Welcome to USS Nationals 2026!

YOU MUST LIVE IN AND BE A UNITED STATES RESIDENT TO COMPETE IN USS NATIONALS

For any and all questions regarding 2026 USS Nationals, please email jake.harre@gmail.com

Qualifying for Nationals: 

If you qualify in a specific DIVISION and CLASS (LW, MW, HW, SHW) then you may register to compete in either of the two weight cut-offs within that class. Example: You qualify as a 242 HW male. You may compete as a 242 or 275 HW. You MAY NOT go down to a MW. You would have to re-qualify as a MW. If, however, you qualify as a 220 MW male, you may compete as a 198 MW. If you need to move up to another weight class, such as a HW going to SHW, that is acceptable. 

Registration Deadline: May 1st 2026 11:59p

Weigh-ins: All Athletes must check in on 6/5 at Alliant Powerhouse Center on Event Floor. Morning session 8a-12p. Evening Session 1p-5:30p. Will have multiple stations, look for the one with your weight class! All lifters will be given lanyards/separate wrist bands from everyone else. 

Rules Meeting: Friday 6/5 at Alliant Powerhouse Center on Event Floor. 6-7p

Meet Day Saturday 6/6: Start Time 9a sharp. All Athletes must be on the Event Floor warmed up and ready to go at the set start time 

Spectator Information: All Tickets sold directly at the Event Site at the Box Office. Tickets are $15 per person. Spectators are only allowed on the Event Floor at the designated Sponsored Booths.

Airport information:

• The Eastern Iowa Airport: 2121 Arthur Collins Pkwy SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
• Official Event Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex 350 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401(319)-731-4444
• Free Parking available in the Convention Center Parking Garage
• Travel time from Airport to Event Hotel: 13 min (8.7 mi) via I-380 N
• If you're staying at the Double Tree (Event Hotel), they offer a free shuttle service to & from the Airport. Uber and other ride share options are just as quick and easy
• Car Rental available at Airport: Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, National, Alamo, Budget, Dollar

Official Event Hotel Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/cidccdt-doubletree-cedar-rapids-convention-complex/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-DT-CIDCCDT&y_source=1_MTM3Mjc2My03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ==

Other Parking Options: There are a few other Parking Garages that surround the Event Site, most of which range from $10-$12/day

Other Hotels in the area (All within 15 minutes of Event Site):

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cedar Rapids-I-380 @ 33rd Ave.
• Motel 6 Cedar Rapids, IA, Ramada by Wyndham Cedar Rapids
• SureStay By Best Western Cedar Rapids
• Quality Inn Cedar Rapids South
• American Inn Cedar Rapids
• Aspen Inn, Hampton Inn Cedar Rapids
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cedar Rapids
• Motel 6 Cedar Rapids, IA - Airport
• Econo Lodge, Baymont by Wyndham Cedar Rapids
• Residence Inn by Marriott Cedar Rapids South
• Staybridge Suites Cedar Rapids North
• Residence Inn by Marriott Cedar Rapids
• Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids
• Holiday Inn Express Cedar Rapids (Collins Rd)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids - North
• Quality Inn at Collins Road - Cedar Rapids
• MainStay Suites Cedar Rapids North - Marion

A note for all events:

1. No gloves of any kind
2. No tacky/ tacky towel or spray tacky
3. No Bare feet (skin to mat)
4. Contest shirt must be worn for all events w/ exception to the Axle OHP
5. No build up belts (Only 1 hard and 1 soft allowed)
6. No baby Powder for any event

Events and Rules: 

*Events and Weights are subject to change

MAX AXLE CLEAN AND PRESS LAST ONE STANDING OHP - Lets kick this off with a CHALLENGE

• 30 second time limit per Athlete
• Athletes will line up in order and should pay attention to hear when their name is called
• Athlete will then come up to the loaded bar to attempt a successful lift. If successful, Athlete will head to the back of the line for the next attempt. If missed, Athlete is finished with this event, if missed on first attempt it is a zero on this event
• Once everyone completes first attempts, 20lbs will be added and will go through the order once again. This will repeat until final Athlete is standing
• Equipment Allowed: Wrist/knee wraps, soft belt, heavy belt, elbow/knee sleeves
• Equipment NOT Allowed: No tacky/sticky substance of any kind. If found, you will be disqualified from this event and be scored a zero.
• Athlete to finish with the heaviest weight lifted, wins this event

AXLE DEADLIFT FOR REPS

• 60 second time limit to complete as many reps as possible
• Athletes will strap in on their own time
• Conventional deadlift stance only
• Touch and go reps are not allowed. The bar must come to a rest on the ground before the next rep.
• Equipment allowed: Neoprene shorts, knee sleeves, figure 8 straps, regular straps
• Equipment NOT Allowed: Deadlift suits/Deadlift briefs. If the briefs are anything but neoprene they are not allowed

ARM OVER ARM PULL INTO A BACKWARDS SLED DRAG

• 60 second time limit
• Athlete will be sitting behind a weighted down yoke with a board across the weight pegs to push their feet into
• Athlete will start in position with hands on a rope
• Once the sled is pulled 50ft, athlete will then run around to the other side of the sled to grab handles and drag the sled backwards to the starting line
• The front of the sled must cross the line on both ends
• If the course is not completed in 60 seconds a distance will be given
• Gloves and chalk are the only things allowed to be on your hands

CARRY MEDLEY - Farmers Handles to Atlas Stone Bag

• 60 second time limit
• Athlete will begin w/ hands on the implement
• Once GO command is given, Athlete will carry the first implement 50' down, grab the second implement and run it back to the original starting line
• If the course is not completed in 60 seconds a distance will be given
• ONE drop allowed per implement. Once a second drop is made the Athlete is no longer allowed to continue w/ this event and the implement will be reset for the next lifter
• No dragging/sliding across the line. Full implement must cross.  A 5 second penalty will be added for this
• Equipment Allowed: Wrist wraps, elbow sleeves, knee sleeves, chalk
• Equipment NOT Allowed: No tacky/sticky substance of any kind. If found, you will be disqualified from this event and be scored a zero
• Athlete to complete the course the quickest, wins this event

LOADING EVENT - Atlas Stone Bag over bar

• 60 second time limit
• Athlete will begin w/ hands on cross bar
• Once GO command is given, Athlete will load the Atlas Stone Bag over the bar as many times as possible going UNDER or AROUND the yoke to load each time
• Men will load to 50" Women will load to 46"
• Equipment NOT Allowed: No tacky/sticky substance of any kind. If found, you will be disqualified from this event and be scored a zero
• Athlete to finish the most reps wins this event

****NOTE - ALL EVENTS/WEIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

****ALL EQUIPMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE END OF NATIONALS! 

AWARDS

• Awards will be given to 1st-3rd place finishers in all divisions
• Each Overall Winner will be paid out $1,000 from United States Strongman
• Teen Division Winners will receive a $500 Scholarship from United States Strongman