SOME of WA’s strongest athletes will muscle their way into Scarborough Beach amphitheatre on Sunday morning for the WA Powerlifting Association’s annual King Of the Bench competition.
Up to 25 powerlifters will battle it out for the title, which WA Powerlifting Association fundraiser and judge Ben Taulanga said would be keenly contested, given the format of the event which is based on a scoring formula.
“For instance, you’ve got a bloke like Daniel Macri; he tips the scales about 180 kilograms. You’ve got guys in the competition who will weigh around 60kg and it’s not uncommon for those guys to lift twice their bodyweight,” Taulanga said.
“For Daniel, that would be impossible, so the formula basically draws a scale between body-weight and your lift.”
Taulanga said the sport was growing in popularity both among competitors and spectators. The King of the Bench event starts at 11am.