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By
Phil Stevens |
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It’s a sunny mid 70’s
day. A cool breeze is in the air. Its actually couldn’t
be more perfect. Then you walk in the room and immediately
put on full alert. A cloud in the air hampers your vision.
The noise, the banging, jumping,
young men and women throwing things in the air and crashing
them into the ground. People Screaming, moaning, grunting
and cheering overloads your hearing.
Women dressing in skin tight
clothing and heeled shoes taking the stage as onlookers await
their performance in awe. The smell of Chipotle so thick it
makes your Stomach growl. What the hell?? Chipotle, What is
this some kind of odd Spanish ritual.
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No,
it’s was the 2008 North American Open Weightlifting Championship
held right here in Chandler Arizona.
Joe Micela, the meet director www.performanceone.net,
put on a great weekend at a great venue. There was some fantastic
lifting and good times all around chatting with old and new friends
alike. Enjoying the lifting, meeting athletes. Admiring their focus,
drive, determination and discipline it has taken these men and women
to get here.
As well what was very blatant to someone
who spends many hours a week talking to various people about training
much of which has to do with the ever so important physique was
the fact that 99% of the athletes had not only a good physique but
one that would be envied by most and they built that by not focusing
on an outer physical transformation but by, of course, a pure concentration
on making their body perform at the highest level it can at their
chosen weight class.
I have to say the only downer to the
whole 3 day event is the fact that as I write this I am positive
that 99% of you did not attend, make an effort to attend or even
look in to seeing if such a large event was taking on right here
in the US under your nose.
Its sad that lack of participation
from the spectators point in strength sports of any kind in this
country.
Oly Lifting, Strongman, power lifting
alike. Hell even track and field and more organized team sports.
The majority of the crowd, even at an international event like this
is primarily, friends, family, and others competitors. It sad in
small third world countries they will have more spectators at a
practice many times then we get at a National event in this country.
It’s a travesty.
I hear it all the time people blame
it on lack luster publicity by the organization or promoter, yada
yada. I call bull shit. I know Joe poured his heart and soul into
this meet for many months. Personally as a multitime coordinator
of meets and seminars have as well and it all doesn’t lay in
our hands.
We can only do so much, it our, your
responsibility as a fan, or athlete of the sport to be a bit proactive
as well, seek out these event. A simple google search will turn
up hundreds and then you just have to dedicate the time and GO.
Go support your
fellow athletes and the sports you love.
How else will they rise to what we
some day hope they will, out of obscurity. Not by having the usual,
everyone promising to go and then instead after the fact you all
talk how you should came sorry you missed it. That’s the number
one response. Get up and go people, there is some great entertainment
and competition right under your nose.
Below I’ll leave you with
a few compilation videos from the videos I shot of the lifters for
those who didn’t attend or watch the live streaming webcast.
After your done enjoying this do yourself and those who bust there
butts to compete at the highest level they can in their chosen sport
and do a quick search, Find some events in your area and GO attend.
Cheers, and thanks again Joe for putting
on a hell of a meet. You were a gracious host and should be commended
for your hard work and the success of this. I hope you bring a like
meet back again.
About The Author
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Coach Phil Stevens is an accomplished
strength athlete with considerable experience in both powerlifting
and strongman competition. Phil is the 2007 APA World Champion
in the 242-pound class (total). He currently holds the APF
275-pound class raw National bench, squat, deadlift, and total
records. Phil’s marquis lift was his 700-pound raw deadlift,
performed on February 14, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Phil has been ranked in the “Top 10” in the deadlift Nationally across all powerlifting federations, also serves as the Arizona State Chair for the North American Highlander Association, as well as the founder of Lift For Hope, an annual strength-competition
with proceeds donated to Charity (www.Lift4Hope.org).
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