Posted by Jackson Lee
on September 16, 2009, 4:41 pm
160.93.223.138
Our problem is the same as every other organization that is not named U.S.A.P.L.
It’s not so much that we don’t have “a” World Championship, we don’t have “the” world championship.
When the IPF took away the USPF international affiliation and gave it to the USAPL (ADFPA), the USAPL became the big dog in the meat house. The IPF is the only true World Championship, every other organization is doing the phrase a disservice. Powerlifting is not and will never be a mainstream sport. It is and always will be a fractured sport. That having been said, “you gotta get in where you fit in”.
There’s a myriad of organizations operating in this country. Most of us pick where we compete using a wide range of criteria. Doped up vs. drug free, suited up vs. raw, strict judging vs. anyway you can get it up. And believe it or not finances. Being a part of a regional organization means that you don’t have to travel far and spend a lot of money to compete 4-5 times a year.
The reality for most of us is that we are not elite athletes, but just folk who love the sport and want to compete. Most of us are not world champion or even national champion material, but we still like being on the platform and testing ourselves. Ten years ago after I won my first title in the ADAU I wrote Big Al a letter. In it I told him that I had no delusions about being the strongest 319# lifter in the country. Never the less I was proud to be the best 319 lber that showed up on that day who was willing to take a drug test, perform sans supportive gear and be judged by strict criteria.
I could go on and on about how much disdain I have for lifters who take drugs or wear bench shirts and squat suits, but our sport has enough problems without me ranting. Instead I’ll just say that the ADAU is a good fit for me. If any lifter, elite or gym rat, decides that our product no longer fits their needs, then they should leave with our blessings. They should also be allowed to return under the same circumstances.
The ADAU is what it is. A small regional organization that gives lifters the opportunity to compete with like minded individuals. No drugs, no gear, strict fair rules and run by honest men and women of integrity. Although I would love to see our numbers grow, we should not bend or modify our rules or stance simply to bolster our rolls. I am happy that my children have a place to learn and grow in our sport among athletes with integrity and a sense of family values. If that means that our membership stays at 300 for the next 10 years, then so be it.
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