In case you've ever wondered how it's possible for one person to bench press 500 pounds or be able to dead lift 700 pounds off the ground, then stand upright and hold it in a standing position, you can see for yourself today at the Northern Powerlifting Classic.
Forty-five lifters from various parts in B.C. are entered in the one-day event, which starts today at 9 a.m. and continues until about 7 p.m. at Xconditioning, 505 Second Ave.
The lifters will be divided into three flights, based on ability.
Everyone will be entered into the squat event, in which the bar is loaded onto the lifter's shoulders before he or she drops to a deep knee bend. That will be followed by the bench press event and then the dead lift. Each competitor will be granted three attempts at any given weight.
Sanctioned by the Canadian Powerlifting Association, this marks the third annual Prince George meet. Some of the competitors will move on to the national and world championships.
Classic organizer Jay Cook plans to compete in the national meet in Amhurst, N.S., at the end of June but won't be lifting today. He and his business partner at Xconditioning, Mike Webber, will be judges.
"You have to watch technical rules, so that they follow the commands and they're squatting deep enough, and in bench press that they touch their chest, and in dead lift that they lock their body up and stand straight up," said Cook.
"Some of the bigger guys, we'll see some squats up over 600 pounds, some bench presses close to 500 and dead lifts near 700 probably. It should be fun."
Seventeen competitors from the Xconditioning gym are entered. A group of high school students from the Prince George secondary school weightlifting club, overseen by coach Louie van Grootel, will add to the local content.
"We have lots of first-time competitors this year, it's nice to see the sport growing," said Cook.
Admission is $10 at the door. Kids will be admitted free.
