The First Static Monsters, Perth

Brilliant pictures thanks to Mick Everitt, Pixel Artist

THE GREY morning sky threatened rain. The first ever Static Monsters Perth was situated a few meters away from the entrance to Coventry Square, Morley. Just under cover, in the event that things got wet. But rain remained an empty threat and the sun came out not long after we got underway.

There were seven athletes in all, and the events ran like clockwork for precisely two hours. Among the most impressive feats of the day were a 140 kilo log press by Matt Lynch Blanch and an attempt at an under 105 national record 372.5 deadlift (which looked like it almost killed him), a mammoth 380 kilogram pull from the mountain Matt van Beuningen, and an insane 310 pull from our own Wonderboy Steve van Steytler! At under 80 kilos body weight!!

Jack 'The Baby-faced Assassin' Opferkutch of WASM

Considering the various challenges and setbacks that were faced in getting this competition off the ground, I am absolutely thrilled with how well it all went. There's no way in hell I could have done it without the help of others, and thanking them is the bulk of what follows as I have so many people to give thanks to!

I will start with the athletes. Matt Lynch Blanch, Matt van Beuningen, Kristy Barr, Kezia Duncan, Steve van Steytler, and John Champion. Thank you all for coming out and bringing your A game for this event. I know every one of you gave it your all, producing some truly dramatic scenes and incredible lifts to mark this historic occasion in the WA strength sports calendar.

Of course, ordinary folk don't really get how much time and effort strong folk put into their sport. The hours spent in the gym, at the physio, and researching their passion adds up. Add to that several hours' drive just to compete and you're in the same predicament as Matt van Beuningen, Matt Lynch Blanch, Kristy Barr and Kezia Duncan. These competitors hail from Bunbury, Port Kennedy and Kalgoorlie respectively. Without these men and women there simply would be no competition. Thanks to you all.

Mick Everitt is easily today's MVP. Mick stepped up (pardon the pun) when the Yak could not. He loaded his truck with about half a tonne of plates and apparatus from PTC on Friday and met me on location at 8am to help setup. He assisted with unloading the near tonne of assorted gear gathered for the occasion, erected Kyle's gazebos, and helped hang the banner all in good time.

But he wasn't even close to done. Mick is a pro-photographer, and spent the next two plus hours taking footage of the event! I've included a collection of some of my favourites here, but the whole Facebook album can be viewed by clicking this link. 

We met with Laura of Coventry management who happily provided a ladder* to hang the enormous Static Monsters banner, made by Brad Humble of Dungeon Powerlifting. The banner turned out frigging amazing, I have to say. And if your eyes work, you'd have to agree.

Kezia Duncan arrived well ahead of schedule and was first to sign-off and weigh-in. While my attention was divided by the various tasks that needed completing before kick-off, she bought me breakfast. I didn't plan breakfast.

John Champion is the first under 90s athlete that I coached. He took first place in both the under 90s and under 105s at the WA Strongman state championships in 2015, and this was his second strongman competition run by myself. John was next on the scene and first up the ladder to secure the banner, which was a tremendous relief to Mick and myself, who each weigh in excess of the max load bearing capacity of a great many things, chairs and ladders included. With his help the setup was done in good time. 

Gabor Szivek is an old mate who has helped me with all the comps I've run. He helped with the banner, he kept score, and did the math when my brain failed me, more than a couple of times. When all was done, before he left he said "See you for the next comp." That's a fucking asset, and a true friend.

Steve van Steytler is a star on and off the platform. Steve brought 160-plus kilograms of bumper plates for use in the deadlift (and every kilo was needed!), also helped get the banner up and assisted with loading when not lifting himself.

Kyle and Kong couldn't make it, but it was Kyle's gazebos that provided shade and a place to warm up for the athletes, and Kong's cast iron 25s added another hundred much-needed kilos to the weight tally. Thanks to you both, and I know you would have made it if you could.

Also thanks to Jarek Walus for the gritty, behind-the-scenes style vids of today's axle deadlifts. Mate, I'm sorry the sponsorship deal with your former employer fell through, but your help and support is always appreciated and I know you'll be one of the first to put your hand up next time. Thank you.

A shout-out to Nathan the Yak, who'd planned to show up early at my place to help move gear. Unfortunately for him, his unsafe workplace had other plans. Nathan broke his knee when he fell into a recently-dug, un-demarcated, knee-deep hole while on late shift two nights prior. You were missed today, Yak. I hope you are up and walking again soon.

The man, James Alan of Loaded Lifting, for sponsoring Static Monsters Perth and providing awesome prize packs for the biggest lifts of the day.

PTC Perth and the Rucci brothers, for so many things, but today it was their logs, axles and spin-locks that made sure the lifts were both heavy and safe. We were able to fit over 400 kilograms of regular plates on that axle, and the 12 inch Stand & Submit log is spectacular to watch in action, especially when loaded to 140 and more kilos! PTC Perth provide some of the very best training and competition equipment for me and the PTC Strongman crew to get stronger.

Les Milhinich of Awesome As for personally constructing the platforms for the event. These were made to my own, very basic design but with added handles, so regular folk can (try to) lift them. They are heavy and will last an age, which is perfect.

the rage.

Also thanks to WA Strongman's own Jack 'the baby-faced assassin' Opferkutch, for helping to load and officiate the deadlifting.

Last but not least: Chad Croft and the Australian Strongman Alliance, for reaching out to me last year with the proposition of representing the ASA, and providing more opportunities for West Australian strength athletes to progress in the sport. Thank you for the opportunity.

The day's biggest lifts

*a ladder I took from the utility room and forgot to return. My bad. Sorry Laura.

PRESS+ Wednesday: On the Boil

THIS morning I drove to O'Connor to collect the medallions I commissioned for Static Monsters. Les dropped off the platforms the night before. They are even better than I'd hoped; he improved on my basic design by adding handles and reinforcing both platforms with nearly 150 screws each. These things are heavy and will last for a long time.


The medals are awesome. I actually got a few messages from people over east who either have run or are about to run comps, asking where I'd gotten them made. The thing I'm most excited about, however, is the banner. For this I approached the one and only Brad Humble of Bunbury, on advice from the Ruccis. Brad will be delivering it himself when he's in Perth in a week or so.


Last weekend at the clinic, the crew had a play around with the new plates, and I had another play with them while log pressing on Sunday. I am really looking forward to October 28th! But I still have plenty of things to tick off my checklist before the big day rolls around... getting stronger being just one of them. Getting more sleep would be another.


PRESS+ Wednesday October 11th
stretch
Bench press (paused):
bar x 10
60 kgs x 5
90 kgs x 3
110 kgs x 1
132.5 kgs x 3 x 4
Incline bench press:
80 kgs x 2 x 10, 9 TPR
DB front raises (p/h):
10 kgs x 10
12.5 kgs x 2 x 10
EZ bar skull-crushers:
40 kgs x 10, 6, 6
super-set w/Triceps pushdowns:
full stack x 20, 15, 10

PULL+ Monday: 285 kg x 3 x 3

THIS is more like it. Bangin classic rock tunes on the stereo and heavy metal falling from... waist height. I went back looking for a video of the first time I pulled a triple of this weight. It was pretty slow and very ugly. Now I'm pulling that weight quicker, and three times the total volume. It's fun to look back and see how much progress you have made.

I asked Taylor to vid the first set. I wasn't going to vid all of them, just the first one, coz I assumed that would be the best of the three. In fact it was the worst. After the first rep I didn't reset, and let the bar control the second pull. I corrected and competed the set, and made sure the next two were better.
https://www.facebook.com/abaddon.quinn/posts/10214426548077183?notif_id=1507561523546667&notif_t=like

The rest of the session went smoothly. I even finished off with some cardio. Glad to be able to rest before hitting the press hard again on Wednesday.

PULL+ Monday October 9
stretch
Deadlifts:
70 kgs x 10
125 kgs x 5
175 kgs x 3
225 kgs x 1
255 kgs x 1
285 kgs x 3 x 3 PR
Meadows rows (l&r):
40 kgs x 3 x 10
super-set w/DB lateral raises (p/h):
10 kgs x 3 x 10
HS seated rows (p/h):
50 kgs x 3 x 10
Seated cable rows, underhand:
full stack x 3 x 10
super-set w/Face-pulls:
plate 10 x 3 x 20
Cardio: assault bike 5 mins @ +50 rpm

The Weekend & Beyond

SATURDAY was the last opportunity for PTC Strong folk to prepare for the WASM qualifier, October 14th. We have two competitors, both very new to PTC: Kyle and Jacqueline. Jacqueline's actually been training for this comp for several weeks now. Her schedule means she can't attend Saturday clinics. I found all this out during our conversation Sunday. She told me she's keen to get herself a PTCSM shirt, as they are so badass. And of course she is, because they are. Meanwhile, Kyle has just started but has taken to strongman events like an exuberant future champion. I have no doubt he will dominate the under 90s novice division and move on to state finals, if he wants it.

Mathew, Hightower, the Lion and the Yak were also in attendance. Carl's rehab is done and he's starting to slowly add weight to his farmers walks. Alec was a no-show, but he's been training hard for a while now and it's beginning to drag him down. I'd say a week or two of down time is both justified and well deserved at this point. Especially since he's decided he's not strong enough to compete this year.

Nathan and Ryan are not competing, though Nathan is keen to jump in next year after he's built a bit more strength and ability.

PRESS Sunday October 8
stretch
Log clean-press:
45 kgs x 8
65 kgs x 3
85 kgs x 3 x 7
Cardio: assault bike 5 mins @ +50 rpm

PRESS+ Wednesday: Fat & Healthy

Sweet pic.

GETTING my training back on track after crashing out from sleeplessness last week. I still have a log press and a squat session I need to get done this week if I want to keep to the program. The program is all. I have to improve my total. I must strengthen my bench, overhead press and deadlift.

I've had this mantra going in my head for so long that it didn't dawn on me till this session that I am now benching heavy with no shoulder pain. None. And I've been doing so for some weeks. Much like some of the injuries I sustain, I didn't notice it at the time. Pain-free benching is something I've not been able to do since August 2015; it has taken literally years, but the rotator cuff tears have finally healed, and whatever was bothering my bursa isn't bothering it anymore.

I am pretty happy about this, and about how healed, healthy and strong my body is feeling in general right now at 140 kilos, give or take. Must be time to fuck it up again.

That was a joke.

PRESS+ Wednesday October 4th
stretch
Bench press (paused):
bar x 10
60 kgs x 5
95 kgs x 3
125 kgs x 4 x 4
Incline bench press:
80 kgs x 2 x 10, 8
DB front raise (p/h):
10 kgs x 10
12.5 kgs x 2 x 10
EZ bar skull-crushers:
35 kgs x 3 x 10
super-set w/Triceps pushdowns:
full stack x 20, 15, 10
HS chest press (p/h):
40 kgs x 3 x 10 - misload, shoulda been 42.5
super-set w/HS bicep curls (l&r):
20 kgs x 3 x 10
Cardio:
assault bike 5 mins @ +50 rpm

PULL Monday: Like a Zombie

I HADN'T slept properly for a week. Lack of sleep is not good... I'm pretty sure I ran a red light on Sunday. Last night I lumbered into the gym and did half my Pull Plus routine in a fugue state. Dale tried several times to communicate some basic thing to me (like 'good lifting') and for several moments I just looked at him blankly, not comprehending. I think we talked about CPAP machines for a bit before I threw the towel in, with twelve more sets left to do. More sleep needed. I am no longer stalled, at least. Just moving very slowly.

And the ply is sorted; I collected it from Bunnings before heading to training. Now I just need to construct the platforms. That, I think, is the final piece to Static Monsters. The banner is bought and in production. The medals are also in production and should be ready for collecting early next week. I have 300 additional kilograms worth of plates, purchased just for this event. The regulation logs and axle are being provided by PTC Strongman, and the Wonderboy Steve van Steytler has generously offered to loan us a bunch more weight, ensuring a +400 kilogram deadlift can be accommodated on the day.

The smell of fresh cut wood permeated my van during the drive home. This, and the knowledge that everything is slowly coming together, are maybe why I slept a little better last night.

PULL Monday October 2nd
stretch & foam roller
Deadlifts:
75 kgs x 10
125 kgs x 5
175 kgs x 3
225 kgs x 2
275 kgs x 2 x 4
Bent-over barbell rows (overhand):
115 kgs x 3 x 10 - these were shit
HS seated rows p/h (neutral):
50 kgs x 3 x 10