The Warpath Strength Windy City's Strongest Man/Woman competition will take place on Saturday, April 1, at Chicago Barbell Compound, IL, and will feature five events:

1. Lever Ladder Deadlift
2. Sandbag Drag
3. Axle Clean and Press (for reps)
4. Plate Hold for time
5. 18" Axle Deadlift (for reps)

This contest is taking place two months before the United States Strongman (USS) National Championship in Dallas. The events in this competition are almost identical to the events at that show in order to allow athletes an opportunity to use this one as a last chance qualifier or a "dry run" (event training day) for Nationals. The registration deadline for USS Nationals is May 1, 2023, so if an athlete qualifies at this competition, he/she will have four weeks to sign up.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

There will be a $10 admission fee for all spectators ages 13 and older. Children under 12 will be admitted for free. This entry fee will be CASH ONLY at the door on the day of the competition. There will NOT be any advanced ticket sales.

WEIGH-INS

All competitors MUST weigh-in and complete their check-in before 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 1. If you show up after 9 a.m., you will not be allowed to compete. Please be respectful of the promoter and staff and DO NOT show up at the last minute.

There will be weigh-ins on Friday, March 31, but the timing is TBD. They will likely happen sometime between 9 am and noon, and then again later in the afternoon/evening (4-6 p.m.), but please check back on this page and/or follow the Warpath Strength Facebook and Instagram pages for regular updates.

There will also be weigh-ins from 8-9 a.m. on Saturday, April 1 (the morning of the competition).

EVENT RULES

There will be a rules meeting for all athletes at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the competition, which is why we require all competitors to weigh-in/check-in before 9 a.m. We will review all of the rules in this meeting.

EVENT 1: LEVER LADDER DEADLIFT

• Athletes will start with their hands on a straight bar handle attached to the lever deadlift implement in the first position (farthest from the base).
• When the judge gives the "LIFT" command, athletes will have :60 seconds to lift and complete all five positions of the lever ladder deadlifts.
• Athletes will have one handle and be required to attach and detach it at each position.
• Time will stop once the athlete has locked out the final rep of the fifth position of the implement.
• Wrist straps are NOT ALLOWED for this event.
• Equipment allowed: Knee/elbow sleeves, chalk (powder or liquid), wrist wraps, belt.
• Equipment NOT allowed: Knee/elbow wraps, wrist straps, deadlift suits/briefs, tacky (not from a jar, spray can or towel).

EVENT 2: SANDBAG DRAG

*Please note that I've changed this event from a sled drag to a sandbag drag in order to better replicate he sandbag drag event at USS Nationals. However, instead of the giant "worm" sandbags like the ones commonly used in CrossFit competitions, we will be using sandbags that are "daisy-chained" together. Please go to the Warpath Strength Instagram page to see the setup we'll be using. Here are the rules:

• Athletes will begin on a starting line at one end of the course.
• When the judge gives the "GO" command, athletes will run 40' to grab a sandbag that is connected to one or two other sandbags.
• Athletes will have :60 seconds to drag the sled backwards down the 40' course to the starting line.
• All of the sandbags have handles, BUT...athletes are NOT ALLOWED to use them. Athletes will only be permitted to "bear hug" the bag and cannot use any of the handles.
• If an athletes lifts or holds the bag using ANY of the handles, a :03 second penalty will be added to the athlete's time.
• As soon as BOTH of the athlete's heels cross the line and ALL of the sandbags cross the line, time will stop.
• The athlete who finishes with the fastest time wins. If an athlete cannot finish the course, a distance will be taken.
• Equipment REQUIRED: Shoes
• Equipment allowed: Knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk (powder or liquid), gloves, belt.
• Equipment NOT allowed: Knee/elbow wraps, wrist straps, grip shirts, baby powder, tacky (not from a jar, spray can or towel).

EVENT 3: AXLE CLEAN AND PRESS (FOR REPS)

We will be using solid, stainless steel Arsenal Athletics Power Axle bars for this event. These are the same bars that will be used in Dallas at USS Nationals.

• Athletes may start with their hands on the axle.
• Belts cleans will be allowed.
• When the judge gives the "LIFT" command, athletes will lift the axle from the ground to overhead as many times as possible. Athletes must clean and press every rep.
• The athlete must wait for the "DOWN" command from judge for lift to be counted.
• Athletes will only be given a "DOWN" command when the athlete’s knees, hips, shoulders and elbows are all locked out and the athlete is clearly in control of the implement (their feet are even and not moving).
• There is a 60 second time limit for this event.
• All kinds of pressing is allowed such as split jerk, power jerk, push press.
• Dropping the axle from overhead will result in a zero for the event and possibly expulsion from the competition. Please respect the equipment.
• If an athlete loses control of implement, such as the axle rolling once it is lowered back to the ground, the athlete must roll it back to the mat and start pressing again.
• Equipment REQUIRED: Due to the aggressive knurling on the Arsenal Power Axle bar, all athletes are required to wear deadlift socks, tights, sleeves or some type of covering on their shins for this event.
• Equipment allowed: elbow/knee sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk (powder or liquid), belt. Please note that you will be allowed to wear one (1) soft belt and one (1) hard belt like a leather Pioneer-style belt or a hard velcro belt, but not both.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No grip shirts, knee wraps, elbow wraps, straps, suits/briefs of any kind or tacky (not from a jar, spray can or towel).

EVENT 4: PLATE HOLD

• Athletes will position themselves with their back against a wall with their butt and shoulders in contact with the wall.
• A spotter will hand each athlete a plate.
• Athletes will accept the plate and extend their arms to a locked out position in front with their hands underneath or on the side of the plate.
• Once the athlete's arms are fully extended and in position, the judge will start the time and athletes will hold the plate for as long as possible.
• If the athletes butt and/or shoulders come off the wall at any time, the clock will stop.
• If the athlete drops the plate, the clock will stop.
• Equipment allowed: Chalk (powder or liquid), wrist wraps.
• Equipment NOT allowed: Tacky (not from a jar, spray can or towel), knee/elbow sleeves, knee/elbow wraps, belt.

EVENT 5: 18" AXLE DEADLIFT (FOR REPS)

We will be using solid, stainless steel Arsenal Athletics Power Axle bars for this event. These are the same bars that will be used in Dallas at USS Nationals. You will pull from blocks to make it an 18" pull.

• Athletes will begin by standing off of the platform.
• When the judge gives the "GO" command, time will start and the athlete will have one minute to strap in and begin lifting.
• Athlete’s hands must remain outside his/her knees for each pull (no Sumo pulls will be permitted).
• Athletes will be allowed to hitch/ramp, but the bar cannot rest on top of the knees.
• Athletes must wait for the “DOWN” command for a successful rep to be counted.
• If an athlete does not wait for the "Down" command and lowers the bar prematurely, he/she will be given a warning the first time only. If the athlete ignores the "Down" command after being given the warning, any subsequent reps will not be counted by the judge.
• "Touch and go" will NOT be allowed. Athletes must lower the bar to the blocks and let it come to a complete stop.
• An athlete's palms MUST remain in contact with the bar. No one is allowed to ONLY use their straps to hang onto to bar.
• No barefoot lifting. Athletes' feet must be covered.
• Equipment REQUIRED: Due to the aggressive knurling on the Arsenal Power Axle bar, all athletes are required to wear deadlift socks, tights, sleeves or some type of covering on their shins for this event.
• Equipment allowed: knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, wrist straps, chalk (powder or liquid), deadlift suit OR briefs (not both), belt. Please note that you will be allowed to wear one (1) soft belt and one (1) hard belt like a leather Pioneer-style belt or a hard velcro belt, but not both.
• Equipment NOT allowed: knee wraps, baby powder, deadlift hooks, tacky (not from a jar, spray can or towel).

HOTEL INFORMATION

SpringHill Suites by Marriott (Chicago-O'Hare), 8101 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-867-0000

Holiday Inn-Chicago O'Hare, 5615 North Cumberland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-693-5800.

Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Suites, 8500 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-380-9600.

PARKING INFORMATION

There is a decent sized parking lot at Chicago Barbell Compound, but there is also plenty of street parking and another large parking lot located about 100 feet south of the building where the gym is located that has about 75-80 additional parking spaces.

FOOD

I am happy to report that My Mighty Meals has agreed to come back on board as a sponsor of this contest and will have delicious meal options available for sale to athletes, volunteers and spectators.