HAMISH BIDWELL
To the uninitiated, it conjures up images of muscle-bound behemoths grunting their way around in a fashion akin to someone like Sylvester Stallone. I mean, how much brainwork does it require to grab a weight-laden bar and bench press or deadlift it once more than your opponent?
Spend five minutes
with Hastings' Nathan Williams, however, and you quickly learn there's a lot more to all that shouting and grimacing than meets the eye. Williams is part of a strong Hawke's Bay contingent competing in the national championships in Whakatane this weekend and says powerlifting is a far more complex sport than meets the eye.
"This year, for instance, I'm going to take a different approach in that I'm going to lift against myself, whereas in the past, I worried about what other people were doing," said the human resources co-ordinator at PPCS Richmond Pacific.
"It's very strategic, especially in the last lift, the deadlift. Because the judging is so strict at national level you'll see a lot of guys bomb out. They'll miss their three squats and won't get a total, so I have a philosophy where I'll open light and put something up there and then make my jump later on.
"I've also done a lot of work with sports psychologist Dave Hadfield on mental preparation. I used to analyse my training so much that I would get a bit nervous in competition but he helped me develop a pre-lift routine so that in the minute to 30 seconds before each lift I'm getting myself ready to get out there and do it.
"It all involves imagery and sounds, smell and actions. It's really interesting because a lot of guys will get out there and bang their heads against the bar and yell and scream and, to me, that's a waste of energy. It's all about focus and you can see that with the good lifters. They all have their set routines."
Having been a nationally ranked body builder, Williams has returned to powerlifting with renewed vigour, helped by his wife Janine, a registered sports dietitian. With her assistance, Williams has been able to refine every area of his approach in the hope of claiming that elusive national title. He lines up in the 100kg open division and is one of 15 Bay athletes making the trek north.
