Clint Darden

[Jay O'Neill]

Just wanted to take some time to thank you Clint for posting your workout pics and videos. Very cool!
I have to ask, where is that you live? It also looks like your entire training facility consists of a Power cage, a bench, stones and some Implements... is that right? If so you have done some amazing work with such limited resources!
I am sure it is time consuming for you to post all these and just wanted to let you know
that your effort is appreciated.
the Link is: http://www.clintdarden.com for anyone that wants to check it out.
thanks again Clint!
Jay O'Neill

[TEXAS STONEMAN]

He moved to Cyprus last summer. He does pretty damn well for being all alone out there (training wise).

[Clint Darden]

Just wanted to take some time to thank you Clint for posting your workout pics and videos. Very cool!
I have to ask, where is that you live? It also looks like your entire training facility consists of a Power cage, a bench, stones and some Implements... is that right? If so you have done some amazing work with such limited resources!
I am sure it is time consuming for you to post all these and just wanted to let you know
that your effort is appreciated.
the Link is: http://www.clintdarden.com for anyone that wants to check it out.
thanks again Clint!
Jay O'Neill

Thanks a ton man...really means a lot to know that people are watching and are impressed.

I live in Limassol, Cyprus. Tiny TINY island in the Med Sea...really close to Egypt, Israel, Turkey, etc... 110+ in the Summer and 40's in the Winter (unless you go to the mountains, 15 min away, where we get lots of snow).

My gym is in a tiny village facing the Sea. No water or electricity. I have a power rack, old Weider piece of crap bench, plates, couple bars, bands, and quite a few Strongman implements. Been training with pretty much the same stuff (in the US and here) for the past 4-5 years (Strongman only for 3 though).

My website is about to be revamped hopefully in the next 3-4 weeks by a friend here from the UK. You will not be able to go directly to my videos and pictures but it will direct you to my training journals that I keep over at www.IronTrybe.com , my sponsor site. This way you will be able to scroll through it and see what I am doing exactly, why I am doing it, and my comments on everything. Hopefully it will work out for the best.

Thanks again man...seriously.

Clint

[Clint Darden]

He moved to Cyprus last summer. He does pretty damn well for being all alone out there (training wise).

Thanks Travis. It is pretty hard to stay REALLY motivated on the events since I train all alone. A BIG guy here is 175 and 5'9" so people are pretty intimidated by me. Slowly I am starting the Cyprus Strongman Association. Just having some difficulties since I'm not from Cyprus or an European Union country. LOTS of opportunity here though.

When you guys gonna come visit? Summer is getting CLOSE here!!! I'm going to the beach this weekend I think...been wayyyy too long.

Clint

[Jay O'Neill]

No prob Clint! Just giving you your just dues! What prompted you to move to Cypress? What do you do for a living there? Sorry about all the questions... just very intrigueing.
I know what you mean about being around a lot of little people. I used to live in Okinawa, Japan. I'm 5'10 and at the time I weighed 230 and by their standards I was huge. I weigh 265-270 now... but no plans of going back there. Did you make your own stones?
anyway, thanks for your response.
Look forward to seeing more from you.
Jay

[Clint Darden]

No prob Clint! Just giving you your just dues! What prompted you to move to Cypress? What do you do for a living there? Sorry about all the questions... just very intrigueing.
I know what you mean about being around a lot of little people. I used to live in Okinawa, Japan. I'm 5'10 and at the time I weighed 230 and by their standards I was huge. I weigh 265-270 now... but no plans of going back there. Did you make your own stones?
anyway, thanks for your response.
Look forward to seeing more from you.
Jay

I moved here because of Nefi, my better half. She works for the government here and we already had a house/apartment as well. We both had jobs lined up in the US but at the last minute...we had to do what was best for us NOW. She came to Cyprus...I came nearly a year later.

When Nefi came back here, I worked for Murray State University as a trainer. Heck...only did about 3 hours of work a day, if that, so I had lots of time to kill. Learned a lot of sports specific massage and as soon as I came here I started to finish my training to be a Massage Therapist. I have a room set up here in my home that I work out of. Not bad...it is a start and slowly building.

Went to another job interview this morning but it is hard to get a job here. Cyprus had the highest increase in unemployment rate from all EU countries in 2004. My Greek is not so good and the government pushes Cyprus companies to hire EU citizens. In time...

The people here are wonderful...just different (and small). Nefi told me how BIG her father is. He is 5'8" and wears a Greek Small t-shirt. Her brother lifts 3-4x a week and can fill out a Greek Medium. Different lifestyle...most all of the family lives on the same block. Parents next door, us on the 1st floor in this building, brother on 2nd, his office on the 3rd, Aunt next door, cousins/aunts/uncles/etc...one house after another...

http://www.clintdarden.com/pics/Contests/St.%20Louis%20Pro%20Am%202004/Clint%20Nefi%201.jpg

[Jay O'Neill]

Very cool. Looks like Nefi supports your strongman endeavors. My Girlfriend pushes me pretty hard as well. I am new to the strongman sport. Have been lifting all my life. I worked my way through school as personal trainer so I know what you mean about working a few hours a day. That has changed now that I am working as a Physician Associate in Family practice. I have been training pretty much by myself due to my hours at work. On the weekends I have call sometimes so it is hard to train events with other people. Jesse has invited me out to his facilty numerous times and due to my work schedule and my girlfriends kids... it is very difficult. He probably thinks I am ducking him!
Speaking of my girlfriend. Her Dad built my stone pedistals. I have 2. A 54" and 48". They are solid! He used 2 3/4 inch pressed wood sheets to form the top and put (2) 8"
holes in the middle to catch the stones. Jesse has seen them and can attest to the craftmanship.
If you would like I can send you the dimentions and wood requirements.
Well I hope your job prospects improve! hope the interview went well.

[Clint Darden]

Would LOVE to see the specs on your stone platforms!!!

I didn't make mine either...a guy in Illinois made them a few years ago. Not the greatest by any means...the hardest stones I've ever used, but they work.

Clint

[Eric Johnson]

Clint, so when you flew to Cypress did you take your stones as cary-ons or did you check them :D .

[Jay O'Neill]

I e-mailed my girlfriends father and hopefully he still remembers the specs. We made them 24'x24 inches and the 54 " tall for the first one and 48" for the second one. But I'll get more info for you.

[J. Alexander]

You guys haven't seen hardcore, ghetto style training until you've seen Clint box squat off of 50gal drums......:D

That's one of the biggest motivating factors that got me interested in Strongman.

[Clint Darden]

Clint, so when you flew to Cypress did you take your stones as cary-ons or did you check them :D .


:D

Shipped everything thanks to the help from Mike Wortham and the company he works for. Had to leave my BIG stone and my tires and platforms though:( Couldn't get them on the container.

James: I'll try to find an old clip of my "squat racks" lol.

Clint

[ronslusarski]

Clint,
Glad too hear you are doing well! You are not too far from me! Any chance I can talk you into coming too Iraq for a training session? haha! How is your dad doing? Did he get a haircut yet? :)

[J. Alexander]

:D

James: I'll try to find an old clip of my "squat racks" lol.

Clint

That would be sweet.:D

I swear, any time I start to think I'm bad-ass, I remember those clips, and brings me right back down to earth. *LOL*

[Clint Darden]

Clint,
Glad too hear you are doing well! You are not too far from me! Any chance I can talk you into coming too Iraq for a training session? haha! How is your dad doing? Did he get a haircut yet? :)

Uhhh...yeah...I'm on the next flight out...;)

Why don't you come on over and stay a whlie here. PLENTY of room in the apartment here and REALLY close to the Sea. Seriously...I'll shoot you my number and email addy if you would EVER be interested. I'd love to have you here. You would scare the Natives...that is for sure!!!! :)

Dad is doing great. Still no hair cut (or beard trim) in a LONG LONG time. I think he got it "trimmed" once since he retired...and that is it. He just rides around in his black and chrome Caddy Fleetwood Brougham he calls "The Pimp-Mobile" and has a time. Mom retired too, so now they are like a couple of kids. Raising fish is their new hobby...they have about 100!!!

He still laughs about you being in the 175's....;)

Clint

[Jay O'Neill]

Stone platform Dimensions: 25 1/2" Wide 24 1/2 " Deep. Height: 54" or whatever height you want.

(4) 4x4's for the Legs (cut 1 1/2 " shorter then desired box height)
(8) 2x4's for support of legs 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.

3/4 inch plywood to cover sides.

(2) 3/4 " plywood sheets cut to make the top. these are glued and screwed together to make a very solid top to hold the stone. An 8" hole cut in the middle to keep stone in place.

The legs should be approx 1 1/2 " shorter then the box height. the top will placed to make the box height disired.
The plywood sides should be as tall as the box height desired, this way the 3/4' top will fit nicely onto the support legs and have the plywood sides holding it in place for a good solid structure.
I only covered 3 sides with plywood which makes it easier to move the box around, and you can keep weights or implements in the box for added storage. I will send pics as soon as I figure out my digital camera.
feel free to ask any questions.
Keep up the good work

Jay

[Clint Darden]

Thanks man...I'm gonna write all this down in cm and have my father in law look at it. He built our 200 sq meter apartment here (not sure how big that is in feet...lol) so surely he can build this. Of course...pics would be GREAT too!!!

Clint

[Jay O'Neill]

Ill get pics this weekend and figure a way to send them. I may need to send to an e-mail address. I'll figure something out.
Converstion: 24.5 " (62cm)
25.5 " (65cm)
54" (137cm)
1.5" (4 cm)
Good luck and I'll try to get pics to ya next week.

Jay