2010 October - Southern California Grip Meltdown - Hubgeezer

[Hubgeezer]

Okay, unofficial commentary and description of things...sometimes I was only paying attention to my own performances, sometimes I was zeroed in on the others as well.

Grippers. I think I already mentioned that Robert and I PRd and were happy, and Kevin Bussi made quite a splash considering how little he has trained over the last few years. Odd Haugen did not know what he was doing with grippers (I know that sounds harsh, but I really don't think he has ever trained on them) and was getting some coaching how to position his hand. He did not use all of his attempts, as the squeezing really hard bothered his head from the pressure/tension. He was not recovered from his injection he had two days earlier. I think just learning how to close them, with no training, his gripper power right now would be in the 130s on the RGC. He would be the first to admit his crushing grip is not strong.

Two Hand Pinch. Did not mention that Robert has a device he got from Aaron, and it had been "rapidly seasoned" after he got it. Sure looked like a David Horne device, but what, does Aaron make them as well? We all used the same width, which was measured at 60mm. Every person has a different "sweet spot", so I have no idea if that was the ideal width for anyone. I have done so poorly with Pinch in the past, and had done zero pinch training over the last year, so I was being very conservative. Turns out I was overly conservative, had more in the tank. Pulled 170, I am sure I would have gotten 180. Oh well. Kevin missed at 210. Odd had 200 at 80%. I felt bad, as I told him in advance that he should not go from 180 to 200, that he would not get it. His lifts were 160/180/200miss/200miss.

Axle. Bad day for Robert. Good day for Bussi, in that he never was a big Axle puller, but got a PR with 333. I got 323 barely, and pulled 333 one-fourth up.I was bummed in that the only event I really wanted a PR for was the Axle, and I didn't get it. Haugen had an easy 473, then loaded it to 503.65, got it two inches above the knees. Next attempt was just below the knees. No question he has more in the tank when not coming off a medical procedure.

IronMind Hub lift. This is a Southern California special. Seven years ago I read on the IronMind News that there was going to be a contest in LA that featured the IronMind Hub. That was the only reason I made the trip. I remember meeting a clan of young people who seemed like very close friends, and asked one guy, "did you guys grow up together?" No. "Where did you meet?" On the Internet. That would be the Gripboard. Anyway, there have been, by my count, 9 competitions in Southern California where the Hub has been an event. I have been at 7 of them. As a result, there is a disproportionate amount of talent on the IronMind Hub in Southern California. We banned "vbar" style of hub lifting, and said only "the claw" was permitted. I think I saw a new technique used by Odd and Kevin. I am not sure if I want to call it "the tent" or "the paw". The hand completely envelopes the top of the device, but the fingers do not go upside down like the "vbar" method, and they do not illegally go over the lip of the device. In 2006, Bussi, Adam "Thor", and Haugen all used the "vbar" method. Adam pulled 83 and Odd pulled 73 that day. I pulled 73 that day using the claw, which I believe was the highest "IronMind" hub done in a contest to date. We used "my" hub this time, which is a little more difficult than the one Kevin Meskew used to have in contests. It is an "old" hub. The new ones, despite Dr. RS's insistance, are more difficult because they are powder coated now. He says they were always powder coated, but IMHO they are different.

My lifts were 50 left, 57.5 fail left, switch right and easy 57.5, easy 62.5 right, and 67.5 2/3s of the way up fail. Not a great day for me. Kevin had 60, and ROBERT had 60. Afterwards, he pulled 65, which is very good! Haugen went 55/60/65/75. I said he had a lousy crushing grip. He has strong fingers. He successfully pulled 80 on the 5th attempt, and failed at 85. Pulling 80 on the IM Hub in a contest has never been done. That was not a contest, but I think with witnesses and all, that is the best documented 80 pull that I am aware of. Jump in if you know something better.

One Inch Vertical Bar, FBBC. Odd was whining all day that we should have the two inch. He obviously remembered the One Inch from 2006 where he lost a chunk of skin. Having this event

"last" produced lower numbers for everyone. Kevin had recently done 320 plus in training, and I had actually been training on this event for 3 or 4 months. Bad day for one inch for Robert. So-so day for Kevin and I, we both got 301. I missed 311 barely, and Kevin was going to go for 306, but I guess he didn't want a cheap win so he tried 311 and didn't get it. Haugen got 266 but missed on 286. His skin was feeling it after the first attempt.

We placated the Two Inch Vertical Bar advocates by saying we would do it as an Exhibition Event, and then submit it to FBBC for the "certifications". All those witnesses, I am sure it will be okay. Robert is already on "the list", and he did not exceed a previous pull. I am embarassed that my 203 will go on the list, as the first time I ever touched it a few years ago I did 225, and have done 245 before. I was tired, I guess...Kevin got 228, but missed at 253. Odd got 277, missed at 287. For the end of day, a good first time effort.

For a contest that was so thinly attended, it was amazingly fun, good times, nice conversation and stories. Scorekeeper Jackie Lee, for the second year in a row, handed each contestant a computer printout of the results, as he not only brought his laptop, but he brought a printer as well. Gripzilla/Fernando was the judge, and he was semi-participating in things. He is like a "professional partial" specialist. I'd like to see what he can do in a full fledged contest, as his numbers look to be pretty good. I would expect him to be Certified within the next 6 months.

Hot Tip for Fit Expo Grip Contest... Odd liked hearing about Jedd's wrist roller pulling on the sled from the Nationals so much, he is going to try to add it as an event at the Fit Expo! You heard it here first!

Yeah, the return of Kevin Bussi, that was pretty cool.

Robert, you done Good! Thanks much!