The Iron Behind
the Masters Cup
In March, the USPA Masters Cup came to XMARK headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana — and by the time the last plate hit the floor, a few world records had fallen on our platform.
More than 100 masters lifters made the trip. We don't just host the meet; we build the equipment under it. Every opener, every third attempt, every record went up on XMARK iron. So we pulled the gear off the platform and broke down exactly what was doing the work — the three powerlifting bars and the calibrated steel plates that powered the weekend.
Big Easy Squat Bar
A competition squat bar has one job: stay dead still under a back-bending load. The Big Easy is built for exactly that. The thick 32mm shaft kills whip during the walkout, while aggressive mountain knurling — center knurl included — bites into your traps and refuses to budge. At 25kg with a 2,000 lb rating and 210,000 PSI steel, it's the bar masters lifters trusted with their heaviest openers.
Louisiana Power Bar
If the Big Easy is a specialist, the Louisiana Power Bar can run a whole meet. A 29mm stiff shaft and IPF-spec mountain knurl give you a confident grip on squats, a stable setup on bench, and a planted pull on deadlifts. 42CrMo alloy, 205,000 PSI, dual copper-and-graphite bushings for controlled — not spinny — rotation. Built for the big three, named for the state that breeds tough lifters.
Zydeco Deadlift Bar
Deadlift day is where the Zydeco earns its name. A 27mm shaft and 92.5" length give it controlled whip — the bar bends before the plates break the floor, so your hips and legs are already firing when the weight comes up. Aggressive knurl locks your grip on max attempts, and the 20kg weight keeps it legal in USPA federations that allow a deadlift bar. Smoother off the floor, more explosive at lockout.
Calibrated Steel Plates
World records only count if the weight is honest. XMARK Calibrated Steel Plates are machined to a tight tolerance and finished in that unmistakable competition red, so what's on the bar is exactly what goes in the books. Their thin profile lets you stack more iron on the sleeve for record attempts, and the precise fit keeps every rep tight and balanced. These are the plates the Masters Cup was contested on.
Top-tier environment and gear. One of the most energetic meets I've competed in. Best bars = PRs.— Masters Cup competitor
Build Your Competition Setup
Same bars. Same plates. Your platform. Spec a home or facility setup with the exact gear from the Masters Cup floor.
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