On January 26, 2025, Stone and Steel Gym will be hosting its first powerlifting meet, first of an annual series, this January. Prior Registration is required by filling in the form located on this page. We'll capping this first meet out at 20 lifters to make sure that we can run it in a smooth and timely manner.

This is an event intended to be a fun and supportive way for gym members to track their annual progress. The meet will be free to all gym members. Instead of weight classes we'll be ranking in four categories: Overall Open, Overall Women's, Pound for Pound Open, Pound for Pound Women's.

Lifters who require accommodation for injury or disability should email info@stoneandsteelgym.com ahead of the event.

Lifters should arrive promptly at 2pm for registration and weigh in. Lifters will submit their opening squat at registration. We'll have a brief meeting to discuss the rules for the meeting and a demonstration of what's expected for all lifts. We'll then have ~20 minutes for lifters to start warming up before we begin the meet.

Lifters should bring adequate food and drink for approximately 2-4 hours.

Personal Equipment

Required equipment for all lifts:
Appropriate clothing, closed toed shoes.

Allowed equipment for all lifts:
A single weightlifting belt and a single pair of knee sleeves at any time (lifters may wear different belts or sleeves for different lifts); Wrist wraps; Lifting straps (no figure 8 straps are permitted).

Prohibited equipment for all lifts:
Knee or elbow wraps, elbow sleeves, assistive garments such as bench shirts, slingshots, deadlift suits, and power briefs. Figure 8 straps.

If you plan to use a piece of personal equipment not listed above, inquire with staff before the competition.

The Lifts

For the safety of all participants, the lifter must stay with the bar at all times during all lifts. Do not bail a squat. All squats will be done with safeties in place, failure to set a failed squat down safely will result in immediate removal from the meet.

All weights will be submitted and tracked in pounds in 5 lbs increments. Lifters will have 3 attempts at each lift.  After a lift attempt the lifter will have 1 minute to submit their next lift weight, failure to do so will result in automatic 5lb increase for the next attempt.

Squat:
The lifter must remove the bar from the rack, squat, and return it unaided for a good lift. The lifters must descend until the top surface of the legs at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knees. Double bouncing at the bottom of the squat or any downward movement of the bar during the ascent is not permitted. A lift must begin and end with the lifter stable and with locked out knees before descending and after ascending. 

Bench Press:
The lifter may use a liftoff if desired. The lifter must unrack the bar and hold it stable with elbows locked, lower the bar in a controller manner, touch the chest and pause momentarily, then press the bar until the elbows are locked out. Bouncing off of or excessive sinking the bar into the chest is not permitted, and any downward movement during the ascent is not permitted. The lifter’s buttocks must stay in contact with the bench at all times after unracking the bar. Failure to lockout the bar fully before reracking will disqualify that lift.

Deadlift:
Deadlifts must be performed conventionally, not sumo, the bar must be gripped outside of the lower legs. Conventional lifting straps are permitted, but the bar must remain in a firmly closed grip, no fingertip grips. Lifters must lock out deadlifts fully with shoulders back, hips forward, and knees lock, wait for a down command, then return the bar to the platform under control for a good lift.

Injury or disability modifications:
A lifter may choose to front squat if a prior injury or disability prevents back squatting. If a lifter requires any other modifications or dispensations they must check with event staff ahead of the start of the meet.

Weigh in

Weigh ins will be performed during check-in with the lifter wearing the clothing they intend to wear during their lifts. Lifters are not required to weigh in with their knee sleeves, wraps, belt, or lifting straps. For hygene reasons shoes are required during the weigh in. If a lifter will be wearing different shoes for different lifts, lifters should wear their squat shoes for weigh in.