Saturday, December 21, 2013

Powerlifting Legacy

Recently I have observed a powerlifters locally discussing  preserving the history of our sport by ensuring and promoting equipped lifting. It's an interesting topic because in Australia they suggest  that without equipped lifting back in the day the sport would have died as there was no raw lifting (so I am lead to believe).

So I find it an interesting topic because equipped back in the seventies and early to mid eighties doesn't really bear any resemblance to today's multi-ply equipment nor to the assistance rendered by the modern single ply suits and briefs. They are just a fuck load apart given how little assistance the gear of old provided relative to today.

I am a big believer in each to his own and regardless of how much assistance you get from the gear you still have to lift the weight. However it would seem that a fringe sport that is now starting to experience a resurgence in this country should tread carefully lest we kill the goose that laid the golden egg.  Already we struggle for mainstream acceptance because the presence of multiple spotters and mono-lifts reduces the spectacle for the uninitiated spectator. Add in the concept of equipped gear and it starts to move further away from what lifting should be about. Importantly it makes it less acceptable to a broader audience and fuck I want more people to experience this great sport I have been fortunate to find.

Think about it.
Thomo


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