Team North American Outlaw Kettlebell Club rocked the Kettlebell Sport Competition Platforms.

My team consisted of 7 members who have been training with me for almost 3 years, and some only 3 months. Two Brand new lifters, one Master of Sport, one Candidate for Master of Sport. All different levels of Athletes, different goals, different weight categories and bell sizes. A 10 min set of anything is brutal never mind lifting a heavy kettlebell with a one hand switch for 10 mins, it’s a gruelling sport and I challenge anyone who has the mental ability to train for this to give it a try. Find a coach and get started.

Meet my team and see what they had to say when I asked them “What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

Kelly Russel- Amy, 68 Kg + weight category, 12 Kg Bell, Long Cycle, 133 Reps, 2nd place Rank 1  (P.R. for Kelly and the biggest competitive group there were 6 in this category)

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Kelly, “What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

I wasn't sure that I was going to even enter this competition. Over the last year I had a shoulder injury and problems off and on with my back. I was not able to compete in the last competition that I entered due to my shoulder. Over the last year I fell into a funk. A pity party you my say. I gained 20lbs over the last year. But then I started back training regularly again in early summer but I had a hard time getting out of the funk that I was in. I continued to train but did not change my eating habits.
I did not want to enter a completion doing the same event I had already competed in but I knew that I was not ready to move up to the next weight. I had resigned myself to the idea that I was not going to participate in the competition. On the last day of registration I changed my mind. I needed to "jump start myself". I needed the feel of the competition.
I competed with the same weight I had previously competed with and with only 1 ten minute practice time in over 1 year I entered my name in. I am happy that I made that decision. It made the difference for me. Since that time I made some important changes in my life that were long needed.  It regained the confidence I had in myself.  Most of all my kettlebell family showed me unconditional support, I love the team I train with. They make it worth getting up for those early morning training sessions.
Sheri, our coach has always gone out of her way for each and every one of us. She keeps us motivated and makes sure we train hard and that our technique is on target. She wants nothing more than for each one of us to live up to our full potential and will do anything to help us get there. I  am so very lucky to call her and my teammates friends!
My future goal is to kick @&& with the 16kg bell and to keep training to be the best I can.
Carri Chillingworth 68 Kg + weight category, 16 Kg Bell, Snatch, 71 Reps, 2nd place finish, amazing job !

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Carri "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

This competition, as was the same with April, is about overcoming fears, anxiety and self doubt. It's about stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something I would NEVER have even considered a couple of years ago.

Ok, so it does have an athletic component to it, if it didn't have that, I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did this time around.

This competition made me realize that just stepping on the platform is a major accomplishment. Going out there and giving your all on that day makes others proud of what you've done, even if your inner critic disagrees. I also realize that these people I train with are not just individual competitors, they are my teammates, and my friends. Having a coach that only wants the best for her crew, never cracking the whip making us do more than she knows we can, but believing we can do anything makes us all motivated to be better than yesterday. Having that coach become your friend and someone you look up to is an added bonus. October 25, 2015 was a life changing day for me. Let's be honest, my brain was not ready for this competition. I didn't believe in myself. I let life get to me and it showed. I didn't do the things I wanted to do in order to be successful. I guess I figured my brute strength would be enough. I have learned that life will always be throwing wrenches into your plans and that in order to be successful, even at the little things in life, you must have a mindset of a survivor, not a victim. Be strong, be courageous, and do the work.

So, what did this competition mean to me? It reminded me that life is constant work in all areas (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually), no shortcuts allowed, no thinking you've done "enough" and can sit back and relax for a while, and most definitely, no giving up.

Julie Tremblay 68 Kg weight category, 20 Kg Bell, Long Cycle, 80 Reps, 1st Place, Rank 1 (P.R. for Julie, 1st time lifting 20 Kg bell in competition, impressive performance)

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Julie, "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

This competition was a goal I had set for myself late summer to move up from the 16kg to the 20kg.Training felt like a big jump and that it would be an impossible accomplishment to make it through. This time around I decided not to worry so much about the reps and more to focus on making it through the ten minutes. I was very happy to have accomplished that goal and even more thrilled to have achieved rank 1.

Bethany Lewis 63 Kg weight category, 24 Kg Bell, Long Cycle, 69 Reps, 1st Place, CMS (Candidate for Master of Sport) Amazing strength, this is our Master of Sport, Bethany.

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Bethany, "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

What Agatsu meant to me was perseverance. My training was mediocre and my motivation was waining. It almost didn't happen. Initially I was focused on MS, but then schedules got changed, things came up and I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I lost focus. It was my coach that brought me back on track. I think once I actually heard myself tell the team that I was struggling something clicked. I was going to do this, if for nothing but as a "best effort". I didn't want to let Sheri down. She has put a great deal of effort and energy into my training and I was going to get on that platform and give it whatever I could. In the end I had a great day. The outlaws are an amazing team, and I consider them all determined athletes and friends. Just to spend the day watching them compete and cheer them on was great. I did get a pr with 69 reps but I am capable of more. Time to take a quick breather, and think of the next competition. I will get 80 reps for MS, I will.

Shannon Lewis 53 Kg weight category, 16 Kg Bell, Long Cycle, 104 Reps, 1st Place, CMS (Candidate for Master of Sport) and P.R., this little lady never ever quits, super impressive!

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Shannon, "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

I guess training this time around I was focusing on surviving the full 10 minutes with proper technique and not achieving a CMS. As for my next goal...there's always barney, the 20 Kg purple bell.I achieved a goal that I had talked myself out of after attempting it twice before. After Niagara I never thought it would happen and even today I have to remind myself it did. It was very special watching the rest of our team work hard and do their best on the platform. But I guess at the end of the day it comes down to great coaching.

Vivian Goulding 68 Kg + weight category, 8 Kg Bell, Snatch, 188 Reps, 1st place, amazing, 1st competition, only training for 3 months, my newest member.

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Vivian, "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

Becoming part of the “Outlaw” Family has been a true blessing on my part, everyone is open, welcoming, very friendly and made me feel comfortable from my first day.At first for me, I was here to get fit, loose a few pounds and have fun while doing it.  Being fit, especially now with my family history, is very important and from the first time I was introduced to kettlebell I was hooked!!

You, Ken and the North American crew are very informative, helpful and hands on.  Technique is very important!!!  

Training was tough, you pushed me to limits I didn’t know I had, beyond my comfort zone, so when I was finished I thought “WOW…holy f**k, I did it!!!”  The pain, the sore muscles the aches, all worth it.

I was proud of myself for stepping outta my comfort zone, trying something new, different and honestly totally loving it!!!

When you approached me about competing, I chuckled at first, thought you can’t be serious!!  “I won’t put you on the platform if you’re not ready”…..soooooo, I said OK!!!  J

The closer Agatsu approached, the more I was doing a lot of negative self-talk: I’m too fat to stand in front of others and compete, I’m not experienced enough, I’ll make a fool of myself, embarrass the Club.  Trying to think of ways NOT to compete, trying to come up with excuses.  But the rest of the Outlaws, YOU as a Coach encouraged me, gave me the confidence to do this.  Not saying I wasn’t scared shitless, but I knew you – all of you -  were in my corner along with my ol’man.

Competing in the Agatsu, for me, was exciting, scary……I was as nervous as hell!!!  This competition pushed me beyond myself, showed me that I am a strong, fearless individual and when I put my mind, body and spirit into something, that I can accomplish it!!!  (with your help of course)

From here, (only cause I can hear you telling me to put the “baby pink one away”) I would like to advance to the Bad Ass Blue bell…..see what I can do come April!!!  How big of a number I can manage…push myself to the next level!!!!  I know it won’t be near my 188….but that was a beginners number on the “baby bell”….GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!    LOL

Thank you Sheri…for your wisdom, your commitment to me, to us, for pushing us to be our best!!!!

Tom Hayes 105 Kg weight category, 16 Kg Bell, Snatch, 143 reps, 1st Place, Tom was my only male competitor, he is a power lifter converted Kettlebell sport lifter, 1st competition and amazing job.

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Tom "What did this competition mean to you and what are your future goals?”

After participating in powerlifting for several years, I realized that at 50 years old, I was sufficiently strong for any practical purposes but that I was so immobile I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I was so out of shape that I and couldn't make it up a few flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. So I started training with kettlebells simply to improve my conditioning and mobility. One trip out to Courtice to get some technique coaching and I was convinced to try competing. With my work and school schedule being so busy, I wasn't able to train as often as I would have liked but all my training time was diverted to the kb's. Three weeks out I was ready to quit. I went to the gym saying that if I could do an 8 minute set, I would stick it out. Fast forward to competition day. The time on the platform felt more like a reward for my training rather than the final test. I managed 143 reps - an 11 rep PR for 16 kg snatch - helped along by the support of a great team who made me feel welcome even though I can only manage part-time attendance. I also learned a lot from my last few long sets and the competition with regards to what to work on going forward. From now on I leave the yellow (16 kg) kb and move on the the purple (20 kg) to prepare for the next challenge.

 

Congratulations to my entire team, and also the members who come out and train and support each other. You don't have to compete to be a member of the Outlaws. I predict next competition I will have at least 10 competitors. We will always support the Agatsu local competition.

The first time I ever coached I had one competitor, next I had 3, then 5 then 7, had 9 this time but two had emergencies and could not compete, this team keeps growing and growing. I have never felt so proud to coach such a diverse group of people, from beginners to professionals, at the end of the day the same drive, the same desire, to be better than they were yesterday. Of course the other competitors expect me to bring a team cake to share, this has become our team ritual. Sharing is caring and the Outlaws love to Live, Learn, Pass On.

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Here are the links to some of the lifters set, my camera sim card failed and I was unable to get them all.