UPCOUNTRY BARBELL CLUB IS OFFICIAL!

>> upcountry barbell club. #boom

Our new banner says it all: UBC is legit. Upcountry Barbell Club is one of three official USAW teams in Hawaii; the other two are on Oahu. Coach Frank Tam is head coach; coach Frank Deutsch is the president (we’re still learning what this means). And we currently have 12 members: Kehau, Josh, Chris, Krystle, Keoni, Ema, Anna, Diane, Keaka, Courtney, Traesyn and Andrea (10 are USAW members; two are pending). We’ve competed in three sanctioned meets so far: one on Maui and two on Oahu. Our next meet is in February on Oahu.

We come from humble beginnings, training most days lifting single file in a small room (that has a popular bucket for sitting) and saving up for new shoes, trips to Oahu and other weightlifting necessities.

What holds us all together is our love for lifting, and our gifted instructor, mentor and friend, Coach Frank Tam. How we met is a bit of a miracle, and it will be saved for a longer post. But truly, UBC would not exist, our PRs would not exist, our respect for technique, timing, patience, speed and power would not exist, our understanding of Maui’s lifting legacy would not exist — without our coach. He is the reason behind UBC. He is UBC.

We can’t thank you enough, coach! I guess the only way we can pay you back is with six for six on that stage. We will get there. And we’ll appreciate every make and miss along the way. After all, this is the journey of lifting, of learning and of life.

Go UBC!

** If you’re an Upcountry resident, and you’re seriously interested in Olympic weightlifting, we are currently drafting some guidelines to find out if UBC would be a good fit for you. Feel free to email any time with questions: crossfitupcountrymaui@gmail.com.