2017 USAWA YEAR IN REVIEW Dear USAWA members and friends, Every year I have compiled a USAWA Year in Review, which takes all the information (blogs, meet results, news, history archives, etc.) from the USAWA website and places this information into one book. I do this this for one reason – to preserve the history of the USAWA in printed form. This book is also available for free download from the USAWA website if someone would prefer it in a digital format or just wants a copy to print off themselves. Every year it surprises me by the quantity of information that is put on the USAWA website. This is possible because of the support of the membership – those that have written blogs, submitted meet results, and sent in other news. This Year in Review book contains the information as it appeared on the website. I did not do any special editing for this book, thus the reason for the uneven format and layout. I want to especially thank those that have supported the USAWA and the USAWA website throughout the past year. SINCERELY, Al Myers, USAWA Secretary and Publisher of the USAWA Year in Review STEVIE SHANKS AND THE DINNIE STONES January 1, 2017 Al Myers Edit Post By Al Myers Stevie Shanks making a successful lift of the Dinnie Stones unassisted on October 3rd, 2015. It’s about time I revisit a passion of mine – the Dinnie Stones! Recently Stevie Shanks of Belfast, Northern Ireland, has launched a new website honoring the great Donald Dinnie and the Dinnie Stones. Stevie is a fellow IAWA and all round lifter as well. He lifted the Dinnie Stones unassisted in October 2015, to join his father Jack as the only father/son duo to lift the Dinnie Stones unassisted since Donald Dinnie and his dad did so 150 years prior! Stevie’s work on this new website is to follow in the footsteps of the work the late Gordon Dinnie had done with the prior Dinnie Website. All of the information from the previous Dinnie website is contained in the new website. The address for the NEW Dinnie Stone website is – http://www.thedinniestones.com/ This new website has a full listing of all the lifters that have lifted the Dinnie Stones unassisted and assisted, as well as those that have successfully carried the Stones unassisted and assisted. It also contains history related to Donald Dinnie and the Dinnie Stones. There’s a “news section” that gives any updates on any recent news regarding the Dinnie Stones. The website has been developed brilliantly, and contains all the information anyone would want in regards to the Dinnie Stones. I applaud Stevie Shanks for all the hard work he put into this project and keeping the legacy of the Dinnie Stones alive! POSTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS January 6, 2017 Al Myers Edit Post By Al Myers The results of the final USAWA postal competition, the Postal Championships, is wrapped up. Our postal meet director Denny Habecker has done a great job this year promoting our postal series. The Championships had very good participation – with 14 men lifters and 3 women lifters. The Overall Champion in the Men’s Division was Dan Wagman, and the Overall Champion in the Women’s Division was RJ Jackson. Meet Results: 2016 USAWA Postal Championships December 31st, 2016 Meet Director: Denny Habecker Lifts: Abdominal Raise, Pinch Grip, Continental to Belt Lifters that used a certified official: Dan Wagman – Official Jarrod Fobes Al Myers – Official LaVerne Myers Chad Ullom – Officials Al Myers, LaVerne Myers LaVerne Myers – Official Al Myers Barry Bryan – Official Denny Habecker, Art Montini Barry Pensyl – Officials Denny Habecker, Barry Bryan, Art Montini Mark Raymond – Officials Frank Ciavattone, Rocky Morrison Calvin Heit – Official Chad Ullom Rocky Morrison – Officials Frank Ciavattone, Jeff Ciavattone Dean Ross – Officials Al Myers, LaVerne Myers, Chad Ullom Crystal Diggs – Official RJ Jackson Eric Todd – Official Lance Foster Lance Foster – Official Eric Todd Lifters using a non-certified Judge: Denny Habecker – Judge Aidan Habecker David Fisher – Judge Lynda Burns RJ Jackson – Judge Dan Wagman Lynda Burns – Judge David Fisher WOMENS DIVISION LIFTER AGE BWT AbR Pin Belt TOT PTS RJ Jackson 55 105 33 131 155 319 518.2 Crystal Diggs 30 164 15 60 95 170 171.0 Lynda Burns 42 205 25 45 115 185 167.9 MENS DIVISION LIFTER AGE BWT AbR Pin Belt TOT PTS Dan Wagman 39 185 55 226 375 656 612.6 Al Myers 50 225 50 215 375 640 595.5 Chad Ullom 45 246 55 160 440 655 555.7 LaVerne Myers 72 239 15 190 220 425 460.1 Barry Bryan 58 196 33 165 220 418 449.6 Denny Habecker 74 195 17 105 242 364 445.9 Barry Pensyl 68 149 37 83 176 296 408.8 Mark Raymond 53 238 17 156 231 404 374.9 Eric Todd 41 260 15 125 349 469 372.3 Calvin Heit 14 125 25 67 155 247 359.9 Rocky Morrison 54 270 5 156 242 403 354.0 Dean Ross 74 250 15 110 198 323 346.2 Lance Foster 51 340 0 115 243 358 274.1 David Fisher 42 229 25 45 165 235 201.1 Notes: Age is recorded in years. BWT is bodyweight in pounds. All lifts recorded in pounds. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall points adjusted for age and bodyweight corrections. WHERE DID THEY GO? January 10, 2017 Al Myers Edit Post By Eric Todd I began training at a rather young age. Running at around 3, bodyweight exercises a little later, and weight training/competitive wrestling at nine. While not always the most gifted athlete, I always felt I could overcome anything through effort. It is something that became a passion of mine. So when I began strongman/weight lifting competitions at about twenty six, I was instantly hooked. It was the same kind of feeling. Work harder than the other guy and you will prevail. Well, sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not. But it became a way of life, and one that would be difficult to completely walk away from. That is why it often confused me when others would walk away. Many had talent much greater than mine, and a huge upside had they reached their potential, or somewhere in that neighborhood. After some studying and discussing it with peers, here is a few categories that I feel some of these fellas fit into. The first guy is intimidated. He is the one that emails you about coming out to train. Since the door is always open, you welcome him with open arms. Often, this guy does not show up. Sometimes with an emailed excuse, sometimes not. Sometimes he shows up and lays it all out there. You have been around the block a time or two and recognize the potential. You remember what it was like your first day training with the group. You hope he comes back, because you recognize that someday, he may be able to push you to greater heights. But all he sees is how he struggled so with weights that we experienced folk used easily. So, he does not return. (Sometimes this occurs after he belly aches about getting his motorbike dusty on country roads, and borrows your Super Squats book. Ah, but I digress). Believe me, when I first got started, there were times I would eye the competition early and wonder to myself if anyone would notice if I just disappeared like a fart in the wind. But my pride would not allow it. The next guy is emotionally weak (for lack of a better term). They cannot stand to compete if they do not win every time. I have met a few in my time, often much stronger than me. Once, I was competing at a strongman meet. I was in the lightweight pro division, but there was also a heavyweight amateur class. There was a character in the heavyweights who trained with 2 very high profile, world class strength athletes. And this guy was STOUT! He easily won his division, and put all the lightweight professionals to shame. At that time, I had competed against the best of the best in the Heavyweight class as well, and recognized what this guy had. I told him he should compete in a pro/am to win his professional card. I had no doubt he could do it. He told me he would not compete if he was 100% sure he could win. Glory! If I had thought that way, I would not have competed very often. Never saw or heard of that guy again. The last guy is the fella that it just plain comes too easy for. I have seen guys come out and win right out of the blocks. Some even go so far as to win a nationals or win a pro card. You have scarcely heard their name before, and there they are beating seasoned veterans. Sometimes, I am not sure they even know who they are beating. Then they disappear into the night, not unlike Melvin at my first strongman meet. I could never understand that. However, in talking to some of my confederates, it just came too easy for them. Winning for me was a blast, and it drove me on. It was that rewarding due to what it cost. The hours training. The injuries. The broken skin and blood. The aching muscles, and the crawling up the stairs. The bitter, painful losses after all these dues were paid.