Strongest in the Rendezvous Region

Saturday, August 9th, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Who wants to do a good old fashion lifting competition? We think it sounds like a lot of fun!

How’s this going to work? We will ADD UP your 1RM lifts for bench press, back squat, and deadlift. Athletes, if you can lift an accumulation of 500 lbs, you will win a 500 lb club t-shirt. Perhaps you’ll even try for 750 lbs? Or maybe you will go crazy and attempt an accumulation of 1,000 lbs?

A $30 entry fee gets you into the competition.

Athletes that successfully follow all the rules will earn a custom t-shirt. T-shirts are only earned by following all rules and movement standards. So be sure to read through all the rules and movement standards. T-shirts will be printed individually for everyone after the competition is completed.

Find your max cumulative total for the following three lifts in this order:    

  • Bench Press

  • Back Squat

  • Deadlift

Target Weight Division Tiers

  • 500lbs - 749lbs

  • 750lbs - 999lbs

  • 1000lbs - 1249lbs

  • 1250lbs - 1499lbs

  • 1500lbs +

Organization of the Event

A starting weight will be determined for all athletes, based on their 1RM weight.

  • Athletes will be split in to different groups, based on their expected 1RM number.

  • 1st Attempt: All athletes will attempt to lift the first weight once. Those who successfully followed the movement standard, will get back in line for the second attempt, which will be heavier.

  • 2nd Attempt: All those who successfully followed the movement standard at the heavier weight, will get back in line for the third attempt, which will be heavier.

  • 3rd - 5th Attempt: All those who successfully followed the movement standard at the heavier weight, can get back in line for up to 2 more attempts to find their 1RM. A maximum of 5 attempts will be allowed.

Equipment Details:

  • White tape will mark bench grip maximum hand placement width - 81 cm (31.9”)

  • Standard 35LB (women) and 45LB (men) Barbell

  • Gym Chalk

  • Weightlifting Belt

  • Knee/Elbow Sleeves (single or pairs)

  • Wrist Supports/Wraps

  • Lifting Gloves (excluding hooks)

  • Mouthguards

  • Recommended: Shoes of any style (not required)

White tape will mark bench grip maximum hand placement width - 81 cm (31.9”). A standard 35LB barbell will be used for the women and 45LB barbell for the men.

Permitted Equipment:

NOT Permitted Equipment:

  • Tacky of any kind

  • Liquid Grip

  • Lifting straps or hooks of any kind

  • Multiple layers of sleeves/wraps on top of each other

  • Specialty barbells including safety squat bars, trap bars etc.

  • Any pads added to the barbell for the back squat

Movement Standards

  • Bench Press Standards

    1. A spotter may help to assist with taking the bar out of the rack to the starting position with the athlete’s arms fully extended and the bar fully supported over the chest by the athlete. Once the assistant lets go of the bar at the starting position, they may not touch the bar again until helping to re-rack when the lift is done.

    2. Both complete shoulder blades and the glutes must be in contact with the bench pad at all times. If either comes off of the pad during a lift, the lift will not count.

    3. Lifter may have plates or blocks under their feet. If either foot comes off of the floor or plates during a lift, the lift will not count.

    4. Hooking of feet/legs around the bench supports is not permitted

    5. The spacing of the hands cannot exceed 81 cm (31.9") measured between the index fingers. . If the hands move outside of the designated markings during a lift attempt, that single repetition will not be counted.

    6. There must be clear contact with the chest. Once contact has been made the athlete will then press the bar back to the starting position with the elbows clearly extended and the bar over the chest.

    7. Once the arms are fully extended, the athlete must show a pause to demonstrate full control prior to reracking the barbell

    8. Deliberately bouncing the barbell off the chest will not be allowed

  • Back Squat Standards

    1. The barbell must be unracked from the squat rack without assistance

    2. After unracking the bar, the athlete must step back to begin the squat

    3. The athlete must squat to a depth BELOW PARALLEL where the hip crease is clearly below the top of the knee with the barbell controlled in a back rack position

    4. High or Low Bar positions are both acceptable

    5. The athlete must then stand, without assistance to a position where the knees and hips are fully extended with the barbell supported in the back rack position

    6. The athlete must rerack the barbell without assistance to complete the lift

  • Deadlift Standards

    1. This is a traditional deadlift with the hands outside of the knees (Sumo Deadlift is not permitted).

    2. Any style of grip is allowed.

    3. The bar is lifted to the finishing position where the hips and knees are fully extended with the head and shoulders behind the bar.

    4. Once the athlete reaches the required finishing position, they will lower the barbell to the ground while maintaining control of the bar.

    5. Dropping the bar is NOT allowed.