USAPL at Arnold

[lovelace]

Do you think this is a good move or bad? Also, your thoughts on USAPL all of a sudden wanting to throw RAW lifting in the mix at the Arnold.

[thegymmuse]

I think it a good thing. Also, as with every federation, raw is a growing trend and the USAPL is simply responding to the demand.

There has been increased pressure from some of the top IPF officials to limit the use of gear with advanced technology. The president, Herbert Wallauch last year stated as much in a couple of his messages. One included the opening remarks of the 2006 IPF Congress. There, an effort was made to consolodate power between several committees so that rules and policy changes could be enacted without the consent of the Congress. Fortunately, that effort was thwarted and all policy and rule changes still must pass the Congress.

I think with the USAPL putting a raw competition in the Arnold is simply responding to demand. I think they can take a leadership role in the IPF and perhaps allay concerns about gear if they were to include a raw division alongside geared lifting. I believe that most nations would follow.

I'd also be interested to see which of the two types of lifting would most lifters participate in.

Jim

[willbrothers]

I think the idea of competing at Arnold is cool, but I've never found USAPL to be RAW friendly in the past. Maybe things are changing, but it has seemed previously that they looked at RAW lifting as something less than equipped, so I believe this move is probably motivated more by profit than by desire to increase the presence of RAW lifters in their organizations. All that being said, they are a good organization and I like the people, both the lifters and administration a great deal. But it has been my experience that their meets are about as exciting as watching a chess match or attending a Star Trek convention. Even the prospect of competing at Arnold is not a strong enough draw for me. So best of luck to all who choose to compete - I wish you and them great success!

[thegymmuse]

"But it has been my experience that their meets are about as exciting as watching a chess match or attending a Star Trek convention."

I like that! but I must warn everyone..., I get a bit excited when watching Star Trek. Especially when the Captain calls on Scotty for more power..., " But Cap-tin, we're giving you all shes got!" I hear that often these days when I lift

I think people make meets what they turn out to be. I miss the days when (Captain) Kirk Karwoski took to the platform and you would think the roof would blow off as a result of all the noise.

I went to the USAPL Master's Nationals this year. During the morning session on Friday, it was as quiet as a Catholic Church (no offense intended). During the afternoon session, things got a bit louder. Basically, when the big boys came on stage, that is when the crowd and other lifters got into it.

Another concern some have is that surrounding comraderie. I think I surprised a few when while the lifter I was caoching was resting, I would jump in and help another lifter. To me, it is the only thing to do. But for some in this day of powerlifting, each kind of stays to themselves. Why is that?

When I first competed and up unitl I took a six year sabatical, everyone helped the other guy/gal. They would shout encouragement even to those that they were lifting against. It was fun! When I came back a little over a year ago and lifted in an AAU meet last March, I thought I was in a refridgerator instead of somplace that should have been a fun and rewarding. No one talked to the other and some of the lifters did not seem to understand warm-up room etiquette.

Older lifters who remeber the golden days when it was fun needs to take the lead and show the younger ones how things are done. Get in there and become part of it.

I had a good time in Milwaukee.

Jim

[lovelace]

Good points. That is my only concern with the USAPL and the Arnold. The crowd is use to music cranked up and the crowd getting into it. I respect the USAPL immensley with their past accomplishments! I see a lot of crossovers to the IBP in NC and SC from AAU and USAPL due to the "fun" factor being left out of powerlifting. You can have fun and still keep the integrity of the drug free sport of powerlifting in place.

[thegymmuse]

Ahhhh..., what is the Arnold going to be like with the cold fish of the powerlfiting world in the house?

I think we each can answer that question with what we already know.

1) It will be a drug tested powerlifting meet conducted by the standards we've affectionately come to know.

I think the USAPL is going to surprise us all. They already have with some of the early information that they've released despite that it SEEMS to be slanted toward long time USAPL members.

2) Music?

I've been to meets where music has been offered and guess what, a lot of the lifters are still wearing head phones

I enjoy listening to music when I lift and the music I like to listen to when I'm not lifting is often very different. I'm also conscious to not impose what I'm listening to on others.

However, when you go to a venue that you know music will be played, you listen to what is offered. That has been the case of the Arnold in years past. You knew it was going to be a spectacle.

The IPF has chosen to not allow music to be played during meets. Instead, the focus is on the lifting and the lifter. The USAPL on the other hand allows music to be played at state level meets..., between attempts. Not when the lifter is lifting.

I could see the possibility of the USAPL playing music at the Arnold. But, would that change the complexion of the federation enough that it would be more appealing to those that favor music being played that the prospect of actually lifting or attending would become a consideration?

In summary, the the Arnold will not be the same. For the most part, each has a vision as to what to expect. But, it will be different from what has been presented in the past and will reflect values and standards which the USAPL represents. Because, the committee they have established consists of dedicated members of the USAPL which will establish the format for which the event will be presented. A lot of in-put will be submitted to the USAPL by prospective sponsors who will pay money to be represented. To what extent the event will be commercialized will be contingent on the influence exerted in the form of dollars that are paid and how much flexibility the USAPL will allow based on their values and standards.

I think in the end, it will be a successful event. Each will measure to what degree it is successful based on personal preferences.

Jim

[vince148]

thegymmuse said:

Older lifters who remeber the golden days when it was fun needs to take the lead and show the younger ones how things are done. Get in there and become part of it.
Jim

Personally, I think I made many more friendships in powerlifting back in the 70s than I have today. We were much more "friendlier". Friendships crossed state boundaries. I remember writing letters back and forth with other lifters in the snail mail days, talking about training. I would see many of the same lifters at the same meets. We would always have breakfast or dinner together. Sadly, I don't see that as much today. Even in this era of instant correspondence/email, I have no communication with other lifters except when I see them at meets.

As far as the USAPL at the Arnold is concerned, it's hard to comment on. I've never been to the Arnold, but friends that I have talked to who have been there have told me that the lifting and atmosphere was quite the spectacle. Knowing USAPL's reputation for trying to present a "professional" image, I don't know if they can put on a "show" that would keep an audience's attention. This has nothing to do with the abilities of the lifters, only that the USAPL's "showmanship" will not draw the same crowds or have the same intensity as the WPO.

[willbrothers]

Hey Jim,

I suppose I was a little harsh on the Star Trek fans - no offense intended (actually I've watched it some myself), and of course no offense intended to USAPL lifters either. I checked out the Arnold info online and this is actually a part of the Arnold sports expo. For those of you who have not looked into the Arnold, I encourage you to do so just to see how big it is. The sports expo is huge and encompasses a great number of sports, I think there is a martial arts expo in addition to the bodybuilding and other sports as well. I believe the link is www.arnoldclassic.com. I think if I ever attend - it will probably be as a bodybuilder rather than as a powerlifter; as I am starting to lean more toward that side of the sport. Anyway, I'm rambling. Have a great Friday everyone.

[thegymmuse]

No offense taken willbrothers, in fact..., I get a little crazy playing chess too. ;D

I certainly will make it interesting!!!

Thank you for adding the background that is the Arnold Sports Festival. When most thinks of the Arnold, they think body building and of course as powerlifters, we think of the wild show that the WPO promoted. It certainly will pale in comparison.

Jim

[stevendavenport]

Does anyone know exactly why KK and the WPO were not asked back and why exactly USAPL were extended an invitation? I am asking you guys, my brothers, so that some measure of truth can be ascertained, being that if you read USAPL's board you get their perspective and then if you read goheavy's you get quite another. I am a USAPL and an AAU member, however, I dont plan on lifting at USAPL nationals so that means I cannot lift at the Arnold. So I dont really care, I would like to know what KK was doing or not doing that seemed to cause Arnold and Lorimer to want to go in a different direction.

That said, if USAPL tries to become a carbon copy of the WPO, I think they will fail. They need to do what they do best - that is, strict judging, drug testing, and limited supportive gear. I think the music is a good idea, but I dont know to what extent.

[willbrothers]

From what I hear, there will be some great talent at Arnold. Michael Belk is ranked 10th from what I have read on another forum and he is incredible.

[willbrothers]

Not sure why steve

[Tom Isbell]

I went to the arnold 2 yrs ago and enjoyed the wpo style events. Freak show or not it was fun to watch.

I personally am drug free and am happy to see a drug free fed gets it day at the arnold too.

USAPL is a different type of lifting. It is still powerlifting but it is different than anything else that I have done.

I lift at least twice a year with usapl and am on the sc usapl advisory board so I feel that I have a good idea what the usapl is all about. Some good things and some bad. You just wont hear me on the net talking about what is bad often. I try to handle that stuff by private e mails to people that can make changes.

**What I like about usapl:

1) drug tested....not free but tested. They honestly try to have a level playing field. I believe that. If you lift big or small with them you will eventually get tested.
2)They are very consistent. They dont usually change to fit the mood of the meet or to accomodate a star lifter. They take judging serious. Almost too serious sometimes
3)They do gear checks at every meet. I see a lot of feds that dont do that.
4)They are the door to the IPF. Like it or not nobody else can say that.
You will see many apf lifters try to qualify with them or cross over for the IPF and Arnold.
5)They run a meet the same at national caliber as at a state meet.
6)raw lifting is growing. You cant throw them in with the geared lifters as far as awards and records. Apples and oranges. I think adding raw lifting is a good thing. I was one of the people saying that they needed to do that from the start.

**One thing I would like to change with them:
I would like to see more of the fun factor added. Mike is right about that. That is what it is about as well as the lifting. If lifters dont have fun at the state level they dont come back. without those state level people there arent memberships and money for national meets.


just my .02 cents worth

[Tom Isbell]

I think the usapl needs to get their stuff together.

Here is an example of why I feel this way.
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/5294

[willbrothers]

Wow that's interesting.