The Sorinex Experience

As I wrote in my last newsletter we were off to Irmo, South Carolina to attend Sorinex’s Open House. After a horrible start by flight delays and problems we were glad to get in very late Friday night. I have to admit though, I was more than a little excited.

For those of you that may still be unfamiliar, Sorinex was created by strength legend Richard Sorin. His strength accomplishments are numerous, but maybe one of his most famous was being the first man to close the number 3 Ironmind gripper. For those of you that may have ever tried this feat it is nothing short of amazing!! Since then, Richard and his son Bert (who is a former all-american thrower and currently a top level Highland Games competitor) have developed innovative strength equipment for some of the top college and professional teams in the nation.

I knew going to Sorinex would be a lot of fun simply for meeting great strength athletes like Richard and Bert, but I had no idea what we were in store for!! The next day started bright and early, we weren’t sure where exactly to go, but we thought Irmo isn’t very big we could find it. We quickly put our troubles when we saw an not so subtle sign. It was the Sorinex Base Unit and Goergen’s Yoke right out in front in the parking lot. Yep, definitely in the right spot.


As we got out we had to have a little chuckle, right next to this home of very strong people was a tanning salon and “Carolina Girls Fitness and Health Spa”, about as opposite as you could find.

Bert Sorin was out in front with a couple of other strength fanatics and greeted us the most friendly manner. This would quickly set the tone for the whole weekend. Megan and I were excited to test out the Base Unit as we had ordered one for our facility a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to play with it. After all there seems to be one rule when you visit Sorinex, you can’t simply “look around” you have to try some of the equipments and lifts. Ah, people after my own heart!

The Goergen Yoke was another piece that I had been eyeing for our facility. 385 at the base weight (nothing added), a hefty weight to say the least. However, it didn’t take long before Megan got underneath it and took it for a little ride. My mouth did drop a little as she had never done a yoke walk before and 385 is more than a modest start, especially for a smaller woman. That was simply going to be the beginning of the many feats of strength performed this weekend.

Alright, here is the truth of the matter. Going to Sorinex is like finding Santa’s toy shop except for people interested in strength and fitness. Sorry, no cardio equipment, but every other toy you could think of, including a whole array of grip tools. I gave my best shot at picking up the 152 Thomas Inch replica, but to no avail (almost though;). Yet, the first amazing feat of strength was about to occur. Brad Dunlap took six attempts at jerking the 202 pound circus dumbbell. On his sixth he nailed it!!!! Simply amazing!!! Not to mention on his seventh he knocked out a double.

“Big Tex”, Champion Powerlifter Donnie Thompson’s training partner, absolutely destroyed everything. With one hand Big Tex gripped the end of a 50 pound dumbbell and began easily cleaning and pressing it. No worries though, his best is a 75 pound dumbbell. Big Tex went on to also pick-up a 50 pound blob in one hand and the 152 pound Thomas inch replica in the other, simply sick.




Not to be outdone the Sorinex staff got into a good old fashioned deadlift off. Josh Ortega and Jeff Goergen were ready to settle a bet made earlier in the week. Josh had missed deadlifting 425 earlier in the week. Jeff not missing an opportunity to poke fun made a bet that he could deadlift for 12 repetitions whatever Josh did for a maximal effort. With the challenge on the line Josh simply went ahead and set a 30 pound PR by nailing 455 at a bodyweight of 170-180. Jeff feeling the shame of losing this bet came out armed only with a belt and squeezed out 12 amazing repetitions to win his bet.

The deadlifting wasn’t done there. A gentleman, nickname Leonidas by the Sorinex staff because of his uncanny resemblance of the Spartan King, thrilled all of us by deadlifting 530 at a bodyweight of 173, unbelievable!! Oh by the way, no belt or straps either.

Nothing inspires PRs like being around such a positive and adrenaline to try to set some of my own PRs. My big one was cleaning and jerking a 145 pound kettlebell for a double. However, I also had the pleasure of working stones with Big Tex!

It was also a great opportunity to show people the power of the Ultimate Sandbag. We are excited to be working with the great people of Sorinex and can't wait to go back out next year!

To see the full weekend video click on the video below.