The 2009 USAPL Press Nationals - Cleveland, OH - 9/12-13

[Steve P]

Cleveland, Ohio is proud to present the 2009 USAPL National Bench Press Championship

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com

August 29th is a very important date to know as the event approaches:


***** Entry Forms *****

Please have your Entry Forms postmarked by August 29th. Currently the Entry Fee for the First Division is only $50*. Each Additional Division is only $25 more. These will increase to $70 and $30 respectively after the August 29th Deadline Date. The Team Entry Fee will also increase from $50 to $70 after that date.

*You also receive One Free Event T-Shirt with your First Division Entry. Please make sure you include your size on the Entry Form.

***** Additional Event T-Shirt Forms *****

We also have an Order Form for Additional Event T-Shirts. These are $12 if purchased by August 29th. They will be $15 at the meet.

Both the Entry Form and the Additional T-Shirt Form can be found via this link:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/entryform.html

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***** Hotel Reservations *****

For those who are deciding to stay an extra night, please note that we are going to have After Parties on both Saturday and Sunday Evenings. The details of each party will be announced soon.

Please Reserve your Hotel Rooms by August 29th. Our Group Rate is $111 per night. After this date, we cannot guarantee rooms at the Group Rate as they will be released back to the hotel. The current Hotel Special Weekend Rate is $149 per night. Obviously you will save $38 per night by booking early.

Hotel Reservations can be made through the following link:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/reservations.html

When you click on one of the links on this page, you will be re-directed the hotel site.

STEP 1: The dates will default to a Friday September 11th Check-In and a Monday September 14th Check Out. These can be manually changed by you to meet your needs. You do not have to put in the code supplied; it is included in your link to the Single or Double Room choice. This code is only utilized by the hotel.

After your dates are selected, click on the “Check Availability” Button.

STEP 2: On this page you will click the “Reserve a Room” Button.

STEP 3: On this page you will still have to select a room choice or no preference. Yes, I know what you are thinking; this seems redundant as you already selected the link that was supposed to make that choice for you. The Hotel has some internal reasons for doing it this way, one of which is to meet our groups’ room type needs.

You will see the following on this page:

These options can be guaranteed for your arrival.
This hotel has a smoke-free policy

Select One of the 4 Options:
* No bed or smoking preferences
* 1 king bed
* 1 queen bed
* 2 queen beds

STEP 4: After selecting your option from the previous page, you might get one of two messages on this page.

Your request for 1 King Bed is not available at this time. We have noted your request.
Not available at this time: 1 King Bed

In the event that a Single King is not available (they are limited), the Single Queen will be provided.

-or-

Your request for 2 Queen Beds is not available at this time. We have noted your request.
Not available at this time: 2 Queen Beds

In regards to the 2 Queen Beds, the Hotel is managing the two-bedded inventory and you will receive a confirmation guaranteeing your two-bed request.

If you have any concerns after making your reservations, please contact the hotel at:
Toll-free: 1-800-468-3571

***** Hotel Parking *****

Parking Fees are listed with Default Amounts as shown below

Parking
-On-site parking, fee: 23 USD daily
-Valet parking, fee: 30 USD daily
-Off-site parking, fee: 2.5 USD hourly, 12 USD daily

However, please look at the Rate Rules Section just below this to see the adjusted prices for our group which are $15 for Self-Parking and $25 for Valet Parking.

I will be posting more updates soon under this thread answering some questions that I have been receiving via email from some of our competitors.

Stay Strong!
-Steve Petrencak

[Steve P]

To clear up some confusion, I want to re-iterate from the post above that you get One Free Event T-Shirt with your First $50 Division Entry. Enter your Size for that one shirt on the Entry Form

If you would like to order additional Event T-Shirts, please use the Additional Event T-Shirts Order Form

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/entryform.html

Thanks in advance
-Steve

[Steve P]

Scales:

We will have a scale available starting Friday Morning.

=======================================================

Boards:

We are planning on having about 3 sets of boards in the warm up area during the competition.

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Team Scoring:

Teams will score points based on the IPF style of scoring:

Each weight class will be grouped together regardless of division. The top weight lifted will earn 12 points, second will earn 9, third will earn 8 and so on. Everyone will earn at least 1 point as long as one of their lifts is passed. Only the top 6 from each team will count towards the team total.

Scoring will be the same for both Men and Women Teams

Awards will be given to the Top Two teams for Men and Women

=======================================================

Battle of the States:

Most of you know that we have two Traveling Plaques (One for the Men and one for the Women). This is separate from the Team Entries of the Meet. Scoring, as always, follows the same scoring that is mentioned above. All lifters are automatically a part of this and will represent their respective state. (No entry is necessary – Both traveling plaques were graciously donated to us by Al Siegel)

Current Holders of the Plaques are:

Men: Ohio
Women: North Carolina

Previous Battle of the State Winners can be found here:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/results.html

Stay Strong!
-Steve Petrencak

[Steve P]

August 29th Reminder

***** Entry Forms *****

Please have your Entry Forms postmarked by August 29th. Currently the Entry Fee for the First Division is only $50*. Each Additional Division is only $25 more. These will increase to $70 and $30 respectively after the August 29th Deadline Date. The Team Entry Fee will also increase from $50 to $70 after that date.

*You also receive One Free Event T-Shirt with your First Division Entry. Please make sure you include your size on the Entry Form.

***** Additional Event T-Shirt Forms *****

We also have an Order Form for Additional Event T-Shirts. These are $12 if purchased by August 29th. They will be $15 at the meet.

Again, you get One Free Shirt with your meet entry, just include that size on your Entry Form. Only use the additional T-Shirt form to order Additional T-Shirts in advance.

Both the Entry Form and the Additional T-Shirt Form can be found via this link:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/entryform.html

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***** Hotel Reservations *****

For those who are deciding to stay an extra night, please note that we are going to have After Parties on both Saturday and Sunday Evenings. The details of each party will be announced soon.

Please Reserve your Hotel Rooms by August 29th.

Hotel Reservations can be made through the following link:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/reservations.html

If you have any concerns after making your reservations, please contact the hotel at:
Toll-free: 1-800-468-3571

Bench Press Group Codes:
Single: bpnbpna
Double: bpnbpnb

[Steve P]

***** Foot Blocks *****

Joe Marksteiner has made two sets of foot blocks. The blocks will be adjustable in 5 cm increments from 5 cm to 35 cm (approx 2 inches to 14 inches).

We will have one set on the platform and a matching set in the warm-up area.

[Steve P]

***** Hotel Reservations *****

Due to many last minute entries, the hotel has extended our group rate cut off date to September 4th

For those who are deciding to stay an extra night, please note that we are going to have After Parties on both Saturday and Sunday Evenings. The details of each party will be announced soon.

Hotel Reservations can be made through the following link or by calling with our group rate codes:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/reservations.html

If you have any concerns after making your reservations, please contact the hotel at:

Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
24 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 USA
Phone: 1-216-696-5600
Toll-free: 1-800-468-3571

Use the following Bench Press Group Codes:
Single: bpnbpna
Double: bpnbpnb

***** Saunas *****

We will have 2 Saunas available starting Friday Morning in the Exhibition Area.

[Steve P]

For those lifters that will be taking the RTA (Rapid Transit from the airport to the hotel)

-RTA's (Rapid Transit) station is located on the lower level of the main terminal at Hopkins Airport. To reach the RTA station, travelers should use the elevators or escalators located in the center of the ticketing and baggage claim levels.

-Take the RTA - Red Line (Airport-Windmere 66) Train - East

-You are going from the The Airport (Stop A) to Tower City (Stop D)

-Trains Depart every 20 minutes and are priced at around $2.25 each way

-When you get off the train and go through the turnstile, make a left and go up the escalator (Signs should read "Public Square").

-At the top of the escalator turn left and then turn right. Continue walking toward the Doors leading oustide to the street.

-When you get to that point turn left, where you will see a sign for the Renaissance Hotel.

-When you get to the end of the corridor go to the right and up a couple of steps to get to the main lobby of the Hotel

Hope this helps

Travel Safe!
-Steve

[Steve P]

The Weekend Schedule has been updated:

http://www.usaplbenchpressnationals.com/schedule.html

Due to the limited interest in a Friday Night Gathering with most lifters competing on Saturday, we have moved those finances towards the 2 After Parties on Saturday and Sunday Evenings.

Stay Strong and Travel Safe!
-Steve