Thanks to the efforts of Roger Davis, efforts to rescue the Fianna Stone are getting traction - if you care about this most magnificent testing stone and would like to do something to safeguard it, now is the time to act.


History you can touch and if you're equal to the task, handle: the mighty testing stone of the Fianna. Save this stone! Peter Martin photo.

Roger Davis credits the book Of Stones and Strength by Steve Jeck and Peter Martin with bringing this magnificent stone into more general public awareness. Jeck and Martin wrote that, "In the days of the Fianna, any young man wishing to join this elite band of warriors had to lift the testing stone . . . ." Jeck and Martin also noted that, " . . . to the unknowing public [it] is just another boulder . . . but it . . . was the gateway to many a young man's destiny." Sadly, because of the former situation, its much grander past and future role are now imperiled.

Featured many times in MILO, this treasured testing stone was moved from its location and in an effort to secure its safety, Roger Davis has enlisted the aid of Mr. Doug Gillon, a reporter at the "'The Herald,' which is one of the main Scottish newspapers."

Roger Davis noted that, "Without wanting to sound like a �mad man,' when a person has lifted a stone with the history of the Fianna or Inver stone, they feel bonded to both the stone and the location in a very special way, and the removal of such a stone prevents future generations from feeling the same exultation and sense of pride at lifting a true Scottish manhood stone."

If you share this passion, then please take a moment and send an email to Mr. Doug Gillon, at "The Herald"

doug.gillon@theherald.co.uk

letting him know how important you feel it is that this stone be returned and its future safety ensured.

Jamie Reeves told IronMind that he had no idea how the rumor had gotten started that he resigned from IFSA.


Jamie Reeves on the Overhead Rock Lift at the 1997 European Strongman Classic (Hardenburg, Holland). Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Winner of the 1989 World's Strongest Man contest, and one of the first - and still very few - guys who could bench over 600 pounds and deadlift over 800 pounds - Jamie Reeves has been working freelance as a welder, primarily in the petrochemical industry, and maybe his being somewhat less visible on the strongman circuit spawned the rumor about his resignation.

While Jamie said he is enjoying an "easy life," don't take it completely at face value because last month, Jamie lost two fingers at the knuckle when they got trapped in a pipe he was working on.

You wouldn't expect something like this to slow down Jamie Reeves, and it didn't - after a couple of days off "to get patched up," he was back on the job and soon he will be heading off to Cuba for a contract.

Along with his outstanding performances as a competitor, Jamie Reeves is well-known as a top-drawer strongman equipment designer, and he is the brains, as well as the hands, behind the IFSA stainless steel equipment, works of great beauty whose purpose was also to give strongman competitors a way to compete in standardized events - a concept that Jamie Reeves calls "a smashing success." So, too, are his stainless steel implements, and Jamie said that at the moment he is "building a full kit" for Zydrunas Savickas.

Even if you're not at the level of Zydrunas Savickas, if you want to set your gym apart, consider this option: Jamie Reeves is taking orders, and maybe you can talk him into signing your set.

Saying he has little interest in strongman politics, Jamie Reeves noted that he's enjoying his good health, "Fingers crossed," he said. " Right hand."

He burst on the grip scene when he nonchalantly stopped by the GNC Grip Gauntlet at the 2004 Show of Strength and before he left, Wade Gillingham and Randall Strossen looked at each other and said, "Joe Kinney!"


Certification on the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper began in 1991, and it's the most recognized feat of grip strength excellence in the world. Making history, Tex Henderson was certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper at the 2006 Global Grip Challenge, as the first man certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper, Richard Sorin (left), watches and the Diesel Crew's Jedd Johnson (right) referees. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

What caused the comment was Shedrick "Tex" Henderson low gearing his way through a No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper - this was an extraordinary display of crushing grip power as he clamped down the gripper millimeter by millimeter, almost in slow motion. If that weren't impressive enough by itself, consider that this was Tex's introduction to Captains of Crush Grippers and that he was a powerlifter and fledgling strongman, not a grip strength specialist. But grip strength stardom and spectacular performances on the benchmark Captains of Crush Grippers were part of Tex's destiny.

At the 2006 Global Grip Challenge - run by the Diesel Crew, hosted by Sorinex, and attended by many of the top, young grip guys as well as elder statesmen Richard Sorin and Randall Strossen, not to mention all-around really special MILO guy Steve "Inver Stone" Jeck - guess who made history on the No. 3 Captains of Crush gripper?

Tex did what nobody had done - under the strictest conditions to date, he slammed a No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper shut. The Diesel Crew's Jedd Johnson was refereeing the historic moment and when Randall Strossen turned to Jedd for his decision, asking if Tex had closed the gripper, Jedd said, "He destroyed it."

When you're as strong as Tex - blessed with the gift of extraordinary grip strength - success with the No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper certainly gives you internationally- recognized bragging rights in the world of grip strength, but there is another goal beckoning . . . certification on the No. 4 Captains of Crush Gripper.

Let's be frank here: Just as not everyone can run the 100 in under 10 seconds or deadlift 800 pounds, not everyone - no matter how hard or smart they train - has the gifts required to close a No. 3 Captains of Crush Gripper and this is even more true of the No. 4 Captains of Crush Gripper.

IronMind has been at the heart of the grip world for two decades, and along the way, we have seen the need to separate the wheat from the chaff, and of this we are certain: Shedrick "Tex" Henderson has what it takes to honestly close a No. 4 Captains of Crush Gripper and he's making progress toward that goal: Tex just told us that he's within about a 1/4-inch of doing it right now - and lest you think otherwise, rest assured that this is an above-board, no-monkey-business effort, proving, as Bruce Wilhelm says, "When you're strong, you're strong."

Four-time World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Ver Magnusson told IronMind that strongman "started getting too boring."


Joe Onasai on the overhead lift at the 1995 World Strength Championships (Callander, Scotland). Talking about colorful competitors, in addition to Joe, that's Nathan Jones on the left and Phil "Stonehenge" Martin on the right. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Saying that he "missed all the characters," and explaining that "everybody is playing the same character now," Magnus Ver lamented the fact that "everybody looks the same."

In striking contrast, Magnus Ver said, there used to be great variety: "Kaz, Geoff Capes, Jamie [Reeves], Riku Kiri, Gary Taylor, Joe Onasai, Ted van der Parre . . . ."

When it comes to selling strongman to the public, "you have to be entertaining," to be successful, Magnus Ver said, and with the limited number of personae he sees in strongman, its potential for expansion is limited.

"There is a wide band of people who like strongman," Magnus Ver said, so you need characters within the sport that its audience can identify with.

The Viking Power Challenge has been added to the 2007 World's Strongest Man Super Series (WSMSS) Grand Prix calendar, WSMSS tour director Jesper Albanson told IronMind, giving "the ten invited athletes a chance to compete for the Viking Power Challenge Trophy, plus the WSMSS Championship and a spot in the 2007 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest."


Svend Karlsen on the barrel squat at the 2004 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Quick to credit the groundwork that is already in place for this competition, Albanson said, "Svend�and Lene Karlsen have done�a tremendous job putting this event together . . . Being telecast on Norwegian state television (TV2) and the WSMSS international carriers, the event is likely to be one of this year's most prestigious competitions."

Svend Karlsen, 2001 World's Strongest Man winner told IronMind, "As a member of the Super Series organization, I am happy to be the one who brings the tour to the land of the Vikings." Karlsen, who retired from competition last year, said, "I will combine my role as promoter with�my continued duties as WSM Super Series�commentator, alongside Colin Bryce."

As for the competitors, the line-up is formidable: Mariusz Pudzianowski, Janne Virtanen, Terry Hollands, Jarek Dymek, Karl Gillingham, Boris Haraldson and�Rene Minkwitz have been invited, and Svend said that he has "one additional big name to add to the line-up," which he will announce shortly. In addition, Svend, said "Norway's flag will be defended by the�top two finishers of 2007 Norway's Strongest Man contest."

Mark your calendar for this triple-seven event: It's scheduled for July 7, 2007 and for full details about this and other World's Strongest Man Super Series events, please contact: info@super-series.com .

Even if you love backyard grip contests with four competitors and someone's pet implements, if you're serious about testing the horsepower in your hands, the GNC Grip Gauntlet is where you want to be - it's the proving ground for people who want to see just how strong their grip really is and who want to have a good time giving it their best shot.


Wade Gillingham - Grand Master of the GNC Grip Gauntlet - will be hosting this fun, challenging event again this year at the FitExpo and at the Arnold. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Ace gripster Wade Gillingham will be heading the GNC Grip Gauntlet at this year's FitExpo and at the Arnold, so whether you're just starting off or you're already into serious grip training and would like to see how you stack up against the best around, here's a chance to strut your stuff. It's also a chance to have some fun.

Using IronMind's Captains of Crush® Grippers and Rolling Thunder®, along with a Blob (the sawed-off end from a cast 100-pound York dumbbell), the Grip Gauntlet puts all competitors on level ground as it lets them pit their grip strength against three well-established, widely available standards, and with the number of people who have run through it, there can be no question that the GNC Grip Gauntlet is the numero uno grip event in the world.

"The GNC Grip Gauntlet, in one format or another, has sampled the strength of over 10,000 men. With a worldwide reputation for its difficulty and a magnetic draw that keeps people coming back . . .," is how Wade Gillingham put it in the June 2006 issue of MILO , where the history of the contest was profiled, along with the top results.

If you're going to be at the FitExpo or the Arnold, be sure to stop by the GNC booth and give the gauntlet a run for its money.

Take a step back from counting reps and consider what you're paying for what you do or don't do.


Looking mighty pensive, Steve "Inver Stone" Jeck in repose. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Steve "Inver Stone" Jeck has been digging in his famous quarry again, and for some thoughts on this subject, take a moment to read what Steve has come up with:

� From The Quarry.

"I haven't got the results back from the MRI yet," Magnus Samuelsson told IronMind yesterday, "but I'm starting to push my back training a little bit harder."


Wonder where the name World's Strongest Arms came from? Magnus Samuelsson has the strength to close a No. 4 Captains of Crush gripper, as well as to bench press around 300 kg without a shirt, and he attacks the truck pull as if he had the power of four legs. Photo courtesy of Magnus Samuelsson.

And if you want to know just how much Magnus is talking about, here are some numbers.

"Deadlifted 300 kg for 5 reps," Magnus said, "followed by 3 sets of five with 270 a few days ago. It felt great and I had no pain the day after." And if you read IronMind's story about Magnus's high-rep deadlift training, here's the next installment.

"Next up is to try to pull 250 kg for 100 reps with in 35 minutes. The goal is to pull 330x5 fast and easy within a few weeks," Magnus said.

And don't think the man known for having the World's Strongest Arms - a mighty bench presser and a man who clicks the No. 3 Captains of Crush gripper as if it's a plastic castanet - has been sloughing off when it comes to the rest of his training.

"My upper body training is responding well to the hard treatment I'm giving it," Magnus said, and considering some of his PRs, Magnus must be hitting some stratospheric heights.

And the bottom line for The Big Swede? "It feels like there finally is some light in the dark tunnel of injuries that I have been fighting for some time now. I'm enjoying myself!"

Can you imagine this: I was coming off writing SUPER SQUATS and here he was, a Bulgarian professor standing in the back room of The Sports Palace telling us not only that squats were not very useful for weightlifting, but also that Bulgarian weightlifters had replaced them with step-ups. Step-ups?!


Stefan Botev (Bulgaria) back squatting at the 1990 Goodwill Games. Competition Director Tom Hirtz was probably the only person who spent even more time in the training hall than Randall Strossen, so the next time you see Tom, ask him how many Bulgarians were doing step-ups there. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

A steady diet of Peary Rader and John McCallum articles during my formative years, not to mention much actual knee bending, had revealed a universal truth to me: If you are interested in strength, bulk or power, there is no substitute for squats, and since I had just been immersed in the subject as I was writing the book SUPER SQUATS, you can imagine how jaw-dropping it was to hear Angel Spassov tell us that squats had been replaced by step-ups. Spassov had come to the US in 1989 as part of an NSCA-USWF (USAW) program, lecturing on "The Bulgarian Approach to Maximal Strength and Power Development," and I had the chance to attend back-to-back seminars at the Fairfax Weightlifting Club and at the Sports Palace.

Of course, everyone tried step-ups right after this lecture series and the idea was given wider exposure by a Muscle & Fitness article, written by Angel Spassov and Terry Todd, entitled "Bulgarian Leg Training Secrets." For my part, because they made my kneecaps feel as if they were about to separate from my leg and blast into the wall, I returned to still more squats. The following year, I had a chance to see Bulgarian weightlifters in the flesh at the Goodwill Games and one of my first questions was about step-ups.

Stefan Botev, politely but firmly, told me that I must have misunderstood something because Bulgarian weightlifters never did step-ups, but of course they squatted frequently and heavily - something I can attest to now, being lucky enough to have seen Bulgarian weightlifters training from Spokane to Sofia to Santo Domingo, and many points in between. Subsequent to my first talk with Botev about this, I confirmed this with Ivan Abadjiev, and the three of us have since laughed about this more than once.

Leonid Taranenko told me that he has included step-ups at some points in his training, but for all the hours I have spent watching the world's top weightlifters train all over the planet, I have never seen one perform even a single rep in the step-up, although I have seen many, many squats.


Professor Angel Spassov lecturing on the step-up at the Sports Palace. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Want to swap step-ups for squats if you're a weightlifter? If you believe this is a good deal, I'd like to offer you the Golden Gate Bridge, for a very good price.

For a lot of people, the question of who's the strongest man is answered very simply: it's whoever lifts the most weight from the ground to overhead, and Leonid Taranenko remains the man who has highest all-time world record in the clean and jerk . . . only, it's no longer recognized.


Leonid Taranenko told IronMind that he feels his world record of 266 kg in the clean and jerk should still stand. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

For decades the only changes to the body weight classes used in the sport of weightlifting was to either add or subtract a class - the cutoffs for the classes themselves remained as inviolate as 100 meters for the most important sprint or 100 yards for the length of an American football field. Then, in fairly rapid succession, the classes themselves were changed not once, but twice, in recent years, and each time, the prior world records became historical curiosities.

Not so to the man who cleaned and jerked 266 kg in 1988 - it was a huge lift that followed a disappointing non-appearance at the 1988 Olympics, and until the body weight classes were subsequently changed, it was the world record, and it officially stood as the heaviest weight ever cleaned and jerked. But even though Leonid Taranenko was a superheavyweight, when the body weight limit on the class below changed, his record was shelved. Thus, the current superheavyweight world record in the clean and jerk is held by Hossein Rezazadeh, at 263 kg.

Tarnaneko told IronMind that he doesn't agree with this and feels that his lift should still stand as the world record.


Leonid Taranenko sticks 255 kg at the 1990 World Weightlifting Championships. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Watch for details on the IFSA TV schedule by the end of the week, but IFSA Managing Director Christian Fennell just gave IronMind a summary of what to expect in terms of worldwide distribution.


Zydrunas Savickas is the king of IFSA Strongman and some would argue that he is the strongest strongman of them all. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

IFSA shows will be broadcast in 186 territories, Fennell said, encompassing 24 networks, and the programs will be translated into 15 languages. "We are very happy with the global distribution platform," Fennell said, and he attributed the result to a lot of hard work and ever-increasing program quality.

Commenting on this year's plans, Fennell said, "We are looking to step up from the 12 episodes we have had for the last two years to 26 episodes."

To accomplish this, Fennell said that the 2007 competition schedule will be everything seen in 2006 plus more, which means more grand prix competitions, among other things, and Fennell said the policy he introduced of paying out the prize money on the spot will become standard practice at IFSA contests this year.

Asked about the rumor of a possible IFSA-World Strongman Cup deal, Fennell said, "I'm not going to rule it out . . . I can't confirm it either." Fennell said that unless there is something he is unaware of, there is "no deal done now," but he added, "I wouldn't rule it out. Let's wait and see what happens."

One thing that definitely is happening is that Fennell was quick to point to not just IFSA's progress, but also to the overall progress in strongman, and he complimented the efforts of both the Arnold and the WSM Super Series. Explaining his perspective, Fennell said, "I told the guys to quit looking over your shoulder - just look forward."

Full 2007 IFSA television broadcast details should be on the official IFSA website by the end of the week, Fennell said: www.ifsastrongman.com

Ice storms and cold weather couldn't stop Reno Reunion VIII and despite some rough weather around the country, top pullers descended on the Boomtown Casino & Hotel.


Fueling up before the finals, Simon Berriochoa was about to hit paydirt as a pro 177 - 198er for the time - Simon said he weighed about 185 (including the shoes?), but even with this win, Simon said he will be going back down to the 155 - 176s. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Gene Dunn took top honors in the right hand pros 0 - 154, followed by Kyle Knapp in second and Joe Clark in third. In the pro right hand 155 - 176, Chris Chandler got first place, Mike McGraw came in second and Brandon Dye was third. Notching his first pro win in the 177 - 198s, Simon Berriochoa took top honors, with Chris Chandler getting second place and Randy Weaver taking home third place. John Brzenk and Tom Nelson were first and second, respectively, in the pro right hand 199 - 242s and the 243+ class. Scott Fleming was third in the 199 - 242s and Conan took third in the 243+ class.

Odd Haugen has just released the official list of competitors for the 2007 MET-Rx All-American Strongman Challenge, which is being held at the FitExpo in Pasadena, California February 16 - 18.


Don Pope finished third in the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest. Come to FitExpo and you can see Don, and a lot of other top strongmen, in person. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

With three competitors north of 40 years old and one on the far side of the half century mark, we had to ask Odd if he was running the first Masters strongman contest - Odd, of course, at a mere 57 years old, gives a lot of young guys more than they can handle and he inspires everyone to get out and train harder.

With a contest open to all pros, and with the top six finishers guaranteed an invitation to a World's Strongest Man Super Series qualifier, this could be the first step toward competing in the 2007 World's Strongest Man contest.

Here's the field of competitors: Jason Bergmann, Don Pope, Kevin Nee,David Ostlund, Pete Konradt, Sam McMahon, Brian Shaw, Carl Foemmel, Grant Higa, Ken Brown, Marshall White, Brad Dunn, Odd Haugen, Gerard Benderoth, Karl Gillingham, Josh Thigpen, Corey St. Clair, Mark Philippi, Jim Glassmann, Matt Parkes and Dan Ford.

Scanning the entries, Odd said, "We've got the best of the last decade and the new up and comers . . . this truly is a national contest . . . we have competitors from every corner of the country."

The action begins on Friday, February 16, when the FitExpo opens its doors, and after four events, the field will be cut to the top twelve competitors. For full details, please check:

http://www.thefitexpo.com/events/strength.html

Magnus Samuelsson, World's Strongest Man winner and the owner of the world's strongest arms and hands, had his 2006 competition year derailed by back problems, so he got an MRI to find out just what is going on.


World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Samuelsson has hands that close the No. 4 Captains of Crush gripper, arms that bench around 300 kg (no shirt) and a back that sometimes just does not do what he wants it to do. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Speaking of how frustrating it was last year, Magnus said, "I was in the shape of my life . . . except for one tiny problem . . . my back."

While awaiting the doctor's verdict, Magnus is doing plenty of rehab work, including 100-rep deadlifts. Magnus said that he began with 100 kg for 100 reps in the deadlift, gradually increased the weight, and now he is doing 200 kg for 100 reps.

He's always been a big bench presser, so it was natural for IronMind to ask Magnus if he was still benching in the 270-kg range.

"It's more like 300," he said, and this is from a man who doesn't even own a bench shirt.

Dr. Douglas Edmunds - the spiritual father, high priest and clan leader of modern strongman - would like to see unity in the sport, saying, "Play it straight . . . be truthful . . . there can only be one."


Dr. Douglas Edmunds relaxes at the Jon Pall Sigmarsson premiere in Reykjavik last year. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Edmunds is referring to the fragmented state of strongman, with its multiple champions, saying that it confuses and misleads the public - weakening the sport and diluting the earning power of its athletes. Without going so far as to say that he sees unification as imminent, Edmunds said he sees this prospect having a "fair chance in the next couple of years."

"It's the only decent and honest thing to do," Edmunds told IronMind.

It's Reno Reunion VIII and if you're looking for some of the biggest names in arm wrestling, you'll be there.


He doesn't pull it out of violin case, but for how deadly it is, he might as well: The John Brzenk forearm only knows two words when he steps up to an arm wrestling table. Pin and win. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

The Boomtown Casino & Hotel, home of some of the biggest and best arm wrestling contests around, is hosting this AWP/USAA contest and USAA Executive Director Denise Wattles told IronMind, "It will be a great one." Look for John Brzenk, Bob Brown, Chris Chandler and Cobra Rhodes, among the top names.

The Boomtown Casino & Hotel is off Interstate 80, outside of Reno, and the action begins with the novices and pros on Saturday (January 13), and continues with the amateurs and masters on Sunday (January 14). With "over $12,000 in cash and prizes," there's added incentive to pull hard. For full details, please check: www.usarmwrestling.com .

David Horne will be hosting the 2007 British Rolling Thunder® Championships, as part of the Peter Horne Memorial Grip Strength Day.


Laine Snook holds the men's world record in the Rolling Thunder, at 274.2 pounds. Photo courtesy of Laine Snook.

And this contest could produce a unique double: Elizabeth Horne could be attacking the women's world record, and Laine Snook could be attacking the men's world record.

Last year, Laine Snook not only proved himself as not just the strongest Brit on the Rolling Thunder, but also as the best ever worldwide, and showing that he had spine equal to his strength, he made this big pull as a followup to one he had made under squeaky clean, but still unofficial conditions - to get the record, Snook roared back and pulled the 274.2 pounds at a contest held at Pullum Sports, in Luton.

David Horne's contest is set for April 7, in Stafford, England and you can see full contest details on David's website:

http://www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com/gripcontestsforthcoming.html

The official World's Strongest Man website has added an FAQ section.


Two-time World's Strongest Man winner Jouko Ahola remains heavily involved with the contest, and if you want to learn more about his role, please check the FAQ section of the official World's Strongest Man website. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Have questions about the World's Strongest Man contest? Want answers straight from the source?

If so, then you will be happy to see that the official World's Strongest Man website has added a frequently asked questions section, so if you're wondering about this year's contest, where you can buy WSM clothing or DVDs, for example, this where you can get answers:

http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/

After a period of expansion, is the field of strongman federations set to contract in 2007?

Last year, IFSA joined forced with the United Strongman Series, and at least to an outside observer, the move benefited both parties as the combined organization appears to be stronger than either was on its own. As an example of the new heights achieved by the combined organization, the United Strongman Series certainly helped bolster IFSA's 2006 competition calendar, and IFSA certainly contributed its top-level competitors, equipment and experience in the field. Most recently, the first appearances of the IFSA video emerging from its 2006 World Championships suggests that it has hit a new level of production quality, and IFSA insiders are speaking of the forthcoming television programs with great optimism, and credit for these improvements are flowing back to what had been United Strongman Series resources.

Whether or not joining forces with World Strongman Cup can yield similar benefits is a matter of speculation and whether or not this happens remains to be seen, but from what IronMind hears, this possibility is being discussed by the principals.

World's Strongest Man Super Series Tour Director Jesper Albanson has shared some viewership data with IronMind, and some big numbers emerged.


Always a tough competitor and a favorite with strongman fans, Mariusz Pudzianowski grinds out another rep at the 2006 WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

"Eurosport has aired the WSM Super Series a total of 17 times between October and December 2006," Albanson said, "with an average rating of approximately 700,000 viewers per show. The total airtime adds up to a fantastic 15 hours!"

"Combined with our million ratings per show on Channel 5, this�is truly good news for us, and it sends a message that strongman is becoming more and more popular in the mainstream environment," said Albanson.

Without question, Magnus Ver Magnusson is one of the world's most recognizable strongmen - and while he might still compete for the fun of it, these days he is seriously involved in the sport as a contest organizer, promoter and referee.


About to attack the Stones of Strength at the 1997 European Strongman Classic (Hardenburg, Holland), Magnus Ver must be thinking the right thoughts - he won the event and finished second overall (to Riku Kiri). Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Coming off a string of successfully organized strongman contests last year, Magnus Ver wrapped up 2006 with the IFSA World Championships, a contest he was instrumental in organizing. He also has helped develop and promote his young Icelandic proteges, Bendikt Magnusson and Stefan Solvi Petursson. Refereeing has not been an insignificant portion of the four-time World's Strongest Man winner's activities, and he is just coming off a stint with the whistle in the Ukraine, where he refereed the Arnold Strongman Challenge.

Back home in Reykjavik, Magnus Ver is very pleased with the progress of the television shows coming from the 2006 IFSA qualifiers and world championships, and the introductory video for these contests that is now up on the IFSA website (www.ifsastrongman.com).

Given Magnus Ver's credentials, you have to remember to keep things in perspective when he says that his training is "horrible" at the moment. "I feel fat as a pig," Magnus said, but with very little training, he just knocked off 200 kg for a triple in the close-grip bench press (no shirt, of course).

"The old man can still press," he said.

Can't make it to Europe or Asia this year, but don't want to wait for the 2008 Olympics to see some weightlifting, or maybe you're looking for a place to see how much you really can snatch or clean and jerk?


California's Casey Burgener, a favorite for the 2008 Olympic team, placed 10th at the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships, making him a superior super and the top scorer on the USA men's team. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Thanks to Tom Hirtz, IronWorks gym and the entire Heavy Athletics crew, Oregon has had a thriving weightlifting program in recent years. In 2007, things kick off at Gene and Jon Joseph's IronWorks Gym on February 3; March 24 is the Spring Classic; April 21 is the Pacific Northwest Championships; June 2, University of Oregon/State Championships; September 22, Heavy Athletic Club Meet; October 27, Halloweenie; December 8, IronMind Open. The Spring Classic and the Halloweenie are unsanctioned, which Tom Hirtz says, "are generally for the person who has never lifted in a meet before. If you come . . . in your $300 lifting shoes . . . you don't belong in our unsanctioned meets."

Moving south, heading into California, 1980 Olympian Butch Curry, with a little help from his friends, has a full schedule lined up for the PWA (not another Palestinian group, this is the Pacific Weightlifting Association, one of the oldest and most active LWCs in the country - home of such greats as Tommy Kono . . . this is where a shy, mild-mannered guy named Bruce Wilhelm started lifting and it's the neighborhood where he still hangs his hat).

PWA festivities kick off this weekend, at Lincoln High School in San Francisco, for the PWA Junior Championships; on February 11th, it's back to Lincoln High School for the PWA Championships and in between, the one and only Mike Conroy will be running a Sports Performance Coach course at Lincoln High School in Stockton. Not sure what it is about Lincoln High Schools throughout the great state of California, but for the full calendar of PWA, as well as National and other Western states meets, please check:

http://www.lifttilyadie.com/PWA/07Schedule.htm

The Reverend Pat Rankin's "God, Guys and Guts" drug-tested strongman contest that is being held at Wayne Eilerman's warehouse next month is getting a lot of attention.


Mark Philippi, veteran of seven World's Strongest Man competitions and known as one of the deadliest deadlifters on the strongman circuit, says he'll "pee in a jar anytime." Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

The concept of drug-tested strongman contests has been kicked around for a while, but Pat Rankin is taking it from talking to walking, and he's not alone in his thinking. Saying that he'll "pee in a jar anytime," seven-time World's Strongest Man competitor Mark Philippi said that right now, "it's like going to a gun fight with a butter knife. Karl (Gillingham), Phil (Pfister) and me all feel the same way," wishing that all strongman contests were drug tested. Gillingham, like Philippi, has produced some big strongman performances, and Pfister is the reigning World's Strongest Man winner, so their support of drug-tested strongman contests represents a significant voice in the strongman world.

For details on the God, Guys and Glory contest, please check the official website: http://www.usaplnationals.com/godGuysGuts/index.html .

"Ivan Chakarov, of course, is the star of our �No-no-no' squat photo and has been a favorite of ours from the time he strolled into the post-competition press conference at the '90 Worlds in Budapest looking like a Bulgarian James Dean," wrote Randall Strossen in the January 1994 (Volume 1 - Number 4) issue of MILO.


No belt, wraps or spotters - Ivan Chakarov triples 270 kg in the training hall at the 1993 World Weightlifting Championships (Melbourne, Australia). Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Chakarov made a MILO cover when he won the 1993 World Weightlifting Championships, but his most widespread and enduring impact on the strength world no doubt arose from his "No-no-no" squats in the training hall: It was a couple of days before he would compete and at the end of his workout, the 91-kg weightlifter did a triple in the back squat with 270 kg - of course, it was high bar, close stance and rock bottom, but because it was also done without a belt, wraps or spotters, we dubbed the style a "no-no-no" squat.

When he later watched the performance on video, powerlifting scribe Marty Gallagher was awestruck and would say that Chakarov, instead of looking like some mega-muscle puppy, looked like a guy who wandered into the weight room after playing pickup basketball, and powerlifting coach Louie Simmons would say that just by looking at Chakarov, he could tell that Chakarov didn't know how to squat right - because his quads were too big.

Whatever one's interpretation, the lifting world would never again be the same and when you knocked off big squats in "no-no-no" style, the reaction from the strength world was a resounding yes-yes-yes.

For more on Ivan Chakarov, check MILO and as 2007 opens, let thoughts of this performances fuel some big PRs in your own training.