Grant Higa
07-04-2005, 11:12 AM
Just got back home yesterday, and had a great weekend over there. Just wanted to share a recap of the AWESOME treament we had with the sponsors over there...
DAY 1 Friday July 1st:
We had a full day of media and promos. They really took
care of us over there. I haven't spent one dollar since we have been here. Its
been in the high 90's, and really nice and dry, no humidity at all.
Day started off with a good breakfast here at the hotel. All of our meals just
get charged to our room, cause the promoters will pay for it all on one credit
card. I pounded a 14oz T-bone steak and a Chicken Sandwhich last night!!
Then, we went to a business called, "Into the Fire". Its a pottery business in
Arvada where you pick a ceramic, and then we painted it so that we could give it
to some kids at the Denver Children's Hospital. It was kinda funny to see all
of us big guys painting delicate little items...
After that, we went 1.5 blocks away to a cafe where we were served some awesome
food! Had a great salad, then the best French Dip sandwhich I ever had!
Followed by a greatKey Lime cheesecake that I had 2 servings of....
After gorging ourselves with food, we went to Children's Hospital. I did this
once in St Louis back in 2002, and it really was humbling to see these kids with
cancer smiling when we walked in. All their pain went away for a brief moment.
The first kid we saw was a 14 year old girl who our airport shuttle girl told us
about. Last week, she was playing in her yard and was hit by a bolt of
lightning. Alot of witnesses didn't want to go and check on her fearing they
would still get electrocuted. Then, one man shouted, "move out of the damn
way!" and ran to here and applied CPR. If he didn't do that, she would have
died. There was a good sized hole on her left ankle where the lightning bolt
came out of. It has left her half-paralyzed and with little speech. She was so
trying hard to say thank you after we gave her an autographed shirt. We also
saw kids in the cancer ward, and it made me think of our daughter. Some of
these kids were less than 4 years old, but really trying to put a smile on for
you. Its funny how I complain about getting up early to train, or how heavy
flipping a tire is, and then I see these kids who may not make it past 5 years
old forcing themselves to smile and have a conversation with you.
After the hospital, we went to ATS Diesel Performance, who is a big sponsor.
They fed us AGAIN...and we got to see the equipment we are going to use
tomorrow.
Then, we went to Bendermire Speedway to shoot some footage. ATS Diesel brought
2 of their trucks and they let us ride with them on the 1/4 mile track. These
trucks run on the highway, but have 738 horsepower and can do a 1/4 mile in 12
seconds! They couldn't go that fast with us cause a NASCAR rule is that if you
do less than 13.75 secs, you need to have a helmet on and racing harness for
safety.
Now, we are back at the hotel and will be fed by MyMeatCakes.com What a name,
huh? Supposedly, they make this birthday cake of beef and the frosting is made
of potatoes, then you can add your own Cheez Whiz on top of it. Doesn't sound
good to me, so I'll keep you posted. They are a big sponsor too, though...
The Meat Cake was suprisingly good! One cake has 4 lbs of Organic Grass Fed beef in it. I can't believe the amount of beef I've eaten in just the past 24 hours!
We compete at 11:30am tomorrow. I'll write when its over. We are supposed to
go to a Steakhouse afterwards, but Chad Coy and I were talking to this waitress
here and she said there is someplace where you pay $30 for all you can eat Whole
Lobsters!! Higa is all over that! Glenn Ross was too! Its the first time I
met Glenn, and he is 5'11" and 444 lbs!
DAY 2 Competition Day:
Well, we just got back from the meet, and I finished 5th overall! I was
fortunate to be the top placing American/North American, and only 4 Europeans
were ahead of me.
1st event: Log Press 308 lbs Clean & Press for reps
I tied for 4th with 2 others with 4 reps. I missed the 5th rep.
WINNER: Glen Ross (Ireland) with 8 reps, Brain Irwin (Ireland) got 2nd with 7
reps.
2nd event: Conan Wheel of 795 lbs
I got 2nd place in this event! Really happy with that!
WINNER: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia), Grant Higa (USA), Chad Coy (USA) 3rd.
3rd event: Carry & Drag (Farmers Walk of 265 lbs, then Drag same distance)
WINNER: Ralf Ber (Austria), Al Block (Canada) 2nd place, Raivis Vidzis (Latvia)
3rd place.
4th event: Duckwalk/Powerstairs
My worst event!! Need to train this more! I placed LAST in this event.
WINNER: Tarmo Mitt (Estonia), Ralf Ber (Austria), Antanas Arbrutus (Lithuania)
3rd place.
5th event: Fire Engine Pull
Since I placed last in the Power Stairs, I had to go first. Man, I spent all 75
secs trying to get it started. I think I'm a decent truck puller, but this was
unreal! So, they then saw that the back 2 tires were in a little hole, and they
moved it forward so that we could get a good start. I was fortunate to get a
2nd chance after everyone went. It was really mentally tough to prepare, but I
finished 3rd overall.
WINNER: Glen Ross (Ireland), Tarmo Mitt (Estonia), Grant Higa (USA).
Last event: Tire Flip
WINNER: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia), Glen Ross (Ireland) 2nd place, Ralf Ber
(Austria) 3rd place.
In my opionion, doing the Fire Engine Pull twice just tapped my legs. I felt
gassed after my 4th event. Despite the 6,000 feet elevation, I was able to feel
good for all the events, except after the Tire Flip.
FINAL RESULTS:
Winner: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia) 57.5 pts
Glenn Ross (Ireland) 57 pts
Ralf Ber (Austria) 55 pts
Tarmo Mitts (Estonia) 51 pts
Grant Higa (USA) 39 pts
Chad Coy (USA) 38.5 pts
Ed Brost (Canada) 37 pts
Al Block (Canada) 33 pts
Antanas Arbrutas (Lithuania) 26 pts
Brian Irwin (Ireland) 25 pts
Scott Cummine (Canada) 21 pts
John Beatty (USA) 19 pts
I had a great time, and have never been pampered so much at a show. The staff
has been tremendous, and I appreciate the opportunity to compete with these
guys. Thanks to ATS Diesel Performance for putting on a great show, and for
shuttling us around, and for all the MEALS! Damn, I've eaten like a king here!
We are headed to a steak house in 30 mins, and a Ribeye or Prime Rib has my name
on it! I haven't spent $1 here since arriving. Thanks to all!
Aloha,
Grant.
DAY 1 Friday July 1st:
We had a full day of media and promos. They really took
care of us over there. I haven't spent one dollar since we have been here. Its
been in the high 90's, and really nice and dry, no humidity at all.
Day started off with a good breakfast here at the hotel. All of our meals just
get charged to our room, cause the promoters will pay for it all on one credit
card. I pounded a 14oz T-bone steak and a Chicken Sandwhich last night!!
Then, we went to a business called, "Into the Fire". Its a pottery business in
Arvada where you pick a ceramic, and then we painted it so that we could give it
to some kids at the Denver Children's Hospital. It was kinda funny to see all
of us big guys painting delicate little items...
After that, we went 1.5 blocks away to a cafe where we were served some awesome
food! Had a great salad, then the best French Dip sandwhich I ever had!
Followed by a greatKey Lime cheesecake that I had 2 servings of....
After gorging ourselves with food, we went to Children's Hospital. I did this
once in St Louis back in 2002, and it really was humbling to see these kids with
cancer smiling when we walked in. All their pain went away for a brief moment.
The first kid we saw was a 14 year old girl who our airport shuttle girl told us
about. Last week, she was playing in her yard and was hit by a bolt of
lightning. Alot of witnesses didn't want to go and check on her fearing they
would still get electrocuted. Then, one man shouted, "move out of the damn
way!" and ran to here and applied CPR. If he didn't do that, she would have
died. There was a good sized hole on her left ankle where the lightning bolt
came out of. It has left her half-paralyzed and with little speech. She was so
trying hard to say thank you after we gave her an autographed shirt. We also
saw kids in the cancer ward, and it made me think of our daughter. Some of
these kids were less than 4 years old, but really trying to put a smile on for
you. Its funny how I complain about getting up early to train, or how heavy
flipping a tire is, and then I see these kids who may not make it past 5 years
old forcing themselves to smile and have a conversation with you.
After the hospital, we went to ATS Diesel Performance, who is a big sponsor.
They fed us AGAIN...and we got to see the equipment we are going to use
tomorrow.
Then, we went to Bendermire Speedway to shoot some footage. ATS Diesel brought
2 of their trucks and they let us ride with them on the 1/4 mile track. These
trucks run on the highway, but have 738 horsepower and can do a 1/4 mile in 12
seconds! They couldn't go that fast with us cause a NASCAR rule is that if you
do less than 13.75 secs, you need to have a helmet on and racing harness for
safety.
Now, we are back at the hotel and will be fed by MyMeatCakes.com What a name,
huh? Supposedly, they make this birthday cake of beef and the frosting is made
of potatoes, then you can add your own Cheez Whiz on top of it. Doesn't sound
good to me, so I'll keep you posted. They are a big sponsor too, though...
The Meat Cake was suprisingly good! One cake has 4 lbs of Organic Grass Fed beef in it. I can't believe the amount of beef I've eaten in just the past 24 hours!
We compete at 11:30am tomorrow. I'll write when its over. We are supposed to
go to a Steakhouse afterwards, but Chad Coy and I were talking to this waitress
here and she said there is someplace where you pay $30 for all you can eat Whole
Lobsters!! Higa is all over that! Glenn Ross was too! Its the first time I
met Glenn, and he is 5'11" and 444 lbs!
DAY 2 Competition Day:
Well, we just got back from the meet, and I finished 5th overall! I was
fortunate to be the top placing American/North American, and only 4 Europeans
were ahead of me.
1st event: Log Press 308 lbs Clean & Press for reps
I tied for 4th with 2 others with 4 reps. I missed the 5th rep.
WINNER: Glen Ross (Ireland) with 8 reps, Brain Irwin (Ireland) got 2nd with 7
reps.
2nd event: Conan Wheel of 795 lbs
I got 2nd place in this event! Really happy with that!
WINNER: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia), Grant Higa (USA), Chad Coy (USA) 3rd.
3rd event: Carry & Drag (Farmers Walk of 265 lbs, then Drag same distance)
WINNER: Ralf Ber (Austria), Al Block (Canada) 2nd place, Raivis Vidzis (Latvia)
3rd place.
4th event: Duckwalk/Powerstairs
My worst event!! Need to train this more! I placed LAST in this event.
WINNER: Tarmo Mitt (Estonia), Ralf Ber (Austria), Antanas Arbrutus (Lithuania)
3rd place.
5th event: Fire Engine Pull
Since I placed last in the Power Stairs, I had to go first. Man, I spent all 75
secs trying to get it started. I think I'm a decent truck puller, but this was
unreal! So, they then saw that the back 2 tires were in a little hole, and they
moved it forward so that we could get a good start. I was fortunate to get a
2nd chance after everyone went. It was really mentally tough to prepare, but I
finished 3rd overall.
WINNER: Glen Ross (Ireland), Tarmo Mitt (Estonia), Grant Higa (USA).
Last event: Tire Flip
WINNER: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia), Glen Ross (Ireland) 2nd place, Ralf Ber
(Austria) 3rd place.
In my opionion, doing the Fire Engine Pull twice just tapped my legs. I felt
gassed after my 4th event. Despite the 6,000 feet elevation, I was able to feel
good for all the events, except after the Tire Flip.
FINAL RESULTS:
Winner: Raivis Vidzis (Latvia) 57.5 pts
Glenn Ross (Ireland) 57 pts
Ralf Ber (Austria) 55 pts
Tarmo Mitts (Estonia) 51 pts
Grant Higa (USA) 39 pts
Chad Coy (USA) 38.5 pts
Ed Brost (Canada) 37 pts
Al Block (Canada) 33 pts
Antanas Arbrutas (Lithuania) 26 pts
Brian Irwin (Ireland) 25 pts
Scott Cummine (Canada) 21 pts
John Beatty (USA) 19 pts
I had a great time, and have never been pampered so much at a show. The staff
has been tremendous, and I appreciate the opportunity to compete with these
guys. Thanks to ATS Diesel Performance for putting on a great show, and for
shuttling us around, and for all the MEALS! Damn, I've eaten like a king here!
We are headed to a steak house in 30 mins, and a Ribeye or Prime Rib has my name
on it! I haven't spent $1 here since arriving. Thanks to all!
Aloha,
Grant.