Surya claims her Master of Sport victory after her last rep...
Congratulations to ICKB Girls Sara & Surya for earning their Master of Sport rank in the Long Cycle this past weekend at the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival!
Sara at the top of the Long Cycle Clean & Jerk
“Leading up to the moment, Sara was nervous and nauseous, but she fired off her set with classic well-trained speed strength and I didn’t see an ounce of doubt after rep one….”
We are constantly inspired by women breaking barriers! Take a look at the world’s best, Russian Champion Oksana Nikifor in action…
Another Ice Chamber exclusive video:
Using visual cues and his undeniable charisma, check out World Champion Fedor Fuglev crossing several language barriers to offer tips and coaching advice to international lifters in Latvia.
Enjoy!
The ICKB Girls were invited to Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA to showcase the art of Kettlebell lifting. We had the great pleasure of bringing something we feel so passionate about to one of the most innovative companies in the world!
Thank you to all the Googlers for making us feel at home. And huge thanks for the nice apparel and organic food. 
Enjoy this 3 minute clip of our team’s performance.
Best,
Steven
Here’s a link to a great article on a Russian site for Kettlebell Lifting. It is an interview with Valery Fedorenko about the emergence of Kettlebell Sport in the U.S.
Valery comes from humble beginnings, but his significance in the sport of Kettlebell lifting is immense. For those just getting to know him, he is arguably the best 75kg lifter in the history of Kettlebell Sport. He is the first person to Snatch over 200 reps with the 32kg bell in competition and to earn 3 Titles in 1 performance (Junior Absolute Champion, Men’s 80kg Champion [there wasn't a 75kg category then], and Coefficient Champion). He is also one of a few in the sport to earn the Honored Master of Sport Title (Hall of Famer) in addition to World, Russian/USSR, Sportkiada, Belarus, Kazhakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tartarstan, and European Champion titles, all before the age of 25. His biathlon record is still unbeaten today if you factor in body weight.
If you can read Russian, here is the link:Â http://www.girevik-online.ru/index.php/news/142-interview-with-valery-fedorenko. Otherwise, you will have to use an online translator (like Google Translate) for an English version.
It is a great read about Kettlebell Sport in America from an international perspective. And oh, the IC Kettlebell Team was also mentioned.
Best,
Steven
Kettlebell girl power from around the world:
Andreja Ravnik, Mateja Legan, & Tajda SoboÄan from Team Slovenia.
Master of Sport, Emily Friedel, from Australia.
… and of course our very own IC Kettlebell Girl, Surya Voinar-Fowler, breaking stereotypes about women performing double Jerks!
“To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life. But to feel the affection that comes from those whom we do not know, from those unknown to us, who are watching over our sleep and solitude, over our dangers and our weaknesses, that is something still greater and more beautiful because it widens out the boundaries of our being, and unites all living things.”
-Pablo Neruda
Neruda’s quote perfectly encapsulates our experience in Croatia over the weekend. The trip couldn’t have been a more special way to celebrate a birthday and Steve’s first vacation in 8 years because we shared it with Bear Bear, Surya, Coach CI, and more friends from Finland (Kukka), Denmark (Thierry), Germany (Joaquim), and of course all of the awesome lifters from Slovenia and Croatia.
The event was the WKC’s first European Long Cycle invitational at the underground Core Gym (a creative combination of MMA, strongman, KB Sport, Paintball, S&C, and general fitness) in Zagreb, one of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in the world. Despite being on foreign soil, our hosts (Gregor Sobocan and Bruno Mandic) made us feel right at home by gathering their closest friends to help welcome the lifters from various countries.
It almost felt like a family reunion and we were somehow their long lost relatives. Imagine a fierce highly experienced Croatian boxer and coach (the most kindhearted Neno) alongside his equally impressive fiance (the even sweeter Ivana), magnanimously offering you their love and rich history of their hometown. Thanks to them, we were taken to the city’s most revered 12th century cathedrals — among other amazing historic landmarks — and then to their favorite local restaurants and pubs. Words can’t express the generosity of these wonderful people.
We had an unforgettable adventure with all of the participants on and off the platform in Croatia!
Overview of ZagrebaÄka Katedrala
Bear at the Center’s flower market
Oh, the food…
Surya enjoying some shopping and exploring in Zagreb on her first trip to Europe.
12th century doors
A wow moment for Steve
It is my hope that everyone back home at the IC spent quality time with family and friends as well during the holiday weekend. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we thank each one of you for being a part of our community. You are the reason the IC continues to be a special home away from home for everyone here. We also would like to express our enormous appreciation for Jessica, Danielle, Nicki, and Johnny for taking care of life at the IC in our absence… and let’s face it, for being hard working rock stars all year long!
With deep gratitude,
Maya
