Interviewed by Sean Katterle
Sean Katterle - NAS was founded 11 years ago. Prior to your organization, what strongman competition options were there for amatuer up-in-comers?
Dione Wessels - Prior to NAS , athletes competed in
events held amongst their friends, or small exhibition type events.
Sean Katterle - At your very first promotion, the 1997 Texas Strongest Man , you got a great turnout by some famous powerlifters and bodybuilders; Brian Dobson of MetroFlex Gym , Milo and Jill Mills , Steve Goggins , ect. The more strongman advances as a pro sport, the fewer top powerlifters and bodybuilders I see showing up to try it out (remember Louie Ferrigno and Franco Columbu at the 1st WSM?) And the same goes for powerlifting (talking about raw powerlifting.) I don't see as many regular strongman/woman competitors showcasing what they can do with just a barbell set. Do you think this is because of the need to specialize in an event to win? Or is there another reason? Will we ever again see NFL football players, Olympic throwers and pro wrestlers at a televised pro strongman show?
Dione Wessels - I think that for some, the sport of strongman was harder than it looked. For instance in 1998, Steve Goggins tried "Strongman" but he soon found out that squatting 1000 pounds isn't the same as walking with about 700 pounds on your back. Others that were mentioned left the sport do to finances, politics, etc. In the future, I think we will see some of the mainstream athletes get more involved as the sport grows and the purse grows.
Sean Katterle - I agree with you in regards to the purse draw aspect. When the top strongmen and powerlifters are earning six figures a year in their sport, then we'll see the overall caliber of the average professional strength athlete rise considerably. In 2002, NAS had 42 State Chairmen/women, over 1500 active competitors and there were over 60 sanctioned events across the country. Where are you know in 2008 numbers wise?
Dione Wessels - Currently, we have 44 state chairs, over 4000 active competitors, and over 125 sanctioned events in North America per year.
Sean Katterle - Wow, 125 sanctioned events in North America per year? That's more than 2 events going on every weekend somewhere in the USA or Canada! Is there an official connection between NAS and IFSA ? Or NAS and The Arnold Classic Pro Strongman ? or World's Strongest Man ?
Dione Wessels - The connection with NAS is ASC ( America's Strongman Corporation ). NAS is the feeder system to ASC and the only way to become a recognized professional strongman athlete is through the ranks of NAS. As far as the other international feds go, the link is via ASC. The top ASC athletes move on to the international shows, whether it is IFSA, Super Series, WSM or otherwise. The winner of America's Strongest Man gets a guaranteed invite to the Arnold Classic Pro Strongman event each year.
Sean Katterle - How does a strongman/woman "turn pro" in this sport?
Dione Wessels - An athlete can turn pro by either winning a NAS Platinum Plus contest, or by qualifying for nationals at
one of the numerous contests, and then going on to win the NAS National Championships.
Sean Katterle - I've found some on the internet but I wanted to get your professional promoter's preferances on who makes the best strongman equipment?
Dione Wessels - Williams Strength ( http://www.williamsstrength.com/ ) makes the best Super Yoke, Farmer's Walk Handles, Steel Logs and Custom Strongman Equipment. Slater Stone Molds is the best place to go to get supplies for making Atlas Stones.
Sean Katterle - Is there a set rule for the dimensions when building something like steps for Power Stairs or platforms for Atlas Stones?
Dione Wessels - Yes. Platforms are usually no taller than 56-60" (if staggered) and Power Stairs are about 28" deep.
Sean Katterle - Do you prefer medleys or single lift events? Why?
Dione Wessels - I prefer medleys, because they are more engaging for the crowd. Many of the medleys have events that the crowd can relate to.
Sean Katterle - Do you prefer a lift for power reps or a lift for one max rep? Why?
Dione Wessels - I like both. When I know a lift is being contested, I like the one max event, because of the intensity of the
athletes trying to carry an engine block or pulling a sled carrying a 400 plus pound chunk of metal.
Sean Katterle - When organized strongman first started out in 1977 all the competitors wore singlets and they had lifting belts on and were allowed to use medical wraps and to wear gloves (i.e. for the keg lift.) Now, some competitions allow squat and deadlift suits, some allow neoprene sleeves, some allow powerlifting knee wraps and some do not. What's your thoughts on this subject?
Dione Wessels - My thoughts are to utilize one brand or type of equipment. I would like to have a contract with one manufacturer, and interim, have a discounted price for the athletes to use. That would be a way of supporting a sponsor and passing on a savings to our athletes.
Sean Katterle - That's an excellent idea. In regards to our professional classic powerlifting contests we've made the exclusive brand (for wrist/knee wraps and for belts) to various companies but no takers yet. I guess they haven't yet learned that marketing maneuver from Nike, Adidas, ect. Moving on to a more personal subject, who would you pick as the three strongest strongmen of all time and why?
Dione Wessels - Zydrunas Savickas- His lifts say it all! Mariusz Pudzanowski, 5-time world's Strongest Man winner. What more does he have to prove? Derek Poundstone (he is the only athlete to push Mariusz and Zydrunas.)
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( 3.7 / 3 )
Owner, Vic's Power House
Interviewed by Sean Katterle
Sean Katterle - On your Vic's Power House MySpace Page you've got a good inspirational quote next to your profile picture.
"Worry is meditation in the wrong direction. Do or do not, there is no try! True strength is being able to hold it together, when everyone else is expecting you to fall apart."
Why did you pick that quote. Where did you find that quote (or did you write it yourself?) and what does it mean to you in regards to your gym life and how bodybuilding's a part of your life?
Vicki - The quotes on our MySpace page were pulled from different sources but they are what I believe and how I live my life. Owning a gym in a small town means sacrifice of everything in your life as does bodybuilding. You don’t live like everyone else because you can’t. You have to stay focused and determined and never ever give up! I have had so many people ask me why I didn’t start a 24 hour gym up in Eugene or Portland. They want to know why I picked the Oregon Coast, where it’s most certain to fail. Why? Because I know it can succeed and it will succeed and because I know myself and I am not a quitter.
Sean - What are the risks of running a 24 hour card access gym? How do you protect yourself from theft and vandalism?
Vicki - There are risks in anything you do in life but my gym has six cameras in it and I have a security company that checks in on it throughout the night. Plus I can get online from my home and check the camera system to make sure all is well at the club.
Sean - There's about 7,000 people living in Florence, Oregon. How many gyms are within driving range of your facility? The reason I ask is that there are over a few dozen gyms and personal training studios in Portland, my hometown, but there's about 1.7 million people within the urban boundaries. So, how does the competition work between gyms on the Oregon coast? How far apart are the gyms spread out driving distance wise?
Vicki - There are only two gyms in Florence right now and we are about a mile apart. The difference between the gyms is this; my gym is old school and designed for the committed lifters and fitness enthusiasts. The other gym is more of a social club. I set people up with programs when they start with their memberships so that they have a guide to go on and are familiar with the equipment. The other gym promises they will show you the equipment but never seem to have the staff available. My gym is 24 hours and the other gym closes for holidays, Sundays and it has limited hours on Saturday.
Sean - I know that you’re friends with Rick McClung . Rick formerly owned and managed Big Bear’s Gym (one of the most famous powerlifting gyms in the NW) in Newport and that now he owns a Nautilus in Yachats. Did Rick get you started in the gym business? What’s your working relationship with him?
Vicki - I have been involved in physical fitness for 27 years. I started out teaching aerobics but I found that it wasn’t giving me the body I wanted so I picked up the weights. I attended a bodybuilding show in 1997 and I was instantly hooked on it. I met Rick at his gym in 2000 when I started training there on weekends. I started learning as much as I could from Rick and his fellow powerlifters and over time we became good friends. In fact, I couldn’t have a better friend. I had been training at the other gym here in town but in 2004 I got sick of them not opening on time and having to wait on equipment and I got tired of using equipment that hadn’t been maintained, so I asked Rick if I could strictly train at Big Bear’s. That gym is a two hour round trip drive for me. He gave me a membership and so the new challenge began. Six days a week I would get up at 1:30am, drive to Newport, workout for two hours and then drive home and get ready for work.
Three years ago I learned that the equipment I have in the gym now was up for sale, so I made an offer and they took it and I began restoring rusty gym machines. I recovered everything and started looking for a site to start the gym. I had owned a security company so I already know what camera and card access system I needed. So, that was the start of Vic’s Power House! Rick McClung comes down and helps with our in house powerlifting meets by running the platform for us and he also runs classes for people who want to learn how to bench, squat or deadlift. He does this as a friend.
Sean - Speaking of you and Rick running powerlifting meets along the west coast. Please describe the format of these events (sanctioning? basic rules? do you allow bench shirts and powerlifting suits? etc.) I know that for years Rick was involved with the APF and then with the IPA. What’s your current promotional standing?
Vicki - Rick and I are strictly for old school lifting. We allow wrist and knee wraps and we let lifters wear belts but bench shirts and powerlifting suits are not allowed. Our events are also non-sanctioned.
Sean - Since your gym is both a bodybuilding and old school powerlifting gym and a general fitness club for the community, what were your main priorities when you chose your gym equipment and when you came up with a layout to maximize the use of the gym's floor space square footage?
Vicki - The equipment I have came from Munsel Lake Fitness. It’s all heavy duty equipment but I was missing a smith machine and a cable cross over machine. I also had to get some barbells so I invested further buy adding those items to my arsenal. I also purchased bars that were rated from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. I will at some time invest in Ivanko competition bars since I will need them for the meets. I have 1,600 square feet of gym space so the gym is packed tight with equipment.
Sean Katterle - What’s your competition background in bodybuilding?
Vicki - I started competing in 1999. It’s kind of funny when I look back at my first meet. I made my weight and my bodyfat was down to 10% but I had fifteen people in my class. I took 9th place and I remember coming off stage thinking that I was never doing this again. But, by the time I made it around to the back of the stage my mind had changed. I thought “The hell with this. I am coming back next year and I’m kicking butt!” I did too. I was doing two to three competitions a year but then in 2003 I decided to take a year off to beef up. That hiatus ended up being a little long and I returned to the stage in 2005 where I took 1st place for the second time in my class. I needed more size because my next goal was to pose at The Emerald Cup which is almost on the nationals level. So, I started using the powerlifting knowledge I’d learned at Big Bear’s to pack the size on. I also used the H.I.T. program (High Intensity Training) to train harder and to get bigger. In 2007 I signed up for The Emerald Cut. Rick and Anna McClung went to the show with me. Rick babysat me back stage and he kept me pumped up and focused. I walked away with 5th place which, to be honest, is saying a lot. Most first timers don’t even place at that event. Now I am taking some time off to focus on the gym and on running my powerlifting meets. My body needs the rest from competing anyways. I am looking to return to the stage in a couple of years.
Sean - If someone wanted to start up a gym in their small hometown, what would be the most important 3 pieces of advice you'd give them in regards to getting the project off the ground?
Vicki - My first piece of advice would be to really check out the equipment you’re buying if you’re buying second hand. Make sure it’s in good working order and that it’s not going to require too much work to restore it to near new condition. Also, make sure that the equipment you buy is solid and that it’s built to hold up over years of heavy usage. My second pearl of wisdom to share is that you should offer something that no one else in your area is offering i.e. 24 hour access. And finally, be consistent and make yourself available to all of your customers. It takes a lot of public relations to succeed in the gym business.
Sean - What’s coming up for you and your gym?
Vicki - We’ve got a powerlifting meet that we’re putting on this Saturday. After that, I’m starting up a women’s fitness class. For me personally, I’m starting to get serious with my training again and I’m beginning my diet for a bodybuilding show in 2010.
You can check out Vicki's gym business website at
Vic's Power House
and Vicki's official MySpace page is
Vic's Power House Official MySpace Page
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MHP'S KINGS OF THE BENCH II VIDEO (WHERE VICKI HELPED RUN THE SCORING TABLE.)
To Order the House of Pain Gym Girl Tribal T-Shirt in Black, Like Vicki's Wearing in a Couple of the Photos Above, Call House of Pain Customer Service at 1-972-772-8600 (8-5pm CST)
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