SANDY — Some call it an athletic competition, some call it a backyard sport. Whatever it is, FitCon is bringing events like strongman, power lifting and crossfit to the South Towne Expo Center on April 29-30.

KSL Sports caught up with several local lifters on the eve of FitCon.

Strongman

Strongman has been around for years, but it hasn't been understand by the masses, said 2005 U.S. strongman champion Van Hatfield, who calls Mapleton home.

"We don't pull trucks with our teeth," Hatfield said with a laugh. "We pull trucks with a harness, lift large stones and just anything we could find in our backyard to lift. Something big and heavy.

"It's been a backyard sport for years; honestly, it's more like a circus freak sport — mostly guys who weigh 300-350 pounds lifting weird objects. A lot of people still treat it as a backyard sport."

Hatfield was among the first in the state of Utah to compete in strongman, but has seen the sport grow to envelope a variety of partners, gyms and competitions each year. He estimates there's 20-30 strongman competitors from Utah every year.

"I'm a seasoned veteran now; I don't want to say old, but a seasoned veteran," he said. "I don't have as many meets in me as I used to, so I try to train for 2-3 per year."

Powerlifting

Powerlifting is a spin-off sport of weight lifting, but differs in its focus on the bench press, squat and dead lift.

Utah resident Chris McGrail has won the Olympia championship for three-straight years in the dead lift, and he currently holds the world record for his weight class in the squat at 782 pounds. He also dead lifts in excess of 700 pounds.

"We have one guy who holds the all-time world record in the bench press," McGrail said. "This guy can bench 821 pounds with single-ply equipment, and he weighs 220."

FitCon 2016 will host the first-ever international power lifting event in the state of Utah beginning April 29.

"There's a good chance you'll see some all-time and world records set," McGrail said. "You don't have to say, I'm 30 years old and need to hang it up. This is something you can be a part of for the rest of your life."

Crossfit

Crossfit has taken the world by storm in recent years, and Utah is no exception. Local crossfit competitor Trevor Ashdown estimates there's more than 100 crossfit gyms in the Beehive State, and it, too, will be on display at FitCon 2016.

"For most people, it's trying to fill this void they feel in themselves after high school, college or no longer participating in a sport," Ashdown said. "It can be an individual sport, a team sport, or just something to satisfy that urge.

"There are different levels of competitiveness within crossfit. There is no shortage of local competitions."

Every event leads to what Ashdown calls "the Super Bowl of Crossfit," the Crossfit Games, broadcast every year on ESPN.

Olympic weightlifting

Weightlifting is an Olympic sport involving the snatch and the clean and jerk. The snatch involves lifting weight over a competitor's head in one movement, while the clean and jerk is two movements: one to the shoulders, and the next over the head.

"Utah has some really good lifters in Olympic weightlifting," said Debbie Millett, president of the Utah Weightlifting Association. "Maybe 5-6 years ago, we had about 100 Olympic weightlifters in the state of Utah, and now we have 500 registered weightlifters.

"For people as old as 70-80, it keeps people flexible, balanced and strong."

Jesse Bradley from Provo is one of several local competitors who will compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic squad during team trials May 8 at the Salt Palace.

"The self mastery of doing the impossible is the best part," local lifter Connor Houghton said. "Six months ago, I didn't think I could ever lift 350 pounds, but now I do it every day.

"Doing things you didn't think you could ever do before is very empowering — and it's addictive."

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