What's the purpose of powerlifting meets

[Matt-Panz]

Hello Rip,

What's the purpose of a powerlifting meet?

Everybody already has a good idea what they can lift going in, and it's very easy to compare numbers to other lifters. If you have zero chance of winning or placing what is the point?

I don't see any difference in maxing out in a garage or in front of a few people - unless someone was 180 pounds with a 500 pound bench press.

Thanks,

Matt

[Mark Rippetoe]

For that matter, what the hell is the purpose of a football game? Make them illegal, I say.

[crookedfinger]

I don't see any difference in maxing out in a garage or in front of a few people - unless someone was 180 pounds with a 500 pound bench press.

3 judges watching your every move for errors that disqualify the lift.

Often less than optimal conditions that require you to lift optimally.

Someone else's time schedule and being forced to make a perfect effort in spite of that (Probably a subsection of the above). But warrants its own mention.

Competing, for the sake of competing. Or competing against yourself in a strict competitive environment.

Camaraderie. Making friends. Hanging out in a tight singlet.

[Kiril]

For that matter, what the hell is the purpose of a football game? Make them illegal, I say.

Kill them all, I say. Never understood this stir of 22 idiots running after the ball(and I wish it was a medicine ball).

[Mark Rippetoe]

Kill them all, burn their bodies to dust, stir the dust into the sea.

[Ryan Arnold]

For most people, signing up and paying money to compete will produce greater results than if they had just lifted on their own at their own pace

[ChrisRozon]

Same as running a 10K or Marathon. You likely have zero chance of coming anywhere near the top 10, but it's fun to challenge yourself, meet like-minded folks, just have fun in a group.

[Dr. Manhattan]

Evil promoters attempting to make a profit at the expense of victims: the lifters and those paying to watch.

Another reason to outlaw meets.

[Polishdude20]

Hanging out in a tight singlet.

And hanging out of a tight singlet.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Evil promoters attempting to make a profit at the expense of victims: the lifters and those paying to watch.

Another reason to outlaw meets.

Greedy carparations profiteering again.