Optimal Strongmen
May 20, 2009 by jzaretzky
Filed under OPTC Updates
This past weekend we had a few of our Strongman pros from OPTC compete at the national and world level! Big Gerard Benderoth trucked up to Mohegan Sun to take the stage against the top 12 world’s strongest men in a “World’s Strongest Man” qualifier.
Gerard was selected for this event with only 3 weeks’ notice so we didn’t have much time to prepare, but that didn’t matter for the big guy. He went balls to the wall for the past couple of weeks with his training and got ready in a hurry.
Although he didn’t place in the event, he went out there it gave it his best shot – AND did a GREAT JOB!!
Congrats to BIG G!!!
I gotta admit this experience was pretty cool. The sport of strongman isn’t the most popular, but as soon as Gerard was asked to compete in this thing, his celebrity status shot up a bit. The week before the event he was supposed to be on channel five news (his spot got cut due to more important news worthy issue)
what could be more important than Big G.
He was also featured in what I call my 2 seconds of fame. CBS came out to OPTC and did a cool spot about Gerard. Check it out here - (Note that little guy hanging around in the back is yours truly).
In addition to Gerard’s competition, 2 other OPTC members Ben Lambousis and SKEET Dunn went out to Michigan and competed in a National Qualifier, and I’m happy to say they both Qualified and are now getting ready for their National Event in about 8 weeks.
JZ
Optimal Performance Football Combine – A Success!!!
May 20, 2009 by jzaretzky
Filed under OPTC Updates
On Sunday, May 10th (Mothers day) I’m proud to say that OPTC hosted Rockland’s County’s First ever high school football combine (Optimal Football combine). I just want to extend a BIG Thank you to all parents and athletes that made this day possible!!!
To say the day was a success would be an understatement. We lucked out with (although somewhat windy early on) good weather and the turnout was great! We had Rockland County Football athletes representing Clarkstown North, Clarkstown South, Suffern, Nyack, Nanuet, and North Rockland, ranging from current 8th graders to High school juniors.
I really think that all the participants now have a great opportunity on their hands! They now know where they stand in terms of performance numbers, and can now laser in and focus their time on improving their weakest links.
The only thing left to do is get out and do it!!! The season is just around the corner.
I’m pleased to say that the day ran very smooth from start to finish!
Again, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO SUPPORT SUPPORT OUR FIRST OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE FOOTBALL COMBINE!!!
JZ
Ps – I almost forgot… to view the results of the day please visit www.opfootballcombine.com
Local Stongman Pro & Proud Member at Optimal Performance
May 17, 2009 by jzaretzky
Filed under OPTC Updates
Here is some press of local Strongman Pro and proud member of OPTC…
From New York’s Finest To New York’s StrongestVALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. (CBS) ― For a decade he was one of New York’s Finest. Now, Gerard Benderoth is one of the country’s strongest – competing for a spot in the World’s Strongest Man competition.
He’s part Rocky, part Incredible Hulk – but in strongman circles, Benderoth is known as the White Rhino: New York’s only professional heavyweight strongman.
In a few days he competes on the national stage. 
“This is it,” he says. “This is the big leagues.”
Benderoth began competing in strongman competitions in 2003. He liked catching the bad guys, but says he’d rather be lifting dead weight.
“It’s fun. It’s as much fun as you can have [while] not being able to breathe, with a 400-pound stone on your chest,” Benderoth says.
His equipment – giant stone balls, blocks of concrete, earth-moving tires – look like toys in a giant toddler’s playpen.
But training for these events isn’t child’s play.
Strongmen aren’t just good for lifting stones or flipping tires. If your car breaks down or you run out of gas, they can help you get to work – by pushing your car.
Benderoth stretches and works out every day. And he also eats – a lot.
“I eat breakfast twice, I eat two lunches, I eat dinner, and then I eat supper,” Benderoth says. “I always eat a snack before bed.”
Those meals total 8,000 calories a day, quadruple the amount that a regular guy eats.
“I really don’t care how good I look,” Benderoth says. “I want to be strong. That’s what I care about, being strong.”
The World’s Strongest Man Qualifier will determine if he’s strong enough, but if he doesn’t win, he’s got a nice consolation prize.
“I come in last place, and my son thinks I’m the strongest guy in the world,” he Benderoth says. ‘And I love it. I love it, it’s the best.”
After six years of training, eight orthopedic operations and thousands of tons carried, Benderoth is pumped.
In case you’re wondering, Benderoth has 23-inch biceps.
He’ll be put to the test this weekend at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
originally posted by www.CBSnews.com - see write up here - http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=79998714193&h=fcdo7&u=dzRrd&ref=mf
JZ
PS – also here is a link to our 2 minutes of fame from the publicity of Big G
Optimal Perofmance Olympic weightlifting – Saturday mayham
May 17, 2009 by jzaretzky
Filed under OPTC Updates
Here is some quick footage of yours truly. Today I refined some technique on my cleans.
I hit some clean drops, then a nice muscle clean and Tall clean complex, followed by a 3 position clean. I then hit my only real work set of the day…
a Clean for a set of 6 at roughly 50% of my projected final lift for August.
check it out…
not bad for my first real week back.
FYI – all my O-lift training will be some what light as I’m nursinga slightly strained (was torn) bracial radialis. I strained it almost 7 weeks ago, but has been feeling pretty good just taking slow for the next 6 weeks. then it will be go time.
More to come next week
JZ
PS – a bonus clip of a couple of our BIG BOYS playing with the Axle…
