In his first power lifting competition this summer, Parksville teen Billy Buhler broke in by setting a series of B.C. age-class records.
For his next act, he moved east and did the same thing in Alberta.
Buhler, 18, set personal bests in the squat, the bench press and the deadlift while winning the sub-junior 120-kg weight class at the Edmonton Powersurge power lifting competition Nov. 12.
“I’ve set the bar high for sub-juniors,” said Buhler, who is setting his sights on moving up to the Junior class when he turns 19.
Buhler began lifting a little more than two years ago, simply as a way to lose weight. Earlier this year he decided to take on power lifting, and debuted at the Taranis Open in Victoria in August, where he set B.C. age/weight class records in all three events.
In Edmonton, Buhler lifted 488 pounds in the squat, bench-pressed 280 pounds to best his previous high of 245, and hoisted a dead lift of 522 pounds, topping his previous best of 501.
“It went perfectly; it couldn’t have been a better day,” said Buhler.
“I hit all my lifts and had a PR (personal record) in every lift and total weight.”
Buhler will compete next at the Winter Open Feb. 18 in Burnaby.