Since some people had never lifted on the RT before, there was a mandatory first attempt just to get everyone on the board. Men's mandatory attempt is 106 lbs, and the women's is 51 lbs. Everyone completed these with ease. The bar only went up from there. The bigger lifters sat aside and waited for the bar to go up 30 or 40 more pounds before taking another attempt. Dave Stevens topped out at 121 lbs. Shane Nelson, who wasn't entered in the powerlifting meet but simply wanted to try his hand at a grip strength feat - I give these guys a lot of credit, they aren't all caught up in appearances - ended with a strong 128.5 lbs. Not bad for a lightweight first timer on the RT. He was excited afterwards and wanted to know where he could purchase a RT. He was also supportive of the other lifters. Julie Havelka had a strong day and came within 2 lbs of breaking the women's world record in the RT. Becca Swanson, the world's strongest female powerlifter, currently holds the record at 141 lbs. Julie ended with a solid 139.75 lbs. Julie has been progressing steadily on the RT, since her first RT competition in 2001, where she posted a lift of 111 lbs. Ian McKay came all the way from Newport, OR to help out his coach and friend, Rick McClung at the powerlifting meet. Although he hadn't been training on the RT, he wanted to give it a shot. He finished with a good lift of 151 lbs. With a little training, he has a good chance at setting a new NW lightweight record at the next RT competition.

On to the big guys. Aaron Anderton came to compete in the powerlifting meet, but was ready to lift when he heard about the RT competition. Aaron competes in powerlifting and strongman. Last year, Aaron beat strength legend Bill Kazmeier on a bar bend at a local exhibition in Spokane. Everyone in the strength world knows who 'the Kaz' is, so to come out and beat him on something is quite a feat. All of Aaron's lifts looked strong, and he finished with a lift of 171 lbs. The lightest guy in the heavyweight class was Tod Becraft. Tod was busy judging everyone else's attempts, but was still able to focus in on the task at hand. He was very pleased at breaking the 170 lb barrier and posting a strong lift of 173.5 lbs. Rick McClung has been training the RT off and on for over a year, and it shows. When he first competed in the RT in 2001, he lifted 151 lbs. This time he ended the day with a solid 181 lbs. Brent Mikesell hadn't planned on competing in the RT but jumped in at the last minute. He trains the RT off and on and wanted to see how close he could get to 200 lbs. Vince Eldridge, a 750 lb deadlifter from Bremerton, WA, also wanted to see if he himself could break 200 lbs. Vince had been training on the RT as well. The two huge men went back and forth, matching each other's lifts and raising the bar one more, when it finally came down to it: 201 lbs. One man walked away victorious. Vince Eldridge became the 2003 NW Rolling Thunder Champion with a strong lift of 201 lbs. Brent came mighty close, but had to settle for second place with a good lift of 192 lbs. As an award for first place, Vince received a plaque from Monster Muscle.com. After the contest was over, we had a drawing for the RT apparatus. Everyone who didn't already own a RT or have direct access to it had their name put into a hat. Dave Stevens walked away the happy owner of an 'almost' new RT apparatus.

We'd like to thank Ironmind Enterprises for graciously donating the Rolling Thunder apparatus in memory of JV Askem. We'd also like to thank Monster Muscle Magazine and Brent Mikesell for hosting the contest. And last but not least we'd like to give credit to the guys who aren't afraid to see where their grip strength is at. Being a strength athlete is all about testing your strength on different events, and seeing how you pan out in a group of lifters. Congrats to all those who lifted!