HIGHLANDS brothers Ben and Ricky Garard will head to the US on Wednesday, January 7 to compete in two of the world's top CrossFit competitions.

It will be the first time the pair has headed overseas to compete together.

Ben, 26, and Ricky, 20, will compete as individuals in the Orange County Throwdown (OCT) in Los Angeles from January 9-11.

They will also compete in the beachside Wodapalooza contest in Miami from January 16-18.

Both events will attract elite CrossFit athletes from around the world, with first prizes of $20,000 and $25,000 up for grabs in LA and Miami respectively.

The two competitions are designed to test athletes physically and mentally.

Both workouts feature movements such as pull ups, deadlifts, squats, wall balls, burpees, muscle ups, thrusters and hand stand walks.

The OCT and Wodapalooza competitions are considered crucial lead-up events to the annual World CrossFit Games in LA in July.

Online entries for the CrossFit Open, the first stage of the CrossFit Games season, begin January 15.

This will be followed by the Australia Regional in Wollongong in May.

During the Christmas holiday period, Ben and Ricky have been practising elite workouts at their gym, BENt on CrossFit in Mittagong.

For more information about the gym, call 0406 607 144.