Building on their impressive debut at the Arnold in 2008, USA Powerlifting (USAPL) is once again bringing some of the world's top powerlifters to Columbus, Ohio for a variety of powerlifting events, so if you want to see leading performances in the squat, bench and deadlift, plan to attend the Arnold Sports Festival.


USA Powerlifting president Lawrence J. Maile, Ph.D. is quick to sing the praises of the Arnold Sports Festival, where the USAPL will be presenting four top-tier powerlifting events. IronMind® | Christy Newman photo.
 

"USA Powerlifting is proud to be a part of the Arnold Sports Festival," USAPL president Lawrence J. Maile, Ph.D. told IronMind®. And in keeping with the Arnold's theme of offering a broad menu, Dr. Maile said that USA Powerlifting, "will be hosting four competitions during the Arnold weekend: The Concret Raw Challenge, the Quest (Nutrition) Invitation, the GNC Pro-Performance International Deadlift Competition, and the Titan Support Systems Pro Bench Bash."

For full details on these events, please visit the official Arnold Sports Festival powerlifting web page.

USA Powerlifting, "the leading powerlifting organization in the United States," is known for its high standards and strict drug testing, and it is a member of the International Powerlifting Federation, the sport's international governing body. For more information on USA Powerlifting, please see the USAPL website.

This morning, the 2009 FORTISSIMUS website went online "in English and French, with a Louis Cyr summary in Polish and Swedish as a bonus," according to a statement IronMind® received from FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH.


FORTISSIMUS 2009 - the website is live. Need we say more? IronMind® | Artwork courtesy of Fortissimus World Strength/Julie Payeur.


"For its opening, it features both Zydrunas Savickas and Mariusz Pudzianowski, the first having been selected as the 2008 Fortissimus Strongman of the Year, while Mariusz Pudzianowski got a unanimous vote for the 2008 Fortissimus Strongman Achievement of the Year," continued the official statement. "The Fortissimus website will not only serve the immediate purposes of the 2009 Fortissimus Strongest Man on Earth competition. It is also meant to promote in many ways the sport of strongman,'" said Isabelle Normand, webmaster of the site and Fortissimus Media Relations Coordinator.

To others, it was merely one end from a broken York 100-pound dumbbell, but grip guy Richard Sorin recognized the challenge it posed - he named it "The Blob" and anyone who could pinch grip one and lift it earned some major bragging rights in the world of grip strength.

Richard Sorin and the Blob were first presented to the larger strength world in the early 1990s as IronMind® worked to bring more attention and respect to feats of grip strength. Since then, the grip world has grown substantially and not just in size - the quality of today's top performances keeps extending the boundaries, and the Blob is no exception.

Sure, merely deadlifting a Blob with a pinch grip remains a meritorious feat of grip strength that few can perform, but the top dogs are giving Blobs serious air time and they are moving these defiant chunks of iron in ways that were unthinkable even ten years ago.

Blob master Wade Gillingham, using actual Blobs, routinely carried a pair about 90', as part of a standard grip workout, and recently (February 19, 2009), Rex Hubbard, using a pair of blob-like implements, trotted for a very impressive 91' 11".

IronMind's understanding was that Wade's mark had never really been put forth as a world record, but was merely a training lift that happened to also be better than what anyone else could do. But wait, who's that on a cold Minnesota night shuffling along with a Blob (real ones) in each hand?

Once again, he makes no claim that it is any sort of official record, but Wade Gillingham told IronMind® today that he took his Blobs for a 107' 2" walk last night.

With that said, IronMind® will leave it to others to debate thin Blobs, fat Blobs and fake Blobs, but based on the latest reports, one thing is crystal clear: Blobs were made for walking.

After the Arnold Sports Festival, where they are starring in the IronMind® Invitational, the German men's Olympic weightlifting team is headed to Chicago for a few days, before returning home.


One of the weightlifting highlights from the 1996 Olympics was the Pyrros Dimas - Marc Huster matchup, and when Huster broke the world record in the clean and jerk, he showed us that besides lifting huge weights, he could fly. Marc Huster is a member of the German Weightlifting Federation delegation that is first coming to the Arnold Sports Festival for the IronMind® Invitational and then is visiting Chicago. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


Chicago has a lot going for it and the Olympic sport of weightlifting is part of the picture. Whether you look back at the city's deep roots in the sport or peer into its future - which includes its status as a 2016 Olympic Candidate City - Chicago offers the perfect setting for welcoming the German men's Olympic weightlifting team.

Mike Gattone was tapped to be the liaison for this visit by the German Weightlifting Federation's elite delegation - a group that includes gold medalist Matthias Steiner; Germany's top weightlifting coach, Frank Mantek; and a former world champion and a world record-holder in the sport, Marc Huster.

Currently working as the high performance and coaching education director for USA Weightlifting, Gattone has a standout background that includes serving as weightlifting competition director at the 1996 Olympic Games and later working as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago Bulls.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Mike Gattone's track record and commitment to weightlifting on the ground and ready to run in Chicago," said Randall Strossen, who made the introduction, asking Gattone if he could spearhead the visit by the German weightlifting delegation. Gattone agreed and he is arranging training sessions and a dinner honoring the guests, as well as a series of meetings and appearances around Chicago.

"Later this year, Mike Gattone is helping to organize the 2009 Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Chicago, and he is also working to start a grassroots weightlifting program in the city in conjunction with World Sport Chicago," said Strossen, who has known Gattone since the years leading up to the Atlanta Olympics.

"Following their appearance in the IronMind® Invitational at the Arnold Sports Festival (in Columbus, Ohio), the German weightlifting delegation expressed an interest in visiting Chicago," Strossen said. "Talk about a perfect opportunity for everyone - Chicago will embrace the German team and our distinguished guests will see why people from around the world love this city."

Duly recognizing Mariusz Pudzianowski's record-breaking fifth win at the World's Strongest Man contest last year, the Fortissimus board of directors voted unanimously today to give Mariusz Pudzianowski the 2008 Strongman of the Year award.


Mariusz Pudzianowski made strongman history by winning the World's Strongest Man contest five times. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Pudzian Team/Wojtek Witkowski.


Here is the official statement, issued by Marcel Catellier, Chairman of the Board, and released to IronMind®:

Considering that WSM [The World's Strongest Man contest] is recognized by the world's strongman community as the one competition that has set the standards of the sport of Strongman since 1977;

Considering that only four strength athletes have won the WSM title three times or more ( Bill Kazmaier of the USA, Jon Pall Sigmarsson of Iceland, Magnus Ver Magnusson of Iceland and Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland) between 1977 and 2008;

Considering that in 2008, Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland, in the course of his 9th year of professional Strongman competition, has won the WSM title for a fifth time (5th), thus becoming the first strength athlete in the history of the sport of Strongman to reach that milestone;

Considering that such an accomplishment is unprecedented, as Mariusz Pudzianowski has defeated 28 different world-class strength athletes from 14 different countries and in 18 different events, this at the 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 World's Strongest Man annual competition;

The FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH's Board of Directors, at its meeting of February 25, 2009, has appraised the recommendation of the Awards Committee with regards to the 2008 STRONGMAN ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR and voted to the effect that:

The 2008 STRONGMAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OF THE YEAR is awarded to MARIUSZ PUDZIANOWSKI of Poland, as the winner of a 5th World's Strongest Man title."

"The GNC Grip Gauntlet will be returning to Columbus, Ohio and the Arnold Sports Festival in a big way," grip star Wade Gillingham told IronMind® today.


Wade Gillingham - master of the GNC Grip Gauntlet - will be giving you a chance to join the ranks of the grip world elite at the Arnold Sports Festival. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


And in response to what seems to be a renewed interest by the grip community to try their hands at the prestigious GNC Grip Gauntlet, Wade Gillingham announced that the heavy version of the GNC Grip Gauntlet will be run this year - so if you've got what it takes, here's your chance to prove it.

"There are a number of monsters in the grip world coming [to the Arnold Sports Festival] this year and to serve them up something south of 200 pounds on the Rolling Thunder® and anything other than a No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper just seems wrong to me," Gillingham said.

It has been four years since the original weights of the three-event test of hand strength were contested, Gillingham confirmed for IronMind®, and in the three previous occasions that the heavy weights were used, only Wade Gillingham and Monte "Alpha Male" Brown were able to succeed at all three events. However, as a sign of just how far grip strength has progressed, partly due to the overwhelming success of the GNC Grip Gauntlet and the introduction of grip strength to thousands of people, last year, off to the side of the GNC stage, Tex Henderson quietly became the third man to ever complete the heavy version, and just last month professional strongman John Connor became the fourth.

"Grip strength is evolving," said Gillingham. "More people are trying it and like any sport, the bigger the sampling set of athletes, the more the sport will evolve in training and technique, with the results being bigger lifts. I can see a day in the not too distant future that a heavier blob will be needed, a No. 3.5 Captains of Crush® Gripper, and at least five plates on the Rolling Thunder®."

So if you think you've got a serious amount of grip strength or just want to have some fun seeing what you can do, stop by the GNC booth, say hi to the Gillingham brothers and give the GNC Grip Gauntlet a run for its money.

The February-March issue of Business Week's SmallBiz magazine is just hitting newsstands and one of the articles features IronMind®.


IronMind® and Captains of Crush® Grippers caught the eye of Business Week.  IronMind®


Focusing on Captains of Crush® Grippers and noting IronMind®'s marketing acumen, the article presents the small California business and one of its signature products to an audience that might never have known how addictive strength training - especially on Captains of Crush® Grippers - can be.

IronMind® founder and president Randall Strossen said, "I was quite surprised and immensely flattered when Business Week writer Louise Lee called - this was big news at IronMind®. Thank you, Business Week!"

If you just can't wait to get your hands on a hard copy of the magazine, you can read the article online:

"IronMind Captains of Crush: A Lesson in Clever Marketing."

"Great event! Great performances by all," ASC president Dione Wessels told IronMind®, describing the ASC Live event in Tulsa.

Wessels said that contest highlights included "Carl Foemmel on the farmer's medley in 25 seconds and the newest 105-kg pro Aaron Mullett winning the truck and tire flip medley in 46 seconds. Tamas Malatinszki came in from Hungary and had a great performance. Definitely one of the strongest Hungarians! Warrick Brant came in from Australia. He looked strong on the overhead, but was dealing with a bit of jet lag. Van Hatfield looked great coming back from injuries."

Here are the overall places:

1. Van Hatfield
2. Tamas Malatinszki
3. Brad Dunn
4. Matt Wanat
5. Dave Hanson
6. Aaron Mullett
7. Carl Foemmel
8. John Conner
9. Warrick Brant
10. Brad Johnson
11. Eric Todd

Last night, Sacramento High graduate Donovan Ford rewrote the Pacific Weightlifting Association (PWA) record book at the PWA Championships, held at his alma mater.


Sacramento High graduate Donovan Ford broke all the 105-kg category Junior Men's PWA records last night. Here, Ford flies under the bar on his 175-kg clean and jerk. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


Ford ended the evening with a 134-kg snatch, 175-kg clean and jerk, and a 309-kg total, all of which were new PWA Men's Junior records. The former records had been set by Donovan Ford in January, so this young weightlifter is on a roll.

For complete results, please check the PWA website.

Even if their Olympic teammate - gold medalist Matthias Steiner - is coming off hernia surgery, Juergen Spiess and Almir Velagic are more than ready to defy gravity at the Arnold Sports Festival, where they are headliners for the IronMind® Invitational on the main stage of the Expo Hall at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.


94-kg weightlifter Juergen Spiess (Germany) opened with this successful 170-kg snatch at the 2008 Olympics. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.
 

Both Juergen Spiess and Almir Velagic are coming to Columbus, Ohio in excellent shape for the Arnold Sports Festival, and head German coach Frank Mantek told IronMind that this will be their last serious test before the European Weightlifting Championships.

If you have never seen top international weightlifters, once again the IronMind® Invitational gives you a way to do it even if you don't have a passport. Plan now to attend the Arnold Sports Festival . . . weightlifting, powerlifting, arm wrestling, strongman and much, much more.

Stay tuned for more details on the IronMind Invitational, including additional times and places where you will be able to see and meet Matthias Steiner and the rest of the 2008 German men's Olympic weightlifting team.

The PWA is one of the powerhouses in American weightlifting history - producing Tommy Kono, Ken Patera, Bruce Wilhelm, Mario Martinez and Jim Schmitz, among others - and tomorrow, Sacramento High School will host the 2009 PWA Championships, so don't expect this to be an ordinary local weightlifting contest.

"We are are running a two-platform meet, so that should help, but we are expecting upwards of 150 athletes," Paul Doherty told IronMind® as he explained the challenges of staying on schedule.

Among the competitors who will be getting a lot of attention is Sacramento High student Donovan Ford, who is expected to be challenging his PR clean and jerk as he continues his move up the ladder. Donovan Ford "is currently third on the list for the Junior World team with much bigger lifts to come," Doherty said.

Lifting begins at 9:00 a.m. and you can go to the PWA Championships website for all the details.

"The Athletes were in the studio (104.5 'The Edge') with Mike and Greg, giving their feedback and predictions for how special guest 'The Lunch Box' will perform on Sunday," ASC president Dione Wessels told IronMind® today.


Mike Johnston ASC VP), Matt Wanat, ASC Pro, and Brad Johnson (105-kg ASC Pro) in the studio, promoting ASC live in Tulsa this weekend. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Dione Wessels.
 

"If you are in the Tulsa area this weekend, this is a show you will not want to miss," Wessels said. "Come out and support your local athletes and cheer on the 'Lunch Box' from 104.5 'The Edge' as he attempts to compete against some of America's top athletes."

"The competition starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 22 at the Spirit Bank Center Arena. American Strongman athletes will be at the Tulsa 66'ers basketball game in partnership with the Spirit Bank Center on Saturday, doing demonstrations and promoting the live event. There will be a live remote with 104.5 'The Edge' on Sunday at the arena from noon until 2 p.m. Fans will be able to meet and greet the athletes, and get free merchandise from some of our sponsors," Wessels said.

"This is the second live event leading up to America's Strongest Man® and the competing athletes receive a portion of all ticket sales," Wessels added.

For more information, please visit the American Strongman website or call 918-369-9360.

Besides being a front runner from days when American strongman started to grow in the late 1990s, Karl Gillingham is the Sultan of the Strongman Stats, so when Karl told IronMind® that Brian Schoonveld had competed in about 25 strongman contests in 2001, we knew it was smart to listen.


Brian Schoonveld on his way to breaking the world record in the Apollon's Axle at the 2005 Fit Expo strongman contest. The next day, Schoonie won the whole contest. too. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


A quick call to Brian Schoonveld confirmed that Karl Gillingham was on the money once again and a crew is working right now to document the count, but by every indication there appears to be no question that Schoonie's run in 2001 exceeded the number presented for Zydrunas Savickas as being a record. Interestingly, though, Schoonie is quick to nod toward Mariusz Pudzianowski as being the leader on this score - Schoonie's point is well taken, because the Polish strongman superstar - the only man ever to win the World's Strongest Man contest five times - is also the Duracell Bunny of strongman . . . he runs laps around his competition.

Brian Schoonveld also expressed concern about what he sees as a lack of knowledge about strongman history and some disrespectful comments about Mariusz Pudzianowski, saying "Get your facts right . . . Strongman didn't start last year."

Explaining to IronMind® that their work involves "making a sport of a sport," Paul Ohl, president of Fortissimus, announced the organization's Strongman of the Year award - with Zydrunas Savickas getting the top honors for 2008.


Zydrunas Savickas, a name synonymous with victory at the Arnold strongman contest and the log lift world record, has just won the Fortissimus Strongman of the year award. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Marcel Mostert.

"This award recognizes the strength athlete with the most outstanding accomplishments during the entire year," according to Ohl's statement.

"A selection committee has reviewed performances of world-class strength athletes on the basis of four criteria:

Level of competitions
Track record during the entire year
Value of each accomplishment
Record-breaking performances

"Three strength athletes were selected: Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland (historical fifth World's Strongest Man); Derek Poundstone of the USA (first strongman ever to reach all three podiums during the same year (Arnold Strongman Classic, Fortissimus and World's Strongest Man); Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania (first strongman ever to win six consecutive Arnold's, first strongman ever to establish five strength world records during the same year, first strongman ever to enter 125 professional strongman contests (August 23, 2008, in Marijampol, Lithuania), first strongman ever to enter 20 contests in a single year, with 16 wins and 4 runner-up places)."

"The recommendation was unanimous," Paul Ohl's statement concluded: "Zydrunas Savickas is named 2008 Strongman of the Year."

Fortissimus president Paul Ohl has released a statement explaining that the list of the events for this year's Fortissimus strongman contest will be released shortly after the Arnold.

"The entire set-up of the competition is ready and sealed. The events have been thoroughly reviewed in the light of last year's experience, taking into account the feedback from the athletes and the comments of experts in the field.

"FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH reminds the world strength community that what is at issue in 2009, is the title of the World Strongest Man on Earth. Consequently, the standards have been raised to unprecedented levels.

"Since a number of strength athletes on the starting list of 2009 FORTISSIMUS (at least seven ) will be competing at the 2009 ARNOLD STRONGMAN CLASSIC, we have chosen to delay the release of this year's official list of events to after the Arnold's competition. That will allow the competitors, the promoters and the fans to remain totally focused on the 2009 Arnold's and thus enjoy the full attention they rightfully deserve.

"FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH will therefore release its 2009 official list of events on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 12:00 hrs ( Quèbec Time), considering that all European participants at the Arnold will be back in their home countries."

Other than being a little dizzy, Svend Karlsen is out of surgery (again) and is doing fine, Lene Karlsen told IronMind®.

Lene Karlsen just got off the phone with Svend, she told IronMind®. "Other than being a little dizzy, I feel great," Svend told Lene.

After coming through his initial surgery with flying colors and asking IronMind® to thank everyone worldwide for all their support, Svend Karlsen has just gone into a follow-up operation.

At the moment, IronMind® has no further details, but Lene Karlsen said she received the call from the hospital about ten minutes ago and was told that the procedure would take two or two-and-a-half hours. We will provide an update as soon as we receive additional information.

Running and weightlifting, as in how to combine running and Olympic-style weightlifting, is subject of Jim Schmitz's latest training article.


Among his credentials, Jim Schmitz is a three-time coach of the USA Olympic weightlifting team, so when he talks about weightlifting, it's time to listen. Logo courtesy of IronMind® Enterprises, Inc.


No armchair expert on the subject, Jim Schmitz says that when he was 35 years old, he once "ran 5 miles in 38 minutes (a 7:36 mile) around 9 a.m., had a big breakfast, and around 2 p.m. snatched 102.5 kg and clean and jerked 125 kg at a bodyweight of 82.5 kg." This sounds pretty impressive to us, and we think a lot of people could benefit from having this level of endurance, power and stamina, simultaneously.

Whether you are a weightlifter who is thinking about running, or a runner who is thinking about weightlifting, don't lace up your shoes until you read the latest "Schmitz on the Lifts." Go to the Training Articles button at the top of the IronMind® home page and select "Schmitz on the Lifts."

If you talked to Svend "Viking" Karlsen today, you would think the World's Strongest Man winner was set to go on holiday tomorrow or maybe it would just be another day in the office - in fact, tomorrow morning Karlsen undergoes kidney transplant surgery.


Svend Karlsen gets a new kidney tomorrow - maybe play your favorite Elvis song today, to show your support for the Viking. IronMind® | Image courtesy of Svend Karlsen/Viking Power Productions.


Saying that it's a four-hour procedure, Karlsen sounded remarkably upbeat: "I am looking forward to it," he told IronMind®, explaining that the burden of living on dialysis is great.

"The chances of this failing are only 1 in 3,000," said Karlsen. "So the odds are on my side." Following surgery, Karlsen said he should be up, at least a little, in a day; and following one week in the hospital, he moves to nearby hotel where he will be monitored for a couple more weeks. In six to eight weeks, he should be able to resume training, Karlsen told IronMind®.

Explaining that dialysis takes six hours, three times a week, and is anything but pleasant, Karlsen said that, "It should be added to the UN list of tortures."

He's supposed to be backing off - or is that slacking off? - since he turned 40, but don't tell that to IFP world champion Brad Gillingham, who has his sights set on pulling a 400-kg deadlift at the Arnold as part of the show USAPL is bringing to Columbus, Ohio next month.


Brad Gillingham gets psyched at the 2007 IPF World Championships, where he pulled a 390-kg deadlift. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


Considering that Brad Gillingham was 41 when he won the gold medal in the deadlift at the IFP 2007 World Championships, even some of his fans must have been thinking, "Great way to cap off a great career," but wait, guess who hit a 395-kg deadlift at the 2008 IPF World Masters' Championships? Let's keep things simple: the next point in this pattern is a 400-kg deadlift in 2009 and that is exactly what Gilly is going for at the Arnold, a goal he announced last year, and one that he has been working hard to reach.

"My training has been going good . . . really good," Brad Gillingham told IronMind®, explaining that he has been gradually been pushing up his 5 x 5s lately: hitting 650 x 5 with just a belt in the squat and 755 x 5 in the deadlift, which Brad said is about as much as he's ever done.

So things look solid on paper for the big man from Minnesota, and with the added incentive of prize money and the way he said "the crowd get you pumped up," expect something big: Mark your calendars for Brad Gillingham and the USAPL at the Arnold.

400 kg!

Especially because he was speaking from Reykjavik, it's hard to argue with four-time World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Ver Magnusson when he told IronMind® that he's "just chilling."


For US$3,000 you can buy one of these Jon Pall Sigmarsson statues. IronMind® | Image courtesy of Magnus Ver Magnusson.


Saying that he's weighing about 128 kg and only training two times a week, Magnus Ver explained that the reason he's "hardly training" is because he's "lost the hunger . . . There is nothing to push me into the gym."

"But you're probably still pretty strong," we asked.

"Yeah," Magnus Ver allowed, and when pressed for a couple of details, he said, "I can still bench press 200 kg raw, with basically no training." And if that doesn't make you feel bad enough, consider that Magnus Ver said that even if he doesn't touch them for two months, he can always deadlift 300 kg.

He mentioned possibly opening a hardcore gym and a couple of other projects, and if you're a collector looking for something special, Magnus Ver still has a couple of the limited edition Jon Pall Sigmarsson trophies for sale - they're not the same color, but otherwise, they are identical to what Zydrunas Savickas and Vasyl Virastyuk won for their IFSA World Championship victories, so buy one, get a can of Krylon paint and . . .

"The 2009 ASC 'Live' events are a map across US cities," ASC president Dione Wessels told IronMind®, as she described the "ASC Live" concept.


ASC is expanding in 2009, offering more contests for professional strongmen. IronMind® | Artwork courtesy of Dione Wessels.


"American Strongman contests are spreading from coast to coast, giving athletes more opportunities to compete than in any previous year," Wessels said. "The addition of large festivals and several arena shows booked by Rich Baker, LLC will also provide fans with more opportunities to see American Strongman 'Live' than ever before."

Wessels has been instrumental in building NAS (North American Strongman) into the dominant North American federation for amateur strongman and she might be poised to make a similar move for professional strongman via ASC.

"The ASC contest calendar will be deep with many impressive venues in the country," said Wessels.

For more details on ASC, please visit the official ASC website.

Referring to the upcoming ASC contest in Tulsa, ASC president Dione Wessels told IronMind®, "This is part three of the American Strongman 'Live' events (with a total of 10 events) in which 6 of the events will lead up to the America's Strongest Man® contest."


American Strongman "Live" is coming to Tulsa. IronMind® | Artwork courtesy of Dione Wessels.
 

"The American Strongman 'Live' 2009 Tour kicked off a busy three-week media blitz in Tulsa, Oklahoma in preparation for the February 22 Spirit Bank Event Center contest," according to a prepared statement. "Radio advertisements started running this week on Z104.5 the Edge — KMYZ and ASC Pro Brad Johnson (winner of Discovery channel's 'Last One Standing') will make a studio radio appearance on Wednesday, February 11 at 8:15 a.m. with Greg and Chuck in the morning. ASC vice president Mike Johnston will visit with Greg and Chuck along with Brad and Matt Wanat on Thursday, February 19 at 8:15 a.m . On-air personality 'Lunch Box' will also be in the studio to discuss his participation as a guest athlete in the upcoming ASC 'Live' event.

"Mike will also host a halftime show with several ASC Pros at the Spirit Bank Event Center during halftime at the Tulsa 66ers game on Saturday, February 21. 'Lunch Box' will do a live radio remote from the Spirit Bank Event Center on the day of the show.

"We are very excited about the advanced promotions," ASC President Dione Wessels said. "The ASC athletes receive a portion of the ticket sales, so as our fan base grows so do the potential earnings.

"The contest kickoff time will be at 2 p.m. on the 22nd of February. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information, please visit the American Strongman website or call 918-369-9360. To purchase tickets in advance, please visit one of our ticket locations Indigo Joe's 10438 South 86th East Ave. Suite 102, Tulsa, OK; 918-369-5637."

Sakari Selkäinaho is organizing and promoting the 2009 European Rolling Thunder® Championships on April 18 in Helsinki, Finland, at the Fitness Classic, with Mark Felix planning to take a world record attempt.


Mark Felix on his way to the 2008 IronMind® Rolling Thunder® World Championships, held as a kickoff event for the Super Series Mohegan Sun Grand Prix strongman contest. Felix pulled this huge 301 pounds, claiming the title, breaking the 300-pound barrier and setting a new world record in one lift. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


And if that's not enough, it is also expected that there will be at least one attempt to certify on the No. 3.5 Captains of Crush® Gripper.

"We have a Fitness Classic at April 18 in Helsinki," Sakari Selkäinaho told IronMind®. "The venue is called Kulttuuritalo, and it is five minutes from downtown Helsinki by foot. It's the biggest event in the spring, with four competitions and a miniature EXPO. It pulls 4,000 people in one day." And since the main sponsor of this event is MET-Rx, guess who's bringing in Rolling Thunder® world champion and world record-holder Mark Felix?

"This is real great grip strength event, and many thanks to K.P. Ourama for this opportunity. The 2009 European Rolling Thunder Championships will combine all strength athletes from weightlifting to strongman. I also look forward to seeing Mark Felix here and expect strong support from our gripsters," Sakari Selkäinaho said.

Sakari Selkäinaho is putting up a 300 euro first place prize and IronMind® is putting up a US$100 IronMind® gift certificate to the first Finn to break the 100-kg barrier on the Rolling Thunder®. Certifications on Captains of Crush® Grippers will also be possible at this event, and from what IronMind® hears, don't be surprised to see a successful attempt on the No. 3.5 Captains of Crush® Gripper.

The entry deadline is March 31, with entries going to:

sakke@voimaharjoittelu.fi.

For the rules on getting certified on Captains of Crush® Grippers, please check here:

Captains of Crush® Grippers: Rules for Closing and Certification

Train hard, compete and have fun!

Saying that it will be "serve all requests regarding Viking Power Production activities," Lene Alexandra Karlsen announced a hotline, adding "we will be reachable between 0900 - 2000 (9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Oslo time."

The telephone number is + 47 91 72 32 81 and if you are short of burning questions, maybe this will trigger some: Viking Power Productions has announced that Hugo Girard, Jarek Dymek, and Travis Ortmayer have confirmed that they will be in the Viking Power Challenge. Also, Karlsen added, Mikhail Koklaev will be competing, contingent upon obtaining a visa.