PHOTOS: SoCal's Top CrossFit Athletes Take Over Del Mar This Weekend

Some of the top athletes from across Southern California gathered Friday in Del Mar as the regional competition for the CrossFit Games got underway.

The competition, which runs through Sunday, features 48 men, 48 women and 30 teams fighting for the top three spots in each division. The winners will go on to compete at the CrossFit Games in Carson in July.

"The CrossFit Games are the world’s premier test to find the Fittest on Earth," the CrossFit website describes of the competition. "They are world-renowned as a grueling test for the world’s toughest athletes and a thrilling experience for spectators. Since its inception in 2007, the CrossFit Games have become 'one of the fastest growing sports in America,' according to Forbes."

Before an athlete can get into the Games, though, they must first get through their local regional competition on top. In Del Mar, some 15,000 people are expected to gather to cheer them along the way.

Check out the photos above from Friday's competition for an idea of the intense movements featured; skill in things like handstand walks, muscle-ups and snatches are moves that set these competitors apart.

If you'd like to see them in person, tickets are still available at the gates for Saturday and Sunday.  It costs $20 per day, and another $10 to park.

Or, you can watch the event online for free, via a live stream set up on CrossFit.com.