Behind the Barbell at the 2025 Rogue Invitational & LUXIAOJUN UK, Colten Mertens, Laura Horvarth, Mitch Hooper, Laura Underdown.

Behind the Barbell at the 2025 Rogue InvitationalJoin To The Bar behind the scenes at the 2025 Rogue Invitational in Aberdeen as LuxiaoJun UK's media team, capturing Colten Mertens and the world's strongest. A Front-Row Seat to Strength HistoryTo The Bar takes you beyond the platform and into the heart of the action. In this landmark episode, hosts Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney deliver an immersive debrief from the 2025 Rogue Invitational in Aberdeen, Scotland, where they served as the official media team for LuxiaoJun UK. Experience the electrifying atmosphere of the P&J Live arena from a unique behind-the-scenes perspective, capturing the grit and glory of the world's strongest athletes.The Aberdeen Stage: A Fitting Arena for GiantsThe hosts set the scene for an unforgettable weekend of competition.A Scottish Strength Sanctuary: The episode opens by painting a picture of the event's home at the P&J Live arena in Aberdeen, Scotland, a venue that provided a legendary backdrop for three days of elite competition from October 31st to November 2nd .The Scale of the Event: They discuss the sheer magnitude of the Invitational, which featured the world's top 20 men and 20 women in CrossFit, alongside 10 strongmen and 10 strongwomen, all battling for a share of the prestigious $1 million prize purse Through the Media Lens: Access, Atmosphere, and AthletesThis section details the unique "insider" experience that defined the trip.The Media Pass Experience: Aaron and Jess pull back the curtain on the life of event media, detailing the unparalleled access that allowed them to capture the raw emotion, immense pressure, and triumphant moments that the public doesn't see on the main broadcast.Spotlight on LuxiaoJun's Colten Mertens: A significant focus is placed on tracking Colten Mertens, the athlete representing their sponsor, LuxiaoJun. They recap his standout performances, including his impressive wins in Event 3 ("Tax Collector") and Event 8 ("Double Bogey") .Championing the Strongmen and Strongwomen: The hosts share their experiences filming the titans of strength, celebrating the victories of Mitchell Hooper (Strongman) and Inez Carrasquillo (Strongwoman), and conveying the awe-inspiring intensity of the Viking Press and Wagon Wheel Axle Deadlift .Crowning the Champions of 2025A recap of the athletes who stood out or stood on the podium in a weekend of incredible performances.CrossFit's Finest: The episode acknowledges the dominant victories of Laura Horvath in the Women's division and Jeffrey Adler in the Men's division, who proved their supremacy across a brutal test of fitness.Strongman & Strongwoman Supremacy: The hosts tip their hat to the sheer power displayed by Mitchell Hooper and Inez Carrasquillo, who claimed the coveted Strongman and Strongwoman titles .A Testament to Community and High-Performance Covering the 2025 Rogue Invitational was more than an assignment; it was a powerful experience that reinforced the universal passion that fuels both weightlifting and functional fitness. Being on the front lines as part of the LuxiaoJun UK media team provided a profound appreciation for the dedication of every athlete, from the platform to the field.Continue the Journey With Us: Watch the Full Episode: For the complete behind-the-scenes story and all our footage from Aberdeen.Follow Our Coverage: Stay tuned to our social media and website for more content from the event.Supported by LuxiaoJun UK: Gear that stands up to the highest levels of competition.Explore More: Follow our ongoing journey at @_to_thebar and to-thebar.com.