A little about Pretoria, South Africa

 

Folks, 2005 IPF World Masters ranks with my top life experiences.  The people, the lifting, the Extravagance!...just an awesome time.  The flight was 18 hours with access to some new movies not yet out on DVD.  After landing there was a crew with special IPF Masters Pretoria, SA Polo Shirts on to greet us and shuttle us to the venue.  All I was thinking was, "I hope I can get one of those shirts".  Well they weren't for sale but I did get three, one for Greg Simmons, someone's wife, and myself...150 rand each.  One rand is equal to about 15 cents.  The venue was a gambling resort with some serious security gates to go through.  There were tin huts for as far as the eye can see in some places and some of the people that worked in the venue lived in the tin huts. The ones I met were happy about their lives.  Some commented that their life had gotten much better during the last 10 years since Apartheid was abolished.  I took some photos from the Cultural Tour that was included in the Meet Package which can be seen in this link.  IPF World Masters (Stuff)  Photos of lifters can be found  Lil Guys here   Bigger guys  here and  Ladies Here 

I shared an apartment with Gene Bell, and the great, funny, fun to be around, AND World Champion...Greg Simmons.  We had a blast!  We attracted a.....ahem!....many different people types.  Some WERE really nice people and great to be around like Chris and Paul whom worked at the Venue.  Their friend, who also worked at the venue and had a little trouble with the dress code, or lack there of, was the most different.  He had a habit of walking around the bar with his britches down around his ankles.  holy crap I almost died laughing...I was almost asleep hours later and I just cracked up laughing thinking about it.  Needless to say, Chris and Paul said he wasn't allowed out of his house as he got in trouble with his wife for doing this and has been in trouble for doing similar things.  If he reads this this message is for him-"Get some help!"

As for the lifting...I will let Johnny Graham take you through it.  All I can say is it was awesome and I am VERY LUCKY TO HAVE WON THE GOLD!  Click here for Johnny's write up in Powerlines..

I am very fortunate to have been there amongst great people and look forward to having the opportunity to see you all again.

Jimmy K

2005 IPF World Masters Results Here