Stinn powers way to national title

Ryan Stinn carried on a couple of traditions at the Canadian Powerlifting Union's national championships.
Stinn once again is the national champion. And once again, the Moose Jaw competitor felt he underperformed.
"I'm notoriously bad at nationals and that didn't end this year," said Stinn. "I'm not disappointed. I came here to win gold and secure my spot on international teams and that's what I did."
Stinn won Saturday with a 900 kilogram total in the men's open 125-plus kg class. Stinn had a 350 kg squat, a 240 kg bench press and a 310 kg deadlift.
Moose Jaw's Ryan Fowler finished second in the same class with an 840 kg total. Al Block made it a Moose Jaw sweep as he lifted a total of 812.5 to finish third.
While Stinn was disappointed in his total, he wasn't overly surprised. He was one of many competitors who went to the Arnold Sports Festival nearly four weeks earlier. The quick turn around made putting up big totals difficult.
"Everyone who lifted at the Arnold hasn't lifted very well this week - with one exception," said Stinn. "Mentally it's hard not to see that."
Stinn may not attend worlds this year, but he is planning to attend the North American championships. He would like to squat 390 kg and ultimately would like to be the first Canadian to put up a total of 1,000 kg.
"I don't know if it will be there at North Americans, but I'll definitely shoot for it," said Stinn.
Fowler had a phenomenal nine-for-nine day lifting. His lifts of 312.5 kg in the squat, 235 kg in the bench press and 292.5 kg in the deadlift were each a personal best.
"I'm not surprised in the sense of actually being able to lift the weight, but I am a little surprised because we ran the meet. I thought I might be a little more tired than I actually was," said Fowler.
"I'm happy and I think I left some on the platform. I think I can put up bigger numbers."
Saturday was Block's nationals debut. The noted strongman is making a transition in his life from one strength sport to another. At 39 he feels his days in strongman competitions are waning and as he becomes a Masters athlete in powerlifting next year, it's a good time to focus on powerlifting.
"That's going to open some new doors for me competition-wise," said Block. "In powerlifting you can still be a rookie at 40 and in strongman you're basically done.
"I'm not willing to push myself as hard as I need to to do well in strongman. I'm mellowing out a little bit and if you're not in it 100 per cent, there's no reason to be in it. I'm easing myself off, but this is probably my last year in strongman."
Block has won the Western Canadian strongman title and has attended international contests. He had competed in powerlifting previously, but hadn't been to a meet in eight years until this past fall. Nationals was his third contest since coming back.
"I still have a lot to learn obviously," he said.
Block lifted 285 kg in the squat, 232.5 kg in the bench press and 300 kg in the deadlift.
"I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a bit more," said Block. "My squat started off bad and if you do poor in one, it's hard to catch up.
"When you're up against one of the world's best like Ryan Stinn - and Ryan Fowler had a great meet - I can handle losing to those guys."
Alex Mardell broke the men's open sub-125 kg class national record with a total of 956 kg. Not surprisingly his Wilks total of 545.22 was the best in the event.
Stephen Jesso set a world record with a deadlift of 300 kg in the men's blind 125-plus kg class. Jesso had a strong 810 kg total.

Matthew Gourlie can be reached at 691-1261