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 at engbarbelldbq@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 LAST ONE STANDING OHP - Lets kick this off with a CHALLENGE

• 60 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

SANDBAG TOSS FOR DISTANCE - Let's have some FUN!!

• Athletes will be given two attempts to LAUNCH a throwing bag as far as they can down the course
• Athlete will start behind the throw line with bag on the ground
• Once GO command is given, Athlete will grab the throwing bag, and by any means necessary, toss the bag as far as possible down the lane
• Measurement will be taken from the throwing line and ending at the furthest rear side of the bag. Measurement is taken once bag has come to a full stop
• Bag will then be brought back to the Athlete to throw for their second time. Furthest distance between the two throws will be recorded
• 60 second time limit to complete both tosses
• Athlete to throw their bag the furthest wins this event

TRUMP AXLE STRAPLESS DEADLIFT - Double Overhand

• 60 second time limit to complete as many reps as possible
• Athlete will have the choice between a lighter and heavier Axle
• If Athlete chooses the lighter Axle and achieves successful reps, Athlete CAN move up to the heavier Axle and attempt a rep on that Axle. If Athlete zeroes the heavier Axle but recorded reps on the lighter Axle, those reps will be used to score
• If Athlete chooses the heavier Axle first and does not achieve a rep, Athlete can go to the lighter Axle to attempt to achieve reps on that Axle
• If Athlete chooses heavier Axle and achieves ONE rep, but another Athlete in same division completes 10 reps on the lighter Axle, the Athlete that achieved the one rep on the heavier Axle wins the event
• Equipment Allowed: Wrist/knee wraps, 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. No Straps of any kind allowed, No deadlift suites
• Athlete to complete the most reps wins this event

CARRY MEDLEY - Farmers Handles, Atlas Stone Bag, Iowa Stone (custom made)

• 60 second time limit to complete the course
• 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, set the second implement down and grab the final implement and carry the remaining 50' to the finish line
• If Athlete cannot complete the course the score will be as follows. If Athlete completes the first implement, "1" Rep given will be documented w/ the time once full implement crosses the first line. If both implements are completed it's a "2" Rep count w/ a time taken of when the full second implement crosses the finish line
• 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 going around bar to load each time as possible within the given time
• 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! THIS INCLUDES THE CUSTOM MADE IOWA STONES!

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
• Cash Prizes are being worked on for 1st and 2nd Place finishers in all Open Divisions. (More information to come)