APT Pro Gear - Jeff Neuhalfen powerlifter powerlifting

My name is Jeff Neuhalfen, I am 38 years old and live just outside Memphis, TN.

   I started lifting weights in the Army in 1991, and like most followed the magazines for several years. Upon moving to Memphis I found an advertisement for a strongman contest in Nashiville around 1990. I met the late Bubba Melton and Willie Wessles at a training day for the meet and was hooked. For the next 5 years I traveled and competed in strongman comps sponsored by NASS (North American Strongman Society). Due to the high cost of equipment and travel, I decided to look for another avenue to compete. It was several years later I found what I was looking for.

   I was working out in the Millington Navel base gym in September of   2005 when I met a long time USAPL powerlifter named Jack Reape. Jack is Captian and pilot in the Navy and was displaced by hurricane Katrina. For the next 6 months Jack gave me a huge jumpstart into powerlifting.

   After just 2 months of training and wearing an Inzer double denim and single ply Titan squat suit I entered my first meet, the APA holiday classic in Nashville 2005. I squatted 665, benched 515 and deadlifted 625 for an 1805 total in the 242's. I left plenty on the platform, but it was a huge learing experience. After a few minor injuries I competed the next year in the same APA holiday classic 2006. This time I was more prepared and knew my gear better. I used a titan boss suit, titan katana shirt and deadlifted in my singlet. I went 800/530/670 for a 2000 total at 242, which is an elite classification.

While training at my house one day in gear, my wife said "but what can you realy do". Well, I had no idea so I figured I would find out. I entered the SPF world championships set for October 6th 2007 in Gatinburg, TN.   I started training raw in July and felt very good going into the meet. I went 610/430/630 (passed on my 3rd dl, due to a pulled muscle) for 1670@242 and again went elite in the raw classifications. I did not know to several days later that I set all world records and my total was the highest raw total by any 242lber in any federation in 2007.

About a week after the meet, I had begun to prepare for an APF meet in Alabama in March 2008, when I was contacted by Eric Talmet and received an official invite to the raw unity meet being held in Tampa, FL the last week in January 2008. This was a huge surprise and having the opportunity to compete in front the legend Ed Coan is something I could not pass up. I am currently preparing for that meet. After the raw unity meet I will compete in the APF meet in Alabama, march 2008 and attempt to qualifly for the senior nationals.

I bought a pair of APT black mamaba knee wraps and got a free pair of APT wrist wraps at the SPF meet in Gatlinburg and fell in love with them. After finding out the raw unity meet will not allow knee wraps and only knee sleeves I immediately ordered a pair of APT knee sleeves and will not squat without them ever again.