Steve Schmidt Backbreaker Pentathlon and Record Day

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

High Country Vigour

1700

54 years old

205.8 pounds (95kg class)

Official: Nisha Gupta

Record Session Lifts:

Deadlift, No Thumbs - 300 pounds

Deadlift, No Thumbs, Overhand Grip - 300 pounds

Lateral Raise, Standing - 40 pounds (ALL Age Class Record)

Pinch Grip, Strict, Left - 41 pounds (ALL Age Class Record)

Pinch Grip, Strict, Right - 41 pounds (ALL Age Class Record)

Deadlift, Heels Together, Fulton - 235 pounds (not a USAWA lift)

Competition Lifts:

Back Lift

Neck Lift

Hip Lift

Harness Lift

Hand & Thigh Lift

Not planning on doing the competition lifts. It is a real bear to set up the heavy lift bar and in the absence of a Back Lift apparatus, it is unlikely that I would do well in the overall competition.

UPDATE: 12/7/2025

Back Lift - 0

Neck Lift - 190 pounds (PR, previous best 175 pounds)

Hip Lift - 570 pounds (matched last year, best is 620 pounds)

Harness Lift - 570 pounds (matched last year, best is 570 pounds)

Hand & Thigh - 460 pounds (PR, previous best 445 pounds)

Comments

5 Ways to Grow the USAWA in 2025 - A Rebuttal

I would typically avoid being a naysayer or cynical without offering another solution or constructive criticism, but a recent article on usawa.com struck a nerve with me. It was entitled "5 Ways to Grow the USAWA in 2025" and suggested Recruiting meet directors in geographic areas without a USAWA presence Making Nationals a can't miss event Modernize logo Encourage sponsorship with uniform changes (knee sleeves and leggings) Embrace change I was originally set back by the premise that USAWA wants to grow. It has always been a 100ish athlete all volunteer organization with modest budget. Income consists of membership fees, meet sanctioning fees and donations. Expenses include drug testing, web hosting and awards. The organization has stayed in the fringes since 1987 specifically by not getting too big for its britches. Recruiting meet directors is a great idea. However, assuming athletes want odd lifting, they will need at least one official who would have t...

3" Barbell

Against my better judgement, I picked up this Titan Round Grip String Bar with a 3" diameter for $125 (plus another $10 shipping protection and taxes). It is only used for one USAWA lift and I will probably use it once and be done with it, but I have certainly spent considerably more money for equipment I use on a very limited basis.

USAWA Nationals Weekend

Me and my daughters left Colorado on Wednesday to spend a few days with Grandma in Memphis before making the drive to Albany, KY for Nationals Weekend. It was a long drive from Memphis, through Nashville to Kentucky. We arrived just after 5 PM and were able to squeeze in a bite to eat before the Annual General Meeting was brought to order. Angie’s Restaurant is family cooking and they had a back room that we completely filled with (32) USAWA members plus additional family members. The meeting started normally enough with typical officer reports but became contentious when new business was taken from the floor. There was a lot of shouting and belittling, but very little actual discussion. The elections were conducted and we have a new board with very little all-round and even less international all-round experience. Old Board – Denny (36), Chad (21), Eric (23), Beth (6), Sanjiv (2) – 88 years New Board – Clint (4), Tony (4), Kyle (2), Eric (23), Sanjiv (2) –...

High Country Vigour

Search This Blog