Summer Raid Weekend 2021

USA Powerlifting…… MAS Wrestling… the Viking Highlander … OR…

ALL OF THEM, for one GLORIOUS WEEKEND!

***Registration capped at 42 for USA Powerlifting & 50 for the Highlander!***

USA Powerlifting spots are Sold Out! 4 spots remain for the Highlander (updated 6/29/21)!

                              **”Nonrefundable due to limited spots”**

USA Powerlifting Viking Summer Raid, (Sanction # WV-2021-02): Saturday, July 10^th @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

The Viking Highlander (Strongman Corp membership required): Sunday, July 11^th @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

MAS Wrestling: Sunday, July 11th around 4:00pm (takes place during Strongman).

“He who lives without discipline, dies without honor.” – Icelandic proverb

The first Viking Summer Raid was born just a few weeks after Viking Performance Training opened its doors, and the strongman challenge was engaged.

In the second year a second day was added- Day 1 became a Powerlifting contest, unsanctioned as a test of raw strength against the iron in squat, bench press, and deadlift.  Day 2 the Strongman contest returned, a Strongman Corp Level I testing strength in its raw form.

Now for Year 8, we continue the evolution of this now legendary competition:

Day 1’s powerlifting will be sanctioned by the largest drug-tested federation in the country, USA Powerlifting!

Day 2 will once again become The Viking Highlander. With Highland Games and Highlander style events fading away in Appalachia as the old guard struggles to keep them alive, we have decided to pick up the torch and carry it to new heights with a Norse twist. So be ready to don your kilt, fly the banner of your clan, and hurl things skyward in honor of the ancient Celts!

Compete in one contest or the other- strive for all-time bests in weight moved, PRs in reps, contest placings among your class, or try the ancient throwing events for the 1^st time.

Compete in both contests, two grueling days of maximal effort in barely more than 24 hours’ time… and you challenge yourself, testing resolve, grit, and prove to yourself that you have what it takes not just to finish, but to conquer, and LEAD, the Raids!

Eligibility: Any male or female 13 yrs or older. Kids’ events may be available pending demand

Promoter- Jay Handley

Date/Time- Powerlifting is July 10^th, begins at 10:00am.  Highlander is July 11^th, begins at 12:00pm.

Location- Viking Performance Training, 141 Greenbag Rd., Morgantown WV 26501

Hotel- any you choose

For powerlifting, USA Powerlifting membership is required and available at www.usapowerlifting.com

For the Viking Highlander, Strongman Corp membership is required and can be found or renewed at http://www.strongmancorporation.com or purchased on site from WV State Chairman Paul Mouser (cash or check only!).

Contact Info– Jay Handley: email vikingperformancetraining@gmail.com.com, phone (304) 216-7496.

USA Powerlifting Gear Check (if needed), Rack Heights, Memberships, Waivers: ***7:30am Saturday morning***

USA Powerlifting Weigh-ins: 8:00 – 9:30am Saturday morning. Two-day competitors only need to do this weigh-in!

USA Powerlifting Rules/Safety Briefing: Saturday 9:00am. This meeting is mandatory.

Highlander Weigh-ins: Sunday 8:00-9:00 am, 10:00-11:00am.

Highlander Rules/Safety Briefing: Sunday 11:00am. Mandatory.

Powerlifting Awards:  Prize for winner in each class/division, Best Lifter (one male, one female).

Viking Highlander Awards:  Viking themed awards for all Open Class Winners, MAS Tournament awards. Nationals invitations are up for grabs per Strongman Corp Level I contest rules.

*** For the Brave Souls competing in both days, they compete for the 2-day Grand Champion Awards!! ***

GRAND CHAMPION AWARD: The top performing competitors of those competing both days will receive the Grand Champion Award!  Grand Champions are decided through a specialized Wilkes formula designed to account for Highlander performances in addition to powerlifting.

USA Powerlifting Day 1 Only Entry- Normal price $97, Early Bird $87 through 2/28!

Strongman Highlander Day 2 Only Entry – Normal price $87, Early Bird $72 through 2/28!

BOTH DAYS – Normal price $157, Early Bird $137 through 2/28!

*** $20 LATE FEE kicks in Monday, June 21st!!***

Spectator Policy – $10 for all spectators (yes, including coaches) ages 16 & up. Spectator pass counts for both days!

Highlander Divisions- Open, Masters, Novice, Teen, StrongMom, Adaptive Classes if demand exists

Highlander (Strongman Corporation) Weight Classes- Women: LWW 0-120, 121-140,  MWW 141-160, 161-180, HWW 181-200, 201+

Men: LW 0-150, 151-175, MW 176-200, 201-231, HW 232-265, 266-300, 301+

Events (subject to change):

Max Block Press, Mas Wrestling, Weight Over Bar, Double Overhand Max Axle Wagon Wheel Deadlift, Natural Stone Carry for Max Distance, Stones of the North (Stone point contest)

Max Mouser Block Press

• WORLD RECORDS will be on the line, as will WV state and US national records
• 60sec to produce a successful lift. You may push, pull, kick, scream, and dance all you want in that 60sec to produce a good lift. If that 60sec expires and you have not produced a good lift, you are out.
• We will take openers during warmups. 3 attempts allowed to reach a top weight. You miss, you’re out.
• Athlete must wait for down command.
• To receive down command, knees must be locked; feet stationary, not staggered, and within shoulder width; hips extended; upright posture; elbows locked; implement must be motionless to demonstrate control. Pressing with a “layback” technique is fine, however posture must be upright at lockout to receive the down command.
• Dropping the implement will result in a “no lift” call. Object must be controlled to the ground. This is not easy with a big rectangular block, but clear effort must be made to control the descent.
• Sleeves, one belt, and wrist wraps are legal. No tacky (if that wasn’t obvious).
• “Chip rule” goes into effect to break all time world record once that weight is reached – so 350, 355, etc is allowed by anyone who successfully presses 320.

Weight for Height

• Athletes will throw a traditional Highland Games weight with one hand over a bar that rises higher each round. Highest throw wins.
• If unsuccessful at any given height, the athlete is at that point eliminated.
• Three heights may be selected. After a successful attempt, athlete must tell the score keeper what their next attempted height will be.
• Increments will go up one foot per round
• Standing throw only; no spinning

Double Overhand Max Axle Wagon Wheel Deadlift

• 30sec to complete a successful lift.
• Equipment: Women & Men’s LW Teens/Novice/Masters – Hollow Axle Bar + Titan Wagon Wheel Pulling Blocks (approx 15″). Men’s LW Open & up – Apollon’s Axle + Antique Metal Wagon Wheels (approx 16.5″).
• Wessels Rule – Up to three attempts if successful, but when you miss, you’re out. You may skip any increments you choose. We will start at a weight, and everyone will have the chance to take that weight. We will continue in ascending order.
• In the event of a tie, “less attempts” wins. If that doesn’t work, “higher opener” wins. If that doesn’t work, “highest second attempt” wins. If that doesn’t work, you just tie and split the points.
• Must wait for down command. To receive down command, feet must motionless, non-staggered, and within shoulder width. Knees, hips, and elbows must be extended, with upright posture. Arms must be inside legs (no sumo).
• Do not drop the bar out of the hands. This will result in a “no lift”. Follow the bar down, aka keep hands on the bar the entire way to the ground.
• NO STRAPS! This is a double overhand event for real… so NO STRAPS! Wrist wraps, chalk, sleeves (minus fastening/buckling straps) and a single belt are allowed. No deadlift suits. Fingers must be curled around the bar.

Mas Wrestling

• The original Viking sport!  Best described in its simplest form as Seated Tug of War with a stick, a MAS Wrestling tournament will be held among the weight classes.  This will a MAS Wrestling tournament! All matches are 2 out of 3, and tournament style will be double-elimination or round robin, depending on the number of competitors.  For a full description of the rules, including links to sample videos, click here http://maswrestlingusa.com/mas-wrestling/abridged-mas-wrestling-usa-rules

Natural Stone Carry for Max Distance

• Ah yes… nothing like a Strongman event predates even the Highlanders, back to prehistoric times! See Rock. Pick Rock up. Grunt and Carry Far. Drop Rock.
• Competitors will have 60 seconds to carry a Natural Stone as far as possible, back and forth between a 25-30′ course (this event will ideally be outdoors, so we will find the best path on the ground).
• Start line will be 3′ after the Stone. Competitors must pick up the stone from the ground and carry it past the Start line in order to score. Once the start line has been crossed, if you drop the stone you’re done. If you drop the stone before the Start line, you may pick it up again.
• Equipment allowed – chalk, belt… that’s about it. Oh, and kilts. Kilts are always allowed.

Stones of the North

• When Bill Kazmaier went to Scotland to lift the Inver Stone, the original challenge was simply to hoist to chest height. Kaz, not satisfied with this, took it up to his massive shoulders, and then pressed it overhead. The Stones of the North honor this feat.
• Athlete with have 60sec to load, shoulder, or press an Atlas Stone as many times as possible.
• Loading is worth 1 point. Shouldering the stone is worth 5 points. Pressing the stone is worth 20 points! Most points wins.
• No tacky. No spray tack. No tacky towels. Do it like our ancestors did for thousands of years.

We do want to remind all competitors that at this time (current writing, January 26, 2021) we are operating under specific guidelines for the COVID pandemic, from USA Powerlifting (for Day 1), WV State government, and Monongalia County Health Department guidelines.

* Any changes or updates to the guidelines that will affect the meet will be posted here!!! *

WV State Guidelines – Masks are to be worn indoors.

USA Powerlifting (Day 1) Current guidelines & policies for COVID:

• All competitors, referees, judges, spotters, volunteers, etc will wear a mask. Mask must be of approved or plain logo.
• Athletes, coaches and spectators are responsible for bringing their own masks, and the meet director will provide masks for officials, including spotters, scoring staff, referees should they not have their own. Homemade masks are acceptable at this time unless recommendations by health authorities suggest that other types are necessary. Masks should be plain or if printed, fall within the guidelines within the USA Powerlifting rulebook. 
  Mask use will follow CDC guidelines as follows:  
  • The mouth and nose are fully covered.
  • The covering fits snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps.
  • The cloth face covering can be tied or otherwise secured to prevent slipping.
  • The face covering is not shared with anyone else.
  Those athletes, staff and/or spectators feeling ill, who have a cough, a fever, or other physical symptoms should withdraw from the competition. Should a participant be found to be ill, they will be removed from the venue.
  Registration will take place as usual prior to competition. All participants must:
  1. Bring their own pen or pencil.
  2. All of those either working registration or waiting to register must wear a mask, stand six feet apart, and refrain from touching the registration table, staff, or other lifters.
  Equipment check is waived at this time. However, those found to be using equipment illegal for the division they are in, e.g. raw, equipped, etc. will be removed from the meet and must leave the venue. Spot checks will be performed for approved equipment by officials. 
  Weigh-ins will take place with one athlete and the weigh-in official present only, with the exception of minors, who must have a parent or coach present.
  1. Everyone present in the weigh in room must wear masks and the athlete will show appropriate identification and membership while holding the items. They will not be handed to the weigh in official or placed on the table.
  2. The athlete will stand on the scale which is covered by a paper towel, which will be discarded after each lifter. 
  3. Those waiting in line to weigh in must wear masks and stand at least 6 feet apart.
  4. After completing weigh in, the athlete must leave the weigh in room and the area where the weigh in has taken place, i.e. don’t stand and talk to the other competitors.
  Competitions will run in sessions, with three flights per session, for a total of 42 athletes per session per platform.  
  1. Athletes will arrive 30 minutes prior to weigh in and leave after the session awards and drug testing procedures are complete. Organizers may schedule as many sessions as are practicable each day of competition.
  2. Multiple platform meets will be allowed. However, each platform must be separated by a minimum of 10 feet allowing officials between platforms to maintain appropriate distancing.
  3. The warm-up room will be segregated from the competition area. If it is not possible to put them in separate rooms, they will have dividers to separate competitors and those warming up.  
  Warmup platforms will be limited to 4 athletes. There may be one coach per athlete. Athletes and coaches are encouraged to assist each other, minimizing personnel in the warm-up area.
  Staging area will be separate from the competition area, spectator area, and warmup room. All athletes waiting to enter the platform will maintain 6-foot separation.  
  Attendees, including athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators in each session may not exceed the limit set by local health authorities. However, multiple sessions may be scheduled with attendees leaving the venue after the session they are participating in.  
  Spectators, if permitted by following local government guidelines regarding gatherings must be spaced so that they are no closer than 6 feet from other spectators. The spectator area will be separated from the competition and warmup areas. Spectators must wear masks at all times.

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