I attended the NAPF Bench Press Championships last year in Aruba and it was a fantastic meet.
I would go back to ARUBA in a heart beat.

I am hoping to get invited to attend the Costa Rica meet this fall and I am 100 percent POSITIVE regardless of air conditioning.
DR HUGO VALASQUEZ will do a 5 star/ world class job running the meet.
I got to spend some time traveling with Dr Velasquez and he is an outstanding first class gentleman.
His meet will be incredible with or without air conditioning.
The opportunity to represent our nation(USA) at an international meet as part of Team USA far outweighs any concerns about air conditioning.
Just to be on Team USA is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Congratulations to all TEAM USA members who went to ARUBA and did so well!


USA all the way!

I'm gonna call the hotel and have the double check the air conditioning for the Raw Nationals. I would hate for St. Louis to get a reputation as a "third world city" if our A/C breaks!! :lol:

1. Congratulations to all the Team USA competitors! Sorry I couldn't be there!

2. When I began lifting weights for my own fitness over 25 years ago while stationed in Panama with the AF, the gym there was not air-conditioned either--on a U.S. base. Adjust, prepare, be ready for the environment you will be in.

3. I was in Kansas City Highland Games last weekend: outdoors, open field in the sun (we had some canopies for shade), all day, 7 events, upper 80's for temps. Drink enough, eat right, take other precautions as needed. Prepare for the toughest of conditions and be grateful if they are better than anticipated.

4. As others have pointed out, the North American countries where we are trying to assist in promoting powerlifting live a much more modest and simple existence than we do. They often live happily and humbly without many things we often consider "essential". In contrast, when I lived in Germany from 1989-1994, a "modern Western" country, many if not most places there were NOT air-conditioned in summer. As Priscilla stated--"it is what it is".

5. Disa at such a svelte 67.3 kg? Will you be posing for the next "Women of USAPL" calendar <g>?

Well done to everyone!

Teresa Merrick/M3
Bellevue, NE

First I have to say the negativity of the post below is saddening, it amazes me that one lifter can post something and then everyone jump on board with the bashing. Speaking for my own experience down here, it was great. The venue is was hot, but we all adapted, lifted and most of us had a great time. It is what it is, I have lifted in worse, I have lifted in better, but the platform is always top notch and so are the people. Anyone who has had the opportunity to come to one of the North American events can relate to the fun, friendly times with the other countries. Each country who has hosted this event is growing to do a better job (not much different than any new meet director with wrinkles to iron out in their show). If Aruba puts on another in the future, I hope to have an honor to attend.

For the results, don't have any of the details, but at a high level, Sioux-z rocked the platform with 3 World records, The US Open Team took home gold in each weight category other than the 90+kg, which went to Puerto Rico, I believe the Sub Jr and Jrs also took the same. Best lifters were Erin Zinker- Sub jr, Sioux-z - Master, Sioux-z 3rd, Liane 2nd, myself 1st - Open best lifter. Team awards, the US Women did a sweep for Sub Jrs, Jrs, Open and Masters!!!

The Men's team was a little shy on lifters due to Men's Nationals the weekend before, but did a good showing as well. I didn't see the awards ceremonies for the men's, but the US took 2nd in the Open team, 1st in the Master, Subr & Jr. Best lifters went to Tim Smith - Sub Jr, Jim Brown - Master and Big Brad for the Open.

Brad put on an awesome show once again, going 6 for 9 with a questionable depth call on his 2nd squat. His bench seemed a little out of the groove for him this meet, only getting his opener and being the deadlifter that he is, pulled an easy 854 at the end, ending with a 1027kg total.

Huge thanks to our coaches and extra help during the meet. Jim Brown (women's team coach) and Matt Gary (Men's team coach) did an outstanding job!!!!! The first day we had one session with 2 flights and 21 US women to coach and they did it without skipping a beat! It was wonderful to have additional help of the men lifters (and visa versa when the men lifted) who stepped in and lent a helping hand, skin and sweat to each of the lifters. There are really too many to thank who stepped up and helped. Personal thanks to Larry for taking care of us Iron Maidens in Aruba.

Rob Keller,, Bill the cookie man Clayton did an great job with the referees and spent countless hours preparing the event. Jim (whose last name escapes me) did an AWESOME job spotting the entire meet. He even was the unlucky recipient of catching several squats that lifters dumped on him. Thanks Jim!

I would also like to give a huge congrats to Disa for becoming a 148er this meet! Yep, you heard it right, Miss Disa weighed in at a slim 67.3kgs. I am proud of you girl!

Until next time, I will miss the fruity tropical drinks by the beach! ;)

Costa Rica will be hosting the 2008 Pan-American and North American Bench Press Championship in September. And it will be held in the “Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica” in the city of Cartago. You can visit their web page is http://www.itcr.ac.cr to know about the site for the venue.

I’m an M.D., and as far as I know warm weather does not cause seizures unless the patient fails to take the proper medication or does not follow medical instructions. It is always the proper thing to do, that if you have a medical condition to check with you physician before you travel anywhere including within the US.

I have been doing powerlifting for the past 35 years, and I remember when I started the gyms didn’t have any AC … and we are talking about Houston, TX. I also went to UH, where I trained and played football, and we didn’t have AC. I also trained in some hardcore powerlifting gyms in Houston, and guess what …. no AC. In many competitions that I went, in Southern US back in the ´80s and ´90s, there was no AC (Ruston, LA; New Orleans, LA; Dallas, TX, Galveston, TX, Houston TX, Austin, TX) - Maybe, nowadays athletes are different … accustomed to being pampered and used to a more “comfortable and easygoing” competitions sites

I have travelled all over the world and competed in the many countries. And almost all of them don’t have AC. Unless, it’s in the Scandinavians (Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Finland), where the weather is so cold, that they need heater instead.

Powerlifting is a beautiful sport, and it’s just beginning in Central America and the Caribbean’s as you can in the NAPF web page. In our case, Costa Rica Powerlifting was founded barely four years ago after all the painstaking bureaucracy paperwork. We are proud of our results, on a national and international level, and we have done it with no government support. But we are not alone, same thing is happening with all the countries in the region, and all their athletes are going thru the same process of training and competing like that when I went thru when I was in the US back in the ´80s and ´90s, and it was called Raw Powerlifting … no BP shirts, no squat suits, no wraps … just you and your guts, and Mr. Robert Keller can vouch for that. And with NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, and nobody expects any in the future.

The NAPF is doing an excellent work in developing the sport in the region and bringing new members to the organization. It will take time for most countries, to be at the “new” American Powerlifting standards, since all sport facilities don’t have AC or Heater for that matter. Just a reminder, the powerlifting organizations in these countries are non-profit organizations according to their constitutions, and they don’t have the budget to do a powerlifting meet in a 5 star hotel. Instead of complaining, I congratulate the Aruba Powerlifting Federation for a very well organized championship knowing all the trouble they have gone thru.

The Pan-American and North American Bench Press Championship, for all those concerned, will be done in a non-AC site … since Cartago is the mountains, at 1300mts altitude and has a 75 degree weather all yearlong. All those who wishes to come, are more than welcome and we try to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

Rich,I think you misunderstood my post.
I said nothing about anyone "bitching"about anything. Maybe I was not clear.
What I mean is this---as meets are held in these countries we find some that do not have the
facilities that we have available in the USA. A/C may in fact not be available at a venue large enough to hold a NAPF Championship.
I dont know!!! As we do more Championships in these countries belonging to NAPF I am sure our inventory of available venues will get better.
A little history if you dont mind.
Some years ago Robert Keller and myself went to Guatemala City to observe a Championship. It was held in an older large brick building
that was owned by the government. It was a "sport complex" with boxing, martial arts, gymnastics, fencing, and many other sports.No A/C
People that went to this complex payed a very modest fee to train there, and I mean very modest as many were very poor.
The powerlifting gym was the place of the Championship. Each country involved took its turn SINGING the National Anthem of the country. No CDs, no tape, just athletes singing.
Keller and myself noticed the squat rack for this championship was one of those old 3 step training racks. They had no collars at all---just clips.
We saw almost no wraps or fitted costumes either and I just dont remember if anyone had a bench shirt.
With us was a very large bag loaded with Suits, shirts, Wraps etc donated by Inzer. Titan presented us the same donation.
Since that time the IPF Special fund to help developing countries also helped out. (many people did not know that fund even existed).
From what I understand ER racks and Ivenko sets are part of the items in use now.
What I am trying to say is some of these countries are very poor and A/C may not be as important to them. No argument they are better adjusted to the heat but I am sure as we have more Championships in Central America we will find better and better venues.

I am responding to the comment " Lets bring all the NAPF Championships to the USA till they get it right!!!”

The 2nd year this meet was held (2004) it took place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in April where the temperature reaches 80 degrees easily and the humidity can get above 90%. Although the venue itself was air-conditioned, the warm-up area, at least for the second session lifters was in a corridor that opened out to the loading dock whose doors were open. Needless to say this made the warm-up area very hot and humid. I make note of this only because simply bringing the meet to the USA will not guarantee ideal conditions.

Congratulations to Team USA. A big congratulations to Rita Carlsson and Vanessa Gauthier! Rita set two new American records in the deadlift and total! Vanessa placed first in the open and second in the junior division. Great job to everyone!

Steve Auxier-Team Nitro

As someone of advanced mass I can say heat does play a factor in how well I lift and how well I feel before and after wards.

However when you travel to compete you take into consideration the environment for which you will compete and you adapt.
Liquids alone can starve off heat related issues very easily. When I lift and its hot.. water non stop when I lift.

On the flip side when contest venue is to cold.. I do just fine... in fact.. I LOVE IT! .. Shall we bring in space heaters then?

Train for not only big lifts but for where you compete.. This is Powerlifting.. not checkers.

And to the 'guest' whom said that we should bring it back to the US (whom sees the need to post from a library to hide his tracks) till they 'get it right' I have to say your statement screams with arrogance. I think if you are really part of this contest and talk like that.. no one would miss you from future NAPF events.

If they arrive on Monday before the competition, they had sometime to climatize themselves with the environment. This weather is normal for the folks in the Carribean. Adjust and overcome the environment and you will be all right. Review the warning signs of Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion, and Heat Stroke and take the necessary precautions to avoid it and you will be all right. Do not think that when you get onto the Platform at a meet and think that the AC is keeping the platform cool when you do your attempts. For those at the recent Men's Teens, Juniors, and Open National, I worked on the platform spotting and loading each day and I was sweating a ton. Even with AC going on the venue, if there is a lot of people watching the event, expect a lot of CO2 in the air which warms up the room. For those who were there, I drank plenty of water to keep myself hydrated to keep that platform going. As for the meet, Does anyone know how everyone did at the Competition? I know phone calls are expensive internationally but I hope someone with internet access would be able to tell everyone outside of Aruba how everyone did and if there was some amazing lifts made.