[Al Myers]

It shouldn’t even be called the Weaver Stick since he didn’t invent it! It should be called the Von Boeckmann Stick, after Paul Von Boeckmann. (but that doesn’t sound NEAR as nice!). Jarrod, have you checked out the blog on the Weaver Stick yet? I wrote it a year or so ago and explains alot of the history of the Weaver Stick. You can find it by using the article tags search. Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments on my story about my Grandfather. He was a GREAT MAN and knew how to live life to the fullest. Everyday was an adventure for him. I second what Dad said about his competitiveness. Grandpa liked to be the best, always gave his best, and never “threw” a competition just to be a nice guy. I remember the day I was finally able to outrun him. Before that when we would race, he went all out and would beat me (usually soundly). Most Granddads would let “junior” win one now and then -but my Grandfather taught me a lesson that more kids need to learn nowadays. And that is you need to WORK for things instead of having things given to you. He told me he knew I would eventually beat him, and when I did it would mean something to me. So true, so true.

Eric – I will never forget that very nice tribute that you wrote about your Grandpa Gus for Milo a few years ago. Your Grandfather and mine were very much alike. Al

[Al Myers]

The rules state “the lifter’s body must be upright with legs straight at the completion of the lift”. Lean back is not allowed. The critical rule is that the arm must be perfectly straight and not in contact (which would allow bracing) with the side of the body. This is what makes the weaver stick so difficult. Just a slight elbow bend allows other muscles to come into play and much more weight can be lifted. Al

[Al Myers]

I’m not too crazy about the finger lifts myself (I really need my fingers for work). But they are part of the all-rounds – and I’m a gamer for any lift. I do really respect those that excel in the finger lifts because I have done them enough to know the pain they cause!! My advice is to work up slow so you don’t sustain any tendon damage to your hands. And this advice comes from someone (myself) who once got beat in all 4 finger lifts by a woman in a competition (which most everyone knows because Bill mentioned it several times in the Strength Journal!). But that doesn’t bother me too much because it was Mary Mac and she could also whip me in armwrestling – and THAT would look even worse!!! haha Al

[Al Myers]

Wow – small world!! Steve and I go back lots of years. He is a tremendous individual with a wealth of information, and one of the best coaches around. You are lucky to be able to train under him. I need to introduce you to a couple of HG thrower friends of mine in Denver so you can train with them. The best way to improve in the games is to train with veteran throwers so you don’t learn bad habits from the start. Al

[Al Myers]

Jarrod, How long have you been training the Highland Games? That is a great sport which I spent several years competing in. Do you know any of the other HG throwers in Denver? Al

[Al Myers]

That is an exercise I have never really trained. I do some similar movements on my reverse hyper. It is very important to be well balanced – and the Knee Raise would definitely improve that! Al PS This movement is not an USAWA official lift.

[Al Myers]

I much appreciate everyone’s response on this topic. Alot of good info was presented. I plan to summarize this in a Daily News Story so it will be saved on our website for future reference.

But – are we in agreement that Henri Soudieres (born 8-5-06) has the oldest birthdate of any past USAWA member? Or should it be Jim Messer?

Do we agree that Jack Lano is the oldest living past/present USAWA member?

Without question, Art is the oldest current USAWA member.

Thanks. Al

[Al Myers]

Good luck and keep up the hard training!!

[Al Myers]

Tom, Denny is correct on this. I checked the USAWA record list and Jim Messer is listed as having set one USAWA record. On 10-31-1992 he is listed with setting a record in the 85 age group, 75 kg class with a 170# heels together deadlift. This was set at a meet in Valley Forge. That is all that is listed. My collection of Strength Journals is limited during the 90’s and I can’t find the specific meet results. Whether he was a member is questionable – back then non-members often got recorded in the meet results, and thus the record list. The method of confirming memberships was not as good as we have it now. I would say since he was NOT listed in Bills master membership list from 1994 that he was not a member. But then again, Bill commented at the top of this list that not all members were listed if he did not have a current address for them. So that raises doubts! I also wonder if anyone has a birthdate for Jim Messer. Al

[Al Myers]

I CAN’T BELIEVE I MISSED IT!!!

I know who you are talking about now – a lifter who was a legend for competing at an elderly age. I won’t give the answer yet as I’m hoping that someone else may want to try to answer this very difficult quiz. That was a great question Tom! Al PS I was thinking for a moment that you might try to pass off one of John Grimek’s many birthdays as the correct answer!!!! (but to my knowledge Grimek never paid membership dues to the USAWA).

[Al Myers]

You ARE trying to stump me Tom!!!! I’m not ready to say “I’m right and you’re wrong” just quite yet. Interestingly, I do have a complete members roster from 1994 that lists ALL of the members from 1988 to 1994 that had registered at least once (a total of 204). Zercher was the oldest listed. But the possibility of someone joining after that date that was older than 87 (in 1994) does exist. I will keep after the research!!! Al

[Al Myers]

Come on guys!!! I ALWAYS tell the truth!! It’s just that I may “perceive” things differently than you guys – and that’s not a lie.

Since my Dear Dino Man column was such a hit – I’m going to run the next one tomorrow in the USAWA Daily News.

[Al Myers]

420# is a great pull with the 3″ bar!!! That’s nothing to be ashamed of! Training with the 3″ bar presents challenges that don’t exist with a regular bar. On top of the grip being much more difficult, the 3″ bar forces the body into different body positions that are not optimal. Like with the deadlift, you will notice that the 3″ bar forces the body to pull in a line that is not straight. You will be slightly rotated toward the direction of your undergrip.

I was very pleased with my 3″ bar deadlift, but it is far from the overall record and best lift in the USAWA. Matt Graham pulled 600# on a 3″ bar several years ago at Kevin Fultons Supergrip challenge. That same day he had a close miss at 640#!!! I have a picture somewhere of that lift of his – and now I’m going to look for it!!!! Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Tom, That’s quite a quiz!!! After the difficulty people had answering my last quiz – this one seems impossible!! But then I got thinking – maybe you are trying to “stump” me??? So I’m going to give you MY answers first before anyone else responds.

Question #1 – This was too easy – none other than Ed Zercher I. I knew this answer before I even looked it up. Ed was in his early 80’s when he first competed in the USAWA. He was born on 8-19-1907 (I did have to look that up).

Question #2 – The first part of the question was really easy. Art Montini is the oldest current member (he was born on 10-11-27).

Now the second part of the question (oldest past member still alive) is the tough one and I’m going to have to take a guess. My answer is none other than the man of many talents – Jack Lano (born 4-17-22).

How’d I do??? Al

[Author]

Posts