Paul in Hobart
17-06-2006, 08:46 PM
Hi everyone - just back from overseas , incorporating holiday and a quick trip to the comp. It was surreal competing against the Russians ; what you expect is what you get : hard competition , brutally efficient technique and seriously strong & fit men & women - 40-70 years.
The comp style bell is tricky, and the chalk though helping stickiness tore my left palm fairly early on, Even chalking is a fine art it seems!
The comp was 24 kg snatch only , 10 minute limit & usual rules - only 1 hand switch, bell mustn't touch the ground.
I placed in the middle ground which was pleasing given this was my first GS comp. Though I couldn't understand a word of Russian I gather I got some respect (as opposed to them falling around and laughing at me).
I managed 161 .The winner in my div (<80 kg , 40-44 years) knocked off 200 with the right before switching to his left. He was cranking them out when the clock stopped - 270 reps is a pretty high work capacity! Very little leg bend and hugely powerful lower back/ torso.
The women's champ beat her own WR with 241 snatches with the 16 kg.
Shortly after his snatch set (166 reps), a 60 yo guy sat down and knocked off 50 easy presses with his left arm. ( BTW He's done 586 L/R alternating , with a # 32kg bell!!!)
All in all a great experience , and far more fun than a visit to the dentist. Seriously though , I learnt a heap just watching the various styles and imagining the intensity of training involved. Made some contacts which will be useful once I have learnt to speak/write Russian. (I have GS business cards in Cyrillic script). Vlad????come on down???
Quite a few folk knock GS , probably because they try a bit and it kicks their butt very hard.: I can tell you if you get good at this sport , you will have amazing conditioning for any sport you choose. The training incorporates full use of the bell (not just snatches day in day out) plus cross training (running , bike , swimming - whatever).
I have just scratched the surface with this sport. The next push is to work on the much harder jerk exercise. component. All going well I hope to take part in an international comp planned for September. The aim is to compete from wherever you are. You can cheat or take 'roids if you are that kind of person...At the end of the day it's about mental toughness though.
GS = Rowing uphill
cheers , and go hard!
Paul
The comp style bell is tricky, and the chalk though helping stickiness tore my left palm fairly early on, Even chalking is a fine art it seems!
The comp was 24 kg snatch only , 10 minute limit & usual rules - only 1 hand switch, bell mustn't touch the ground.
I placed in the middle ground which was pleasing given this was my first GS comp. Though I couldn't understand a word of Russian I gather I got some respect (as opposed to them falling around and laughing at me).
I managed 161 .The winner in my div (<80 kg , 40-44 years) knocked off 200 with the right before switching to his left. He was cranking them out when the clock stopped - 270 reps is a pretty high work capacity! Very little leg bend and hugely powerful lower back/ torso.
The women's champ beat her own WR with 241 snatches with the 16 kg.
Shortly after his snatch set (166 reps), a 60 yo guy sat down and knocked off 50 easy presses with his left arm. ( BTW He's done 586 L/R alternating , with a # 32kg bell!!!)
All in all a great experience , and far more fun than a visit to the dentist. Seriously though , I learnt a heap just watching the various styles and imagining the intensity of training involved. Made some contacts which will be useful once I have learnt to speak/write Russian. (I have GS business cards in Cyrillic script). Vlad????come on down???
Quite a few folk knock GS , probably because they try a bit and it kicks their butt very hard.: I can tell you if you get good at this sport , you will have amazing conditioning for any sport you choose. The training incorporates full use of the bell (not just snatches day in day out) plus cross training (running , bike , swimming - whatever).
I have just scratched the surface with this sport. The next push is to work on the much harder jerk exercise. component. All going well I hope to take part in an international comp planned for September. The aim is to compete from wherever you are. You can cheat or take 'roids if you are that kind of person...At the end of the day it's about mental toughness though.
GS = Rowing uphill
cheers , and go hard!
Paul