What makes you think people would travel here to compete in an unsanctioned meet?
Member
Rippetoe Invitational
I was looking at the Virginia raw power lifting records--which seem pretty light if I am reading them right. Then I saw the post about the best lifts at WFAC. So--I thought what about having a Rippetoe Invitational?
Seems to me that power lifting is a bit like rugby used to be and to some extent still is. Tournaments are prestigious, and winning them is meaningful to the participants if the tournament is a good one. "Good ones" are defined by who goes and competes. People go and compete if they like the venue, the host or the set up of the tourney.
Seems to me lots of folks might want to come out and compete, meet each other, kind of have a good time at a tournament party. Which also happens at rugby tourneys.
Charge an entry fee, invite whom you want or screen applications (that's why invitational), get a waiver form, put on a chili and beer (or your choice Saturday night party), set the rules the way you want and think they should be, get some hardware--maybe cheap and unique, beer mugs instead of medals, or shot glasses--then let it Rip. Sorry for the bad pun.
Need be sanctioned by no one but you.
I bet you could have a lot of fun, a lot of folks would come and have fun, make some money, gain a little advertising, start a tradition.
The Can-Am, Aspen, Ft. Lauderdale and many other rugby tournaments are not state or national championships, nor sanctioned by USA Rugby in anyway, but they are still prestigious, draw strong teams, and are a lot of fun. Good teams go to have fun and test themselves against teams they would not ordinarily play, to see good teams play, and to have fun with the rugby brotherhood. It seems to me the lifting community might be the same.
Just food for thought.
Thanks, Bill
TMPHBITEU
What makes you think people would travel here to compete in an unsanctioned meet?
Member
I say you at least make a poll, see how many people on this board would actually come. Be pretty cool to meet most of the members face to face
✓ Member
Your warm and endearing personality?Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe
Slots
I would. Just because I might be able to use my MantaRay and meet everyone too.
TMPHBITEU
People lie on polls. We had to stop making waiting lists for the seminars because most people that signed up for the waiting list would bail out when we called them with an opening.
Yeah. That.
vxmorpheusxv
Head to a seminar. Useful for many reasons, but often there are members from the forums there.
Member
I would show up just to hang out with JP.
Member
Off-topic but along the same lines-
The Bill Starr is tentatively scheduled for March 24th, right Rip? Planning on going and just making sure I'll have the date & time right
Thanks Rip!
Member
As to why go to an unsanctioned tournament--why not? From what I read--which is primarily on this forum--there are many different power lifting associations, with varying degrees of credibility. It seems like the credibility of sanctioned meet is therefore somewhat reduced.
Unless people are doing power lifting as a profession, and like all pro athletics I would assume that is exceedingly rare--you do it because you love it. Because you like the folks you do it with. Because you like to compete.
I would imagine a fair number of folks from these forums would go. If it fit my calendar, I would, and I have never thought about doing a power lifting event before. But if I thought I might get the opportunity to meet folks from these forums, have a few beers and a party--I think it would be a good time.
Besides--you don't have to risk anything really. Send the invitations, see who commits, have them pay in advance. Get a local hotel to give you a rate. Get a local restaurant to agree to host the party. I am sure you don't need me to give you ideas.
I am thinking of it less as a sanctioned meet, and more as an event. Hell--it can be whatever you want it to be.
Given your connections in the sport, you could have a pretty impressive group.
At a rugby tourney, you play hard all day Saturday, trying to beat each others brains in--then you have a great time together at the party. And one of the great things is that you will play against truly great players--pros and international stars who come to play with their old team--or because they have a buddy on a team or they love the venue, or...some get paid. And then get to talk with them, pick their brains about the game, and the way they think about it. But it is a real experience--imagine playing against NFL players and then getting to go to a party with them? It would never happen. But it does in rugby--and my impression is it could in lifting as well.
Plus--along with your personality, you are name in the field--and as Ulysses said--"not least among them". So--why not give it a swing?
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