HOW DO I BECOME A POWERLIFTER?
The short answer to this is every gym goer that squats, benches, and deadlifts is powerlifting in their own way, as they are doing the big three compound lifts.
To be a powerlifter, you are someone that is passionate about lifting heavy and doing so on the platform under meet conditions. That is what we consider a true competitive powerlifter.
The latter we laid out would classify as a recreational powerlifter, which is awesome!
Powerlifting is a sport that many love, as there is no fundamental strength requirement to compete, and if you are competing raw, it does not require a lot of gear. Compared to many other sports, it is fairly inexpensive to start. Travelling for most becomes a major expense as you get on to bigger meets.
In summary, for us at Primal, there are two types of lifters:
- Competitive lifters that compete in sanctioned meets
- Recreational lifters that train the big three and may do the occasional mock meet
Another great thing about powerlifting is choosing how involved you are with the sport. You can choose to chase the higher levels and climb the ranks or opt to enjoy the sport and the journey of lifting as much weight as you possibly can.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I LIFT TO START POWERLIFTING?
This is a very common question we get, and the answer is if you want to compete, pick a meet, and just start to understand the sport. You will be surprised by how supportive the community is of new lifters. It may be intimidating, but until you start competing, you will never learn as much from only training.
We recommend holding back a fair bit on the first meet to ensure you get your lifts and minimize the risk of an injury while your body is adjusting to heavy lifting and singles. It takes a bit of time to strain under maximal load and to do so with great form in order to tap into your true max potential.
After that first meeting, we recommend training for 6-9 months before your second meeting. In most cases, this will help lay a good foundation and start to develop technical skills under heavy weight and strengthen the muscles used in powerlifting.
WHERE DO I FIND A MEET?
The best way to find a meet is a lot simpler than most would think, and that is to google meets in the area. If you are new to the sport, we highly recommend the Forge Powerlifting League as a way to get started. There are many other great meets out there to start out as well. We advise against a sanctioned meet as your first meet to get adjusted to competing and being in that environment.
Locally in Ontario, there are four major federations that host meets in the province:
WRF https://www.thewrpf.com/
CPL https://canadianpowerliftingleague.ca/
OPA/CPU https://www.ontariopowerlifting.org/ https://www.canadianpowerliftingunion.com/
WPC https://www.wpccanadapowerlifting.com/
All have their own pros and cons for each lifter, so research which is the one that will be best for you. They all put on many meets throughout the year, and the WRF, CPL and OPA all require a membership to compete on top of meet fees. This is another reason we suggest a mock meet as your first meet to get your feet wet before spending big money on a sanctioned meet.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST MEET
Doing a meeting is a very different experience from training. The judges may have a different idea of what the correct standards for the powerlifts are than you might. You will have to get accustomed to that, while also having a crowd of people watching you.
Meets are a lot of fun, and you will meet many great like-minded people.
Expect to feel a bit lost at times, as at meets, federations do not do much explaining of how a meet works, so some of it is trial and error. Make sure you read the rule book for the federation you are competing under, as it will vary a lot. Do not assume rules are the same at a different federation – many times they are similar, but with a few twists.
Make sure you check with the federation rule book in terms of what equipment fits the class of lifting you are doing. Some federations like the IPF even have approved equipment lists or rules in relation to this, so always check this before buying equipment or going to the meet.
Show up early and bring a lot of food and water. We also recommend bringing a coach or buddy to support you on the day, and most importantly, have fun! Go into the first meeting without expectations and be open to things. This will ensure you will have a blast! Wait until later to start to have expectations on the sport and your meets.
Do not be afraid of the unknown, as every lifter has to figure things out as well. If you are really lost, ask a fellow lifter or coach at the meet, as they may be able to give you the answer or help you out if need be.
