Hidden Gym Announces 1st USAPL Meet: Powerlifting Just Got Even More Epic!

Powerlifting gurus, gym rats, and those of you who just enjoy grunting in front of a mirror with a barbell, brace yourselves for big news! Announcing Hidden Gym’s first-ever USAPL meet.

Get ready for The White Lights Open, happening on February 22, 2025.

What’s the Big Deal About USAPL?

For the uninitiated, USAPL (USA Powerlifting) is like the NFL, NBA, and World Cup of the powerlifting world. It’s one of the largest and most respected powerlifting federations in the U.S. The USAPL is known for strict standards, precise rules, and accomplished lifters who really know how to move some serious iron.

In the Beginning…

USAPL was founded in 1980, and was initially called the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA). The focus, as you might have guessed, was to keep the sport clean of illegal and often dangerous drugs. This initial push for drug-free competition grew in popularity, and in 1997, they changed their name to USA Powerlifting. The rest, as they say, is history.

How is the USAPL Different?

What sets USAPL apart from other powerlifting federations is a laser focus on strict standards, especially when it comes to drug use. Those who lift in a USAPL meet are doing it with nothing but hard work, determination, and technical precision. Squats must hit the right depth, bench presses must stay paused until the judge gives the command, and deadlifts need to be blocked out perfectly. Otherwise, say goodbye to that white light.

Hidden Gym’s Powerlifting Pedigree

Hidden Gym is new to the USAPL scene, but not to powerlifting meets. Hidden Gym has been hosting one or two powerlifting meets, every year, since 2009! That’s a decade and a half of providing a platform for lifters to showcase their strength, shatter PRs… and maybe develop a minor addiction to chalk.

Now we’re stepping it up. By partnering with Texas Strength Systems and Wes Zunker, we bring you the White Lights Open.

Those who have been to a Hidden Gym meet already know the energy is electric. Imagine a mashup between a heavyweight championship fight and your best friend’s house party. There’s an intense atmosphere, with music pumping through the speakers, claps of chalk dust and anticipation, and the unmistakable scent of pre-workout adrenaline in the air.

Can you picture it? Hear it Smell it?

Now dial it up to 11 with the added prestige of a USAPL-sanctioned event.

Yeah, it’s going to be epic.

More about the White Lights Open

On February 22, 2025, lifters from all over will gather at Hidden Gym (Allen location) to compete in what promises to be a jaw-dropping event. If you dream of standing on a platform, staring down at the barbell, hearing the judge say "squat," and feeling the weight of the world – and a lot of iron – suddenly in your hands, then this is the event for you.

The name "White Lights Open" has a special significance in powerlifting, too. A white light is triggered by the judges when they mark a lift as successful. It’s like the buzzer at a bull riding competition. In every attempt, three judges watch the lift and give either a white light (good lift) or a red light (no lift). Every lifter wants those white lights, and will be gunning for them at this meet. Are you one of them? That’s right, this is a chance for you to prove your mettle in front of a crowd and to walk away with some shiny new numbers on your total.

Texas Strength Systems and Wes Zunker: Powerlifting Royalty

This event isn’t just Hidden Gym’s USAPL debut, it’s also supported by Texas Strength Systems (TSS) and Wes Zunker. TSS is known in powerlifting circles for building some of the best competition-grade equipment: benches, racks, and bars that can handle all the power you and your fellow competitors can muster.

And Wes Zunker? Well he’s a legend in the Texas powerlifting community. He has years of experience lifting, running meets, spotting, and judging. He knows how to put together an event that runs smoother than a freshly chalked barbell. He’s also a certified USAPL national referee, and each lifter will be in good hands under his watchful eye.

Wes is there to make sure the lifts go according to plan and to ensure that the meet runs like a well-oiled machine. He’s the guy who will ensure that each lifter, from novice to seasoned pro, gets their moment on the platform, is judged fairly… and walks away feeling like they’ve just conquered their personal Everest.

Why YOU Should Compete

Yes, you. Why not?

Lifting in a meet isn’t always about winning a medal. Some will be at the stage in their lifting that they might get one, but let’s be real: most competitors don’t. Power lifting isn’t about the medals though; it’s about each competitor pushing their own limits, seeing what they’re really made of, and experiencing the thrill of competition in its purest form.

Not sure if you’re ready to compete? Consider a few of the benefits:

• Community Vibes: There’s something special about the powerlifting community. It’s a group of people who, like you, are passionate about the sport, love the grind and the thrill of pushing through a hard workout, and want to see everyone succeed. It’s true. Even those competing against you will cheer you on when you step up to the bar. It’s that kind of vibe.
• Personal Records: You may think you’ve hit your peak in the gym, but you could be very surprised. There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush of a meet to unlock hidden reserves of strength and determination. How much more can you lift when the stakes are high and the crowd’s roaring? Find out.
• USAPL Prestige: Competing in a USAPL meet is a significant achievement. The strict standards ensure that your lifts are legit, are officially recorded, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that every rep you’ve endured, pushed through, and blasted out the other side… counts. If you aspire to going further in the sport, this competition could also be a stepping stone to going further. In fact, you might just become the next big name in USAPL! Someone will be. Why not you?

Not Ready to Compete? Come Watch!

Maybe you’re not ready to compete just yet, or maybe you’re more interested in the sport from a position of support. No problem! Be a part of the action by coming out to cheer on your fellow lifters. Watching a powerlifting meet can sometimes be as fun as competing in one. You get to soak in the atmosphere, witness the impressive lifts, the successes, the intense attempts at unreached heights, and maybe you’ll pick up a few tips for your own training.

Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Powerlifting

Did you know these?

• Power lifting officially started in the US and UK in the 1950s, but before that, competitors’ attempts at hefting heavy things were called “odd lifts.” Nowadays we still welcome odd lifters!
• The heaviest raw squat ever recorded in a USAPL meet is a whopping 1,080 pounds, hefted by Ray Williams. That’s like squatting two grizzly bears! (…But without those pesky teeth and claws.)
• Powerlifting is for almost all ages. USAPL has divisions for lifters from 8 years old to over 80!
• In the old days, actual white lights were used to signal a successful lift – but now it’s usually a digital screen. Same goes for the red lights… but let’s not focus on those!

Ready to Sign Up?

For seasoned powerlifting vets and newcomers alike, the White Lights Open is the event to be at in 2025. Mark your calendars for February 22, and register via Hidden Gym’s website. The slots are expected to fill up fast, so don’t delay—you don’t want to miss out on this monumental event.

As we say in the sport, “Lift heavy, lift often, and always go for the white lights.”

See you at the meet!

Ready to take your fitness game to the next level? If you live in Allen, Dallas, or Plano, make sure to get your free day pass to join Hidden Gym! Become a part of the most motivating place in the DFW area that will help you live a healthier life!