USAWA

Well, as a well known lifting slob, I certainly am inspired to clean up my act!! At this year’s Ambridge team championships a TIE will now be required(hmmm, if Art wears a tie ,it’ll drag on the floor -just like his knuckles do !!!).

i’m going to tell grace this story ran right after the meet report where she lifted in jeans!

also, highland games are a little different. so far as i know, the USAWA doesn’t attract the number of spectators that throwing does. highland athletes are putting on a bit more of a show. i also think it will be harder to persuade novice lifters to join if they are required to wear a singlet. i can see requiring it for national-level meets or higher, but i don’t think i could have gotten more than one or two lifters at my meet if singlets were required. but i do intend to get one at some point; i think they look cool.

jf

I agree with Eric. As long as we adhere to the dress code that we have, it should be sufficient. We just need to make sure that we don’t get lax with the code.

im going to start wearing a old school brief cut singlet from here on out!!

ST

Tully…..I just threw up a little in my mouth.

I have one, too. This goes with my article earlier that judges should where a suit and tie! hahahahaha

If you check my lifting pictures on my facebook page, you will see that i wore a singlet / leotard in every competition i ever lifted in. This is something i am very proud of, as i believe i am representing my sport in both the standard of lifting i took to the platform and looking like a strength athlete who gives a shit at the same time (Instead of some guy who just turned up and had a go without caring what his appearance looks like) In fact to add to this, when i posted a picture of Andy Tomlin breaking David Hornes OHDL record at the last Gold cup, Rick Meldon came back with a comment “excellent lift!! However, I am again sad to see the lack of a leotard on the platform, what is it with this? At an event where a world record is being achieved, I think the least that a lifter can be expected to do is wear the correct platform attire!! It’s not like Andy is a novice!!” And that IMHO is what you look like when lifting in shorts and T a “NOVICE”. If you can’t afford to spend some of your Friday night Beer & Pizza money on a leotard that makes you actually look like a strength Athlete, then maybe your in the wrong sport. Just saying!!!!!!

Quote from KCSTRONGMAN on December 12, 2011, 12:51
I have seen world class lifters lifting world class poundages in shirt and shorts.
Zadrunis Savikas, Darrin Sadler, Phil Phister, Karl Gillingham, Jesse Marunde, Brian Shaw, etc. I know it is a different sport, but it is a strength sport. those guys looked far from novice while lifting.

None of these would qualify to lift in the All-Rounds, as we don’t allow drug cheats!!!!!!!

How about these names! Real “DRUG FREE” legends. Howard Prechtel, John Vernacchio, Frank Allen, Barry Anderson, Rick Meldon, Bob Hirsh, just to name a few. In that group, i am proud to add myself! Every time any one of them stepped on to a platform they always wore a leotard.

And just a little food for thought. Many of you compete in Highland Games. How many of you would turn up to compete “NOT” wearing a kilt!?!?!?!? A kilt is part of the heritage of Scottish heavy events, and every one of you wears a kilt with pride, so why not take pride in your All-Round lifting and wear a leotard? Or do you “NOT” feel the same pride stepping onto an All-Round platform as you do a Highland games Field?!?!?!?

Steve, I sure agree with everything you said here – those are my feelings as well. You just expressed your feelings on this a little more passionately than myself!!

But unlike you, I have at times just wore shorts and tshirts in competition because it is allowed. I know at this past years Gold Cup I didn’t wear a singlet (but I had it in my bag) because my daughter went to all that work of making those special “Team Myers” tshirts up, and I didn’t want to disappoint her by covering it up with a singlet! haha

But let me give a couple of examples where wearing shorts/tshirts is an advantage over wearing a singlet in competition (that I have done as well) because it is allowed under the rules.

1. Continental to Chest – wearing a shirt with a sticky logo on the front definitely helps in the continental if you take the bar to the upper abdomen (bar will stick versus slipping on the front of a loose singlet).
2. Steinborn – loose straps of a singlet can interfere with the bar positioning on the back
3. Pullover and press/push – a slick front tight fitting tshirt will let the bar come in place much better than having singlet straps interfering.

Now isn’t the purpose of proper dress rules is to NOT ALLOW advantages?? Just food for thought here.

Another point Steve. I’m sure you are aware by now that your buddy Andy has claimed you as his partner in next years Gold Cup Challenge involving the 2man 1arm deadlift challenge between the UK and the USA??? I hope that you plan to talk your partner into wearing a singlet in this competition (along with you) because I know for a fact that your rival American team will be wearing singlets – and MATCHING SINGLETS at that!!! haha Al

Ill plan on wearing shorts and tshirt that are within the guidelines and focus on lifting, and not on my leotard.

ST

[b]Quote from dinoman on December 13, 2011, 15:58[/b]
But let me give a couple of examples where wearing shorts/tshirts is an advantage over wearing a singlet in competition (that I have done as well) because it is allowed under the rules.

1. Continental to Chest – wearing a shirt with a sticky logo on the front definitely helps in the continental if you take the bar to the upper abdomen (bar will stick versus slipping on the front of a loose singlet).
2. Steinborn – loose straps of a singlet can interfere with the bar positioning on the back
3. Pullover and press/push – a slick front tight fitting tshirt will let the bar come in place much better than having singlet straps interfering.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1607725475551&set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1065978212208&set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1681086429529&set=a.1026268899500.2006320.1308611293&type=3&theater

Not sure if these links will go to the pictures on my FB Al.

First one is Continental clean (I was the first person in IAWA to go over 400lbs)

Second pic is a 190kg pull over and push (I found the best way to get the bar over was to exhale explosively as you start to pull. This deflates the chest and used to give me a lot of power during the pull over)

Third one is of a Steinborn (I’m not sure what my best was at this 180kgs maybe)

All performed around 102kgs and with a Leotard on!!

Yes, if i am in any kind of shape to lift in Scotland i will make sure Andy has his leotard on mate. Not sure if i am going to have to go down the surgical route with my back. My physiotherapist has advised me to go back and see a specialist and have another Scan as no mater how loose we get my back, i still have numbness down my left leg.

I know when we chatted at the Gold Cup, you knew a few guys who had back surgery and come back strong from it. That has stayed in my mind as a positive, so we will see what 2012 brings.