Canteen Brewhouse to host weightlifting competition to benefit Locker #505
On certain special occasions, there are more than just pints being hoisted at Canteen Brewhouse.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, the seventh annual Lager Liftoff will be held on the Brewhouse patio, with contestants showcasing their strength in three Olympic lifts: bench press, squat and deadlift. The event is held in conjunction with Big Barn CrossFit and CrossFit sa国际传媒官网网页入口, which help to provide the weights and equipment for the festivities.
There are open and master鈥檚 (ages 50 and up) divisions for both men and women. Athletes will load their own weight and have five minutes to determine their max for each respective lift. Judges will be on hand to evaluate proper form, and winners are determined using the Wilks coefficient, which measures powerlifting strength of athletes with different body weights.
Once everything gets underway, it鈥檚 quite the scene.
鈥淧eople are drinking, having a good time and cheering,鈥� Jamie Schwebach, Canteen general manager, said. 鈥淚 never thought that powerlifting would be an event that is a spectator sport 鈥� and this is a spectator sport. It鈥檚 super cool watching people lift heavier than they鈥檝e ever lifted and doing these personal records and just the crowd, like cheering them on and wanting them to do so well.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 a super fun event and it鈥檚 a different event because you鈥檙e at a brewery and there鈥檚 people lifting really, really heavy things.鈥�
A percentage of the proceeds from registration go to benefit Locker #505, a nonprofit clothing bank that provides clothing to kids from grades K-12 in the greater sa国际传媒官网网页入口 area. Those who attend, both as participants or spectators, are also encouraged to bring new socks and underwear to donate.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e (Locker #505) already seen 1,700 students this year, and they鈥檝e just recently had 3,300 new referrals,鈥� Schwebach said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more and more of a need for clothing for our students in the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 metro area.鈥�
Registration is capped at 40 athletes (there were 29 last year) and all participants receive a T-shirt, one lager or nonalcoholic beverage of their choice and a free lunch. Schwebach says that Canteen will have its full lineup of lagers on hand, including its Laid Back Lager, High Plains Pilsner and Cabana Mexican Lager, as well as a few other seasonal offerings. Additionally, new head brewer Will Moorman is expected to have a new dark lager 鈥� named No Schwartz, No Shoes, No Service 鈥� ready to go just before the event. Schwebach says that a percentage of beer sales will also go to Locker #505 that Saturday.
鈥淲e always try to make sure we鈥檝e got plenty of lagers,鈥� Schwebach said.
While some will be in attendance to vie for the unofficial title of Duke City鈥檚 Strongest man or woman, the event also provides a point of entry for those looking to begin or renew their own fitness journeys.
鈥淚 know for myself, because of this, l鈥檝e actually started going to Big Barn and CrossFit,鈥� Schwebach said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e welcoming, their open environment and their desire to teach you and encourage you to do hard things is really great. There鈥檚 such a welcoming group of humans.
鈥淕ender doesn鈥檛 matter. Age (doesn鈥檛 matter). It鈥檚 open to all abilities. And I think that鈥檚 also a huge part of this, just like a brewery. We want to be a welcoming environment.鈥�
