Under The Bar: The 2009 Underground Strength Session
by Dave Tate
Elitefts.com Updates and News
Before I get to the Underground Strength Session (UGSS) I need to take care
of a little business first and bring everyone up to speed with what’s been going
on around here. Don’t worry – I’ll be quick and even use bullet points.
· I want to thank you all for what is turning out to be a great year
for us. While the economy is hitting us and affecting many of the plans we have
had for the year it has also opened many doors for us that otherwise would not
have been possible. Many of these opportunities came from you and I’m very
grateful for all the suggestions, criticism and support you have given us.
· I’m sure you have all read This
and seen other discussions
in regards to Jim Wendler’s training protocol The 5-3-1: The Simplest and Most
Effective Training System for Raw Strength . We have all seen and read the
great success people are having with this but I want to take a moment to
publicly congratulate Jim for his success with this. This is far and away the
most popular e-book on our cart and will quickly become the highest volume item
ever distributed by EliteFTS.
· While it’s not the 5/3/1 program
we did just launch Gym Talk 3 (E-Book) by Dave
Tate . Check it out and let us know what you think.
· Keep an eye on our New Items section. We have been
loading new items every week and will be launching two new appeal lines very
soon.
· After 10 years we are happy to
announce we are now selling Biotest products and are very
happy to partner with Biotest on this and several other upcoming projects.
There are other things going on but I would rather skip to the UGSS from this
past weekend. If you have been following the site you will know that a few
times a year we pull in some of our sponsors, coaches, trainers, customers and
friends for private invite only training sessions. These sessions always end up
a great time filled with big weights and stories that will last a lifetime. This
past weekend was one of the best one to date.
Comments:
“I had a great time at the UGSS this weekend. It was great to meet and
hang out with some of the rest of the Elite Team that I would normally just say
“Hi, how ya doing?” to at meets. Thank you to Dave and Jim for inviting Jo and I
and Leigh An for your hospitality and for chauffeuring us around. On the way to
the airport Leigh An gave me a great compliment by pointing out that I was part
of the “OGs” the Original Elite Team. Although there were a few on before me,
there aren’t many left from early on other than Dave, Jim and I.
Thank you to Jeremy Frey and Carter for chauffeuring us around too and
making me only feel like my life was in danger in his cop car 2 or 3 times. I
don’t care what he says; I think he’s one of the most approachable guys I’ve
ever met. Haha, not really.
Nothing beats being able to train in a meet like environment with some of
the strongest guys in the world without having to drop weight or deal with all
of the other pressure associated with a meet. On Saturday Jo and I squatted with
Frey, McMillan, Pegg (who barely out squatted me), Mello, and some of the other
Elite regulars (sorry I didn’t get all of your names). Since he has a hip injury
Kroc brought along his log to put on his own show.”
- Brian Schwab
“I have to say that this may have been one of the greatest times I've ever
had when it comes to powerlifting. It was great to get to meet and hang out with
all of the team. Majority of the time we may see each other at meets and say
hello or speak for a few minutes, but nothing like this. Getting to train with
the likes of McMillan, Frey, Kroc, Pegg, Rhodes, Dizenzo, etc. is pretty much a
dream come true. If you'd have told me 5 years ago that I would be doing this
I'd have told you that you were crazy.
I want to thank Leigh An, Wendler, Frey and Carter for toting Schwab and I
around all weekend. We truly appreciated it.
Thank you to Dave, Traci and Jim for having us out. I hope that we'll be
able to do it again next time and wish that I lived closer so that it wouldn't
have to be a once in a while thing.
I also want to point out that Rhodes is one of the coolest guys I think I
may have ever met. He helped me set my shirt, offered to hand off to me and put
up with my smart-ass comments all weekend. You're ok in my book, Matt.
Lastly, as you may already know, Jim called me out on the "Make it Rain"
line so I brought forth a small torrential down pour after the BBQ showed up
just as a show of my powers. The meteors must have got caught up in space debris
or something.”
- Jo Jordan
UGSS Videos
Pictures
We had a camera crew out to capture the event and to build our image library
for the web site and other advertising and marketing needs. While we did get
some great shots the ones I always like best are the B – shots; the pics that
won’t make magazine covers but are some of the best “real” shots. Here are some
examples are what I’m talking about.
"Yea… see this really doesn't help that much. We just wear it to keep
from getting hurt."
"Hey Jim."
"Hey, can someone move this bar so I can play with my pole?"
"I really need to get the hell out of this place FAST."
Damn it JL, I AM standing up."
"Oh ya baby! I'm gonna grab you like THIS and then give you some of
THAT."
For more B-pics that are sure to make your day check out my Training
Log
Caption Contest
Looking for a new t-shirt? How about a FREE one?
The person with the best caption for this picture will get just that.
To submit you caption go here and fill in your
name, email, select “Dave Tate” as the author and put your caption in the
Question field. Then click “Send Question”.
Memoirs of a Troll
UGSS Group 3, group sizing, Pegg & Wendler come up short next to
The Troll
The Troll at the mall buying some official Kroc wear, what a sale!
The Troll is a BIG fan of Jeremy Frey
Jason Pegg will always be a hero with the Troll
The troll is also a huge fan of the Wendler 5/3/1 program
The troll making fun of Tate
The best learning always happens behind the scenes
Schwab troll, you gotta be a LOT taller than that to climb on this ride!
Final Thoughts
EliteFTS was founded with one goal in mind. To bring together lifters,
trainers and coaches so they can all grown and learn from each other. This
weekend was a shining example of this on the grassroots level and I was honored
to be a part of it and what to thank everyone who was apart of this.
