World Strongman Cup Manager Martin Muhr told IronMind® that once again, his tour is set for a very good contest, as a number of top competitors will square off in Germany tomorrow.

Among the entrants, Jarek Dymek will be making his World Strongman Cup debut. The other competitors are Slawomir Toczek, Tarmo Mitt, Michael Starov, Antanas Abrutis, Ralf Ber, Reidar Kvale, Dominic Filiou, Richard Danis, Terry Hollands and Simon Flint. Franz Beil will also be part of the field, in what will be his last competition, Muhr said.

The events are:

Conan's wheel: 395 kg
Bavarian stone lift: 325 kg
Log: maximum weight
Farmer's walk: 150 kg
Wheelbarrow: with cars
Stone loading: 120 to 180 kg

The setting for this contest is quite special, Muhr said, and he expects a crowd of several thousand to watch the battle for first place: "Mariusz is not there, so it's interesting to see who can win tomorrow," said Muhr.

Chad Coy told IronMind®, "From the inception, the Central USA has given some of the best American strongmen their start in the sport," and he expects tomorrow's contest to follow in this tradition.


Lots of heart makes up for less height: Grant Higa, always a crowd favorite, will be competing in the Central USA Strongman Challenge tomorrow in Kokomo, Indiana. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

"Each year we do the event for a cause," Coy said, "and this year's cause is the children of Heartland Ministries' Kids' Program. We have raised $2,500 for the kids and still have t-shirts left." For details, please contact the Powerhouse Gym in Kokomo, Indiana.

It was just another day in the back room of The Sports Palace - besides owner Jim "TOC" (Trainer of Champions) Schmitz, the group of worthies present included Yoshinobu Miyake, and the center of attention was guests Nicu Vlad and Dragomir Cioroslan.


RDLs land in San Francisco: Nicu Vlad unveils a new lift at The Sports Palace in 1990, but if Jim Schmitz hadn't named them, you probably wouldn't be doing them now. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Chances are close to 100% that if you've been lifting for strength in the last 15 years, you've heard of RDLs, and have probably done some. What you might not know is how they hit the map, so be sure to read the latest Schmitz on the Lifts for the inside story - follow the link or go to the IronMind® homepage and click on Training Articles.
 

He told IronMind®'s Randall Strossen that he wanted to be the first strongman to make the cover of a major bodybuilding magazine, and while California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger bumped him for photo honors, Jesse Marunde did get his name on the cover of the just-released August issue of IRONMAN magazine.


Some guys flip burgers and some flip tires: The ever-effervescent Jesse Marunde is expected to be a favorite in the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest, and the August issue of IRONMAN magazine has Jesse and his training covered. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

Watch for Jesse Marunde to put the pedal to the metal at the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest, and if you want to read about what he substitutes for an early morning cup off coffee, not to mention all the details on how he trains, get the August issue of IRONMAN magazine. Marunde, the first teenager to officially close the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper, has produced some very nice weightlifting marks, but when he's not doing snatches or cleans and jerks, he's flipping tires, loading stones and doing all the other things that make up the day of a leading professional strongman.


California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger might have bumped him for the cover shot, but Jesse Marunde still got some ink on the cover of the August issue of IRONMAN magazine, and here's your chance to see how Marunde trains, eats and thinks.  IronMind®

He's been lifting weights for over 45 years, and along the way he's done plenty of snatches and cleans and jerks, but this past weekend, Chris Rice was having at it in the Global Grip Challenge, where he walked away with not just a good time, but from the sound of things, an age-group world record in the pinch grip as well.


With this good lift of 197.48 pounds, Chris Rice came within a whisker of pinch gripping bodyweight at the Diesel Crew's Global Grip Challenge held last weekend at Sorinex in Irmo, South Carolina. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Nominally, Rice hauled up a good 190-pound lift, but when everything was weighed and totaled, it came out to 197.48 pounds, just shy of Rice's 198-pound bodyweight, but well over his own [prior] world record of 193 pounds, which he did at the 2005 Global Grip Challenge, also run by the Diesel Crew.

The 57-year-old, six-foot two-inch tall Rice said, "I started lifting at age 11 in 1959 and have never quit, even while in Vietnam. I started training grip for actual grip feats in 2003 when I found the GripBoard, but have been a rock climber for 23 years or so - therefore I guess I've trained grip for many years. I think I bought my first COC grippers in 2000 or 2001."

"My goal is to pinch bodyweight in a competition. I lifted 197.48 lb. [at the 2006 Global Grip Challenge] and weighed 198 lb. when I got home - close but not quite yet. Maybe next time."

"My only goal this year is to return to World's Strongest Man," Karl Gillingham told IronMind®.


Prepping for the giant frame carry at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix, Karl Gillingham is all business. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

"I want to go back to World's Strongest Man . . . it's the biggest and best contest, it's got the most history . . . If there's one thing the general public knows about the sport, it's World's Strongest Man," Gillingham said, pointing to its ESPN coverage as one example of what puts WSM head and shoulders above anything else.

Gillingham stands out in the field of strongman competitors not just because of his consistently strong performances, but also because he does not fit the stereotype of having a WWE-like persona: Gillingham, whose family has deep and broad roots in the strength world, channels his intensity into his performances, rather than hamming it up. Asked if he thought this worked against him in strongman shows, Gillingham said he didn't think so because, "it takes all kinds of characters to make a movie and there are already plenty of WWE-type guys."

Gillingham hasn't yet qualified for WSM 2006 but if he stays healthy, he should be a contender: The man who won the 2002 Northeast Strongman Showdown - beating Svend Karlsen, Jesse Marunde, Phil Pfister, Jarek Dymek and Steve Kirit in the process - says that he's stronger than ever. "I pulled an 826 deadlift at the Arnold," Gillingham said, a number big enough that it speaks for itself and doesn't need to be propped up with predictable pyrotechnics.

The sparks will fly at the Battle by the River at the St. Charles, Missouri 4th of July riverfront celebration as Karl Gillingham, Dave Ostlund, Phil Pfister, and Mark Philippi jump into action.

The Battle by the River is set to be held from July 3 - 4, from 5 to 7 pm, and here are the events: stones, the Arch, Axle press for reps, Conan's wheel, farmer's walk, tire flip, keg toss and trolley pull.

Since Richard Sorin first did it in 1991, certifying on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® gripper is every grip guy's dream - it's a very tough thing to do, and the latest man to make the grade is Shedrick "Tex" Henderson, who not only closed the gripper, but in the way he did it, he also made grip-strength history.


It was the perfect setting for another piece of grip(per) history: With Richard Sorin (left) and Jedd Johnson (right) looking on, Shedrick "Tex" Henderson destroys a brand new No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

On Saturday, at Sorinex, with Richard Sorin looking on and Jedd Johnson refereeing, Shedrick "Tex" Henderson became the first man in the world to officially close a No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper straight from the package, eliminating any basis for speculating about the worthiness of his accomplishment.

Earlier this year, in response to increased stories about guys shopping around for the easiest old No. 3 they could find or cooking the spring, IronMind® presented a challenge to everyone who requested certification on the No. 3: We would send a brand new No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper directly to their referee and it would be opened on the spot for them to use for their official effort. This, of course, would eliminate any future attacks on the legitimacy of the person's accomplishment and it is parallel to what IronMind® has always done with its Red Nail™ certification, for exactly the same reasons.

Predictably, the guys who understand the legacy of this renowned certification and who like to look themselves and everyone else in the eye applauded this, but prior to Saturday, nobody had succeeded.

And that things worked out this way was probably for the best because what better place to have this happen that at Sorinex, with the Global Grip Challenge, as the context? Here it was, a meeting place that combined the best of the elder statesmen who got the balling rolling and the younger guys who are the future, and everyone was there to watch Tex take his shot at crushing myths and showing that in the end, as IronMind® has told people for years: There really is a secret to closing a No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper - you have to have really strong hands.

Randall Strossen asked Tex to warm up before taking his official attempt, and Tex went over to the table of grippers that had just been used in the 2006 Global Grip Challenge, picked one up and starting clicking out reps with it. "What is this" he asked Strossen, turning over the gripper. "It's a No. 3," Strossen said, in surprise. "That's a 3?!" Tex said, at which point we all knew that we had the real deal in front of us.

Strossen asked Richard Sorin to watch and Jedd Johnson to officiate, the new gripper was opened by Johnson, handed to Tex, and the official attempt was underway. "Is it closed?" Strossen asked Johnson. "He didn't close it," Johnson said. "He destroyed it!" And so he did.

Congratulations to Tex, for showing what you can do if you're just plain strong enough and many thanks to Will Millman for arranging for Tex to take this attempt, to the Diesel Crew and Sorinex for providing the perfect setting, and to Jedd Johnson and Richard Sorin for lending their eyes for this big performance.

Tex, you're the man and congratulations - it's official, you're certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper, so carry your Captains of Crush® ID Card with pride.

 

USSF President Ty Phillips told IronMind® that an upcoming Virginia contest will exemplify "the USSF creed about the athlete being #1."

Patrick Rodgers is the meet director of the 2006 Fatbacks Strongman Challenge, Phillips said, with $500 cash for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place, plus $100 cash to the winner of each event. The contest is scheduled for August 19 at the Martinsville High School in Martinsville, Virginia, and for additional information, please contact Patrick Rodgers: fatback_spr@yahoo.com

In this month's "From the Quarry," Steve Jeck reminds each of us of what is probably the most central of all training questions.


Yuri, Ski and Steve: When Randall Strossen noticed Steve Jeck's new glasses down at Sorinex over the weekend, Strossen offered a compliment and Steve replied, "Every good lifter from the 50s and 60s wore glasses like this." Steve's right, and now we can say that the man who put the Inver Stone on the map and who wrote Of Stones and Strength and The Stone Lifter, has joined this illustrious group, and we think Steve makes the glasses look pretty sharp. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

IronMind® commonly receives questions like, "What book do you recommend" to which we have to ask, "What's your goal?"

Steve Jeck highlights this vital process, so be sure to stop by and see what Steve has just mined "From the Quarry."

 

First there was the Thomas Inch dumbbell - deadlift it for grip-world bragging rights - and then came the Millenium Dumbbell (2-3/8 inch handle and 228 pounds), which until yesterday, nobody had ever succeeded in deadlifting.

Steve Gardener, Mark Henry and Ron Mazza have all broken it off the ground, but until Odd Haugen succeeded yesterday, nobody had completed a deadlift with it. Francis Brebner told IronMind® that "after he did a heavy session with the stones, Odd warmed up with the Thomas inch dumbbell, lifting it with ease and at one point saying 'it felt like a fifty pound dumbbell.' Odd then attempted the Millennium Dumbbell -and lifted it - to knee height; on his second attempt, Odd lifted the Millennium Dumbbell to a complete lockout with one hand. This is the first time ever it has be done."

Kevin Bussi, owner of the dumbbell, also witnessed Odd Haugen's feat of grip strength and shot a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rNytGaTdDU

"I had always wanted to try it," Haugen told IronMind®. "I thought I could do it. The handle is good on it,  it is knurled, and you can get a good grip on it. I think any of the top people on the Rolling Thunder list could do it."

As you would expect, Odd Haugen happens to be one of the top performers on the Rolling Thunder, and just to give you an idea of his dominance on related feats of grip strength, Odd owns a pair of Thomas Inch dumbbells that he uses for the farmer's walk, one per hand. And as far as his future plans, Odd said that he would like to try to jerk the Millenium Dumbbell next.

Irmo, South Carolina - Chad Woodall took top honors in the men's large-hand class, Scott George did the same in the men's small-hand class, and Jes Brock followed suit in the women's class, but this was a contest where everyone was a winner.


Chad Woodall set a world record in the vertical bar lift (382.5 pounds) on his way to winning the men's large-hand class at the 2006 Global Grip Challenge, in what was a best-of-show contest at the Sorinex facility. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
This contest set a high water mark for what contest can be: A great field of top competitors, tremendous spirit and enthusiasm, and if you weren't having a good time being there, it was time to have your pulse checked.

In the men's large-hand class, here are the final places and points:

1. Chad Woodall 44.7
2. Dave Thornton 40.5
3. Jedd Johnson 38
4. Jeremy Haller 28.2
5. Troy Smith 13.2

In the men's small-hand class, the final places and points were:

1. Scott George 34.5
2. Anson Castelvecchi 33
3. Tommy Heslep 31.5
4. Jon Creason 29.2
5. Kevin Perrone 28
6. Bert Sorin 28
7. Chris Rice 22
8. Jeremy Copley 18.5

Jes Brock won the women's class with 31 points, followed by Sherry George with 2 points.

Erik Vining did a very impressive series of bends following the competition and his fabulous scrollwork was presented as trophies to the top finishers in the contest.

Hosted by Sorinex, this was the perfect setting for a perfect contest and a fitting way to celebrate Richard Sorin's 56th birthday. And who put together all the pieces, which included tons of plain hard work? The Diesel Crew. Many thanks to Richard and Bert Sorin for a great time and to the The Diesel Crew, all we can say is Go Diesel. For results, stop by Diesel Crew's website and give these guys a huge round of applause for what they just did.

Hats off to everyone at this contest - only three people got first place in the competition, but everyone there was a winner.

Want to see a video tribute to Svend Karlsen and pass along your good wishes? Thanks to Garrick Daft and the Marunde Muscle forum, here's your chance.

Garrick Daft made "a video tribute to the great Viking. Svend signed up to the forum and said some good words and everyone has given Svend great well wishes." Here's the link to the tribute to Svend " . . . so that others may have the opportunity to say a little something to Svend."

Check out the video and let's hear it for Svend.



IronMind® would like to thank Garrick Daft and Marunde Muscle for doing this.

Dione Wessels told IronMind® that North American Strongman, Inc. has a new site.

Talking about NAS, Wessels said, "Currently, we have over 3,000 amateur athletes (and still growing). We promote an average of 70 competitions per year in America. I think we are the largest amateur [strongman] federation in the world. NAS has been in business since 1996. We are the feeder system to American Strongman Corporation (professional division) and athletes in America must go through NAS in order to get their pro cards. Great or talented athletes such as Travis Ortmayer, Van Hatfield, Jon Andersen, Kevin Nee, Josh Thigpen and many more top American athletes were all graduates of NAS!

"The new change is just one more way for NAS to grow even larger since we will now be able to manage our own website and be able to add more current updates, news, and a Strongman Store," said Wessels.

If you want to find out more, stop by the new NAS website.
 

It's very simple: When Gary Taylor tells you someone is strong, he is, and that's exactly what he told yours truly about Svend Karlsen at Marcel Mostert's 1997 European Strongman Classic contest in Hardenburg, Holland.


2001 World's Strongest Man winner Svend Karlsen - in what Colin Bryce calls the iconic strongman photo - is retiring from competition, but he has a big future. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

From what he'd heard, Taylor told IronMind®'s Strossen, "This guy is very strong," pointing to Svend Karlsen. A few years later, Karlsen won the World's Strongest Man contest, and along the way he created a worldwide base of fans and friends alike.

Because of his size and strength, it might easy to mischaracterize Svend Karlsen, because he's not going to conform to a narrow stereotype of what you might think he is. OK, there's the obvious muscle mass, strength and plentiful tattoos, but this is also the guy who at one of Ilkka Kinnunen's contests was handed the microphone and did an Elvis impersonation. "Never let me get a microphone," Svend later said.

And showing up in St. Louis shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, Svend showed another side of his personality - undaunted about getting on a plane to make the contest, Svend was quick to denounce the would-be intimidators.

And then, fast forward to the recent WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix, where Hugo Girard ripped his patella tendon. Guess who went to the hospital with Hugo, was there until late in the night, and then early the next morning, was back at Hugo's room, making sure that the best possible arrangements were being made to get Hugo safely back home, and, yes, he was also the guy who got Hugo's bags packed.

A couple of days later, Svend Karlsen - along with his wife Lene, and fellow Viking Odd Haugen - came to the AOBS dinner, where he was a huge hit, but listening to Svend talk about it, he was wowed by such AOBS cornerstones as Mighty Joe Rollino and Slim "The Hammerman" Farman.

The next chapter of Svend's life is already filling up with plans for a clothing line, a food supplement, organizing an international strongman competition in Norway, and launching a series of fitness centers.

The Viking's knowledge and stage presence are going to be put to good use immediately by the World's Strongest Man Super Series, where he will be working with Colin Bryce, who told IronMind®, "The retired Svend is now joining me presenting. So he is swapping spit and sawdust for smart suits and silky shirts!!"

Putting Svend's new role in perspective, World's Strongest Man Super Series Tour Director Jesper Albansson said, "We all think it is important that these multi-talented athletes find new opportunities to contribute to the sport and also get new challenges in their working life! World Class Events is truly honored and happy about the fact that Svend will be working with us!"

Saying that it feels good to no longer bear the pressure of having to constantly be in shape, the 2006 Norway's Strongest Man winner said he and his wife, Lene, were ready to have a four-pound lobster for supper tonight - a fitting celebration since on top of everything else, the first airing of this contest was on Norwegian TV last night and it drew a huge audience; plus, it is expected to do the same when it airs again tomorrow.


The Vikings land on the East Coast: Odd Haugen, Lene and Svend Karlsen at the recent AOBS dinner. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

World's Strongest Man Super Series announcer Colin Bryce told IronMind®, "the 'New Mariusz' Arild Haugen was very impressive in Belarus in his first [major international] contest last week [a World Strongmancup competiton], and he was particularly happy to meet a hero of his, Mariusz Pudzianowski."


Arild Haugen (left) meets his hero, three-time World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Colin Bryce.
 

Bryce reminded strongman fans that on the basis of his performance in Belarus, Arild Haugen received an invitation to next week's WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix, so "he can maybe qualify for the Worlds. Moscow is a big chance for him in just his second international outing at the age of 20."

Incidentally, ace MILO® strongman reporter Lene Karlsen, who first broke the story on the young phenom when he made a huge splash at this year's Norway's Strongest Man contest, pointed out that "Arild Haugen is NOT Odd's son!" just so everyone can keep their favorite Viking family relationships clear.

Producer Hjalti Arnason told IronMind® that his Jon Pal Sigmarsson documentary is set to open in Icelandic theaters on September 8 and this is the last call for any Jon Pal material anyone might have that could possibly be included in this tribute to the strongman whose mere name stirs emotions like none other.


Hjalti Arnason's documentary on Jon Pall Sigmarsson promises to exceed anything ever see in the field. IronMind® | Poster courtesy of Hjalti Arnason.

This documentary recreates Jon Pall's life, taking him from childhood to the top of the strongman world, and Arnason said that following its release in Iceland, his film will open across Europe and in the US as well. Arnason told IronMind® that if there are any remaining photos, film clips or videos that might be used, this is the final chance to have them considered for inclusion in this tribute to Jon Pall Sigmarsson.


Jon Pall Sigmarsson as a young boy, as portrayed in Hjalti Arnason's documentary on the Icelandic superstar strongman. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Hjalti Arnason.

Since 1985, Iceland's Strongest Man contest has featured marquee names in the sport - Jon Pall Sigmarsson, Magnus Ver Magnusson, Hjalti Arnason and Torfi Olafson are among the winners - and this weekend, Kristinn Oskar (aka Boris) Haraldsson added his name to the list, which also netted him an invitation to the upcoming World's Strongest Man Super Series Moscow Grand Prix.


Vladislav Alhazov hauls the Husafell Stone at this weekend's Iceland's Strongest Man contest, broken leg and all. IronMind® | Hjalti Arnason photo.
 

Boris "broke the world record in the 13-cm squat with a lift of 665 kg," Hjalti Arnason told IronMind®, edging out Vladislav Alhazov (Israel), "who is considered the strongest full squatter in the world," and who did 660 kg. "Third was Don Pope (USA), with 600 kg." Boris was first overall, with 66 points, Pope was second overall, with 63 points, and Jens Fylkisson was third overall, with 39 points

Underlining its stature in the strongman world, this contest has a tradition of inviting top international competitors - such as Bill Kazmaier in years past - who, while they cannot take the overall title, add to the luster of the contest, and that was why Don Pope and Vladislav Alhazov were invited this year, Arnason explained.

Vladislov Alhazov did something even more remarkable than even his squatting indicates: He broke his leg while loading the Atlas Stones, but he went on to carry the Husafell stone a few meters! "He is such a tough guy," Arnason said with admiration. "Last night he had surgery, they put screws in his leg and now it's in a cast."

And for stone lifting aficionados, get this: The Husafell stone used in this contest is the sister stone of the actual original Husafell stone: It's from the same hillside, has a similar shape, and while it weighs four kilos less, Arnason said, it's harder to carry.

IFSA's Marcel Mostert told IronMind® that "the local hero from Serbia, IFSA's Ervin Katona, won [the USS/IFSA contest in Belgrade], and even with temperatures of 35 degrees [95 Fahrenheit] it was a really nice day and we had more than 3,000 spectators."

1. Ervin Katona 54.5 points
2. Geoff Dolan 51
3. Sebastian Wenta 46.5
4. Stoyan Todorchev 38.5
5. Igor Pedan 38

World Strongman Cup Manager Martin Muhr, in what sounded like understatement, said that "Mariusz was in very good shape," as "he won all six events" in Minsk.

Muhr estimated the crowd at 1,500 and he said the weather was beautiful for the contest in which a lot of eyes in the strongman world would be watching young Arild Haugen. Haugen might have been a little nervous competing against some of these big-name competitors for the first time and made some mistakes in the first two events, said Muhr, but he was was able to rally and finished fifth overall.

Jesse Marunde had been expected to be in the hunt for a top place, but Muhr said that after "starting very well," he "couldn't lift the car, and this cost him a lot of points."

Here are the top six:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski
2. Raivis Vidzis
3. Elbrus Nigmatullin
4. Antanas Abrutis
5. Arild Haugen
6. Jesse Marunde

The next stop in the 2006 World Strongmancup tour is Germany on July 1, said Muhr.

Celebrating its 20th birthday, Finland's Strongest Man drew big crowds this weekend, said organizer Ilkka Kinnunen. The field started with 19 competitors and the top eight went on to the finals, with Jani Illikainen successfully defending his title. Juha Matti Rasanen was second and Esa Qvintus was third. Kinnunen said, "The top two IFSA athletes, Tomi Lotta and Juha Aitala, were injured and therefore did not take part in the competition." 

The World Strongman Cup is coming to Minsk, Belarus this weekend, and series manager Martin Muhr told IronMind®, "We are waiting for a new fight between Mariusz and Jesse, and of course Raivis, because he placed second in Riga in the first World Strongman Cup contest this year."


Mariusz Pudzianowski - always the man to beat - is on this weekend's World Strongman Cup card. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Martin Muhr.
 

"We are also looking forward to the new guy from Norway, Arild Haugen . . . [to see what he] can do to the big names." Haugen, who has been described as looking something like a bigger version of Mariusz Pudzianowski, created quite a splash at Norway's Strongest Man earlier this year, and in a move that might signal his interest in crossing over to the NFL, IronMind® heard that he is coming off a recent motorcycle accident . . . from what we hear of Arild Haugen, it's the pavement that might have gotten the worse end of the collision.

Anyway, here's the full line-up: Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jesse Marunde, Raivis Vidzis, Arild Haugen, Tarmo Mitt, Antanas Abrutis, Terry Hollands, Ralf Ber, Rolands Gulbris, Dmitry Kononets, Elbrus Nigamatullin, Sergei Rumen.

Mario Martinez brought home a silver medal in weightlifting from the 1984 Olympics, the last member of a USA men's Olympic weightlifting team to hit the podium, so when someone extremely knowledgeable talks about "the next Mario," it's time to listen up.


Casey Burgener flies through his opening clean and jerk, 210 kg, at the 2005 World Weightlifting Championships (Doha, Qatar). IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

So when three-time USA Olympic weightlifting coach Jim Schmitz said of Casey Burgener, "He might be the next Mario Martinez," that's a big statement.

Casey Burgener, the top US super heavyweight, just keeps lifting bigger and bigger weights: In recent big meets, for example, he PR'd at the 2005 USAW National Championships, followed by more PRs at the 2005 World Championships, and recently he had another PR-day at the 2006 Pan Ams. As part of his steady progress, Casey Burgener is getting noticed along the way by people who know a thing or two about weightlifting.

"He's a great kid," said Schmitz. "I'm impressed with him. He's quiet, respectful and goes out and lifts big weights. He's not as strong as Mario [yet], but he's a weightlifter."

Incidentally, besides all he is putting forth to create his success, Casey has the right gene pool and environment: His strongly supportive family includes his dad, Mike, who played football at Notre Dame, pressed 400 pounds as a 198-er, is a retired USMC officer, teaches at Rancho Buena Vista High School, and besides coaching at both a local and international level, is active in USA Weightlifting and CrossFit.

Always innovative, John Brookfield's many accomplishments in the world of grip strength and beyond seem to be closely tied to his never-ending creativity when it comes to training, and John calls his latest concept Battling Ropes.

"It's a one-of-a-kind system," John told IronMind®. "It teaches the mind and body to maintain strength and power over longer durations of time . . . By combining strength and speed together, the body wants to adapt and it does."

John said that he has a very interesting group of people signed up for his certification seminar on Battling Ropes, scheduled for Wake Forest University July 22 - 23, as it appeals to athletes and members of the military, for example, who want to use these techniques in their own training, and it also appeals to coaches and personal trainers who want to use it with their athletes and clients.

For more details, please check the  power ropes website.
 

George Champlin's interest in grippers and grip-related topics, along with a desire to create a positive online meeting place for like-minded individuals, led to the creation of grippermania.com, which appears to the be fastest growing grip-related board, and with a membership of 898 at latest count, some feel that it will soon be the largest active board in this area - despite the fact that it's relatively new.

Founder George Champlin told IronMind®, "Grippermania's mission is to engage in productive discussions on grip training and encourage its members to reach new levels of hand strength through the free exchange of ideas and advice," and comments about the site from members of the grip community focus on how it provides a positive environment. Also setting it apart, grippermania seems to have the support of the leaders in the field, which gives it added credibility and resources.

Incidentally, showing the community spirit in this group, when grippermania.com founder George Champlin's daughter needed a little extra financial support for her cheerleading, two grip guys - John Beatty and Dale Harder - jumped in to help support her cause by donating equipment to be auctioned.

If you're interested in grip-related topics and haven't already stopped by, take a look at Grippermania's website.
 

The WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix will follow a two-day format, featuring eight events, and the field will begin with 14 competitors and then be cut to the top ten for the last two events.


Don Pope (shown loading the 380-lb. stone at the 2003 Xtreme Strongman Challenge in St. Louis) has notched some impressive performances at the World's Strongest Man contest, and he will be competing at the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix with an eye toward qualifying for the 2006 MET-Rx WSM contest. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

On day one, the events are: Thule Stones of Strength, log lift for reps, car deadlift for reps, tire flip. Day two begins with the power stairs, and then the farmer's walk, before the field is cut to the top ten for the last two events: Scania truck pull and power medley comprising a farmer's walk, tire flip and barrel load.

The World's Strongest Man Super Series continues in Moscow on July 1 - 2, and IronMind® has received the official start list for that WSMSS Grand Prix event.

Confirmed competitors are: Mariusz Pudzianowski, Magnus Samuelsson, Arild Haugen, Jessen Paulin, Kristin "Boris" Haraldsson, Jesse Marunde, Don Pope, Brian Irwin, Matti Uppa, Carl Waitoa and Elbrus Nigmatullin. Three additional Russian/Balkan competitors will be added to the lineup.

The World's Strongest Man Super Series began its 2006 contest schedule at the Arnold and just completed the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix; the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix is the next stop in the tour that is the official qualifying vehicle for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.

The Brawl For It All graced the Tahoe Biltmore on the shores of Lake Tahoe as big-name armwrestlers battled for top honors and invitations to compete at the 2007 Arnold.


Tom Nelson (left) pins Herman McCoy at the Brawl For It All at the Tahoe Biltmore last night. There are no losers here, though, as both of these shy guys are going to the 2007 Arnold. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Here are the men's side, pro right hand top three (all qualified for the 2007 Arnold):

165 pounds
1) Devon Bair
2) Simon Berriochoa
3) Mike McGraw

198 pounds
1) Kenny Hughes
2) Bryan Johnson
3) Darren Wartena

242 pounds
1) Tom Nelson
2) Herman McCoy
3) Dan Fortuna

+242 pounds
1) Tom Nelson
2) Herman McCoy
3) Dan Fortuna

In addition, because they weighed in at under the 176-pound limit, John Parton and Allen Fisher also qualified for the 2007 Arnold.

On the women's side, here are the top three at 143 pounds (all qualified for the Arnold):

1) Jennifer Hoffert
2) De De Johnson
3) Barbara McCoy

Hats off to Denise Wattles, Leonard Harkless and the Tahoe Biltmore for staging another great armwrestling contest at Lake Tahoe.

Zydrunas Savickas won the IFSA Holland Grand Prix today and as he predicted he would, he also set a new IFSA world record in the log lift.

Lifting on a stainless steel IFSA log, Savickas made 205 kg, breaking his own world record of 202.5 kg, and IFSA's Marcel Mostert described the lift as "easy."

Second place overall was Jon Andersen and third went to Jarno Hams.

With the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix completed, who has qualified so far for the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest?


A finicky Fingal's Finger forced Josh Thigpen to run through the medley twice at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix, but it was worth it: Josh Thigpen is on his way to the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

The WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix offered a way for leading strongmen to prove themselves, and with a top performance, they could earn an invitation to the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest - the crown jewel of the strongman world.

IronMind® has received official confirmation that the top four competitors from the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix have qualified for the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski
2. Jesse Marunde
3. Josh Thigpen
4. Terry Hollands

The 2006 World's Strongest Man contest is scheduled for September.

William (Bill) Scruggs, Ph.D., Executive Director of Scottish Masters Athletics International, which manages the Masters World Championships, has arranged to give Scottish Games Masters a crack at certifying on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper at their upcoming Worlds.


Thwarted no more by the No. 2 Captains of Crush® Gripper, Bill Scruggs succeeds in front of Frank Lux, Bill Butler and Kit Soneson (Loomis, California). IronMind® | Photo courtesy of William Scruggs, Ph.D.

Scruggs, who is no slouch in the grip department, was bitten by the gripper bug in 1999 when he was stumped by a No. 2 Captains of Crush® Gripper, but he responded to the challenge by not only building the strength to bang out 20 consecutive reps on this well-known standard of grip strength, but he has also shared his zeal by honoring all Scottish Masters who succeed in closing the No. 2 Captains of Crush® Gripper.

Taking things a step further, Scruggs and another Masters Highland Games notable, Kent Durso, will be available as official witnesses for any competitors at the upcoming World Championships who are ready to take a crack at certifying on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper. Anyone interested in taking an official shot at this benchmark gripper should review the Captains of Crush® Grippers Rules for Closing and Certification  and per the procedures, contact IronMind®.

"Also included in this year's festivities in Inverness," Scruggs said, "will be a Rolling Thunder challenge for the masters. This is the first such masters' challenge at a Highland Games." Scruggs, who was successful at 175 pounds while fooling around with some other throwers back in 2000, said he has "garnered the help of Scot Malky Cleghorn to put the 'Thunder' into this year's mix. Most likely, it will become a regular at future world championships. Because the Rolling Thunder utilizes many of the same muscles as those used in the Highland Games events, this challenge will be held on Friday night before the Games begin."

The 2006 Masters World Championships of Scottish Heavy Athletics are being held in Inverness, Scotland on July 22 and if you need an excuse to go to Scotland this summer, here's a great one. Incidentally, as an indication of the popularity of the Highland Games among masters, and Bill's success in organizing everything masters in Scottish Heavy Athletics, "over 75 athletes age 40 and above from seven countries" will be competing this year, so stop by the Scottish Masters website and maybe get into this yourself.

Ilkka Kinnunen told IronMind® today that the IFSA Tornio-Haparanda Grand Prix plans are going well, as he released the first details on the contest.


Finland, the traditional home of some of the heaviest strongman contests in the world, will be hosting the IFSA Tornio-Haparanda Grand Prix in August. IronMind® | Image courtesy of Ilkka Kinnunen.
 

This competition is scheduled for August 4 - 5 and, so far, Kinnunen said, the list of starting athletes looks like this: Jani Illikainen, Juha Matti Rasanen, Igor Pedan, Vidas Bleikaitis, Andrus Murumets, Geoff Dolan, Van Hatfield, Anders Johansson, Jorma Paananen and Jarmo Hams. Kinnunen told IronMind® that two more athletes will be invited.

So far, the confirmed events are log lift for maximum weight, Atlas stones and 320-kg deadlift for reps; Kinnunen said that at least three more events will be added.

"I'm looking forward to going over to Holland and mixing it up with the best in the world," Jon Andersen told IronMind®, as he prepares to compete in this weekend's IFSA Holland Grand Prix.


He made a big splash in NAS in 2002, and in 2003 Jon Andersen debuted as a professional strongman; in St. Louis that year, he was already so muscular that at least one reporter thought he was a bodybuilder who came to watch the strongman contest, not one of the competitors. Jon's now about another 30 pounds heavier. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Last year, Andersen said he only competed in one individual contest, but this year, he's already got three under his belt and he says that it's making a huge difference in terms of his performance levels and his IFSA ranking. Currently weighing about 315 pounds, Andersen said that his recent bests include squatting 700 x 10 (belt and briefs), and pressing 409 x 4 with a regular bar.

Always known for having a lot of endurance for a strongman, Andersen said that he has been cross training on submission grappling, with great cardio benefits, even if he wakes up with a sore throat sometimes. "Oh, yeah," he said, "I got choked yesterday," adding, "I usually won't tap out."

Emphasizing how happy he is to be competing in Holland this weekend, Andersen added, "It feels like IFSA is back on track and acting like a complete federation."

It's the "third and final leg" of the IFSA-USA (ASC) national qualifier, so the Pacifico Ford Liberty Strongman Classic also is a stepping stone to the IFSA World Championships.

Scheduled for June 30 and July 1 at the Lagoon Hotel in Essington, Pennsylvania and at the Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, "over 20 ASC professionals will vie for the final five spots in this year's ASC Nationals scheduled for July 20 in Columbia, South Carolina and the right to move on to the IFSA World Championships scheduled for the fall of 2006," not to mention a piece of the $10,000 in cash and prizes that is up for grabs.

Steve Kirit, Van Hatfield, Jon Andersen, Travis Ortmayer and Walt Gogola are "expected to compete."

The events are: deadlift for reps, Conan's wheel, log lift for reps, yoke walk, truck pull and Atlas stones.

"Zydrunas Savickas told us that he is going for a world record in the log lift," Marcel Mostert said, talking about this weekend's IFSA Holland Grand Prix.


Zydrunas Savickas will be going for 207.5 kg in the log lift this weekend, Marcel Mostert told IronMind, for what would be a new IFSA world record. IronMind®
 

The current IFSA world record is 202.5 kg and it's held by Zydrunas Savickas. Savickas did 205 in log in Moscow, Mostert explained, but because it wasn't on an official piece of IFSA equipment, he said the lift was unofficial.

The stainless steel IFSA equipment will be used in Holland, Mostert said, and along with the log lift, the events include a Conan's wheel, the Atlas stones, a truck pull, a washing machine carry and a tire flip plus loading medley.

Hugo Girard, who was injured on the Conan's Wheel at the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix last week, has gone through surgery and has just left the hospital today.


He was flying: Hugo Girard laid his cards on the table and won the first event at the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix, where he was in excellent shape and had been doing extremely well before he was injured. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

No injury is good, but this was a particularly tough break for the popular Canadian strongman who had gone through back-to-back Achilles surgeries on the same leg, and who, as a result, had been out of strongman competition for almost one and a half years. Not exactly sitting around idly in his time away from strongman competition, Hugo Girard's hard training was apparent immediately at the Mohegan Sun, as he looked great and wasted no time proving how strong he was. Things were going extremely well until the Conan's Wheel, where Girard tore his patella.

Just before he left the hospital today, Girard confirmed that there was no additional damage, which was good, and with an eye to recovery and the future, Girard said that rehab will start later this week.

Ken Brown, who is back from a recent world record performance in the silver dollar deadlift in Canada said he "was just sick for Hugo because he worked so hard to get in top shape. He's so good . . . he's just had some bad luck," Brown said.

"This was definitely not a competition for weak people," Marcel Mostert said, as Misha Koklyaev took the win at the IFSA Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.

Proving his point, Mostert said the contest included a 510-kg tire flip, 185-kg Atlas stone and 290 kg in the power stairs. Creating a dramatic finish, Koklyaev and Virastyuk were tied going into the last event (power stairs), which Koklyaev won, giving him his second IFSA Grand Prix title of the year, Mostert reported.

Here are the finals points for the top five:

1. Misha Koklyaev 72 points
2. Vasyl Virastyuk 67
3. Travis Ortmayer 66
4. Vidas Blekleitas 64
5. Andrus Muremets 63

49-year-old Laszlo Fekete competed and Mostert said that Fekete told the enthusiastic crowd that he began competing in international strongman contests in 1988, and Mostert said that two of young IFSA stars - Misha Koklyaev and Travis Ortmayer - explained how they had watched Fekete when they were young boys, showing great respect for the Hungarian strongman.

Saddle Brook, New Jersey - Based on last night's dinner, AOBS is going strong, which seems perfectly appropriate for a group of people united in their passion for the iron game.


Slim "The Hammerman" Farman, always a central figure at the AOBS, edifies two of the distinguished guests last night: Svend Karlsen and Odd Haugen. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

As ever, the AOBS dinner was a mix of awards, performances, education and, most important, camaraderie.

A cornerstone of the AOBS, the collectors got things going on Saturday, as Mike Bondurant set the stage and Reuben Weaver shed some light on the Milo Barbell Company - Jackson Barbell Company intersection. Later, Don Reinhoudt held a seminar recapping his career highlights as a top powerlifter and World's Strongest Man competitor, and he explained the principles that guided his training.

Erik Vining (COC -03) presented Slim "The Hammerman" Farman an award which appropriately enough took the form of an impressive piece of scrollwork done by Erik. The Mighty Atom, Dennis Tinerino, Russ Knipp and Dick "Smitty" Smith were honored by the AOBS this year; Steve Schmidt and Dennis Rogers performed feats of strength, and the Greg Ernst family sang.

The recent growth trend enjoyed by the AOBS appeared to be continuing, as there seemed to be more people than ever in attendance.

Benedikt Magnusson won four of the six events at the IFSA Iceland's Strongest Man contest, Magnus Ver Magnusson said.

The top three finishers were:

1. Benedikt Magnusson 33 points
2. Stefan Solvi Petursson 30
3. Georg Ogmundsson 25.5

Mohegan Sun - Playing to a crowd filled with his fans, Mariusz Pudzianowski let everyone at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix know why he's the man to beat when he goes for his fourth World's Strongest Man title later this year.


Mariusz Pudzianowski loads the sixth and final stone - the only competitor to conquer the full set. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

Unfortunately, injuries whittled down the field, but that didn't mar what was seen as an outstanding contest. Commenting on the arena filled with enthusiastic fans tonight, WSMSS founder Ulf Bengtsson said, "It shows that we are doing the right thing with our live shows - the audience was fired up for three hours. This shows that the sport has a future both audience-wise and commercially."

The final places and points for the top six were:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski 80.5 points
2. Jesse Marunde 60.5
3. Josh Thigpen 59
4. Terry Hollands 55
5. Kevin Nee 53
6. Karl Gillingham 50

Mohegan Sun - 2005 World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski took top honors at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix tonight. Jesse Marunde was second and Josh Thigpen was third.

The IFSA Iceland's Strongest Man contest is June 3.

Among the competitors are Benedikt Magnusson, of huge deadlift fame, said Magnus Ver Magnusson, who is organizing the contest. The events are: super yoke, Apollon Axle for reps, Conan's Wheel, Hercules hold, car deadlift for reps and stones of strength.

Mohegan Sun - "I left Vegas and I came to Vegas," Mark Philippi said, describing the Mohegan Sun Casino, which is home to the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix tonight.


"I want to be the first strongman on the cover of a bodybuilding magazine," said Jesse Marunde, currently weighing 294 pounds. Marunde, the first teenager to officially close a No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper, was second in the 2005 World's Strongest Man contest. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

This grand, enormous complex includes an arena which will be the stage for many of the world's top professional strongman as they compete not only for prizes and places tonight, but also for invitations to the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.

The competitors are looking relaxed and a practice session will be held later this afternoon, priming everyone for the action tonight in what promises to be a contest in which the competitors not only want to turn in top performances, but also have to guard against injuries as they continue their march toward peak condition for the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest.