Ali Gascoine's Super Powers!

Powerful figure Ali Gascoine is gunning for a high powered 2007. She's begun her mission to defend her Masters World Powerlifting title by working early with her Trainer, Lance Stewart (himself an International powerlifter) to plan their competitive year. All this heavy weight that Ali pushes has given her plenty of mass, and as she's naturally lean, she is almost always in contest shape so can basically jump onto a bodybuilding stage at a moment's notice - lucky thing!

As you may, or may not know, Ali competes both in bodybuilding (sometimes figure, sometimes physique) and powerlifting competitions. At 52kg and 5'5", 44 year old Ali is athletically gifted with great structure and natural strength. After only 4 months in the sport of powerlifting she broke NZ and oceania records. She's more than capable of squatting double her body weight and deadlifiting 3 times her body weight. Watch Ali's amazing deadlifting on video here

Ali and her trainer Lance @ Genetics Gym, Manukau

With her World conquering ambitions in powerlifting this year, will we see Ali on stage this year? let's find out!

What were you achievements last year (o6)?
Bodybuilding:
1^st in the Masters Athletic Class, WFF Commonwealth Champs in Melbourne (March).
1^st Open Figure Short and 1^st Overall Figure at the NZFBB Figure at the NZFBB Auckland Champs (June).

Powerlifting:
1^st in my class at the NZ Nationals – under52kg Masters 1 (August)
1^st in my class – under 52kg masters 1 – at the World Masters Powerlifting Champs in Texas (October).

What do you enjoy most, Powerlifting or Bodybuilding? And why? I love to train as powerlifter and the competing is fun too. But it’s also nice to be able to jump into a bikini and tan and compete as a bodybuilder if I feel like a change (and want to be abit girlie!) variety is nice and it stops me being too serious about either sports. How does one help the other for you? I think the powerlifting training is ideal for a bodybuilder – therefore I can train quite happily for one sport but still compete in both.

Just give Ali a bikini and she's ready for the stage!

How did you feel winning your class (what was your class?) at the World Powerlifting Champs last year?
Winning was the icing on the cake for that competition! I was so elated after my last lift that I had not bombed in the comp that I didn’t even bother to find out where I’d placed. It wasn’t till the awards ceremony when they played the NZ national anthem and then the guys did the haka, that it really sunk in. I cried – what a woosie aye!

What are you competition goals this year for Powerlifting and Bodybuilding?
I’ve had no powerlifting traning since October last year, so I am just starting back into it now. We start competing in May and then the World masters (pending on qualifying ofcourse) are in Czech republic this year – so that’s the one we’re peaking for. In this comp my goal is to lift beyond what I did last year, and I believe I can do it with Lance as my trainer - coz he says I can and I do what I’m told!

My Powerlifting comps this year: May 5th Auckland Champs to qualify for Nationals. Aug NZ Nationals Oct World Masters in Czech Republic Dec Commonwealth Champs, Chch Any bodybuilding comps this year will be pretty much a spur of the moment decision – literally the day before, knowing me, as was the decision to do last year’s Auckland Champs.

Ali squatting 80kg

Do you basically stay same weight whether its powerlifting or bodybuilding comp? Same weight all the time – unless I have a break from training and then my weight drops – hence its not a great idea for me to stop training for too long.

What’s the study Massey Uni are doing with you, are we finally going to figure out why you’re so strong and muscly, despite your chocolate and wine diet??!!!
I can let you know more later as not sure of the facts yet. I dare say they are going to be surprised about my diet (or lack of it that is!).

What is your typical weight training regime?
Lance and I are currently working out my schedule so that I train and peak at the right times. As I am still a newbie in this sport I will take Lance’s lead on what, when and how to train – like I said I do what I’m told. Besides he’s abit bigger than me so who am I to argue?!! Obviously we work with the three basic powerlifting moves – squat, deadlift and benchpress. I am still learning to benchpress as a powerlifter – the technique is so very different to that of bodybuilders, so its taking me quite some time to get my head around this lift. Then we do days of complimentary exercises for strength etc this year I have added weekly deep tissue massages to my regime and this is great for keeping away the niggles and for recovery.

How heavy are you pushing your weights eg bench press, deadlift, squat when training? That’s an ever increasing question because each week I am increasing what I lift! So if I tell you a weight now, it won’t be what I am lifting next week or the week after. But I can tell you that I was amazed how much Lance got out of in the short time we had training before the worlds (5 weeks). I squatted 130kg (out of comp) and that was my PB.

Ali deadlifting 120kg for 3 reps! See her form on Video here

 

You sometimes train with some burley Island boys, does this help you try and go heavier and do they encourage you?
I just know that I’m in very safe hands as they surely wouldn’t dare let me drop the weights on myself would they? You can definitely lift beyond what you think your limits are when you are surrounded by these guys. Now.. I just have to learn how to spot them!

Would you encourage more ladies to do more powerlifting for mass building?
Hell yes! My back has never had so much depth in the muscles and also great for the glutes too! If you are going to do this sort of training it is important to find a trainer that can guide you correctly. I learnt the hard way, thinking I could do it on my own and injuring because of incorrect technique. Lance at Genetics in Manukau is great as a trainer and currently is training a few girls for bodybuilding too.

Ali and her trusty trainer Lance @ Genetics Gym Manukau

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