USAWA

Since 2017, the Heavy Lift Championships have been held exclusively by two clubs, Frank’s Barbell Club and KCSTRONGMAN. In 2025, both gyms held the event simultaneously, to open the event to more lifters.

This year, we are happy to announce we will be offering the Heavy Lift Championship at 3 venues, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Colorado!

Meet name: Heavy Lift Championship
Date: May 2, 2026
Midwest Location: 10978 SW Pueblo Dr, Turney, MO (KCStrongMan)
Northeast Location: 204 East Street, East Walpole, MA 02032 (Frank’s Barbell Club)
Western Location: Lakewood, CO, 80235 (High Country Vigour)
Promoter: Jessica Hopps, Frank’s Barbell Club
Sanctioned by: USAWA-membership is required of all lifters
Lifts: Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh, Hip Lift
Cost: $35 (payment (check, PayPal or Venmo to Jessica Hopps- please email for payment details)
Entry Form
Awards: There will be awards for the lifters
This is a drug tested event. Please only enter if you know you can pass a drug test!

I guess you could say that the long, cold New England winters are getting a little mundane… so the gang up at Franks is looking to spice things up with some unique lifts in this year’s March Madness Challenge and Record Day meet. Lifters will submit their best attempts in the contested lifts, along with up to 5 optional Record Day lifts.

Date: March 21, 2026 10:00am
Location: Franks Barbell Club, Walpole MA and remote
The Lifts:
-Ciavattone Deadlift (B3)
-Bench Dip (D5)
-Ziegler Clean (A49)
-Abdominal Raise (D1)
-Barbell Curl- strict (D10)

How to enter: To complete remotely, please let Jessica Hopps know no later than March 11, 2026 of plans to compete. Please submit remote results to: jessicahopps1@gmail.com no later than March 23, 2026. If lifting remotely, please include the names of officials present to be considered for records.
MUST BE A USAWA MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE
Record day: Lifters can choose to contest up to 5 USAWA/IAWA lifts to compete for record attempts
Contact: For any questions, contact Jessica Hopps at jessicahopps1@gmail.com

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
Address: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, Colorado
Weigh-Ins: 9 AM; Lifting Begins: 10 AM
The Lifts:
-Pinch Grip Deadlift – One Hand (I16)
-Deadlift, Fulton DB, One Arm (F8)
-Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 1″ (I26)
-Deadlift, 3″ Bar (I4)
Exhibition Lift: One Hand Pinch Grip Clean and Press (IAWA lift F18) – Contested at the 2026 British Grip Champs
Entry Fee: $10 (waived for Junior athletes)
To Enter: The meet is open to any USAWA member. Entries deadline March 21, 2026
Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta, contact by email sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com
USAWA Membership Required
Awards: Best Lifter Award to the men’s and women’s champion. Other awards may be added based on number of entries.
Record Session: Each lifter can perform up to 5 records if equipment is available and time allows
Hybrid: Remote entries will NOT be allowed.

Athletes can look forward to some grip sport inspired USAWA events

The Grip Championship was created by Al Myers in 2011 and was hosted in Abilene, KS until 2024. It moved to Lakewood, CO in 2025. Ben Edwards is the reigning defending champion.

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Address: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, Colorado
Weigh-Ins: 9 AM; Lifting Begins: 10 AM
The Lifts:
-Clean and Press (A10)
-Clean and Push Press (A18)
-Continental to Chest and Jerk (A24)
Entry Fee: $5 (waived for Junior athletes); late entry fee $10
To Enter: The meet is open to any USAWA member. Entries deadline February 7, 2026
Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta, contact by email sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com
USAWA Membership Required
Record Session: Each lifter can perform up to 5 records if equipment is available and time allows
Hybrid: Remote entries will be allowed and included in the results. Results due by February 16, 2026. Officials are required for records

Athletes can look forward to an overhead challenge inspired by the Olympic Clean & Press and the Clean & Jerk.

This is the second installment of the High Country Vigour Challenge. Inspired by the Dino Gym, we did the Single Arm Challenge in 2025 and are following it up with a ground to overhead challenge in 2026.

The Lifts:

• Snatch – One Arm (A48)
• Bench Press – Reverse Grip (A5)
• Deadlift – 2 Bars (B2)

The USAWA Postal Series consists of 4 quarterly postal meets. These Postal Meets may be contested anywhere with the results being sent to the USAWA Postal Meet Director Denny Habecker. This allows any member of the USAWA to compete in an USAWA competition without the expense of traveling. The basic rules for entering a USAWA Postal Meet are as follows:

• Must be a CURRENT member of the USAWA
• All lifts must be done on the same day
• USAWA rules apply as outlined in Rule Book
• 3 attempts allowed with best attempt recorded
• Bodyweight and Age apply as to the day of lifting
• Must turn in official scoresheet by deadline
• Record results on scoresheet in pounds
• At least 1 certified official required for records
• May enter with a non-certified judge but will not be eligible for records
• Scoresheet must be fully filled out
• No entry fee

Entry Form: 2026 1st Quarter Postal Entry Form