The hype is real in lead up to this year’s Kern US Open.
By now, if you’re a powerlifter or an avid BarBend follower, then more than likely you know this invite only meet is set to take place May 12-13th in San Diego, California. The full roster for both the men’s and women’s weight classes are stacked beyond belief.
On the men’s side, one athlete who’s coming into the competition with something to prove is junior 90kg powerlifter Ashton Rouska. Hot off a big first place finish at the 2018 USAPL Collegiate National Championships (more on that below), Rouska is dialing in his training to hang with the best at the Kern US Open.
His latest deadlift video features one of his biggest pulls of his career and comes in at a monstrous 365kg (804 lbs). Check it out below.
Now for the hype, in Rouska’s video’s description he writes, “804 lbs. Judgement day is here. No more games. No more doubts. I am going to crush the US Open. I will accomplish the likes of which this world has never seen from a natural 200 lb lifter. The world will know my power, and I will break the chains on the beast I’ve had in me all these years…it’s time to take the throne.”
By the energy and progress in his lifting, we’re pumped to see what Rouska puts together come meet day. It’s going to be interesting to see how this young competitor at 21 years old hangs with some of powerlifting’s titans.
We mentioned it above, but Rouska ended up taking home first at the 2018 USAPL Collegiate National Championships, which took place April 18th-22nd. He competed in the 93kg weight class and finished with a 343kg (755 lb) squat, a 177kg (391 lb) bench press, and 333kg (733 lb) deadlift.
And if his numbers weren’t impressive enough he mentions in the video’s description, “1st place 205 lb class, Collegiate National Champion! I am the first known in collegiate Powerlifting to win an equipped meet going raw with only knee wraps! 8/9.”
His description concludes by talking about how his UTSA Army Cadet training has been taking a toll on his sleep and activity levels, although, he’s still managing to put the work in at the gym. There’s no denying that Rouska has a ton of grit, so now it’s time to sit back and see what he can do come meet day.
Feature image from @ash117 Instagram page.