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The 2017 California Regional was nothing short of riveting. The competition in Del Mar, California, is always tough, but this year brought twists and turns few saw coming.

All eyes were on Christian Lucero as he sat comfortably in first for most of the weekend. The battle between Lucero and Josh Bridges was epic until Lucero was forced to withdraw due to injury after Event 5.

“It’s shitty that it happened, but it’s part of the game,” Lucero says. “It’s part of competing at a high level, and it’s what happens when you push your body to the extreme.”

Bridges’ goal was to hang on to his title as California Regional champion. After narrowly missing qualification in 2015, he came into the 2016 California competition looking for redemption. He found it when he finished first that year. Now, he says he’s fitter than ever.

“I feel really, really healthy right now, which I love,” Bridges says. “I’m super excited for this weekend. … There’s not a workout out there that I don’t want to go out and do.”

Perennial Games athlete and fan favorite Becca Voigt was on a quest to become the first individual to qualify for the Games in 10 consecutive years. As always, her attitude is second to none.

“There’s no boundaries or anything, so why not? I feel good. My body is continuing to tell me that I can. My husband and my family, most importantly, are telling me I can, so I don’t think it’s a false hope.”

Watch as Sevan Matossian takes us behind the scenes and gets inside the minds of California’s fittest.

Video by Sevan Matossian.

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