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Odd Socks Halterophilie offers quality olympic weightlifting and strength & conditioning training. We accomodate all skills levels from beginners to advanced lifters, teaching the perfect combination of speed, strength, balance, technique, power, mathematics and split second timing.

Whether you want to be an Olympian, or you are adding a strength program to support your individual sport, our National-level coaches will take your lifting to the next level and introduce you to your strongest self.

Olympic Weightlifting isn’t just for elite athletes. No matter what your sport is, you can learn correct technique to minimise injury and enhance performance by incorporating Olympic Weightlifting into your program.

This is a place where regular people train at an Olympic level. It’s a place built around a love for the precision, dedication and diligence found in the Olympic Weightlifting sport. It’s a place you won’t leave the same. Welcome to Odd Socks.

ABOUT

Who we are

In 2014, Pete Hardiman, Lilly Tikkanen and Steve Tikkanen opened the doors of Odd Socks Halterophilie. Their vision was to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere and to cater for athletes from all sports.

Our athletes

Not only is weightlifting a great sport on its own, it is a fantastic way of improving in other sports. A personalised program from some of the countries top coaches will help you, young or old, to achieve your goals and reach your potential. Members of Odd Socks come from a variety of backgrounds including athletics, rugby and gymnastics, ranging from beginners to Olympians.

Those that have the aptitude to progress at the sport of Olympic Weightlifting are invited to compete with others from the club at our in-house competitions. Odd Socks competitions give athletes the opportunity to compete against clubs Australia-wide and run regularly throughout the year.

Our Equipment

Odd Socks is proudly supported by Uesaka Weightlifting products.

Our Coaches

Odd Socks is headed up by Steve Tikkanen, who has over 20 years weightlifting coaching experience. Read more about our other Coaches here.

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Steve Tikkanen

With over 25 years of coaching experience under his belt, Steve is one of the most experienced coaches out there. He has a sharp eye for technique and a knack for coaching in competitions. On top of this, Steve is a strong believer in coaching development, encouraging the other coaches to practice and develop new skills.
By day, Steve teaches Strength & Conditioning at TAFE, and has been teaching it for over 20 years.

Education

University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Sports Science (Sports Coaching)

Coaching Accreditations

Oceania Weightlifting Federation
Coaching Diploma 2004

Australian Coaching Council
Australian Weightlifting Federation Inc.
NCAS National Coach 1996 – Current

Australian Coaching Council
Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Inc.

NCAS Level Two 
1993 – Current

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 3

Australian Weightlifting Federation Inc.
National Referee

State & National Coaching Positions:

Australian Weightlifting Team (Men’s & Women’s)
2017 Australian & Oceania Masters Weightlifting Championships, Pacific Rim Masters Tournament and Masters World Cup, Gold Coast, QLD
2013 Senior Oceania Championships, Brisbane QLD
2008 Olympic Qualifier, Auckland New Zealand
2007 World Cup, Commonwealth and Oceania Championships, Apia Samoa
2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne Australia
2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester England

Australian Weightlifting Senior (Men’s & Women’s)
2005 Mermet Cup and training camp, USA
2004 Senior Oceania Championships and training camp, Fiji
2004 Mermet Cup, Melbourne
2003 Mermet Cup and training camp, USA
2002 Mermet Cup, Melbourne
2001 Senior Oceania Championships, New Zealand

Australian Weightlifting Junior Men’s
1998 Junior Oceania Championships, Fiji

NSW Coaching Positions
NSWIS Weightlifting Coach – 1997 – 2012
NSW Men’s & Women’s (Junior and Senior) Australian Championships (Head or Assistant) Coach – 1997 – 2012
NSW/NSWIS Assistant Coach, Scarentino Italy – 1997
Assistant NSW Coach at ACT Invitational Weightlifting Championships 1996

Development Programs:

Junior Oceania Weightlifting, 2003
Development Program – Niue
New South Wales Weightlifting Development Officer – 1998 – 2003
Weightlifting Level One Coaching Course (Sports Power Licence) Instructor, 1997 – 2007

Head Coach: Pete Hardiman

As well as being a extremely talented coach, Pete is the ideas guy. If you can think of a piece of equipment, he can make it happen.
Pete loves to dream big and create new and exciting inventions, leading to Odd Socks being one of the most well-equipped weightlifting gyms in the world.
During competition time, Pete is the chief loader, being one of the fastest and most efficient loaders in weightlifting. We had to fireproof the platform he was moving so fast.
He also claims that he is considerably better than Michael at table tennis, but Michael will disagree.
More information to come soon!

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 2

 

Coach: Michael Golshani

Working as a pharmacist by, Shah is a valuable resource to lifters at Odd Socks. He is able to inform us about supplements, medicines and ensure that we are taking care of our bodies. He has helped with issues ranging from stomach problems to osteoporosis, allowing athletes to stay healthy and continue to train.
Claims that he is considerably better than Pete at table tennis, but Pete will disagree.
More information to come soon!

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 2

State & National Coaching Positions:

Australian Weightlifting Team (Men’s & Women’s)
2017 World Masters Games, New Zealand

 

Coach: Abdul Razak

Abs loves to joke around and keep the atmosphere fun and light-hearted at odd socks. His phrases, great cues and solid biceps make him a well-rounded coach. An expert on accessory exercises, he will help you look good as well as being strong. As Abs would say “You don’t take the weights to the beach”.
More information to come soon!

Education

University of Western Sydney
Bachelor of Law

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 2

Coach: Cayle Horder

With the body type of a noodle, Cayle still manages to get things done. Working in IT by day, don’t be surprised to see him helping Steve with technology from time to time.
More information to come soon!

Education

University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil with Architecture) with Hons

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 2

Coach: Andrew Wang

Andy is a man of few words. However, these few words are guaranteed to be an absolute zinger, so pay attention.
More information to come soon!

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 1

Dietician: Pete Ticehurst

Pete is in charge of the gyms diet. If you need to cut weight for a comp, he is your man.
More information to come soon!

Education

University of Canberra
Bachelor of Applied Science (Nutrition)

University of Sydney
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics

Coaching Accreditations

Australian Weightlifting Federation
AWF State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach Level 1

Australian Strength and Conditioning Association
Strength and Conditioning Coach Level 1

Sports Nutrition Australia
Sports Nutrition Course

Australian Weightlifting Federation
National Referee

Swimming Australia
National Referee

International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)
Level 1 Anthropometrist

The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)
Aerobics/Fitness Instructor

CONTACT

If you need to get in touch, use the form below. Thanks!

LOCATION

We are located at 6/25 George Street, North Strathfield, 2137

By Public Transport
We are a short walk away from North Strathfield and Concord West train station.

By Car
We have plenty of parking available.

Opening Hours

Monday: 4:30pm-8pm
Tuesday: 5pm-8pm
Wednesday: 4pm-8pm
Thursday: 5pm-8pm
Friday: 4pm-8pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm

FAQ

How do I get involved?

Just head over to the Contact page and send us an email. It’s as easy as that! One of our coaches will contact you as quickly as they can to organise a session.

Do I need to book?

You don’t need to book a training time, but it is always a good idea to let us know the sessions you are planning to attend, so we can ensure a coach is available for you.

What if I have never done any Olympic Weightlifting before?

No issue! Weightlifting is for everyone… whatever age you are and even if you have never done weightlifting before. Our experienced coaches will teach you the correct techniques from the ground up.

What happens when I join Odd Socks?

When you join Odd Socks Olympic Weightlifting Gym, you will have a one-on-one consultation with one of our experienced weightlifting coaches to discuss your goals and then a tailored training program will be developed for you.

What’s the ideal number of times to train per week?

The ideal number of training sessions depends on the individual. Taking into consideration their employment and lifestyle, a good number of sessions to start off with would be 3.

Do I need any special equipment?

No special equipment is required as all lifting equipment is provided, however, a good pair of weightlifting shoes are recommended. We can help you find an affordable pair.

Do I need to pay to be coached?

There are no additional costs for coaching at Odd Socks Weightlifting Gym – it’s all included in the membership cost and a part of joining our family.

Is the coaching personal or in a group?

The coaching is personal and you will be training with a group of other like-minded lifters.

I am from Crossfit. Can I join Odd Socks?

Crossfit athletes are encouraged to come to Odd Socks to improve their lifts for Crossfit competitions. Learning the correct technique will be hugely beneficial in strength gains, as well as protecting yourself from potential injuries associated with poor technique.

What if I just want to learn the lifts to assist my sport or gain knowledge of the lifts and I do not want to compete?

That’s fine! Anyone that would like to just learn the lifts to assist with their sport is more than welcome. We currently train an athletics team and many other types of athletes such as baseball players, wrestlers, rugby players and sprinters who are supporting their weights programs and learning correct technique to prevent injury.

Do I need to join the State Organisation?

You do not need to join any state organisation to learn weightlifting. When you join Odd Socks you are automatically a part of our family.