The B.O.M.

History of F3 Austin: From Gloom to Growth

The Launch: The Long-Distance Starfish

F3 Austin officially launched on October 28, 2017, when a HIM named Star Fish planted the Shovel Flag at Zilker Park… the heart of Austin, TX. That first beatdown in the dark morning gloom marked the beginning of what would become one of the most vibrant F3 regions in the country. Like all great F3 stories, the roots were humble… a few men gathering in the early hours, pushing one another through fitness, fellowship, and faith. Word spread slowly, but those first workouts set the tone for what F3 Austin would eventually become: a brotherhood built on grit, laughter, and shared purpose.

Expansion and Defining the PAX

The first AO, known as The Festival, began drawing in men looking for something more than a workout; they wanted connection and accountability. Growth was steady but grassroots, driven by men EH’ing (inviting) others the old-fashioned way man to man, gloom to gloom. A few years later, a HIM named Golden Pinky, originally from F3 Churham (Chapel Hill & Durmham), relocated to North Austin and started F3 NATX (North Austin, TX). As both areas grew, they realized their missions would be stronger together and officially united under one region: F3 Austin. Golden Pinky took the helm as Nantan, laying a foundation for long-term growth. But, like many regions, the pandemic in 2020 brought serious challenges. Workouts paused, momentum slowed, and the region found itself struggling to stay connected. Still, F3 men don’t quit. Through determination and grit, Austin’s HIMs began meeting again. Slowly, new AOs started to appear, reigniting the spark. In February 2022, Golden Pinky passed the Shovel Flag to Aaaayyyy and Newton during an event fittingly called Reboot, a symbolic restart for the region. While growth continued, momentum came and went. Then came a moment of unexpected chaos that changed everything.

The Great Archive of 2023

Enter P.O., the newly minted ComzQ for F3 Austin. Seeing a cluttered Slack workspace, he decided to do some digital spring cleaning, archiving channels that looked inactive… and maybe a few that weren’t. What’s now known as The Great Archive of 2023 unintentionally woke the region up. The Nantan, Aaaayyyy, and P.O. soon connected (in what they like to call a “not-so-secret secret meeting”) and agreed it was time to rebuild. With no formal SLT (Shared Leadership Team) in place, their first mission was clear: find the men who would help lead F3 Austin forward. The idea for a Site Q Summit was born....a convergence and leadership gathering to cast vision and realign the region. When word got out, PAX across the region started asking, “Do you have to be a Site Q to attend?” That simple question shifted everything. The event became open to any man interested in leading, accelerating, or just learning more about F3’s mission. That event, now known as Q Summit, became a turning point for F3 Austin. It reawakened leadership, ignited new energy, and united the region around a shared vision to plant, grow, and serve. In May 2024, at the launch of yet another AO The Mill where Aaaayyyy passed the Shovel Flag to P.O., continuing the mission to unlock more men across Central Texas through F3.

Today: The POD Structure

As of today, F3 Austin stands strong with 23 AOs spanning from Dripping Springs to Georgetown, TX. With that kind of growth came the need for structure and in June 2025, the region implemented the POD system. Each POD groups several nearby AOs together under shared leadership, creating tighter-knit communities and empowering more PAX to step into leadership roles. The result? A stronger, faster-responding, and more connected region, one that can grow while still maintaining that brotherhood feel. F3 Austin today is thriving as a region defined by its resilience, leadership, and commitment to unlocking the potential of every man who posts. From a single Shovel Flag in Zilker Park to a city-wide network of leaders, F3 Austin continues to live out the mission of planting, growing, and serving the men of Central Texas.

The Next Chapter: Site Q Summit V

As the sun rises on a new dawn, the next chapter of F3 Austin is upon us. The highly anticipated Site Q Summit V is on the horizon, promising to usher in a new Nantan to lead the charge. This gathering, open to all PAX hungry for leadership and growth, will be the crucible where the region’s future is forged. You’ll have to be there to witness the passing of the Shovel Flag and see where this new leader will take us....rumors are swirling of an explosive expansion that could redefine F3 Austin’s reach across Central Texas. The air is thick with anticipation; we can hear the rumblings of a huge explosion of brotherhood, fitness, and faith. Mark your calendars, sharpen your resolve, and join us for what promises to be a historic moment!