The heavily-laden barbells will be hoisted and records are sure to tumble at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre tomorrow as men and women push their limits at the North Island powerlifting championship.
More than 40 lifters hailing from Kerikeri right down to Wellington will be competing across the grades, with host the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Powerlifting Association a strong presence in the competitor list.
The championship sees winners decided on the combined weight of their successful lifts in squat, bench press and deadlift.
Pre-eminent among the Bay of Plenty locals in action will be long-time bench press supremo Reuben Simanu, whose extensive achievements include national bench press titles from 2001-03, the national three-lift crown in 2003 and sixth placing at the world bench championship in 2001.
Back in competitive form after recovering from a hand injury, the Whakatane 41-year-old is now concentrating on the three-lift format and weighing upwards of 150kg, will be the man to beat in the Master 1 (M1) 120kg+ body weight division. Simanu currently holds the national squat record of 365kg.
Featuring male and female divisions, the championship's grading is by age group as well as body weight, from junior (under-19) up to M4 (70 +years).
While powerlifting hardly springs to mind as a sport for those into their seventh decade, Tauranga's Felix Esterbauer continues to defy common stereotypes. Aged 76 and with numerous national titles to his name, Esterbauer is a former Masters world deadlift record holder and will be competing in the M4 83-93kg division.
"He's incredible," Waikato/Bay of Plenty association president Russell Warren says. "Often when he's at the gym, others will stop in their tracks and ask 'who is that guy'."
With an experienced commentator complementing the onstage action, a big screen displaying competition progress and amping music between lift attempts, competitors and spectators alike will enjoy the pumping atmosphere, Warren says.
In the female grades, Trish Buckman is another top Tauranga contender, lifting in the M2 (50-59 years) 63kg-72kg class. Coached by Waikato Bay of Plenty association secretary Paul Sellars at The Gym, Buckman won her division and was second female overall at the New Zealand bench press championships last month, pressing 77.5kg.
One young lifter from the host association likely to make an impact is Rotorua 19-year-old Tom Lee. Taking up the sport a year ago, Lee has already broken more than 10 Waikato/Bay of Plenty records and currently holds three in his junior (19-23 year) 66-74kg grade.
"Tom's going really well and I'd be very surprised if he doesn't set more records on the weekend," Warren says.
Competition will be in two sessions tomorrow, with the women's grades and men up to 23 years kicking proceedings off at 10am. The second session, including the men's deciding rounds, will begin at 3.30pm.