Gongi's post was interesting and it gives me an oppurtunity to point out some facts.
You cannot set WR at ProRaw
You cannot qualify for International Competition
Pointless taking token lifts
You cannot set National records
What you can do
Lift against the best lifters (matter of opinion)
Lift in competition with lots of competitors in the same division
Win some coin
Have fun
Lift in multiple organizations ( I limit no one, only 1 fed limits lifters from competing)
Be the centre of attention and not be ruled over like a dictatorship
Lift raw with the best bit of equipment from equipped lifting, knee wraps.
Sean Katterle from House of Pain has told me any lifter from ProRaw can lift at Clash of the Titans in the US for free, no entry fee or membership.
We lift under the same rules, he limits nobody. I honestly feel we are breaking down barriers, not creating them.
Now clearly PA guys arent going to like this. The rules say they cant climb into our sandbox and play, which is sad. Sad in the fact that adults can be dictated to like that. Rules are rules, I get it, but your not going to catch steroids by competing with someone that might take them.
I believe they have year round random testing, so whats the problem? I believe in treating adults like adults.
If PA approached me and said I had to make drug testing available to lifters that wanted to lift in ProRaw from PA, I would organize it in a heart beat.
I dont understand how having a PA lifter lifting in a Pro comp is such a bad thing, it makes no sense to a logical man.
In the US, this isnt a problem. Maybe its not the Fed.