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Welcome to the East Coast West Coast Open – Where Australia's Next Powerlifting Legends Are Born.

This isn't just a competition — it's a proving ground for rising talent. Designed exclusively for up-and-coming lifters, this high-calibre event offers the perfect stage to chase records, face off against equally hungry competitors, and experience the intensity of a national-level showdown. This is your moment to break through, rise up, and show the powerlifting world what’s coming next.

For 2025, the East/West Coast Open will be held at:

• Breakthrough Fitness in Sydney, and

• Strength Club Perth in Perth

Entry Criteria

All applicants to the Australian Powerlifting Alliance (APA) East Coast West Coast Open must meet the following entry criteria:

1. Be a current member of the APA
2. Not serving an Anti-Doping rule violation sanction
3. Compete in the qualification window and meet the qualifying criteria detailed below
4. Not be serving a sanction or be under investigation for a breach of IPF, APA constitution, policies or bylaws
5. Not be a member of another powerlifting federation

Registration types: 3-lift classic entrants only

Age requirements: All age categories will be available at this championship.

Qualification and entry process

To enter this competition, you must:

• Be an APA member who has competed in an APA-sanctioned event, and
• Achieved a total lower than the 2025 national qualifying total for your age group and weight class.

Note: If you’ve already achieved the national qualifying total for your age group during the 2025 national qualifying period, you are considered a national-level lifter and are not eligible for this event. If you set this total after the qualifying period you are permitted to use your previous lower total to compete at this event.

• Opens Qualifying cut off - Sunday 1st December 2024
• Sub-Junior, Junior and Masters Cut Off - Saturday 15th February 2025

Weight class changes

• You may enter in the weight class where you achieved your qualifying total, or one class higher.
• Your highest total achieved must be below the qualifying national total for the weight class you register in.

State Records

• Athletes can set state records for the state they reside in, regardless of where the competition takes place.
• You can compete in any state regardless of where you reside
• For 2025 only, All state records will start from 0kg in each weight and age category.
• Records must be broken in 2.5kg increments.
• At the conclusion of the event, the highest successful squat, bench press, deadlift and total in each weight class will be recorded as the state record for each lift, based on the lifter’s state of residence.
• If lifters from multiple states are competing in the same category, each may claim the state record for their respective state of residence

From 2026 onwards, state records may be chipped in 0.5kg increments, in line with the IPF technical rules.

Competition Details

All APA competitions are bound by IPF rules; be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules of competition and approved equipment list ahead of competition day.

If you are under 18 years of age, a parent/legal guardian/temporary guardian must be present on the day. If not, you will be unable to compete. More information can be found on the APA website.

Preliminary competition schedule

West Coast Open - Strength Club Perth, 16 and 17 August

Saturday, 16 August

Day one will have one session:

• Weigh-in will begin at 12pm local time
• Lifting will begin at 2pm local time 

Sunday, 17 August

Day two will have two sessions:

Session 1

• Weigh-in will begin at 7am
• Lifting will begin at 9am

Session 2

• Weigh-in will begin at 12pm
• Lifting will begin at 2pm

East Coast Open - Breakthrough Fitness, 17 August

Sunday, 17 August

Maximum number of entrants:

• West Coast Open: 84 lifters
• East Coast Open: 90 lifters

Meet directors: 

• East Coast Open (Perth): Jacob Sofianos 
• West Coast Open (Sydney): George Kafrouni 
• Please direct all enquiries to championships@powerliftingalliance.org.au
  
  

Note: Lifters who have not participated in an APA-sanctioned event within the past 12 months are permitted to enter this meet. However, they will not be eligible to set State Records or receive podium awards.