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Rolling Thunder® Revolving Deadlift Handle The Challenge
We’re still waiting for the first person to pull 300 pounds-and will give a $300 IronMind gift certificate to the first person who does it in an official contest according to our Rolling Thunder Contest rules (this page). One-hand deadlifts have long been a preferred means of testing and building one's grip, and to put an edge on the challenge, a thick-handled bar was employed-this was the proving ground of many a grip legend. IronMind developed the Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in 1993 and since then, it's become known by strong men worldwide. The Gillinghams institutionalized Rolling Thunder contests at their family holiday feasts, and Rolling Thunder competitions are often held in conjunction with major strongman events-and the Rolling Thunder is one of the Big Three grip tests of the GNC Grip Gauntlet. If you can't pull at least 250 or so on the Rolling Thunder and think you've got a world-class grip, you must be swimming in the wrong pool. 
It was huge: Mark Felix won the 2008 IronMind® Rolling Thunder® World Championships at the Mohegan Sun and set a new world record with this lift of 301 pounds. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo. Top Lifts on the Rolling Thunder:
Mark Felix Current World Record
(1/18/08) — 301 lb. Odd Haugen 2003 U.S. Nationals — 236 lb.Johnny Perry 2002 Steel Fingers Challenge — 232 lb.Jan Bartl 2001 World Championships — 258.8 lb.Jan Bartl 2000 World Championships — 265.4 lb.Elizabeth Horne Current World Record
(4/7/07) — 65.5 kg Julie Havelka 2003 NE Rolling Thunder
Championships — 140 lb. Dione Wessels 2003 U.S. Nationals
(amateur women) — 101 lb. If you're interested in training for or holding a Rolling Thunder® contest,
here are the rules:
Rolling Thunder® Contest Rules 1. An authentic IronMind® Rolling Thunder® handle must be used, it cannot have been modified in any way, and it must be inspected to ensure that it revolves freely. The lift starts with the weight in between the lifter’s feet. In the world championships (and the U.S. nationals), the 15"; loading pin and large carabiner that IronMind sells are used (this standardizes the lifting height). Any other loading pin and carabiner with the same dimensions could be used. 2. The lifter grabs the Rolling Thunder handle in approximately its center and lifts with the handle remaining approximately parallel to the ground. A thumbless grip is not permitted. 3. Any contact between the lifter's hand and the non-revolving portion of the handle disqualifies the lift. 4. The lifter must fully straighten up; once standing straight, the lifter gets a down signal from the referee, and must then return the weight to the ground. Contact must be maintained between the lifter's hand and the handle until the weight is resting on the floor. The referee then indicates whether the lift was passed or not. 5. In contest situations, we give the lifter one minute to complete the lift after his/her name is called; during that minute, there is no limit to how many times the lifter may try to complete the lift. 6. Ordinary chalk may be used on the lifter's hand, but nothing else is permitted (tacky, for example, is specifically disallowed). You'll find our Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle in our on-line store. Visit IronMind's Grip-Tech hub. |
