Every year, we’ve chosen a male and female that stood out to us and exemplified the things that we look for in members of our community. We call this award The Iron Buffalo. The athletes chosen were not limited to physical ability alone, although both of these athletes are quite talented in their individual areas. The award also encompasses their ability to connect with their fellow CFA members, their continuous drive, and their commitment not only to this community, but to their own longevity, health, and overall being.

As we were considering the elements of this award, Tim turned to his own family and his own history. The Buffalo has been a symbol in his family for many years. From family homesteading a ranch in Buffalo, Texas where he and his brother made many childhood memories, to his hometown in Bartlesville, OK where Buffalo statues line the intersections of the city. Even the company formed to purchase the gym, The Buffalo Collective, uses the symbol.

The Buffalo, in Native American culture symbolizes a spirit of abundance and friendship. As a totem it symbolizes earth-centeredness, selflessness, and the power of a team unit. The buffalo itself is a symbol of power. It has the strength the carry heavy burdens, not just physically, but in all aspects. We find all of these qualities to be what we looked for in our athletes of the year and could not be more proud to call them the Iron Buffalo recipients.

These athletes exemplify all of these amazing qualities and more. They lead by example. They work hard. Their family and friends are a priority in their lives and they uplift and encourage those around them. We are so honored to share the interviews of our 2024 Iron Buffalo recipients, Linzi Newth & Michael Habib. Congratulations you two! We’re grateful to have you as a part of this team and this family.

LINZI NEWTH

When did you join the CFA community? 2012 – So many great years! What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share? I have so many great memories – competitions, post wod celebrations, barton springs “ice baths”…. but my favorites will always be cheering on my community at competitions. I love seeing my people push themselves further than they thought they could go. What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried? I love the variety. I get bored easily so to have a different workout every day is essential for me. What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you first started CrossFit?  Now is the time. If you want to see what your body is capable of, now is the time. Don’t wait. What was your initial reason for starting (your ‘why’)? How has that ‘Why’ changed? Twelve years ago, I was just looking for something new and fun to keep me active and in shape but then very quickly got involved in the competitive side of things. Nowadays, my “why” is focused around what I want to be able to do when I’m 80. I don’t want to be limited by my physical ability as I age. How did you create long term fitness/CrossFit success for yourself? I am a competitive person so in the beginning, I fed off the competition. Now, I focus more on short term goals, things I can obtain within 3 months or so and then I set a new goal. What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?  If I have a buddy that I’ve told I will be in class, then I always go so that I don’t let them down. The community is what keeps me going when my motivation is down. Recent PRs? I don’t know if I’ll ever get another lifetime PR at this point so I just started over when I turned 40. I just pulled a 215# deadlift the other day which would be a post 40 PR! Current training goals? I really want to focus on longevity now which means I need a variety of different training styles, including mobility. I’m going to put less emphasis on really heavy weight and put more emphasis on aerobic training as well as mobility. I’m also going to throw in some sprints, just for funsies. Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it? Oh man, this was a tough one. I had a horse riding accident about 2 years ago. I broke my left arm and tore nearly all the ligaments in my left wrist and several in my right wrist. During the recovery, I had a difficult mental battle since I wasn’t able to do much movement at all. The hardest part though was when I was cleared to be active again. I worked my butt off in physical therapy but eventually realized that I wasn’t going to be physically able to do some of the things I used to be able to do. It was a very difficult realization but I have come to terms with it and have reset my training goals to reflect that. What is your cheat meal go to? Pizza and chocolate cake – I have the palate of a 5 year old. What does the Iron Buffalo title mean to you? This award has always held so much prestige in my eyes. I have seen so many hard working, spectacular athletes receive this award over the years, people that are driven, resilient and talented. Thoughts upon winning the title? I honestly couldn’t believe it. Saying I was shocked would be an understatement. During my prime years, I always hoped that I could obtain this award but after my accident, I thought it was permanently out of my reach. I can’t describe how happy it made me. It’s hard for me to place myself in the same category as all of those amazing athletes that came before me, but I’m working on it. How will you use your new found Buffalo Strength? Oh wow, it’s been such a great motivator for me. I feel like I need to exhibit Buffalo traits and live up to the high standards of the award so you’ll likely be seeing more of me around! What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally? I’m excited to really work on my overall physical health and focus on longevity. I’m also excited to try out some new aerobic activities like pickleball and line dancing. Leave the fine folks of CFA with some parting wisdom. Your physical ability will wax and wane over the years. Listen to your body and take care of it.

MICHAEL HABIB