While in Kauai, we took a hike called the Kukui trail that the guidebooks rated as “difficult to extremely difficult.”  About 2000 feet straight down the side of Waimea Canyon to the river and then straight back up, all in the course of about five miles.  For an IC Core member, I would rate it as- mild to possibly downright “cake.”

- Nick “The Core Traveler”

By Surya Voinar-Fowler

“…MS rank is really only proof of my rudimentary understanding- it means that I have acquired just enough knowledge and skill to begin a deeper study of the sport. MS was my qualifying exam. In order to continue to improve, I knew that I would have to take my understanding to the next level. In other words, it was time to go back to school.”

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The Black Sea

“Today, as Surya and I boarded our flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam on our way to the Ukraine for the WKC’s Summer Sport Camp, I felt caught in the middle of a neighbor compatibility test.  Nothing triggers the judgmental nature of humans more than airplanes. We all try to make the experience less painful by compulsively scouring every travel site available for the best possible rates, but then inevitably it’s the seating arrangement, preferably an isle or a window and of course some extra leg room, that either makes or breaks the deal. In Economy, you always pray your neighbor will be skinnier, shorter, and quieter than you…”  READ MORE

Maya and Surya with 15x World Champion Fedor Fuglev

The ladies are back from the World Kettlebell Club’s Ukrainian Sport Camp hosted at the historic training facility of 15x World Champion, Fedor Fuglev (who is 48 years of age by the way, but wait till you see the stuff he does).  With more than 24 hours of travel time and 4 flights to get home, they are a bit jet lagged, but full of immense gratitude for their incredible experience.  Maya and Surya promise to chronicle their most amazing excursion to date on the ICKB site very soon.  Until then, here is a video of their once in a lifetime adventure to the Black Sea.

Best,

Steven

Eduardo sporting his IC apparel on the podium

Congratulations to Eduardo for winning the Silver Medal in the Black Belt Division at the 2010 Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Irvine, CA today!

As part of Team USA, Mike and Annie always fight amongst the best in the world

Meanwhile Annie and Michael were down in El Salvador fighting in the 2010 Pan American Judo Championships.   Annie writes: “Mike and I didn’t have a good year this year at Pan Ams. Mike went 0-2 yesterday and I went 0-1 (I didn’t get pulled through to fight in the repechage).  However, I got the chance to redeem myself in the team competition going 3-0 helping win against Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Argentina.  I had to fight up a division (-52kg) because the team event only had certain weight classes and mine (-48kg) wasn’t picked. So I fought up and was able to redeem myself…”

We are extremely proud of all of our athletes. Win or lose, you guys represent the IC to the fullest.  Keep up the great work!

Team Ice Chamber made another impressive showing this weekend at the World LongCycle Championship in NYC!

Mel won the Silver (earned CMS rank) while Jen took the Gold in their respective weight classes of the 16kg division.

Sara and Surya take it to the next level by winning two Golds in the 24kg division!

Finally, Maya took gold in her weight class and simultaneously became (along with Lorna Kleidman) one of the last women to earn a MS rank in the 20kg Long Cycle (current WKC rankings).  With this accomplishment, the ICKB Girls became the only team in the country to be comprised 100% of Masters of Sport!

Best,
Steven

We are constantly inspired by women breaking barriers!  Take a look at the world’s best, Russian Champion Oksana Nikifor in action…

-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

[See post to watch Flash video]

Once we checked into our hotel in Chicago last weekend, Steve had his usual urge to go to the facility where our competition was going to be held in order to make sure we made it on time the following morning (nothing like getting lost in a state you’ve never driven in before)… but, instead of resting peacefully in our room in his absence, this time I was feeling pretty freaked out about different issues I carried with me from California. Once Steve left with the rental car, I ventured out into town by myself to let off some steam and hopefully get lost, away from my thoughts and fears. I asked for directions to the Magnificent Mile because I had heard Oprah mention it at the end of every show for the last 20 years. It turned out to be Michigan Avenue just two blocks down. Clearly one of the most tourist filled areas of Chicago, I was expecting the usual: cool architecture, great shopping, restaurants, and of course street performers. …but, just when I thought I had seen it all downtown, these two young men blew me away. I ended up staying to watch over three battles… and five songs later (mind you it had to be over 30 minutes of pure tap breakin’), I left totally inspired to celebrate physical movement, music & dance, and excellence in all forms. Perhaps they’ll have the same effect on some of you when you consider the training, the guts, the heart involved to pull this off on a busy street corner…

-Maya

Surya, Maya, Jess, and Sara (wearing their well deserved medals at the end of a long day) became the first group of women in the world to qualify for the 20kg Biathlon and Long Cycle.

They each won 1st place in their respective weight classes, while Surya won the Best Overall Lifter Award in the Women’s Long Cycle.

While JoJo comes to work for the IC every summer on break from Brown University, this time she was also committed to Kettlebell Sport along with the ICKB Team. With less than three months of training, she qualified for the Women’s 12kg Biathlon and then impressed everyone by pulling off 199 jerks on the platform in Chicago!

Svetlana Krechik from the Ukraine, Master of Sport World Class, displayed phenomenal technique in the 16kg snatch contest.

Cristal and Sara put on a strong performance for Team GiryaFit!

Jenny from Liberty RX earned her CMS rank in the biathlon while Kinga (in pink) represented our friends from Poland and NYC. Congratulations ladies!

Lorna Kleidman, 2x IGSF World Champion, was fierce as always placing 1st in her weight class in the 16kg Biathlon.

Master of Sport, Cate Imes, proves why she is the top female lifter in the country by taking the Best Overall Lifter Award in the Women’s Biathlon.

___________________________________________________

The new WKC rules required a different game strategy with a renewed emphasis on symmetry as well as fatigue and energy systems management. Needless to say, this was their toughest competition to date going 10 minutes with a 20 kg kettlebell.

We’d like to thank all of the amazing competitors, spectators (thanks for coming Beth Huffman!), judges, and staff members for making this one of the most memorable Kettlebell Sport contests we’ve experienced. Sean and Maria Armstead did a wonderful job hosting this as well. Most importantly, we’d like to send our sincere gratitude to Valery Fedorenko and the WKC for funding and organizing such a world class event.

There’s a lot more action and news to report (including the men’s events, new world records, and the crowning of the only American to hold a Master of Sport rank in both Biathlon and Long Cycle, Marty Farrell). …but for now, here’s a sneak peek at Jess’ incredible performance jerking & snatching in the Women’s 20kg Biathlon next to Cate Imes:

[See post to watch Flash video]

Best,
Steven