Forget dinner and drinks. These gay singles went on blind dates during a grueling HYROX race.
Gay matchmaking has become part of the 'Blind First Date' series featuring HYROX athletes paired with partners.
Mark
Being compared to the “Energizer Bunny” counts as a huge compliment in the world of HYROX.
But when it’s said by your doubles partner who is also your date, you’re probably ready to take your relationship to the next level!
For four pairs of racers, that certainly appears to be on the cards after they were matched up at HYROX Boston last weekend by SURF Dating, the fitness racing company’s official dating app partner.
Previously, SURF had been arranging traditional mixed-gender dates, but for Season 3 of its social media series, it’s opening up the experience to LGBTQ couples for the first time.
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At the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the “Blind First Dates” began with the selected athletes meeting in the start tunnel before racing together in the doubles events.
In the women’s race, Karsen Callicott and Kyla Gill — dubbed “The First Ladies of HYROX” — are seen building strong chemistry right from the off.
It doesn’t take long before they are holding hands as they go round the circuit, before cheering each other on all the way to the finish line.
Karsen even jokes about having a bout of worry after Kyla turned up her power game. Both athletes also admit that they were “enjoying the view” as their unusual date got sweatier.
Karsen is from Dallas and says she is already looking forward to a visit from her new “burpee queen” Kyla, with a second date “one thousand per cent” confirmed for next month.
HYROX London is next on the list for LGBTQ ‘Blind First Dates’
As well as the cute social content, SURF has been offering dating opportunities to all HYROX athletes through single wristbands, which they can choose to wear on race days to signal that they’re open to being approached (OK, let’s say “chatted up”).
Meanwhile, in a recent New York Post feature, the company’s CEO and co-founder Rob Long said the “Blind First Dates” concept has proven to be particularly effective, with seven out of the first 10 matches going on to have at least a second date.
Those were all in mixed doubles, so with the connections now being arranged in men’s and women’s races too — HYROX London will be the next event for this, in early December — it seems like love is in the air for everyone.
Prospective London lovebirds are invited to apply through SURF Dating before the window closes in mid-November. For the first two seasons earlier this year, filmed in Miami and New York City, there were thousands of applicants.
Long tells Outsports that the series partnership with HYROX “captures everything SURF is about: bringing people together over shared passions, showing up shoulder-to-shoulder with our users, and meeting them right where they are.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this experience to London, and we love that people worldwide are trusting us to help them find their person.”
Did Justin from ‘The Challenge’ find a boyfriend in Boston?
If you don’t know by now, HYROX races consist of eight 1-kilometer runs, broken up with functional fitness stations which include burpee jumps, lunges, wall balls and sled pushing.
In the men’s race in Boston, a face who’s familiar to many reality TV viewers is seen taking part in the “Blind First Dates” season.
Los Angeles native Justin Hinsley has been a contestant on the two most recent seasons of Paramount+’s “The Challenge” where he’s being advocating for more gay representation in sports.
The 27-year-old is a former star cheerleader from Navarro College who also appeared on Netflix’s “Cheer” show and was a world champion with Cheer Athletics Cheetahs.
He flew 1,600 miles to be matched up with Tristan Hall, who’s a travel influencer originally from the D.C. area.
After their race, Tristan seems smitten, not just calling Justin an “Energizer Bunny” but also saying he has “golden retriever energy.”
The two athletes leave with huge smiles, having got out of their respective comfort zones. They are already discussing sushi lunch plans together in L.A.
Looking at the recent posts on the two guys’ personal social accounts, there was a spark to go with the sweat. We can’t wait to see what happens next.
Another gay “Blind First Date” from the women’s doubles race at HYROX Boston features Martine Richard and Jordan Rowe, and at the time of writing, there’s one more men’s doubles date still to come as well.
And if you’ve got your eye on competing in London, why not go looking for love at the same time? You might just find your own “Energizer Bunny.”
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