The 2011 Falls Fest Highlander includes the Axle Press as one of its six planned events.

The axle starts on the ground, loaded to the group appropriate weight (Women 65#, LW 165#, Master 175#, MW 200#, HW 220#).  Belt and chalk are allowed.  It must be moved to the shoulders before being locked out overhead for as many reps as possible within one minute.  The “how” of each step varies with the skill and strategy of the lifter and the weight of the bar.

A relatively light load may be cleaned, but a continental is commonly used to get heavier bars to the shoulders.  You’ll see some use an alternate grip to minimize the strength needed to handle the thick diameter of the axle.  “Presses” range from relatively strict to push press to pressed out jerks to jerks.

A couple examples from YouTube:

Karl Gillingham in training.
Note the regular overhand grip, continental to the shoulder, push presses.

Rob Simnick at an event.
Note the alternate grip, clean to the shoulder, push presses.
We recommend you mute this video to avoid the sportcaster drivel.

For most of the twentieth century, the press was the standard means by which the strength of an athlete, especially in weightlifting, was measured. “How much can you press?” was the usual question directed by friends and fellow athletes to any young man who started training with weights… by the end of the century that the new query became “How much can you bench press?”

From:  The Tragic Death of the Military Press in Olympic and World Championship Competition, 1928-1972 by John D. Fair, now available for download at StartingStrength.com

The 2011 Falls Fest will feature a Highlander competition October 1.  This sport combines events from the Scottish Heavy Events and  Strongman.  You can learn more about this sport directly from the North American Highlander Association, but to help you out we’ll be posting specific information about each of the contested events on this blog over the next two weeks.

The Falls Fest competition will feature:

1. Axle Press for Reps – Women 65#, LW 165#, Master 175#, MW 200#, HW 220#
2. Braemar Stone – lw, mw, hw, master 22#, women 16#
3. Max Deadlift– 3 Attempts
4. Weight for distance – lw, mw, hw, master 28#, women 16#
5. Farmers Walk – Women 85#, LW 165#, Master 175#, MW 200#, HW 220#
6. Weight for height – LW & Master 42#, MW & HW 56#, women 28#

Ready? Download entry form here. ENTRY POSTMARK DEADLINE 9/23.