Gym Articles

Sunsation Fitness and Tanning

Hardcore Gets A Tan

Last time we learned that a Hardcore gym can have chrome, when we visited Stroud?s Fitness in Hurst, TX. I know the guys at Stroud?s, and I know they are hard core ? but I still have a little trouble with bright, clean gyms. (Just a little.)
Before that we learned that even a Nautilus gym could be hardcore! Freaky! (However, the Nautilus Gym has at least changed the name of their establishment since the article was written. OK, I?ll give them that.)
As if to prove that the world can get stranger still, now we?ll go through a hard training hallucination to get to another alternate reality. You know the little stars you sometimes see when you over do your deadlift? (Cool, huh?) Imagine the starry world was another realm, and then imagine that in that arena ? a tanning gym could do hard core. I know, I know ? sounds crazy.
Let?s journey to Brookfield, Ohio and visit SUNSATION FITNESS AND TANNING to see if a ?tanning gym? can be hard core!
After reading a recent article in Powerlifting U.S.A. magazine I felt compelled to speak of a hardcore gym in Campbell, Ohio. In the eight years that SUNSATION FITNESS AND TANNING has been in business, it has become quite a force in the powerlifting scene.
Checklist: Following the ?What Makes a Gym Hard Core?? checklist presented in a previous Powerlifting U.S.A. article, here is how Sunsation Fitness and Tanning stacks up.
Most of the die-hards at this gym are hardcore freaks. Hardcore and freak go hand-and-hand. This is not necessarily a bad thing when you want to be the best. Hardcore is someone that will not let outside interference stop them form achieving their goals. If someone wants to be a great powerlifter, then doing what needs to be done should be a way of life, not a chore. Most of the people that powerlift at Sunsation do it for the love, not money since most don?t get paid. Since most don?t get paid, they have to have careers. Powerlifting takes a lot of time and money of one wants to be good and takes to develop and get to the top. There is a major difference between blowing off your responsibilities and balancing your life to include the things you love and be good at them. Too many look at training like a chore, allow themselves to make excuses and not do what they have to do to be the best at what they choose. Doing what you need to do, training to your ultimate limit, and continually pushing yourself makes you hardcore. Eventually, being hardcore and sticking to it will make you a freak, and that is a great thing. This is what can be seen by others when walking into the gym.
Equipment: The equipment is basic and reliable. Basic is the best thing when it comes to powerlifting because the basics keep you true to lift. Reliable is important also, because it provides you with peace of mind and allows you to completely focus on your lift. Newer types of training don?t allow a natural powerlifter to stay true to the lift. They involve not touching the main thing one is competing in. Even though some of the newer techniques work, they need to be mixed with old school workouts to get true results. This is what is found in Campbell, Ohio,
Unusual Features: The gym is a true family. There is never any need to bring a spotter, one can be found at any time. If you need a spot, ask, and someone will be there. Anyone in the gym will bend over backwards to help. This not only goes for IN the gym, but the big boys from the gym are always there to lend a hand at competitions. Whether it is for help with the shirts, or needing a boost with your bench.
Powerlifters: Pick a division and not only will you find one competing there, but winning on a consistent basis.
In a short time, Sunsation Fitness and Tanning has been in business, it has become a major force in the sport of natural powerlifting. It seems there are a number of strong competitors in Ohio. It took some time, but they have found their way to the Black & Gold, the colors that make up uniforms of the Sunsation Fitness and Tanning Strength Team. Owner Eric Rudiak has had some training in the field of fitness of health and he, like many of us, was unhappy with the standard of the local gyms. So Eric and some of his friends leased a building (previously a Dairy Mart) and started a gym. As the years passed, the gym grew and the level of competition increased. Now the gym is very well known, and the inside walls are lined with photos and trophies form many competitions. Rudiak is the now the sole proprietor of the gym and anyone picked for the team is given a uniform to wear.
The powerlifters in the gym are some of the best in the country. Six of the competitors are nationally ranked.
Blaise Karlovic competes in the SHW Open division and has now done 600-pounds (in the Bench Press). He just recently made the move to the SHW. In the 275?s he finished his tenure with and impressive 570-pounds. He will be forced to contend with the future considering Blaise is still young. Always impressive Jeff Peshek is a World Champion Bench Presser who competes in the open/sub-master and has now passed the 625-pound mark on the bench. Jeff is in the 275-pound class and always shows up to compete. He is also a very good at all around powerlifter with an impressive squat and deadlift. Mitch Zupko also contends in the 275-pound class in the police/fire division with a mid 500?s bench. Mitch is also a great all around powerlifter with an impressive squat. Paul Vargo, another World Champion Bench Presser seems to be coming into his own now passing the 560-pound bench in the 242-pound Open class. He will with no doubt take another world title this year. Greg Tarr is the 198-pound lifter. He competes in the police/fire/open division and has done as much as 465-pounds in the division. Greg always shows up and stays consistent with a good bench. We have a few young-uns up and coming. Paul Prozy competes in the 181-pound teen division and has benched 400-pounds. This kid is the one to watch. One would remiss not to mention the 148-pound bencher, Brian Abied. He is banging an impressive 330-pounds?oh yea, he is doing it raw. (Note: let?s put a shirt on Brian and see what happens!)
Sunsation Fitness and Tanning is a place that people look forward to going everyday. Working out is tough to do, and let?s face it, making it to the gym to complete you routine everyday is tough. The pressures of life sometimes make you feel as though training and reaching your goals is impossible.
Sunsation is a place where it is easy to attain your goals. Rudiak has created a place ?where everybody knows your name.? It doesn?t matter what your goals are: records in powerlifting or just general fitness. The people in the gym will not only drive you, but also be there to help you attain your goals, naturally.
Among the powerlifters, the push is the greatest. The ?ball-busters? in this gym are among the best. It continues constantly and serves as great motivation. All the while, though, you know these guys are backing you 110%. Once the flight sheet goes up, the time for fun and games is over. Every person gets what they are capable at the contest.
If you doubt the hardcore nature of the gym, just look around. If the tow chains hanging off the bar, or bands tied to the car in the parking lot with someone running on the other end, or five guys yelling at one another to get that last rep aren?t enough?don?t finish ?what you put on your plate for dinner? and see what the boys have to say about it. You da man E!

Questions? rick@houseofpainironwear.com
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