Strongwomen Please Read!

[nathan fitzgerald]

After talking it over with Willie we have decided to try something new with the womens divisions. We will have a LW (under 135), MW (136 - 155) and HW (156 and over).

We would really like to know what the ladies think about this. Good or bad. The purpose of this is to try and give more women the opportunity to compete.

I have updated our website (www.paxtonpowergym.com) to reflect the changes. We really hope that this will bring more women out to compete.

-Nate and Shayna

[Kristyn Vytlacil]

WHOA!!! Fantastic idea... When is this contest???

[nathan fitzgerald]

WHOA!!! Fantastic idea... When is this contest???


December 8th. Dont forget about the pre contest deadlift for the NAS record!!

[Kristyn Vytlacil]

OH MAN!!! I'm really gonna have to consider this business!!!

[Amy Wattles]

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[Amy Wattles]

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[nathan fitzgerald]

That's awesome! Excited to hear how it turns out. I've been trying to plan comps for next year and was disappointed that so far the only women's comps I have seen have just an open division. For me it's really a non-issue but just another reminder how few women compete and stick with it.

Curious...do you typically have a lot of women compete? If so, how do you get them out?


Last year we had an open class and had four women. I hope that by adding the weight class we can get at least double that this year.

As far as the records go I noticed the same thing. A good question for Willie or Dione.

[Margaret Boyle]

Of course you know I am stoked for the middle weight class and the max deadlift record setter.

So how is the record set? best of the best out of 3 attempts per weight div?

[nathan fitzgerald]

Of course you know I am stoked for the middle weight class and the max deadlift record setter.

So how is the record set? best of the best out of 3 attempts per weight div?

The womens records can be set for the LW and HW. You will have three attempts.

[Amy Wattles]

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[strongwoman]

I think this is fantastic news. :mag:

Even though I do not live/compete in the USA (yet), I still think this is a good way forward for the competing women.

Thanks
Hanne

[Amber Suter]

Great Idea!

[Liane Blyn]

just my 2 cents, but I think that we should look at what historically the body weights have been for the women and adjust the classes from there.
When we held nationals 2 years ago, the body weights for the women were: 240,240,220, 250, 133, 143, 140, 140, 165, 150, 160, 170, 160.
I am not sure about the body weights for the women this year, but from the past, logically it would set up the weight classes as follows: below 140, 141-175 ad 176 plus. i think the key to get more women involved would be to add an open novice class to help get their feet wet. We tried to do the "open/pro" class two years ago, but it just seems there isnt enough women involved and really after nationals, no where for us to go.

[Kimberly]

:YT:
None of this really affects me much but it's a great idea nonetheless. i say whatever we can do to get more women out (and to keep coming out) is awesome!! I also agree with Liane about the weight classes being more like 140 & under, 141-175 and 176+

[nathan fitzgerald]

just my 2 cents, but I think that we should look at what historically the body weights have been for the women and adjust the classes from there.
When we held nationals 2 years ago, the body weights for the women were: 240,240,220, 250, 133, 143, 140, 140, 165, 150, 160, 170, 160.
I am not sure about the body weights for the women this year, but from the past, logically it would set up the weight classes as follows: below 140, 141-175 ad 176 plus. i think the key to get more women involved would be to add an open novice class to help get their feet wet. We tried to do the "open/pro" class two years ago, but it just seems there isnt enough women involved and really after nationals, no where for us to go.

These are some great ideas.

Looking at those weights that you listed Liane it looks like there needs to be more women in the under 140 range so keeping the LW at 140 would probably still discourage those women from getting into the sport. The women who usually diet down to get into the LW would now have their own MW division.

Also, a novice division is a great idea for the local contests.

[Jalaine Ulsh]

I've been pretty vocal about this on the Anvil, but I'm 100% for creating a middle weight class for the women. If you want to attract crossovers from the other strength sports, it's going to be difficult with the wide bodyweight ranges currently in use, as those of us in PL and OL are used to competing against women within 10-15 lbs of bodyweight.

[Nikhil Rao]

i agree with a lighter weight class. I actually have more female friends willing to try out strongman than male friends...considerably more (4 or 5), but they're not exactly huge. Generally in the 120s or so. If they knew they could compete against girls their size...and more importantly if they knew they didn't have to compete at a bigger size, they'd be much more likely to give it a shot.

[Lucjan Zolnierowski]

How do you go about changing weight classes? I always thought that changing the teen lightweight cutoff to 200 from 185 would make the two classes more equal in # of competitors. Generally I see lots more heavyweights than lightweights, and this would make the two more equal.

Not trying to hijack this thread, btw, just wondering how that could be accomplished.

[Amy Wattles]

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[Kristin Rhodes]

That is what I expected on the weight class issue. I expect to see a lot more women competing when the MW class is added(hopefully added:))

[Amy Wattles]

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[Callie Marunde]

I do agree that a new weight class should be ceated for strongwoman.

Why not separate by 30 lb increments and have 4 classes? 140 141-170 171-200 201-230


Callie

[Kristy N]

I'll be another one to add that I think it would be be a fantastic idea to add a MW class.


I like Callie's idea as well, but I don't think there would be enough competitors to have so many divisions at the moment.

[strongwoman]

I am pleased to see this issue being talked about.

Amy, I have done 30+ competitions, I wonder what that makes me!

Hanne

[Amy Wattles]

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[strongwoman]

Well Amy,

I did not think it was fair to try and infuence your survey, while I live and compete in Europe. I do have a plan to compete in the USA before I retire from this great sport!

Best wishes
Hanne

[Amy Wattles]

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[Amy Wattles]

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[Callie Marunde]

I have another thought making weight classes less of a fuss

Lets say there are 4 classes like I said earlier.
1. light
2. light/heavy
3. heavy
4. super/heavy


The light heavies/ super heavies should have to do more work with the same weights. For example more farmers turns, more reps, more stones, more tire flips longer yokes. ect

I think this could work in some events.

In the events that it does not work just keepthe weight the same anyway.

The sticky part is changing around the weights 4 times. If we do it this way we wont have the hassle of changing weights and we still get to have 4 weight classes :)

Callie

[Amy Wattles]

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[Rob Okey]

It is interesting reading all the posts in this thread.

Adding weight classes to differentiate performance based on athlete weight is one thing. Using weight classes to lower weights to encourage new athletes is another.

I think someone who wants to compete is going to compete regardless of whether there is weight class custom tailored to suit them.

In my opinion the level of competition needs to increase and this means heavier weights, more reps, more distance (probably in that order) to ensure US athletes are competitive on the international stage.
Part of the problem with the women's division is that there is no pro-class and pretty much no merit based qualification system for entering international events, leading to athletes losing interest once they have done all they can in the domestic scene.

By all means have lighter weights to encourage more people, I think a novice class is a great idea and novice competition is, to me, the only valid way of making the weights more manageable without reducing the overall quality of competition.

[Amy Wattles]

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[Lacy]

Dont tell him he was right.Now I'LL NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT!

seriously I agree though.

[Mike Landrich]

The problem I see is that 4 open weight classes and 2 or more novice divisions could dillute the talent pool. I doubt any promoter would be able to get 30 or more competitors in order to get 4 or 5 per class. 1 or 2 per class is disheartening for those who really want to compete and win, rather than just go through the motions and win easily. Of course, you have to start somewhere. The first couple of years may be sparsely contested, but given time, it may work. Something has to be done.

[Amy Wattles]

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[Amy Wattles]

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[Lacy]

Well............ I just wen't over and competed.There is no NAS or anything.

[Callie Marunde]

Thanks Amy. I really like to be on the mic. I think I may be handed a mic at nationals this year.

I am not sure what level of interest there is to compete internationally. but it seems like a small amount of females want to compete (internationally) It seems like there are more women who compete because their boyfriend, hubby or friends have encouraged them.

I think the weights are fine or even too light, but for most women thats ok.


Dione and Willie should make the call on who is invited to international contests.

Callie

[strongwoman]

I have as I said done many competitions mainly over that last 5 years. All of them I have found myself by reading boards, getting in contact with people and getting my name around all over the strong man/woman world.
I live in England where the first few competitions did have an in with IFSA and (IFSA and TWI's world strongest woman). We did not have an open championship that led to a qualification spot for WSW. You had to be known in some sport or other (arm wrestling, body building and power lifting) before you were invited to do any of those competitions. I did not take up any sport till I was 30 years (old), so I never really got a shot of WSW.

Anyway TWI dropped WSW when they split from IFSA and Doug Edmunds and not a lot has happend since as far a big competitions goes. A couple of European and 1 WSW has been held in Poland since by Aneta Florzcyk and her trainer, however this year they have not been able to put the comeptitions on (I am not sure why, and I would not have been invited anyway). The Polish competitions were by invitation only and it seemed to be the same old group each time, who were invited.

I have instead travelled a lot to Norway and Sweden were they are really good at putting competitions on.The competitions are being put on by strong man/woman training camps and they are run really well. Of course (which is a real shame) there are not much money coming forward via sponsor ships, but local supplement companies and so on do chip in for price money, goods, trophies, discounts for hotels and so on.

I have done competitions in Northern Ireland (not happening anymore), Wales, Scotland (not happening anymore) and many in England (some still taking place).

Right now we are at the stage were there will not be a WSW 2007. I am getting ready for a competition in Norway, which due to no competition being held in Poland and due to the fact so many of the top women have put their name down for this, it will be the European Championship. We will be doing 3 events on Friday the 7th of December and the 5 events on Saturday the 8th of December. I am really lloking forward to this competition and some personal bests and a top 6 place (I have to be realistic, I am up against the top 4 from WSW 2006)...ha ha.

The way I see it is, I might never be WSW, BUT no-one is going to stop me trying!

Sorry for the long rant here, but you asked the questions. I think we need to build a structure and unite and bring this sport to where it belongs...and back on TV!

Hanne

PS If I can help anyone or you have other questions, please contact me and I will see what I can do!

[Kristin Rhodes]

Is there a website for the European Championship? I would be interested to see the events, competitors etc... Very cool.....