Article Rundown

• My time with Inzer
• Connecting with Dave Tate
• Joining EliteFTS
• How Dave Tate impacted my future for the better

How I Connected with Dave Tate and Became a Sponsored Athlete at EliteFTS

In this video, I discuss how I first connected with Dave Tate and ultimately became a sponsored athlete at EliteFTS. My journey with EliteFTS began in 2009 when Dave announced that he was looking for new athletes to sponsor. At the time, EliteFTS was rapidly expanding as a brand and business.

My Time with Inzer Advance Designs

During this period, I was a sponsored athlete with Inzer Advance Designs. Let me be clear—John Inzer was always great to me. The gear he provided was top-notch, and both times I left Inzer were purely for business opportunities and the need for a fresh approach to my training and equipment.

Meeting Dave Tate and Following EliteFTS

Although Dave Tate had retired from competitive powerlifting, he remained active in the community and attended many major meets. I first encountered him in the early 2000s when he was training at Westside Barbell. Over the years, we had multiple conversations at competitions, so we were already somewhat familiar with each other.

At this time, EliteFTS was sponsoring some of the strongest powerlifters in the world. I religiously followed Dave’s blogs, learning from top athletes like Travis Mash, Chris Mason, Matt Wenning, Chuck Vogelpohl, and Jeremy Frey. Competing against these lifters, I studied their training methods extensively before powerlifting information became widely available online. Back then, EliteFTS.com was the premier source for knowledge and strength training.

Reaching Out to Dave Tate

By 2009, I had totaled 2,660 lbs at 275 lbs body weight—the second-biggest total of all time at that weight. While I was satisfied with my partnership with Inzer, I knew it was time to pivot my career toward a more powerlifting-focused business.

At the time, I was working as a full-time massage therapist, both at a spa and independently, while also doing personal training and online coaching. I wanted to shift my business into a more strength-centric direction. So, when I saw Dave’s post about looking for new sponsored athletes, I reached out, knowing that a partnership with EliteFTS could help me take my career to the next level.

The Transition to EliteFTS

After a phone call with Dave, we agreed to a trial period. He sent me Metal gear, and at the time, Dave Hoff and I were both striving to be the first to hit a 2,700 lb total. This new partnership fueled my motivation, and I pushed myself even harder to achieve that goal.

I had used Metal gear in the early 2000s, purchasing Metal Pro Briefs after seeing EliteFTS’s advertisements. Even though I didn’t initially want to leave Inzer, I knew I liked the equipment EliteFTS provided. More importantly, I saw the long-term benefits of aligning my business with the leading platform for strength training, powerlifting, and athletic development.

Achieving Career Milestones

Within two years of joining EliteFTS, I totaled 2,700 lbs and later 2,730 lbs at 275 lbs, securing the second-biggest total of all time, right behind Dave Hoff. Even as multi-ply powerlifting has declined over the past decade, Hoff’s dominance remains unmatched. He has lifted at an elite level with incredible consistency, and for that, I have the utmost respect.

Learning and Growing with EliteFTS

After discussing my long-term goals with Dave Tate, I made the full transition from Inzer to EliteFTS. This decision proved to be one of the best moves of my career. Under Dave’s mentorship, I hit some of my biggest totals and gained invaluable knowledge about coaching and business.

Being surrounded by top coaches and powerlifters at EliteFTS accelerated my growth as an athlete and coach. I absorbed insights that directly benefited my own business, allowing me to refine my training methods and coaching philosophy. At one point, I was coaching or training about 75% of all sponsored powerlifters at EliteFTS.

Overcoming Injury and Dave’s Influence on My Future

As I detailed in my book, Gift of Injury, my back pain, which began in 2009, worsened significantly by 2012. During this difficult time, Dave Tate offered me guidance that went beyond lifting. His genuine concern for my health and long-term well-being had a lasting impact on me, even in my early, somewhat naive years.

Dave’s mentorship helped shape not just my powerlifting career but also my approach to coaching and business. I remained with EliteFTS from 2009 to 2014, and the Underground Strength Sessions provided me with knowledge and experience that no book could ever teach.

A Thank You to Dave Tate

Looking back, my time with EliteFTS is filled with some of my best memories in powerlifting. I am incredibly grateful for everything Dave Tate has done for me. His guidance and support helped shape my career and brought me to where I am today. Thank you, Dave.

BRIAN DOES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COACHING!

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