6th Annual · 2026 American Kettlebell Lifters Union (AKLU) National Championship
Twin Cities
Kettlebell Open
2026
September 12, 2026 · North Bound Training · Little Canada, MN
Calling all kettlebell drengir!!! We are BACK for our 6th annual Twin Cities Kettlebell Open!!! This year's competition will serve as the 2026 AKLU National Championship.
Compete in person or via video submission. AKLU-sanctioned, World Kettlebell Sport Federation (WKSF) affiliated.
Register NowEvent Details
Date
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Venue
North Bound Training
3225 Country Dr. Suite 140
Little Canada, MN 55117
How to Compete
In Person · Video Submission
Sanctioning
2026 AKLU National Championship
WKSF-affiliated
Youth Division
Flat $5 for any youth lifter under the age of 16 on competition day. Covers any number of events. Pre-registration required.
Registration Pricing
Adult registration covers up to 3 ten-minute events or one 30-minute event. Additional events $50 each. Youth Division (under 16) is a flat $5, covers any number of events.
Register NowAbout the Twin Cities Kettlebell Open
Year one was 2021. The first in-person meet after COVID, in a gym in Little Canada called Athlete Lab (now North Bound Training, under new ownership). It was like oxygen lifting in person again. That community and that energy is why we do this.
For five years we've strived to get better every year, consistently reinvesting back into the event to deliver a better experience. We were the FIRST competition to use Pro Kettlebells. We were the FIRST to put cash on the line for top competitors. We upgraded our timers. We had custom platforms built by a woodworking architect. Raffle prizes from our sponsors all day.
Year six is the AKLU National Championship. We hosted the WKSF North American Championship in two of those years. First-timers pulling opening reps next to ranked athletes chasing CMS and MS. National team members in the same flight. You leave knowing people.
Fly in for the AKLU title. Drive up from Iowa for your first 5-minute snatch set. Same flight rotation either way. Same rules, same judges, same ranks.
In person or video. Wherever you train.
Official Events
Kettlebell Sport Events · 30 min, 12 min, 10 min, & 5 min
Jerk
Double bell for men and women
Long Cycle
Double bell for men and women
Snatch
Single bell
Biathlon
Jerk (double) + Snatch (single) — counts as two events
One-Arm Long Cycle
Single bell for men and women
½ Marathon
Snatch, Half Snatch, Jerk, or Long Cycle
12 Minute Military Snatch
Kettlebell Weights
Kettlebells will be provided, but you can also bring your own to have certified for use when you weigh in.
Men12KG*, 16KG, 20KG, 24KG, 28KG, 32KG
Women8KG*, 12KG, 16KG, 20KG, 24KG, 28KG
*Men can compete with the 12kg and women with the 8kg, but no rank will be awarded based on AKLU Ranking Tables.
Victors' Spoils
In Person Only
To the victors' go the spoils! We are proud to offer a cash purse for the top in-person performers in the competition.
Sponsors
Recurring partners · Prize drawings every year
The Twin Cities Kettlebell Open is supported every year by partners who help make this event happen. Each one contributes to prize drawings for in-person lifters.
How It Works
In Person Lifters
Weigh-ins Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Rules overview Saturday at noon.
First flight begins at 1:00 PM.
Certificates handed out to in-person lifters and emailed to remote participants.
Prizes awarded after all video submission and in-person sets have been judged.
Video Submission Lifters
To keep the competition as accessible as possible, we offer competitors the option to compete via video submission.
Video submissions will be accepted beginning one week before the in-person competition until the night before the live event.
Submit your video as a YouTube link (unlisted is fine) emailed to twincitieskettlebellclub@gmail.com. Judging coordination details will be shared closer to the event.
Photo Gallery
2022–2025 · North Bound Training · Little Canada, MN
Travel & Lodging
The Twin Cities are very accessible by car, train, or plane. North Bound Training is centrally located ~20 minutes from downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis, just off I-694 and between I-35E and I-35W.
Recommended Hotels
Hilton Garden Inn, Shoreview
Best Western Plus, Shoreview
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Vadnais Heights
5–10 minutes from North Bound Training · 20–25 minutes from MSP International Airport.
Staying Downtown?
North Bound Training is about a $20–30 Uber/Lyft ride from either downtown where there are many hotels available. If you prefer public transit there are train lines and buses from the airport that will take you to either downtown.
Register
Registration for the Twin Cities Kettlebell Open 2026 is open. Select your events, pay online, and you're in.
Register NowQuestions?
Reach out at twincitieskettlebellclub@gmail.com or through the contact form.