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. At weigh-ins you will also receive a raffle ticket with a change to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards from TYR.

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

Events and Rules: 

*Events and Weights are subject to change

MAX AXLE CLEAN AND PRESS 

• Athletes will receive three attempts. 30 seconds per attempt
• Wessel's Rules apply (miss an attempt and you are done)
• NATIONAL RECORDS CAN BE SET HERE
• Press can be done in any manner (strict, push press, push jerk, split jerk, etc.)
• 10lb jumps will be made. when you the weight you want to attempt is called you then step up in line.
• Equipment Allowed: Wrist/knee wraps, soft belt, heavy belt, elbow/knee sleeves CERBERUS grip shirt
• 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.
• If there is a tie it is a tie. It does not matter if athlete A presses 300 on the second attempt and athlete B presses 300 on the third attempt

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
• 9' deadlift ( standard plates)
• 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
• GLOVES WILL BE ALLOWED
• 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