Side Bend Challenge 2023

What: Test a 1 rep max of the barbell side bend. Scores will be calculated using the Wilks formula to compare athletes of different weights. 

Why: "Strong backs don't break, they bend."

In a world where exercises like bird dogs and dead bugs have become the gold standard of "core stability", we've lost an appreciation for classics involving heavy bending and twisting. Some people are even fearful of such movements and think they should be avoided. But you are a movement optimist. You believe in the innate adaptability & resiliency of the human body. You know that real life doesn't happen in straight lines or with neutral spines. You know that with proper training, you have the capacity to bend & twist under load and that the only bad positions are the ones you avoid. This challenge is a demonstration of that belief!