This weekend’s sport camp (July 16-17, 2011) was packed with excitement, fun, hard work, and lots of technical information.  While certifying a crew of new judges with the best standards in the industry, the entire camp had the rare opportunity to participate in a simulated kettlebell meet with Valery Fedorenko as the head judge.

Congratulations to the all the new WKC sport judges as well as all the lifters that achieved rank today:  Ryan Greiner (Rank IV), Jeremy Crawford (Rank IV), James Erickson (Rank IV), Misty Shearer (CMS), Joanna Hoch (Rank III), Brenda Navellier (Rank II), Sarah MacDonald (Rank 1), Lori Doyle (CMS), Deb Dozier (Rank I), Melissa Swanson (Rank I), Charlie Fornelli (Rank I), and John Henrici (Rank III).

The IC’s Sarah Mac, Brenda, and Melissa competed with great technique under an open class coefficient formula.  Both Melissa and Brenda took 2nd place in Biathlon and Long Cycle respectively!

ICKB students: Please be sure to come collect a special gift from Ivan and Ksenia tonight!

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A video featuring some of the spectacular highlights from the Open Cup of Europe 2011

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Here are results in each respective weight class:

Sam – Gold – 12kg Biathlon

Karen – Gold – 12kg Biathlon

Maya – Gold – 20kg Biathlon

Surya – Silver – 20kg Biathlon

Sara – Gold – 24kg Long Cycle

This competition had by far the highest concentration of advanced kettlebell lifters on U.S. soil.  We want to congratulate every athlete that qualified and competed to make this one of the best events to date.

Surya taking the 20kg Jerk to new heights.

Maya – still the top 53kg lifter in the U.S.

Sara, considered by many insiders as the top female Long Cycle lifter in the country, delivers yet another MS performance and competition PR.

Sam takes the snatch by storm, going the full 10 minutes to earn 162 reps  – in her first competition!

And finally, our hero, Karen stole the hearts of everyone by becoming the WKC’s 1st National Champion in the Senior Women Division.

Best,

Steven

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Special Congrats to Emily Friedel for earning MS in Biathlon, Cate Imes for producing yet another Master of Sport in Emily Friedel; C-Duff and the Lockout Team for their amazing performances, and Team Croatia for displaying some wicked sick lifting this weekend.

Seven powerful ladies of the WKC: Ivana - CMS, Surya - MS, Lorna - MS, Svetlana - MSWC, Maya - MS, Sara - MS, and Emily - MS.

Henry, Nenad, and Will all closing in on CMS.

Team Croatia with big hearts and delivering big numbers!

Both Scott and C-Duff of Team Lockout gave breath taking performances.

Ivana, ever so close to MS!

Eric St. Onge achieved MS numbers in Jerk.

Cate Imes going for S-32 Rank.

Andy staying focused with S-60 rank, a.k.a. Long Cycle with the 132 lb KB!

Rest period after Sara's set.

Dalibar housing the 24s despite his recent back injury.

Thank you WKC for throwing another great event.

"Take your mind off of the numbers and focus on the elegance of your execution." -Maya

Australia’s 1st Master of Sport, Emily Friedel interviews Maya about motherhood, double jerks for women, and the history of the ICKB Girls:

You are a mother, as is one of your team members, how have you guys achieved such a high level of lifting with so much else going on in your lives?

“…I think kettlebell fitness, as opposed to sport, is far more compatible with my lifestyle right now, but I got into the competitive aspect of this long before I knew what I was up against as a mother (our son was only 10 months old when we first started competing).  The only reason I didn’t give up after a series of disappointments and failed attempts on the platform is because Steve, Jess, Sara, and Surya wouldn’t let me…”

READ the FULL interview HERE

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….”

Read full report here.

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

-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 Zagrebačka 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