> They create a lot of attention for barbell training where there previously was none.
This. As a powerlifter I used to hate everything about crossfit, but now I realize it's a great way to get people away from pseudo body building and into the rack / onto the platform. I think a lot of people find technical lifts like the squat or clean to be very intimidating, but crossfit helps people get over this fear in a group environment. Once this has been accomplished and someone gets comfortable, it's fairly easy to steer them towards olympic lifting or powerlifting.
> More places for me to train, suddenly people understand you why its fun
It's so nice to now be able to travel and not have to worry about being stuck in some crappy commercial gym where people yell at you for using chalk and making noise while deadlifting.
That is exactly what happened to me. I was an avid runner who joined a friend in Crossfit. Ended up loving squats and got into powerlifting. I now workout at an old 1000 year old powerlifting gym, but I never would be here without crossfit.
This. As a powerlifter I used to hate everything about crossfit, but now I realize it's a great way to get people away from pseudo body building and into the rack / onto the platform. I think a lot of people find technical lifts like the squat or clean to be very intimidating, but crossfit helps people get over this fear in a group environment. Once this has been accomplished and someone gets comfortable, it's fairly easy to steer them towards olympic lifting or powerlifting.
> More places for me to train, suddenly people understand you why its fun
It's so nice to now be able to travel and not have to worry about being stuck in some crappy commercial gym where people yell at you for using chalk and making noise while deadlifting.