Weigh ins to be held Friday evening from 4pm-7pm at the Westin Hotel (more details to follow) and Saturday morning from 7:30am-8:30am at the convention center.  Rules meeting is mandatory at 8:45am and lifting to start at 9:30am.  Expo entry is included in your registration fee.  Spectators will have to purchase a ticket to the Pittsburgh Strength and Fitness Expo.  pittspowerfit.com

Hotel information-This is the link for  the Westin Hotel (1000 Penn Ave) attached to the Convention Center.  pittspowerfit.com. Go to the menu under hotel. There is another hotel across from the Convention Center.  The Drury Plaza Hotel (745 Grant St).  The Drury does come with breakfast included.

USS NATIONALS 2026 QUALIFIER

1st place Novice and 1st-3rd place Open qualify. 

PRO INTERNATIONAL QUALIFIER

Cash prizes for podium finishers.  $500-1st, $300-2nd and $200-3rd. Cash prize may increase based on number of entries. Winner will receive an invite to USS Pro Internationals 2025 as long as there is 6 registered athletes in the weight class.  Winners at the USS Pro Internationals in September 2025 will receive a pro card as well as a monthly paycheck from USS. 

YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A PRO TO SIGN UP FOR THE PRO CLASS!!! ANYONE CAN SIGN UP FOR THE PRO CLASS
 

EVENT #1 Axle C&P for Reps

Athlete will have 60 seconds to clean and press the axle as many times as possible.  Athlete must clean the axle each rep.  No press away.  Athlete must be given a down command from the judge.  Elbows must be locked out and feet brought to neutral position. Most reps in 60 second wins.  Strict press, push press, push jerk, split jerk are all acceptable. No resting on the belt or tree topping.  Belts, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps allowed. Grip shirts and anything tack not allowed.

EVENT #2 13in Axle Deadlift for Reps

Athlete will have 60 seconds to deadlift as many reps as possible.  Athlete will be given an up and down command.  Athlete must be fully locked out to get the down command. Most reps in 60 seconds wins. Belts, straps, deadlift briefs allowed.  Lifting suits, straps with hooks and anything tacky not allowed.

EVENT #3 Dinnie Hold

Athlete will pick up a single dinnie handle with one hand and hold weight between their legs.  Time will start when the athlete is fully locked out.  Time will stop when the athlete lets go of the weight.  Longest time wins. Belts, wrist wraps allowed.  Straps and anything tacky not allowed.

EVENT #4 Yoke

Athlete will carry the yoke 60ft. Athlete will be given 60 seconds to complete the course. Time stops when the front of the yoke crosses the finish line.  Unlimited drops.  Any slides will be given a 2 sec penalty. Fastest time wins.  Distance will be given if athlete doesn’t finish the course. Belts, wrist wraps, knee sleeves allowed. Grip shirts and anything tacky not allowed.

EVENT #5 Sandbag Toss

Athletes will have 60 seconds to toss 4 sandbags over the uprights. Athlete will start with the lightest bag and move through to the heaviest bag.  Athlete can’t move to next bag until the bag before goes over the upright.  Fastest time wins.  The number of bags over upright will count if athlete doesn’t finish all 4.  Women 12ft and men 15ft. Belts, wrist wraps, knee sleeves allowed. Anything tacky not allowed.