Some of Canada’s strongest men and women are gathering in Regina this week for the 2016 Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.
It’s the largest Canadian Powerlifting Union event ever.
“We are going to see the strongest male and female athletes competing for the crown of national champion,” organizer, athlete, referee and coach Ryan Fowler said.
The Saskatchewan Powerlifting Association put a bid in to host the event in 2014 and has been organizing ever since. Fowler said now that the competition has begun, it’s very rewarding.
“It’s going to be nice to see a world-class competition here in Regina,” he said.
The competition will also showcase Saskatchewan strength. Fowler said the powerlifting community in the prairies has grown immensely in the last few years, and 77 homegrown athletes are competing.
“That just speaks to the caliber of lifting that’s going on in Saskatchewan,” he said.
“We have athletes from the age 14 all the way up to Master 4 which is 70 and above.”
One of those competitors is Moose Jaw’s Brianna Walz. The national stage is only her third competition, but she has been preparing for months.
“Definitely taking better notice of what I’m putting into my body,” she said.
Walz trains for over two hours, six days a week, but she says she still feels nervous.
“Nervous, definitely nervous,” she said, adding she prepares by calming her anxiety.
“Calming it down, being like ‘I got this, it’s going to be easy.'”
She said Saskatchewan has a reputation for bringing the best athletes, but the powerlifting community is also really close.
“It’s more of a family I think than anything. Everyone really works together,” she said.
“Everyone cheers you on as a whole.”
The competition takes place at the Double Tree by Hilton until Feb. 20 with two to three sessions daily. To find a specific event visit the Saskatchewan Powerlifting website.
Courtesy of: CBC News Saskatchewan