Novice Powerlifting Competitions.
Making powerlifting accessible since 2014.
At Burley Strength, we believe powerlifting can be one of the most accessible sports in the world. If you've ever wrapped your hands around a barbell then powerlifting is for you.
Our novice competitions were born out of a desire to remove the barriers to entry to the sport we love by offering a safe and inclusive environment for all lifters. Since 2014 over 1500 lifters have stepped onto our platform, many for the first time.
There are no federation affiliations, special outfits, or prior experience necessary to compete. If you can perform a squat, bench press, and deadlift with a barbell you’re ready for your first competition.
We run novice competitions with the same equipment and to the same standards as our sanctioned competitions but with a much more relaxed vibe. There are no weight classes and no minimum strength requirements. Just turn up and get ready to lift big!
In 2019, in line with our mission to make powerlifting more accessible, we introduced the Mx gender category to allow lifters who do not identify with the traditional binary gender narrative the opportunity to step onto our platform.
If you’re ready to step onto the platform follow the “Competition calendar” link to see our upcoming competition dates.
If you’d like to learn more about training for the platform head to our Education page to find out more about our workshops and short courses.
We hope to see you on the platform soon!
The perfect platform for your first powerlifting experience.
Novice competition FAQ
How do I know I’m ready to compete?
We’re big believers in diving into the deep end when it comes to your first powerlifting experience. If you’re currently able to squat, bench press, and deadlift with a barbell then you’re ready for your first competition.
In our experience, the lifters who say they’ll wait until they reach X before competing are the lifters that never make it onto the platform.
There’s no time like the present. What have you got to lose?
What are the rules for each lift?
We follow the GPC Australia powerlifting rulebook (with some minor modifications) for our novice competitions. You can download a copy of the rule book HERE.
We’ve also put together a video series detailing the requirements for each lift and an overview of how the day runs which you can view on our Youtube page.
On the competition day we’ll have a run down of the rules before each lift to make sure everyone is on the same page. If you’ve got any further questions about any of the rules please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Do I need any special equipment or attire?
Nope!
We ask everyone to wear a t-shirt (i.e. with sleeves) for the squat and bench press to avoid skin on communal surfaces. If you’d like to get the gun show out for the deadlifts you’re more than welcome to do so.
Shorts or tights are the best options for all 3 lifts to ensure we can see your hips and knees (for judging purposes). Long socks are required for deadlifts (a pair of old footy socks works great!) and shoes are required for all 3 lifts.
Lifting belts, knee wraps or knee sleeves, and wrist wraps are all allowed in our competitions though none are compulsory or even necessary.
How should I train for my first meet?
If you’ve never competed before it’s best not to change too much in your training in the lead-up to the day. Instead, focus on practicing the lifts to the competition standard and getting comfortable with the weight you’re planning for your first attempt of each lift.
If you’d like to find out more about training specifically for powerlifting competitions check out our Education page for our upcoming workshop and short course dates.
I’m keen! When’s the next Competition?
Head to the “Events” page linked above to see our upcoming comp dates.