If you see a line at the GNC booth at the Arnold, one of the reasons is the GNC-Gillingham Grip Gauntlet: This highly-regarded challenge features a No. 3 Captains of Crush® gripper, a 50-pound York Blob and an IronMind® Rolling Thunder® loaded to 212-1/2 pounds (total weight), and anyone who makes it the full distance earns some major bragging rights in the world of hand strength.


Wade Gillingham, a grandmaster of the Blob, takes it for a ride at the 2004 Arnold Expo. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

And since it's also a lot of fun, the GNC-Gillingham Grip Gauntlet draws people like a magnet.

Designed to tap the primary facets of grip strength (crushing, pinching and supporting), the GNC-Gillingham Grip Gauntlet uses the classic measures of excellence for each of these aspects of hand strength.

Even with all the takers last year, only one guy succeeded in running the whole gauntlet, Monte Brown - a former NFL linebacker who's now a professional wrestler. Oh, yes, Wade Gillingham casually walked through all three events a number of times over the long weekend.

If that's not enough of a draw, Dave Sandler, from Strength Pro, will have a computerized grip testing device available periodically, and Wade's big brother - two-time IPF world champion Brad Gillingham - will be on hand to help run the event.

For full information on the Arnold Fitness Weekend, please check the Arnold Fitness Weekend's official web site.

See you at the GNC booth.