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FEATS OF STRENGTH

Feats of Strength 2013 Results

A new Bay Area Senior Games event, and a brand new sport.

Feats of Strength 2013 Flier

Date(s): May 18, 2013 - 9:00AM
Location: 18584 Carlwyn Drive, Castro Valley CA 94546-2032
Event Fees: $10.00 per athlete

Entries capped at 30.

Sports Chair: Dale Harder. Dale is America's leading authority on competitive strength and conditioning events. Author of "Strength and Speed", "Sports Comparisons...You Can Compare Apples to Oranges", and "Strong, Stronger, Strongest" books, and "Dale Harder's Strength and Speed Newsletter". Former Highland Games Masters World Champion. Chief meet official. daleharderep@gmail.com.

Sports Chair: Bill Weinstock. Member of AAUPC, USAPL, and USATF. A 2009 & 2010 USAPL (Powerlifting) Masters national champion. A 2008 USATF (Track & Field) Masters national champion. AAUPC National Referee. Co-Commissioner for the Pasadena Senior Olympics/Rope Climb event. billw3941@gmail.com

The five events:

  • Pullups or Chinups for Reps
  • Weighted Pullup or Chinup
  • Standing Long Jump
  • Farmer's Walk
  • Dynamometer Hand Grip Strength

Age divisions: M & W 50-54, 55-59, etc. Note: The contestant's official age for the Feats of Strength Meet will be his or her age on the day of competition (not the general rule of December 31, 2013 per the BASG guidelines).

Awards:
1st through 3rd for each of the five events for each gender/age division, M & W
1st through 5th for age-graded All-Around "Champion of Champions", M & W

Registration:
The cost for the Feats of Strength Meet is only $10 which covers all 5 events. Unrelated to this individual event fee, there is also a one-time $35 administrative fee which allows you to enter any or all of the 24 sporting events at the Bay Area Senior Games. If you have already registered for other Bay Area Senior Games sporting events, the additional cost for entering Feats of Strength is only $10.

As this is a unique event for the Bay Area Senior Games, registrations will be accepted at the door of the Feats of Strength meet after the Bay Area Senior Games registration deadlines up until we reach a capacity of 30 athletes. Contestants not meeting the BASG registration deadline are responsible for contacting either Dale Harder or Bill Weinstock to verify if there is space available before committing to participate in the meet.

However, contestants who are entered in other Bay Area Senior Games sporting events are guaranteed a spot in the Feats of Strength competition. Although all are encouraged to register before Bay Area Senior Games' specified deadline, payment of $10 by check for Feats of Strength will be accepted at the door. Checks shall be addressed to "Bay Area Senior Games".

Inclement Weather:
In the event of inclement weather, events may be replaced or held indoors in accordance with the "Venue" tab.

Protests:
There will be no appeal of judge(s) rulings. All such rulings will be final.

World Records:

World Record Attempts: World records will be certified by the officials present at the meet. Video documentation may be used for verification.

World Record Documentation: Included shall be a. name of the athlete b. gender c. birth date (and age) d. bodyweight e. height in stocking feet f. names, qualifications and contact numbers of two witnesses (judges should be included).

Links to Resources (training videos, event preview videos taken at Harder Arena which depict actual meet conditions, photos, meet announcements, discussions & blogs, questions/answers, etc.), and publications that describe the colorful history of these events and highlight past and present top competitors and world record holders):

YouTube: "Rope Climb USA" channel (training and event preview videos):
http://www.youtube.com/user/RopeClimbUSA

Facebook: "Feats of Strength Meets" group page (general information, discussions, questions and answers, and links):
http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_176314609075858

Facebook: Feats of Strength Event Signup Page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=184662948215304

Relevant publications including those that describe the colorful history of these events and highlight past and present top competitors and world record holders:
http://www.strengthospeedia.org
http://www.mindbogglers.org

$10 event fee includes

  • Any or all of up to 5 Feats of Strength events
  • Eligibility for Feats of Strength Champion of Champions award: top 5 overall finishers spanning all age groups, using an age-graded decathlon-type scoring system for men and for women in the 5 Feats of Strength events)
  • Medals to top 3 finishers in each gender/age group for each of 5 Feats of Strength events
  • Certified officials will be on hand (with proper measurement equipment in place) to approve age-group world records in each of the 5 Feats of Strength events. An attractive, color, frameable "Feats of Strength World Record" certificate will be mailed within two weeks to the recipient for each age-group world record attained, and recipients will be featured in Dale Harder's Strength and Speed Newsletter©.
  • Demonstrations will be presented prior to each event.
  • Training videos include carefully selected videos from other sources that can provide useful insight for training. They can be viewed on the RopeClimbUSA YouTube channel on the playlist: "Feats of Strength Meet Training". See "links" on the "Training" tab.
  • Demonstration videos include all 5 events and were filmed with simulated meet conditions at the Harder Arena where the Feats of Strength Meet will be held. They can be viewed on the RopeClimbUSA YouTube channel on the playlist: "Feats of Strength Preview, Bay Area Senior Games". See "links" on the "Training" tab.
  • For those wishing to stay on after the meet, additional impromptu events may be staged.
  • Results and synopsis of the Feats of Strength meet will be published in Dale Harder's Strength and Speed Newsletter©.
  • Family members and friends welcome...please contribute to snacks during the short noon break, and duties, and/or photographing the events. Please add your name to the sign-up volunteer list.
  • All in all, a mega fun half day!

Additional offerings at nominal cost

  • All Feats of Strength participants in all events will be videoed and photographed. A DVD including videos and photos of the entire competition will be mailed to participants for a nominal $10 charge to cover material, handling, and shipping costs. $5 for each additional DVD. Allow three weeks for delivery.
  • If there are sufficient data of past performances, any contestant whose mark ranks in the top 20 of his/her her age groups in any single event, may order an attractive, frameable color "World's Top 20 Performers List" certificate that includes his/her name in the correct order of placement on the list. These certificates will be available at a nominal $5 charge for the first certificate, plus $2 for each additional one, to cover material, handling, and shipping costs. Allow two weeks for delivery.
  • Those obtaining decathlon point totals of 800 points or higher in any single event will qualify as a "Feats of Strength Elite Athlete" and may order an attractive, frameable color certificate at a $5 nominal charge for the first certificate, plus $2 for each additional one, to cover material, handling, and shipping costs. Allow two weeks for delivery.

2013 Sports Rules

Rules for Pullups or Chinups for Reps

Pullups: Grab the bar with your palms facing away from you.
Chinups: Grab the bar with your palms facing towards you.

  1. Each pullup/chinup must be started from a hanging position—i.e. arms must be straight. Contestants may select either pullups or chinups but cannot do both.
  2. The chin must be raised above the bar for each repetition (rep) to be counted.
  3. Leg kicks and lower body movement cannot be used to gain momentum.
  4. Only a straight bar may be used. It may be of any diameter.
  5. The bar must be level.
  6. Any grip width may be used but the hands cannot be overlapped.
  7. The contestant's score will be the number of complete reps as determined by the judge(s). No preference will be given to pullups over chinups.
  8. Each contestant shall perform only one trial. If two contestants have the same number of reps then the heavier contestant wins.

Rules for Weighted Pullup or Chinup

Pullups: Grab the bar with your palms facing away from you.
Chinups: Grab the bar with your palms facing towards you.

  1. Each pullup/chinup must be started from a hanging position—i.e. arms must be straight. Contestants may select either a pullup or chinup but cannot do both.
  2. The chin must be raised above the bar for each repetition (rep) to be counted.
  3. Leg kicks and lower body movement cannot be used to gain momentum.
  4. Only a straight bar may be used. It may be of any diameter.
  5. The bar must be level.
  6. Any grip width may be used but the hands cannot be overlapped.
  7. The contestant's score will the sum of his bodyweight plus all of the attached weight while doing the attempt. This includes clothing, gear, plus extra weight such as a barbell plate, dumbbell or other item—all provided by BASG. Example: A 200 lb contestant chins one rep with 50 lb extra weight. His/her score is 250 lb. He/she may have up to three attempts.
  8. The contestant will be given three attempts. On the second and third attempts, he/she must attempt the same weight as or higher than the previous attempt. The highest weight total will count.

Rules for Dynamometer Hand Grip Strength

Hand Grip Dynamometer: A device for measuring grip strength.

  1. Since different brands of dynamometers measure grip differently only the following brands are permissible: Baseline (B), Jamar (J), Robert Baraban (R) and Takei (T). The letters in parentheses are symbols for recording results. It is recommended that either Baseline or Jamar brands (both hydraulic) be used since the other two brands are spring types and will produce lower results and will probably vary more with age.
  2. At the start of the test, indicator needles must be set to zero.
  3. The dynamometer is seized in one hand with the dial facing away from oneself and towards the judge so that the judge can watch to make sure no jerky movement is used—i.e. the judge watches the needles to make sure that one doesn't jump from a jerk or surge. If it is jerked then the attempt counts but as a foul. The dynamometer should not be squeezed until the head judge gives a signal.
  4. The arm with the dynamometer should be extended straight out or bent at the elbow. During the trial the other arm may not touch the dynamometer or any part of the body—i.e. no bracing of any sort.
  5. After the judge signals to start the dynamometer should be squeezed as hard as one can. It may be squeezed rapidly but not with a jerk or a surge. A minor shaking of the dynamometer at the end of the squeeze may be allowed by the judge. When it's obvious to the judge that the contestant has maxed out the judge tells him to stop. The judge takes the dynamometer and announces the amount squeezed in kg and shows it to the contestant. The mark is then recorded. The dial of the dynamometer indicates both kilograms (inner circle of numbers) and pounds (outer circle). For most contests kilograms (kg) will be used.
  6. After each attempt the needles are reset to zero. Contestants will have three tries and may select either hand or any width option for any of their tries. On the B and J dynamometers there are five different grip widths varying from narrow to wide.
  7. Each contestant's score is the best of the three trials. If there is a tie then second or even third best attempts can be used to break the tie.

Rules for Standing Long Jump

Standing Long Jump from Behind a Line Toes are behind a line at the start of the jump. This event will be held outdoors. Takeoff will be on concrete pavement and landing will be a sand pit. However, the event may be held indoors in the event of inclement weather.

  1. Arms should be swung to gain momentum with the jumper jumping as far as he/she can without falling down.
  2. Measurement is made from the takeoff line to the heel or any other part of the body that touched the surface nearest the takeoff line.
  3. Measurements are made to the next lower quarter-inch or centimeter (cm).
  4. If both feet are not on the takeoff line when beginning this is not a jump; it's a hop and is a foul.
  5. If part of even one foot moves over the line before jumping it is a foul.
  6. If a jumper bounces it's a foul.
  7. Each contestant is allowed three tries with the best jump being his/her score. If there are ties then second and third best jumps should be used to break those ties.

Rules for Farmer's Walk

The course is 41 ft per lap and a total length of 50m (164 ft). It includes three U-turns. Upon the starter's signal, the contestant shall pick up a dumbbell of designated weight in each hand and walk or run the required distance along the set course until both feet clear the finish line. Fastest time determines the winner. If a contestant is unable to finish the course, the distance covered will be used to rate the athletes. If one drops either or both dumbbells, they must be dropped off the pavement to one or both sides. Once one or both dumbbells touches the ground, the event is over, and the distance covered will be measured there.

Each contestant shall perform only one trial.

The contestant must use extreme caution and avoid dropping the dumbbells on the concrete pavement. Doing so will result in disqualification, no score for this event, and zero points for the All-Around competition. In addition, those that drop one or both dumbbells, causing damage to the concrete pavement, are subject to reimbursing the owner to replace the damaged pavement.

Dumbbell Weights:

Age Group Dumbbell Weights (lb)
MEN WOMEN
50-54 100 50
55-59 100 50
60-64 100 50
65-69 100 50
70-74 75 37.5
75-79 75 37.5
80-84 50 25
85-89 50 25
90+ 50 25

Past Feats of Strength Results & Photos

Feats of Strength 2012 Results

2011 Results: Feats of Strength Results