UPA

[Big Jawn]

The UPA or United Powerlifting Association...what seems to be the bastard love child of the unhappiness with the IPA's way of doing things and KK's, WPO slip ups has sprouted.

I haven't heard the details yet, but it seems to be another federation started by a powerlifter discusted with the available options, so he goes off and figures he can save the sport by starting a new fed. Its really doing quite the opposite, its just spreading the sport thiner and thiner...is there really any question as to why this sport is progressing so slowly? You can't just leave your federation and start a new one assuming it will fix all. Sorry to bring in some politics...but this is really getting to me, its been building up for some time.

I think what the IPF is doing by creating the Lifters & Coaches Commissions is a step in the right direction. In functional organizations of all sorts, you don't just leave and restart, you make suggestions, discuss, compomise and fix those problems, do what you've got to do to survive. I'd be much happier seeing the bulk of lifters leaving the APF/WPO go to the IPA or USAPL. I'm all for progression of this sport, however it happens...

I'd like the powerlifters view on this, Brian, Ironbuster, deeds, tek, beast...I'm looking to you guys for some views here.

[Powerfreak]

Fuck it! There will never be a federation that is going to please everyone
I prefer the IPA because it is a fun fed to lift in and the people that run it are very close friends.
If I want to do a meet that is run by another fed that does not mean I am abandoning the IPA, I am just going to compete and when the next IPA meet comes around I will be there just as I always have been. The IPA Worlds and Nationals are held less than 2 hours from my house,yet I have traveled all over the country to compete in the APF and WPO, because I wanted to compete in their National level meets also.
The start of another fed? no big deal, just gives people an opportunity for something different, does not mean it is designed to replace anything.If some people are against the UPA, don't fucking lift in it, it ain't fucking rocket science.

[grissinger]

I agree with Brian. The more the better b/c the problem with this sport is exposure. I have traveled all over the world the last 25 years and I competed in the event that put the flyer up in the base gym. I could care less which orginazation sponsered the meet. I didn't compete for an organization. I wanted to win but more importantly I just wanted to play. A good example of the problem with exposure is this thread. Not trying to piss anyone off believe me. You are asking Brian, Ironbuster, deeds, tek, beast their opinions when you should be including people like me and many others, the second tier lifters , their opinions. What will get us to the meets? For the most part the elite guys are going to lift in any meet in any organization.. Actually any lifter will if we know where they are. You need to get guys like me on board. All this politics is sorta mind boggleing and frustrating. I lift b/c I am not smart enough to play chess and not coordinated to figure skate. I barley care who the President is and could give a shit less who the governor is, I am not sure PA has a governor. So all this BS in powerlifting is a big turnoff. Should spend more time getting us grassroots guys putting up flyers and promoting ALL the orginazations powerlifting meets.. Example, went looking for ADFPF meet in Hagerstown a couple weeks ago. Would probably never lift in this organization. However, it is an outstanding orginazation with good principles and I love to go watch and support Not one flyer promoting the event, website didn't have an address of the event. Went to 4 different gyms In Hagerstown not one had heard of it. Power Palooza, I live 150 miles away and not one flyer in any of the gyms I checked out (at least 20) within 50 miles of me. Brian I live in a podunk blue collar town I could have gotten 20 people to come if it would have been promoted better. Fifty if Rage is going to be there. I know this was long winded but I have been coplaining about the lack of respect powerlifting gets for the last 15 years. It is getting worse and it is our fault. It would be better to have 500,000 lifters that belonged to all 15+ orginzations then for eash orginization to have 100 select members. I hope I didn't piss anybody off but this thread sorta of indirectly excluded the midgrade powerbuilder. Exclusion is not what this sport needs. I am with Brian, fuck which orginazation, tell me the rules and I will be there. I am not going to complain/whine about getting beat by someone wearing double denim, super poly whatever, I think they will sell that suit to me also. The fact is the guy who squats 700+ pounds is going to beat me if we squat naked, which will probably be the next orginization.

[Punisher]

Grissinger, I like your style

[deeder]

"Its really doing quite the opposite, its just spreading the sport thiner and thiner.."

Freak and grissinger, how can you not see that this is the case? I'd say the main reason powerlifting gets no credibility as a sport is because there are so many different federations with completely different rules. By creating more federations you're doing exactly what you're against grissinger, making it impossible to have more than "100 select members". Because as soon as it gets bigger, someone else is gonna say fuck this... I'm making my own fed.

I agree with what you both said about needing more exposure and who cares what meet you go to, but I think Jawn has a point here too.

grissinger - I am FAR from an elite powerlifter! Hahah, check out my journal. I don't think Jawn's intent was to exclude anyone... He was just throwing out a few names of people who he'd like to hear from.

[grissinger]

I defintley see your point but I disagree. There are no rules saying you can not belong to more then one organization. I think alot of it is demographics. When I was in California it seemed like all I could compete in was USPF meets. I am not 100% happy, probably not even 80%, satisfied with the USPF. They tell me the rules and I play. As a matter of fact I will be competing in the USPF Nationals this year and I hope other people fly out to Vegas and compete regardless of the fed they belong to. I want the competition and Vegas is a great town. I just retired from the Navy and recently relocated to Pa. IPA seems to be the orginazation that best fits me. Never have used double ply gear but that is what they use that is what I will use. Inzer is an easy site to get to and the take credit cards. I have heard people whine about the judging what the fuck, USPF had the same complaints. The irony is no matter what a judge does the loser, will always complain , "they call to deep"' "they don't call deep enough." They have never missed a lift in their mind. What's worse is when their friends started criticizing. The judges aren't lifting the weights. I have to tell you that powerlfting got little respect when it was just a couple organizations. I have never understood why. Somebody made a point a couple weeks ago about Olympic lifting being on TV in the shittest hours. Hell we will be lucky if it gets on at all this round b/c god know we need to see one more fucking poker tournament.

[deeder]

I defintley see your point but I disagree. There are no rules saying you can not belong to more then one organization. I think alot of it is demographics. When I was in California it seemed like all I could compete in was USPF meets. I am not 100% happy, probably not even 80%, satisfied with the USPF. They tell me the rules and I play. As a matter of fact I will be competing in the USPF Nationals this year and I hope other people fly out to Vegas and compete regardless of the fed they belong to. I want the competition and Vegas is a great town. I just retired from the Navy and recently relocated to Pa. IPA seems to be the orginazation that best fits me. Never have used double ply gear but that is what they use that is what I will use. Inzer is an easy site to get to and the take credit cards. I have heard people whine about the judging what the fuck, USPF had the same complaints. The irony is no matter what a judge does the loser, will always complain , "they call to deep"' "they don't call deep enough." They have never missed a lift in their mind. What's worse is when their friends started criticizing. The judges aren't lifting the weights. I have to tell you that powerlfting got little respect when it was just a couple organizations. I have never understood why. Somebody made a point a couple weeks ago about Olympic lifting being on TV in the shittest hours. Hell we will be lucky if it gets on at all this round b/c god know we need to see one more fucking poker tournament.

True, no one says you can't lift in all the feds. I guess people get comfortable with a certain set of rules/style of judging and don't like to deviate too far from it. You're right about the bitching and moaning too. There was a lot of bitching about judging at the CPU (IPF affiliate) nationals this year. Mostly, squats being called too deep and inconsistency with the new press command for bench press. Like you said though, they set the rules, you gotta follow them. If that means squatting an inch deeper than you're used to, just do it.