DiscoverThe Adaptive Athlete Podcast043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit
043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit

043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit

Update: 2025-11-08
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In this episode, Mat Hotho and Brett Palser sit down with David “Cowboy Dave” Needham and Kevin “Cowboy Carl” Carlson, two of the key figures who make the Adaptive CrossFit Games possible. 

They pull back the curtain on what it takes to build the Games from an empty room to a world-class competition, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about forklifts, floor plans, and the volunteers who keep everything running. 

From a mistaken-identity fan encounter to the origin story of the cowboy hats, we talk about the humor, grit, and camaraderie that define the adaptive community. 

Dave and Carl also talk about the importance of media visibility, the logistics of working with Rogue, and how anyone, adaptive or not, can get involved and make a difference.

Follow David: @coachcowboydave

Follow Kevin: @kevincarlson27

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Follow the podcast on Instagram: @TheAdaptiveAthletePod

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043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit

043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit

The Adaptive Athlete