Yearly Thank you and Brag post...

[crzipilot]

Rip,

I don't post much here, but have been reading and following for four years now. I can't express how much of an influence you have had on my son's athletic achievements and success through high school. He has followed your books and the starting strength program for 4 yrs, (except when his school coaches got in the way).

I'm sure you don't hear it enough but thank you for what you do and continue to do, hopefully there are many more young kids that at least read through your material and are influenced by it to continue to get stronger.

This year he took 1st place at every weight meet in 238 weight class, and qualified for the Florida state finals. He set PB on bench and clean and jerk this year of 320 pause bench and 325 CJ. At the state meet he finished 4th. Missed 2nd place on his jerk of 335. All of this by simply following your Squat Bench Press Clean Deads. None the less he was happy and excited to continue on his journey. He graduates in June, and will be playing football at a D1AA school for the next four years.

The one question I do have for you is: He is showing interest in continuing to compete, which he says he'd prefer to compete in Olympic events as opposed to power lifting meets. Where would you suggest he look to be able to stay involved and train in the SC / NC area. Around Greenville and Charlotte.


Videos of his lift, not so much for critique (though will happily accept them) but just a glimpse of what you helped develop. THANK YOU again....keep up the work...

(one glaring fault I think is the dip in the jerk, he was slow and maybe getting to low on the dip)

http://youtu.be/V71ee2ZRGTo

http://youtu.be/eVizkVaoae8

His 335 Miss....

http://youtu.be/jnIwgDTf-Cw

[Mark Rippetoe]

He's done a great job, obviously. As for that part of the country, anybody entitled to voice an opinion on the subject will tell you that the person to talk to is our very own Tbone, Tamara Cohen of Asheville S&C. She can get him hooked up with the right coach if he wants to pursue the Olympic lifts as a sport.

[crzipilot]

Thank you for the reply. He won't be far from Ashville, so we will have to look into that.

Thank you again...

[Domjo54]

Just wanted to say that I thought his backward fall and subsequent somersault was pretty cool. Nice job getting strong.