MOOSE JAW -- A ton of preparation, focus and hard work will come to a head for more than 600 competitors when the Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships arrive in Moose Jaw next weekend.
The event begins Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Centre and runs the full week through Saturday, Mar. 1 and will feature some of the strongest men and women in Canada vying for national titles and an opportunity to compete on the world stage.
“It's coming down to the wire now, so it's really starting to feel hectic, but it's been good,” said meet director Ryan Stinn. “We have a good team putting things together, we've done a lot of championships together, so it's good to have that experience. We all kind of know the game and what we need to do.”
The organizing committee had a dry run of sorts when they hosted the successful Western Canadian championships last spring, but an event of this size and calibre is a whole ‘nother animal altogether.
“This is the biggest event we've ever run, so there's a little bit extra stress and a little bit extra work, but you know, once you get it going it's kind of the same, just more days,” Stinn said.
For the uninitiated, powerlifting features the three basic compound lifts -- deadlift, bench press and squat. Competitors can compete with strength-enhancing equipment or unequipped, with age categories running from 12 years old to over 80. Lifters are grouped according to weight class, and from there, it’s pretty much academic -- whoever lifts the most weight, wins.
The first day of the event on Feb, 23 will begin at 2 p.m. and feature the bench-press only competition, with the regular meet beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday and running throughout the day, with a similar schedule taking place throughout the week.
If folks are looking for local competitors to support, Moose Jaw will have a member of the International Powerlifting Federation Hall of Fame to cheer for.
Multiple time world champion and World Games gold medalist Rhaea Stinn will take the stage in the women’s 84 kg division during the 9:30 a.m. season on Tuesday and again in the 10 a.m. session Saturday.
“She's actually winding up more for the World Games this summer, so this is kind of more of a little bit of a tune up,” said Ryan. “People have to compete at Nationals to punch a ticket to Worlds, so she's doing that just to have a spot later in the year for Worlds if she chooses to go there.”
The Tuesday morning session will also see a legend of Moose Jaw powerlifting take the stage, as Mava Brydges will compete in the women’s 84 kg Master 3 division.
All told, close to 80 competitors from throughout Saskatchewan will be in action throughout the week.
As for the calibre of competition, don’t be surprised to see a host of Canadian records fall and even a few unofficial world record attempts throughout the meet.
The top competitors from Nationals will represent Canada at the world championships in addition to international regional championships.
For a complete list of competitors and the meet schedule check out www.cpunationals.com and click on the lifting schedule menu.
Admission to the meet is free throughout the week, with spectators more than welcome to check out the action!
