It’s Go Time: Centr & Hyrox Shake Up Race Day with Live Turf Debut
After months of anticipation, Hyrox athletes will hit the brand-new Centr x Hyrox turf during tonight’s 2025 World Championships in Chicago
In a move that enhances the fast-growing sport of hybrid fitness racing and the intense training it demands, Chris Hemsworth-founded Centr and Hyrox are officially debuting their custom-engineered competition surface tonight at the 2025 Hyrox World Championships in Chicago, following its initial announcement in March.
The Centr x Hyrox Official Competition Perform Turf, designed for sled pushes, speed and strength, will become the standard surface for all Hyrox races worldwide. Engineered for consistency and peak performance, the 16mm precision pile turf delivers race-condition friction, allowing athletes to train and compete on the same surface, from home gyms to elite venues.
The patent-pending turf, Centr’s competition-grade equipment and Hyrox-certified training protocol will roll out across Hyrox Training Clubs and Performance Centers globally. For athletes training at home, the turf and gear will be available to replicate race-day conditions in personal gym spaces.
“This is Hyrox’s carbon-plated shoe moment,” Centr CEO Andrew Sugerman said. “Same sport. Same athletes. However, the playing field is now engineered for peak performance. The Official Competition Perform Turf will be a game-changer for the sport, offering global consistency, maximum durability and just the right amount of resistance for the sled push and pull, helping athletes close the gap between good and great.”
Hyrox Performance Centers have become hubs for athletes committed to race-day preparation, with certified affiliate facilities equipped with the exact equipment used in official competitions, including Competition-Grade Wall Balls, Octo Kettlebells, Power Sleds and Rope, Sand Bags, Edge Bumper Plates and the new Centr x Hyrox Perform Equipment.
Gold’s Gym, the OG of strength training gyms, recently partnered with Hyrox to bring Performance Centers into its locations, starting with its Little Elm facility in the Dallas metro area – the first in North America. Over in the U.K., 380 gyms now feature Centr x Hyrox gear, totaling over 5,800 pieces of equipment.
“As we continue to grow Hyrox on a global scale, we believe developing exceptional training and coaching facilities is key to the long-term success of the sport, and our partnership with Gold’s Gym is just the beginning,” Douglas Gremmen, global head of 365 at Hyrox, said. “We’re excited to see North America’s first HPC (High Performance Center) transform into a hub for community, culture and the highest standard of Hyrox training to prepare people of all fitness levels for race day.”
Fitness racing has taken off by merging functional training with the thrill of competition, giving athletes a new way to test their strength and endurance and offering a goal-driven alternative to traditional gym workouts that attract even fitness newcomers. Notably, Hyrox is emerging as a key player in the category, having seen more than 250,000 athletes competing in its races during the 2023–24 season. The brand expects that number to swell to 650,000 during 2024–25, and by 2026, Hyrox projects global participation will hit 1 million.