Greetings to all fellow grip trainers,
My name is Laine Snook, I am 38 years old and live in England. I am 6 feet 7 inches tall and tip the
scales at 330lbs.
My sporting career started in my early teens when I took up Shot Put and Discus throw, I
progressed well and soon became a schoolboy international in both disciplines.
At 14 I started lifting weights and found that I had a natural talent in the Bench Press. I used this
new found power to send the Shot and Discus to even greater distances. I went on to be coached
Geoff Capes, two time Worlds' Strongest man, and felt that with great effort I could get to the
Olympic games. Unfortunately I severely injured my lower back, resulting in a spinal fusion, and
all my hopes and dreams were gone.
After recovering I turned my attention to Bench Pressing and went on to win the 1997 and 1999
W.D.F.P.F World Championships, in the 145 kilo weight category.
Felling I had gone as far as I could in the Bench Press I once again changed direction and focused
on Guinness world records and I currently have 5 Guinness records for strength related categories.
in 2000 I decided that I would try the Britain’s Strongest Man contest. In 2001 I reached the final of
the competition and felt that one more year would see me get a place in the Worlds Strongest
Man contest. In 2002 I was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurism and once again all hopes of
glory were gone. Treatment followed and I found myself in a world where sanity prevailed. More
health problems followed in the form of a mild Heart attack caused by a digging frenzy in my garden.
My introduction to all things grip came in 1998 when I won a COC1 as a prize for lifting Roger Davies'
"Valhalla Stone" overhead three times, I believe it weighed in the region of 240lbs. I then got interested
in all things Ironmind and in 2000 I closed the COC3 on my first attempt with both my Left and Right
hand. I did this at Jamie Reeves gym in Sheffield, Jamie, who has won the Worlds Strongest man
title was coaching me at the time.
My dealings with the Rolling Thunder started in 2001 when I ordered a handle/pin from Pullum Sports.
I can remember lifting 242 plus the handle & pin on my first attempt, but did not pursue any further training
with the Rolling Thunder, I would leave that for another day!
I got interested in thick bar training after reading an article in "Milo" magazine regarding the Thomas Inch
dumbbell. I got my brother Paul to make me a plate loading dumbbell with a handle the same size as the
famous Inch bell. I remember that I got to 172lbs without too much trouble.
After my Heart attack in 2003 I realized that I would not be able to return to my former activities and so
after a long recovery, I decided to make an attempt on the Rolling Thunder world record. In 2005 I started
training for the record and as I got close I badly tore a muscle in my forearm, near the elbow. I did not
train again until 2006, when after seven weeks of training I finally managed to break the World record.
My training continues, and I hope to increase the World record in the near future. My thick bar work
also continues and I am now able to power clean the Inch dumbbell for 3 reps. I have also recently
deadlifted the "Millennium" dumbbell for 2 reps, a number that I intend to increase very soon.
I hope to share with you all a periodical insight into my training and training ideas, and I will be more
than willing to offer whatever help I can to hopefully increase your poundages in the areas that I have
trained on myself.
I will leave you by saying that increased performance starts and finishes with the mind, your most
powerful and helpful tool. This will be the subject of my first official offering on Strongmanfeats.com.
Good luck to you all,
Laine