Everyone trains with their preferences, but it’s unlikely anyone trains like Clay Cooper. Known as “@discoverydeadlift” on Instagram, Cooper travels around the world to perform deadlifts in exotic locations and obscure terrains. On Feb. 6, 2023, the powerlifter took to his Instagram page to share a video wherein he pulled what appeared to be 225-pound deadlifts on the frozen Utah Lake.
A camera flies around him, capturing the silent glare of the snowy-top-covered mountains in the distance looming over the frozen lake on an overcast day. Cooper has previously demonstrated his ability to pull significantly heavier weight but opted to lift lighter so as not to apply too much pressure and potentially crack the ice.
The fantasy-esque lifting video on an icy paradise could have become a horror clip attempting to escape the lake’s frozen grasp had he loaded up additional weight plates. However, if that unfortunate event had occurred, Cooper confirmed that the lake is shallow and he would not have been in significant danger. Check out the video below:
[Related: Phillip Herndon (110KG) Squats 412.8 Kilograms (910 Pounds) Raw in Training, Nearly 40 Pounds Over World Record]
Cooper confirmed these lifts’ location in the post’s comments section. Although lighter than his normal pulls, Cooper used an overhand grip to perform his reps on the ice in a conventional stance. He did not wear a lifting belt, wrist wraps, or any other equipment. He even took off his sweater to perform his set in a t-shirt, though he left his beanie atop his head.
“Incorporating light sets in my program helps me target different areas I want to improve, allows for needed muscle recovery,” wrote Cooper in his caption. “In this instance, ensured that I stayed on the ice and not in the lake.”
[Related: Jimmy Kolb Bench Presses 612.5 Kilograms (1,350 Pounds) Equipped, the Heaviest Single Lift in Powerlifting History]
For similar reasons for not progressively overloading the weight, Cooper also slowed down the concentric portion of the lift to ensure the weights didn’t crash down on the ice between reps. In the video, it’s apparent that he lowered the weight until it lightly touched the ice before driving the barbell back up to the locked-out position.
Featured image: @discoverydeadlift on Instagram
