USAWA Old Time Strongman Championship Recap

2014 ended strong as I finished my season competing in the USAWA Old Time Strongman Championship.  Four disciplines were contested at this competition: Apollon’s Axle, Saxon Snatch, Dinnie Lift, and Hand and Thigh.  My personal results are as follows:
Saxon Swatch:  I tied for first place honors in this lift with a mark of 105 lbs., just two lbs. off the mark for the overall record in this discipline.
Apollon’s Axle: a clean and press event, this lift has been exceptionally difficult for me since elbow surgery left me with a limited range of motion.  The day of the event, however, I hit my best mark since the surgery with a solid 300 lb. lift taking second place.
Following the Saxon Swatch and Apollon’s Axle were the heavier lifts where I planned to make my move.  In training I was toying with world record numbers, but upon doing so I shaved all the skin off the inside of my thumb, dealing a blow to all my progress.  During the Dinnie Lift, which has gone well for me in the past, I hit a solid 700 lbs., just missing my personal record attempt of 775 lbs.  Despite my personal goals it was still worthy of first place!

The last lift of the day was the Hand and Thigh.  This went extremely well.  I finally broke the 1500 lb. barrier and earned the event win to become the fourth guy to ever hit 1500 lbs. or better in the event.

After the meet, I went for a record attempt in the harness lift and successfully lifted 2560 lbs.  I had the highest total in the meet, and won the championship on formula as well.  As always, thanks to HMB for continued support in performing at crazy high levels, and also thank you to PEAK ATP, which has aided me in my training with more speed and “pop” on my lifts.  Anyhow, here is to an even stronger 2015!