“There’s no cheating the pounds on the bar,” says 14 Wing Greenwood’s Bar Benders powerlifting program coach Mack Beattie.
“We’ve got high hopes for regionals – people have had some great accomplishments already, some personal bests – and we’re still out from the meet.”
Beattie, along with Master Corporal Jeff Baker and Sergeant Brian George, coach the growing military powerlifting program at 14 Wing. The group meets at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to build their skills, add on weights and encourage each other’s development.
“It’s been nice to start bringing people together – powerlifting has been a ‘thing’ for a while, but more of a group in the corner, doing its own thing,” Beattie says. A regional event at Aldershot several years ago, with the first Canadian Armed Forces regional competition in 2022 at Greenwood, along with a seminar and civilian competition earlier this year, has added newcomers to the program and grown interest.
“Everyone goes into a gym wanting to squat, bench and deadlift – it’s impossible not to see people doing it. But, to put all those moving pieces together in complex lifts? That’s a lot. There are standards for a good lift or squat, definitely higher for a competition, and everyone here is supporting everyone else. We’re seeing one or two new people come out every month; women in the sport is definitely increasing. Any person can do this: larger or smaller, someone new to the gym – anyone can strive towards powerlifting.”
Coaches help athletes build a training program, or offer guidance if someone has developed their own regimen, and the camaraderie of training together – and to a goal, now that powerlifting is a CAF regional sport (and maybe, eventually, a national-level sport) – makes a big difference. The wall board tracks weekly gains and targets, and the group can see when members are “having a bad day, a less bad day, a good day or a great day,” Beattie says.
With regional competition starting November 16, almost a dozen Greenwood athletes know each other’s targeted lift weights, through all three attempts, and are aiming to take on 2022’s opening recorded records. Greenwood, Halifax, Gagetown, Shearwater and Gander are all sending competitors; spectators are welcome.
November 15, officials and volunteers meet for a 1 p.m. briefing, followed by an athletes rules meeting at 2 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., athletes will also go through a pin heights and safety brief.
November 16, men’s and women’s 59- to 74-kilogram weigh-ins start at 7 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Competition runs in two flights, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
November 17, the weigh-ins for middle and heavyweight men’s divisions starts at 7 a.m., with competition in two flights between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The medals and closing ceremony for all classes takes place at 3 p.m.
