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I don't have much experience with natural stone lifting but am tempted to sign up for a comp in December just because it has a natural stone to shoulder event. I just wanted to share some stuff that might be interesting to some of you.

Martin Jancsics Youtube Channel Martin was in the documentary Stoneland. His channel has a couple of how to videos and then him lifting various stones around Scotland.

Historic Stone Lifting Facebook page Run by Martin Jancsics. I am pretty sure you can try to coordinate trips to Scotland to lift stones here. He also has a book on stone lifting coming out co-written by Dr Bill Crawford, also from Stoneland and one of the announcers of the 2018 Arnold (don't hate him for that).

Stones of Strength book Written by Steve Jeck & Peter Martin. A short book that details the history of some of the most famous stones around Europe, tells about the author's trip around Scotland to lift several stones, and ends with a brief section about strength training for stone lifting.

/u/stronklikebear let's update the post with Jancsics'/Crawford's book from last October. Has anyone on here read it? A book review would make for a quality front-page post.

If promoters/venues aren't going to allow tacky on atlas stones, I'd rather just see them switch to atlas stones. Tacky atlas stones are more competitor-friendly, because people can train on roughly similar conditions, but I think natural stones are more spectator-friendly because people in the audience can get the brute strength required to move heavy rocks. Tackyless atlas stones are a lose-lose.

This seems to be the case with two shows I've done so far. One show got in trouble with the venue because someone left a tacky towel on the carpet, so we did natural stones for the next year. Another show was an outdoor show on grass, and whether that was their driving reason or not, that was a natural stones one too.

For both of these events, I didn't do much actual stone training. I also didn't win, but my opinion is that this is due to brute strength more than any specific stone-lifting technique. I did find a granite block to press for the second show, and did that a few times in training to get the hang of it. I did mostly sandbag and keg carrying and loading. I used the keg for overload, and the sandbag for under-load. The keg challenged my overall strength and musculature, while the sandbag mostly challenged my grip. I found them both useful for training the general loading motion without worrying about the specific grips of my home stones that won't be the same on contest stones. I will go out in my field and find some home stones to train on later this year, hopefully in the sweet spot between "holy foliage" and "snow as far as you can see."

I have also done some stone shouldering, which was a good time on a crispy BC morning, and would like to do this more.

So I got my belt signed by Big Z this weekend at a seminar after Maryland's Strongest Man

Signed belt here

I can now log press 200kg thanks all to the good mojo now in this belt....lol

But in all seriousness, I had this EliteFTS belt signed this weekend on the outside on the back. It is a smooth leather finish on the outside, so I am a bit concerned about making sure the signature stays there for as long as possible without fading or smudging.

I had him use a Sharpie permanent marker so realistically it should be good. However, ideally I'd like to continue to use this belt, as it is my only belt for overhead/front carry events I have (I have an Inzer ratchet belt as well but the ratchet gets in the way on log/keg/front carries).

Is it stupid of me to think it is possible for me to continue using this belt without ruining the signature? I looked up a few things via google and saw that some people used this with leather to maintain signatures. Anyone have any experience with that?

Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys!

I got some 5 dollar tow straps from Amazon that worked really for me. Looks like they've gone up in price a bit, but still a good deal for two sets with a spare. Ymmv. I pulled 390x9 in my fist novice contest with them, and have had up to 460lbs with no slipping. I usually wear a large in gloves if that helps with sizing idea. I've got serious steel figure 8s too, and the axle straps were too long for me. I really like the regular serious steel for a 1 in. Bar.

Amazon link: Premium Tie Down Straps 1300 LB Working Limit | Looped Strap Securement System for Motorcycles, Bik https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IWNCI1U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bVTEDbNHZQ02H

This is what I use. It's a true 20kg, 2" axle. And it's cheaper than IM's. Not to take anything from IM. They're one of the best companies on the planet to do business with, but I like that the one below is 44 lb vs IM's 33 lb bar. It makes mathing weight easier.

https://www.amazon.com/44lbs-Barbell-Strength-Strongman-Training/dp/B00MWA4LL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492794542&sr=8-1&keywords=strongman+axle

I got these for my Titan axle and they barely fit, but they hold the plates on there pretty good.

Arnold events released. Annoying events are Bartos Circus DB and another SoS. By another SoS I mean TWO SoS events. I already have a homemade dumbbell that I'll probably add buckets to that will probably have great carryover, but am at a loss for how to train SoS at home without actually getting a SoS or heavier stones.

Anyone have experience with this sandbag? https://www.amazon.com/Brute-Force-Sandbags-Small-70Ibs/dp/B06XKX2GBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510937715&sr=8-1&keywords=atlas+stone

It can hold up to 300 lbs, which if I could be getting reps over 48"+ should have good carryover.

If anyone has any secret places to order cheap circus DBs I'd be interested as well.

It looks like the dudes in WSM wear Rehbands on their elbows (from watching it at least), but it could just be a similar design. I got a pair 4 months ago to squat with and I love them. Never used them on my arms though.

http://www.amazon.com/Rehband-7051-7mm-Knee-Sleeve/dp/B0088KPT64

Maybe you can ask Mr. Shahlaei about it in his upcoming AMA.

Cheap-o chalk is better than no chalk. I only know because I used to rock climb a lot, which is very grip specific. Non brand chalk blocks are usually pretty cheap, and they'll go a long way. E.g. Rogue sells chalk for $12 for 8 blocks, which is hard to beat especially considering that it's one of their "3 ships free" deal. (But as an addendum, Black Diamond White Gold chalk isn't that much more expensive per pound.)

Does anyone here have the CFF Log? Looks like it's 10 inches. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008O51ZIE/)

It seems like it would be a good (inexpensive) training tool. What do you guys think?

Hi Pagit85

I can't say I have, no. I did some rock climbing when I was younger but I'm old and heavy now :(

I've never really followed any of the popular squat routines tbh. I learned quite quickly what worked well for me just by picking up tips all over. That said, I did enjoy this 20 rep squat routine when I was starting out and I continue to use high rep squats in my training from time to time.

Okay, ya'll have me convinced to go with a proper Yoke. My question now is if anyone has an opinion on the One Fit Wonder yoke by Fringe Sports or the Valor Fitness yoke? As petty as it is, I would prefer to not buy from Rogue if there are other options.

Fringe: https://www.fringesport.com/collections/squat-racks/products/onefitwonder-yoke-squat-stand

Valor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYELX47/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1RJYV047VUPJ6

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TWSLYDX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&fbclid=IwAR3ysposMrCwTfod2wBz4Lha6vkzbaEJqfZ9ZI3uj8yhFXJ3O2DHfRuBwzo&linkCode=sl1&linkId=a52ada06dc87de7d5949fdadec429f92&psc=1&tag=kallesquestfo-20 Dunno if it works for anyone outside the us. i haven‘t tried yet.