[Thom Van Vleck]

The only thing about that picture…..is it just me or do they look like siamese twins! hahaha

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Al was worried he might get jumped and shanked by the JWC gang but we called a truce and my homies backed down and showed respect for the Dino colors. That’s how we roll…

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Here’s a story on the local television station’s website, they butchered up the story I sent them, but actually made it sound better!

http://www.heartlandconnection.com/sports/story.aspx?id=635046

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

….and now I’m beginning to understand why I got the “Runner up” award for leadership…Al is the MASTER! Or should I say “Big Boss Man”.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Oh, yeah! Al volunteered you as a loader…..right after he volunteered Chad to pick up the tab at the bar after the banquet….Al’s a real PAL!!!!! He volunteered me to run this meet AFTER he submitted a bid in my name for the meet…well, maybe not, but he did talk me into it and I’m now glad I did it.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Haha, thanks Scott. Just wish you could have been there, this was one of the best means I’ve ever been too….if I do say so myself! Al said you were going to help load and that left Mitch and Tedd doing it all day and I think they both wanted a groin shot on me after busting their butts all day…now I’ll send them to you! haha

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

thanks to everyone for the kind words. As for Dave’s one “criticism” (and I know he’s just giving me a hard time)….beer would be an illegal Performance Enhancing Drug….maybe he wouldn’t lift better with it but at least he’d been in less pain while doing it and his recollection of his lifting would have been better! HAHA

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

You know….that’s actually a pretty good description!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Thanks, Chuck! Same to you!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

But Chuck, you don’t want to “catch” him on his way down (OH, SNAP….hahaha), you want to break his lifetime PR! Keep up the good work, I’ve know Al since 1995 and I know how long you’ve been working at this and its good to see the progress! You know….we are doing the 12″ base Deadlift at Nationals…you can ride out with AL!!!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I pick “E” which is all of the above. I would like to thank Chad for going and getting me a sandwich and a Mt. Dew. Al, you are only partly right on redlights, I gave no red lights to Chad (after all, it was a 20oz Mt Dew).

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Speaking of which, does anyone have the marks for the rear position. Looks like anybody that can hit 8lbs would be in an elite group!!!!!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

First of all, welcome to the board!!!

Second, I want to make some comments and I want you to be sure and take these as intended. I want to HELP you and I would like nothing more than for you to break this record! So, I’m going to give you some advice on this. Remember, not as criticism, but to HELP!!!!!! I watched several of your videos and you are obviously somebody who CAN break this record! I hope you will make more videos and put them on here and I’m sure that some of the other guys will offer help and advice. I know Ben Edwards is good at this lift and has done it in the USAWA so he’d be someone to check out.

First, let’s look a the rules of the lift. The weaver Stick is an unusual lift so it’s important that we look at the USAWA rules so that when you make your record attempt you will be within the rules.

H26. Weaver Stick
A Weaver Stick is used for this lift. The Weaver Stick utilizes a wooden broomstick with these dimensions. The handle is 5 ½ inches in length. The junction of the handle and the rest of the Weaver Stick may be marked
with tape, or with any material that is raised to provide a distinct separation between the handle and the rest of the stick. This marking is ½ inch in length. At a point exactly 36 inches from the end of the marking, or 42 inches from the end of the handle, a notch is made in the stick to allow a cord to be attached to it. This cord may be of any length. Weight is tied onto the end of the cord. The Weaver Stick must rest on a flat lifting
surface with the weight hanging free. The lift will begin at the lifter’s discretion. The lifter will take a position alongside the Weaver Stick, and grip the handle of the Weaver Stick by one hand, facing the length of the stick. The lifting hand and arm must remain straight with elbow fully locked, and must not be in contact with the body during the lift. The lifting arm must remain at the lifter’s side throughout the lift. The heel of the hand must remain on top of the Weaver Stick. If the hand twists under the stick during the lift, it is a disqualification. The non-lifting hand must not touch the lifting arm, lifting hand, or Weaver Stick during the lift. The lifter’s body must be upright with legs straight at the completion of the lift, but the legs may bend when picking up the stick. The Weaver Stick must be lifted entirely clear from the lifting surface while maintaining the stick parallel to the floor. If the end of the stick containing the weight dips to any degree, it is a disqualification. If the lifting hand moves to a position in front of the handle marking during the lift, it is a disqualification. Once the Weaver Stick is motionless, an official will give a command to end the lift. Records are also kept for the Weaver Stick with the lifter facing backwards, away from the length of the stick.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I will just say the Holiday Inn Express is on the south end of town about a mile from the meet site, not a bad location. Also near there is the Knights Inn (Al’s favorite), Super 8, and Days Inn. There’s a Comfort Inn on the far north end of town.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Professor? You mean the Enforcer!

…and Al, I had TWO JWC members there that day and super 8 footage of the meet. That is enough for a 5 part website story! hahaha

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Author]

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