Long Island Powerlifting

I need some help. I’m moving to Long Island in a couple months to begin graduate work at SUNY Stony Brook. Unfortunately, I have to leave a really good powerlifting gym and an amazing group of lifters (the gym is Stroud’s Fitness in Hurst, Texas). So, I have two questions:

  1. Is Stony Brook’s university gym a decent place to powerlift? Assuming not, would my best options be STEEL or the local Powerhouse GYM (I’m unfamiliar with powerhouse gyms. We don’t have any of them in my neck of the woods)?

  2. Anybody near or around the Stony Brook area, interested in powerlifting, need a serious workout partner?

Any information or comments are appreciated. Thanks.

Powerlifting, eh? The last I remember, the university gym in the SAC (not the Sports Complex) was ok for powerlifting. There were two power racks, though unfortunately no bench presses, so you’ll need to drag a flat bench into the rack. Also, dumbells only go up to 100 lbs.

In the Stony Brok area, I would recommend Aspen Fitness in Selden, where I train. It’s maybe 3 miles from the University, and costs $80 to start the first month and $10.00/month after that. While you’ve got your share of the usual gym-going crowd, you’ll find a few guys doing some serious lifting.

If you decide to go to Aspen, drop me a PM. I could use a serious work out partner.

Thanks for the tip. That’s a really reasonable price for a gym membership. I’ll definitely check it out.

powerhouse is pretty good for a name brand gym. I used to go to one and never had an issue with deadlifts or chalk. Good equipment, too.

I train with John Bernor and Chris Taylor out in Mastic, CT’s the APF co-chair for NY, and John was ranked #1 in the 308’s. We kind of have our own little key gym going right now, I think Chris Rodgers trains over at Aspen a couple of nights a week too, sick 165er, but you’re more then welcome to come down and check us out. We have some real good lifters, a lot of the old iron island crew trains w/ us at one point or another, so PM me if you’re interested.

[quote]scubasteve2105 wrote:
I train with John Bernor and Chris Taylor out in Mastic, CT’s the APF co-chair for NY, and John was ranked #1 in the 308’s. We kind of have our own little key gym going right now, I think Chris Rodgers trains over at Aspen a couple of nights a week too, sick 165er, but you’re more then welcome to come down and check us out. We have some real good lifters, a lot of the old iron island crew trains w/ us at one point or another, so PM me if you’re interested.[/quote]

Oh man, how’s John been doing? I met him at World Gym in Ronkonkoma two years ago. Great guy, I used to talk to him through email, though that kind of dropped off. I’ve also picked Terry Butler’s brain a few times when he’s been at Aspen, though I haven’t seen him in the past few weeks. I’ve never met Chris though. You’re part of the East End Barbell crew?

[quote]D_S wrote:

Oh man, how’s John been doing? I met him at World Gym in Ronkonkoma two years ago. Great guy, I used to talk to him through email, though that kind of dropped off. I’ve also picked Terry Butler’s brain a few times when he’s been at Aspen, though I haven’t seen him in the past few weeks. I’ve never met Chris though. You’re part of the East End Barbell crew?[/quote]

Yes I’m part of the East End Barbell crew, John’s doing real well, his squat’s through the roof right now, I’ve seen him do some crazy stuff in training and he’s training right now for the pro/am in august, hopefully it all goes well. I had been told that Terry trains at Aspen, he’s a good guy too, great squatter, seen him hit 675 for a double in single ply at 181. PM me and I’ll give you directions, come down and say hi to John, maybe train with us for a night, it’s a good time. We might even be starting to film some training stuff too for a video/documentary but more on that later…

God Bless

Hi scubasteve2105,

I’ve seen John Bernor’s vids on YouTube and have been duly impressed!

It would be an honor to meet you guys and watch y’all train.

Is it possible for me to come down and watch?

I live and train out in New Hyde Park. I’m not a pro lifter or anything…just your normal guy who likes working out.

Thanks!

Is the Iron Island gym still going, is it close enough (~1hr drive?)

been a long question of mine. from nassau county and its hard to find peoeple into PL around here.

I worked with a couple of power lifters. I would imagine they’re both still trainers at Gold’s in Smithtown. And as far as I know they lift at Gold’s in Deer Park (but that may be a bit of a trek for you). The only other gyms I know of in the area are LA Fitness in Stony Brook (just opened I think) and World Gym in Setauket. That one’s just down the road from the university, and hopefully I’ll be working there soon as a trainer.

You guys are lucky if you get to train with John. Great lifter!

John’s an awesome lifter, and so is Chris Taylor, Andrew Yerrakadu used to train with us too. Met most of the original Iron Island guys, but unfortunately iron island has been sold and they are in the process of ruining one of the coolest gyms I’ve ever seen. Oh well. Offer’s still there for anyone who wants to train with us, just PM me and I’ll send you times we meet and directions, mastic NY.

[quote]scubasteve2105 wrote:
I train with John Bernor and Chris Taylor out in Mastic, CT’s the APF co-chair for NY, and John was ranked #1 in the 308’s. We kind of have our own little key gym going right now, I think Chris Rodgers trains over at Aspen a couple of nights a week too, sick 165er, but you’re more then welcome to come down and check us out. We have some real good lifters, a lot of the old iron island crew trains w/ us at one point or another, so PM me if you’re interested.[/quote]

chris rodgers freqents this site:

chris’s log has been on wannabebig forever. Sick lifter. Most of the East End Barbell team posts over there.