FAQs

You are welcome to participate in a development competition without being affiliated.

If you want to compete in the competition of an affiliated club, you must affiliate with the Western Cape Powerlifting Federation here.

After your first affiliated club competition, if you want to compete at Western Cape Powerlifting Provincial Champs, you must also affiliate with the South African Powerlifting Federation (SAPF) on the SAPF website. NOTE: Part of the SAPF affiliation process will require the completion of the WADA ADeL online education course on anti-doping.

For more details, see the Criteria to Lift.

Beyond a development competition, to compete in an affiliated club competition, you must affiliate with the Western Cape Powerlifting Federation. To affiliate with WCP, please fill out the form on the affiliation page or join the WhatsApp group and get in touch with the lifting community for more details.

After your first competition, if you want to compete at Western Cape Provincial Champs, you must also affiliate with the South African Powerlifting Federation (SAPF). To affiliate with SAPF, complete the form and make payment on the SAPF website. NOTE: as part of your affiliation with SAPF, you will be required to complete the appropriate ADEL WADA Education Program. See “Why do I have to complete a WADA Education Program?”

For more details, see the Criteria to Lift.

The Western Cape Powerlifting Federation and the South African Powerlifting Federation are members of the International Powerlifting Federation. The IPF is a global, fully tested powerlifting federation and signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code. The IPF has taken its role as the premier global powerlifting federation very seriously and has worked diligently with our sporting partners and associates to become a responsible, high-quality organisation governing athletes committed to drug-free, high-standard competition. 

Powerlifting has two categories: equipped and classic (also known as raw). The two categories have some differences in what is allowed and what is not allowed. If it’s your first club competition, chances are it is a classic competition. For your first competition, rent or borrow a singlet if you can; make sure you have some long deadlift socks but turn up and enjoy your first comp without worrying too much! Once affiliated, it is mandatory to wear a singlet and deadlift socks when competing. The following equipment is allowed:

• Lifting belt
• Wrist wraps
• Knee sleeves
• Raised heel lifting shoes**

You don’t have to use a belt, wrist wraps or knee sleeves or make use of raised heel shoes. It is a personal preference.

However, at a Provincial competition, the equipment you use will have to comply with IPF standards. This means your equipment might not be from an IPF-approved manufacturer, but it meets the technical specifications (i.e. belt thickness).

At a National or International competition, the equipment will have to be from an IPF-approved manufacturer. If your goal is to compete at South African Provincials or Nationals, then it is worth starting out with IPF-approved equipment. Note, the list of approved equipment manufacturers is updated by the IPF each year.

** The IPF does not specify raised heel lifting shoe manufacturers, but there are limitations on the height of the heel.

There are age and weight class categories for classic, equipped and bench press only powerlifting. National and International records are updated after each competition.

• Western Cape Provincial records
• National records unequipped / classic
• National records equipped
• International records

To take part in the South African National powerlifting championships, you need to first qualify at a provincial championship competition. There are qualifying standards set by the SAPF. Download the document and look at the colour code in the “compete” section for your age category and then note the total required for your weight class. For example, the women’s open powerlifting unequipped compete colour code is orange. An open woman in the 63kg weight class has to achieve a total of 217.5kgs to be eligible to take part in the South African National Championships.

If you are a first-time lifter at an SAPF-affiliated club competition, you must affiliate with the Western Cape Powerlifting Federation.

1. Complete the entry form
2. Pay the competition fee
3. Compete with approved equipment
   • Singlet
   • Belt
   • Deadlift socks
   • Wrist wraps (optional)
   • Knee sleeves (optional)

Should you decide to compete at Western Cape Provincial Championships following your first affiliated club competition, then you must also affiliate with SAPF. Part of the SAPF affiliation process is completing the WADA ADeL online education course on anti-doping. Your certificate must be uploaded on the SAPF website as part of the affiliation process.

1. Affiliate with the South African Powerlifting Federation on the SAPF website
2. Complete the WADA ADeL Certificate
3. Pay all affiliation fees. Affiliation fees ensure that you can compete throughout the year. If SAPF affiliation fees are paid anytime after September of that year, you are automatically affiliated for the following year e.g. affiliation fees paid in or after September 2024, will automatically mean you are affiliated for 2025.

All details about the criteria to lift can be found here: Criteria to Lift