Recognizing that some countries simply do not produce many 150-kg men, and seeing the widespread success of Willie Wessels in attracting a range of amateur strongmen in the NASS competititions, IFSA is seriously evaluating introducing a 100-kg class into some 2004 competitions, and this might lead to a 100-kg world championships. NASS ( http://www.nastrongman.com/ ), which is headed by Wessels, has different body weight classes, which opens strongman competitions to many more competitors. NASS is also the feeder mechanism to IFSA-USA ( http://x-tremestrongman.com/mainPage.html ), the professional arm of strongman in the US, and Jon Anderson, for example, came out of NASS this year and immediately became a force to be reckoned with on the IFSA level. In another development with broad implications for the sport, IFSA plans to implement its Health Policy, which is said to include a drug-testing program modeled after the WADA approach, in 2004.

Jim Lorimer, the longstanding partner of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in producing the Arnold Expo, said yesterday, "My dream is to bring US men back to the top of the weightlifting world." Lending dramatic emphasis to the depth of his feelings and commitment to rebuilding the sport of weightlifting in the US, Lorimer quoted Hamlet, saying, "'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished." In recent years, Lorimer is best known for his role in producing the world-renown Arnold Expo, but weightlifting fans also know that it was Lorimer who helped put on the 1970 World Weightlifting Championships, also in Columbus, Ohio, where the one and only Vasily Alexeev broke the 500-pound barrier in the clean and jerk. Lorimer's support for weightlifting gave the sport a home earlier this year, as Megan Tornstrom and Mark Cannella, from the Columbus Weightlifting Club, brought the sport to the Arnold for the first time, resulting in now-Governor Schwarzenegger's meeting personally with some of the lifters, coaches and members of the press to express his love of and direct support for the sport. The 2004 Arnold Expo will again host weightlifting, and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), showing its support for this rapidly-growing contest, put the event on its prestigious official calendar for next year. Check the official Arnold Expo site for schedule details and ticket information ( http://www.arnoldexpo.com/ ) and check the IWF site for major 2004 weightlifting events ( http://www.iwf.net/calendar/2004.html ).

IFSA president Douglas Edmunds, Ph.D. announced a huge new strongman event for 2004: The IFSA World Cup. Scheduled for July 16 -18 in Riga, Latvia, the 2004 IFSA World Cup will feature six-man teams from the US, Canada, Western Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as a team representing the rest of the world. Current plans call for thirteen television programs to be made from the contest, which Edmunds said will be "the next biggest contest after World's Strongest Man."

Gavin Holle sent shock waves through some quarters of the strength world when he casually bent an IronMind "red nail" in July, but that was only a warmup compared to what he and his brothers did earlier today. Since it was introduced in 1993, bending the IronMind "red nail" has been the mark of a world-class short bender, and for nearly ten years John Brookfield stood alone as being someone we recognized as succeeding at this tremendous test of strength. In preparation for the Holle brothers' assault on this universally-recognized standard for a really tough short bend, a package of these red nails had sent directly from IronMind Enterprises, Inc. to the man who was going to be the Holles official witness: the package included not just full length reds (7 inches), but also some that had been cut down: 6-1/2 inches, 6 inches, and 5-1/2 inches. Nathan Holle said that he was along primarily to support his brothers, but he gave the red a shot and kinked it, although he could not fully bend it. Jay Holle fully bent a 7-inch IronMind red nail, and attempted a 6-1/2 inch but he could not bend it. Craig Holle fully bent a 7-inch and a 6-1/2 inch, but could not bend the 5-1/2 inch IronMind red nail. And Gavin Holle also fully bent a 6-1/2 inch, as well as a 6-inch IronMind red nail, and got a 5-1/2 inch into an L-shape. This was an extraordinary performance, but just what we have come to expect from the Holle brothers.

The US Strict Curl Association (USSCA) is putting on the 2004 California Strict Curl Championships along with the Southern California Iron Grip Challenge on March 14, 2004 at the Northridge Athletic Club, so if you've got mighty biceps or a monster grip, plan to show up. USSCA rules will be followed in the strict curl contest, with divisions including Open, Masters, Teens, Police & Fire, and Special Olympians. The Iron Grip Challenge will be contested using IronMind Captains of Crush grippers, the Hub, and the Rolling Thunder, with five body weight classes. For meet details and to get signed up, please contact Kevin Meskew: warrior01@earthlink.net .

World's Strongest Man (WSM) competitor and the defending IFSA Super Series champion Hugo Girard announced three major strongman competitions scheduled for Canada in 2004. Girard, who is the president of IFSA-Canada, said that World Muscle Power is set for June 4, 5, 6; the North Bay Show, which will be part of the 2004 IFSA Super Series, is scheduled for July 30 and August 1, and the Balloon Festival is on the calendar for September 4, 5, 6. Girard, who is featured in the Alan Black documentary "Strongman," explained his role: "I'm the vehicle they use to tell the story," Girard said, although he was not directly involved in its production. Girard's broad and famously-strong shoulders seem fully capable of bearing this responsibility, and for anyone interested in learning more about "Strongman," the online magazine Dolfzine has a review: http://www.dolfzine.com/page1.htm which Girard described as "very honest."