Sasquatch Strength Hosts First Socially Distant USA Weightlifting Qualifying Event in Washington
Seattle-based fitness franchise to host the first USAW sanctioned in-person meet in Washington since lockdown
October 27, 2020 // Franchising.com // SEATTLE - Local fitness franchise Sasquatch Strength is hosting Washington’s first weightlifting meet since lockdown, providing the Seattle weightlifting community with an opportunity to qualify for the American Open, Nationals, and Youth Nationals, even during the pandemic. The socially distant event will have stringent safety and sanitation protocols and will only allow the lifters and coaches to attend onsite. Spectators can tune in virtually on Facebook live. The event will be taking place all day on October 31, beginning at 7:30am.
Local events like this are essential for weightlifters to qualify to compete on a national level. Since the pandemic, there have been no in-person events throughout the state of Washington to give lifters the chance to qualify. Sasquatch Strength has teamed up with USA Weightlifting to provide the opportunity for Washington weightlifters to compete without limitations. The franchise has successfully reopened all of its locations and shifted operations to offer socially distant fitness classes with extensive cleaning and distancing procedures.
“This has been a tough year for everyone, and we wanted to find a way to bring some sense of normalcy back to our weightlifting community in a safe and effective manner,” said Troy Morse, Director of Programming at Sasquatch Strength. “For many people, these meets are a way of life that they have been completely missing out on since March. Our team has worked really hard to provide them with a way to compete in-person without compromising their safety during the pandemic.”
The event will follow health guidelines from both the state of Washington and USA Weightlifting. Masks and temperature checks will be mandatory for all lifters and coaches. Lifters will be weighed in a tent outside, one at a time, and each lifter will be assigned a designated spot away from one another. The event will be divided into five sessions, with approximately 12 lifters per two-hour session. While no spectators are allowed onsite, the event will be broadcasted on Sasquatch Strength’s Facebook Live, and is expected to bring in thousands of virtual attendees.
“We have a close-knit community at Sasquatch that is built off of the passion for fitness. It has been really hard on a lot of people that they haven’t been able to do what makes them happy, which is compete,” added Morse. “We are so proud to be able to work with USA Weightlifting and make this happen so that we can spread some positivity amidst everything going on.”
Morse has 12 years and roughly 25,000 hours of experience coaching athletes, group classes, and teams. He has over 14 distinct fitness certifications, including in Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting. At Sasquatch, he is hands-on with the brand’s “purpose-based” programming, which focuses on educating and empowering members for life.
With limited class sizes, trainers can offer individual attention to members to structure their experience around the member’s personal needs. During each class, members are designated their own space, 6 feet apart from each other, with sanitized equipment individually laid out for their use only. After every class, there is a 10-minute transition period where members are dismissed one at a time followed by a 30-minute disinfecting procedure to prepare the space for the next class. Each class accommodates eight members in compliance with CDC, local and state guidelines.
Sasquatch Strength has four locations in the Seattle metro area in Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, and Bellevue. The brand has also signed deals to open a new location in Kirkland, as well as Orlando, Florida. Over the next 12 months, Sasquatch Strength hopes to add 14 new franchises, with a short-term goal of 100 units in the next three to five years.
About Sasquatch Strength
Founded in 2014 and franchising since 2018, Sasquatch Strength is a Washington-based fitness concept focusing on educating members for life, rather than giving them a workout and sending them home. The brand was founded when CEO Isaac Vaisberg found himself wanting to join the fitness industry, yet couldn’t find a gym that provided purpose-based programming. Sasquatch Strength prides itself on unique fitness programs that are personalized to help members reach their goals. Today, there are four open locations in Washington with two in various stages of development throughout Washington and Florida. For more information, visit the Sasquatch Strength website.
SOURCE Sasquatch Strength
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