees, kettlebell swings, goblet squats and push press.

“We have some of the most beautiful beaches in Rio, which have been a part of our lives ever since we could remember,” said Marcela Matera, a full-time coach at CrossFit Carioca in Rio, who also coaches Training Truck CrossFit sessions. “Being on the beach brings a whole new level of excitement to CrossFit, not only because of the ambiance, but also because we’re introducing a new type of beach culture to our city.”

The Training Truck program is being held in partnership with the Rio municipal government as part of the Rio Praia Maravilhosa project which aims to promote the quality of life and well-being in Rio.

If you happen to live in or stop by Rio, you can find out the day’s location, coach and WOD by checking the Training Truck Instagram account (@trainingtruckrio) or by downloading the TilTheRace app via Google Play.