“Go, Big Dog!” encourages Corporal Mikayla Harper from the side, as Aviator Sonia Barrett settles into a squat August 29.
Laughing to her other side, Harper adds, “everybody is a big dog in powerlifting!”
Just a month into the sport, Barrett was one of several military athletes testing out a competition set-up and environment at the 14 Wing Greenwood Fitness and Sports Centre. 14 Wing hosts the Atlantic regional powerlifting competition October 27 to 29. With the growth of the sport, newer wing powerlifters were invited to lift under the supervision of more experienced 14 Wing Greenwood Barbenders’ military lifters and Personnel Support Program staff; with all of a competition’s high tech – timers, white and red lift lights, a scoring app; and low tech – chalk, weights and belts.
“We wanted to get more awareness of the team, we want new people, we have regionals coming up and we want people to get used to competing,” says PSP fitness instructor Zach Laroucques.
Barrett was all smiles – besides the focused effort of lifting through her squat, deadlift and bench press – through the morning’s simulated competition.
“I was doing sled pulls in the gym last month, and one of the PSP staff saw my progress – they said I should try powerlifting. I’d never thought about it, but I thought I’d give it a try.”
Barrett admits it was intimidating walking through the Barbenders’ specialized powerlifting workout space’s door, but, once inside, “everyone’s really inviting
“My bench – I’ve put on a whole plate to my workout – 45 pounds on each end. I didn’t really know how to do it properly, and they’ve been showing me new ways of training. It’s been really incredible.”
Harper, new to the sport a year ago but selected as 14 Wing’s female athlete of the year in May for her progress and commitment, says it’s been “awesome to see people coming in, especially females in what’s been a male-dominated sport.
“We’re a team. When you lift, it’s you versus you, but it’s practices with friends and teammates.”
With another “big dog” up at the rack, Harper is impressed: “some of these people are lifting the equivalent of a Smart car!”
Sergeant Jeff Baker has been powerlifting with great success for 12 years. He sat at the front of every lift as an official through the mini-competition, repeating the instructions competitors will hear at a real event.
“There’s nothing like training like this,” he says. “This is a good warm-up: all the gear, but these people get to train on it and get used to it.
“It’s good to see the growth of powerlifting on the base. We have the best facility, and a worlds-level bench here; we’re planning a year ahead as athletes, in a big tight community, and having the coaching support helps.”
Larocques says the Barbenders are open to anyone, anytime. They practice together Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PSP and club members would like to plan a few clinics, leading into perhaps an eight-week program, where newcomers could get experience, learn powerlifting rules and, perhaps, prep for their own competition.
“We move weights, cardio is good for weights; powerlifting builds strength and you learn to lift properly – and you build confidence. All of that contributes to operational readiness.”
