A new guy in the bending game, but not a real newcomer because he is just very strong for the very short active bending time. It´s Thom from sweden who is already killing steel and bolts in style.
After one year he is working towards things like a 10.9 Bolt and a Gold bend. These are bends where others had to work for several years, but Thom is on a very good way to smash these goals soon.
Not just Double Overhand, also in the other styles he is learning very fast and could bent some great bars and bolts. Thom is a good alrouner and we will see some huge stuff in the future.
So make sure to follow his journey on his channels:
Thanks Thom for the interview:
Name:
Thom Fingalsson
Year of birth:
1992
Height:
192cm
Weight
114kg
Location:
Sweden
Occupation:
Salesman
Relationship Status:
Married
Question 01:
What does steel bending mean to you?
Steel bending is so much more then any off the other stuff I am doing like lifting weights in the gym or gripsport. It's a fight with both technique and pure strength but also a huge mind battle before you finally get that piece to bend and you know you can win.
Question 02:
When and why did you start steel bending and what does or did your active time look like?
I started bending steel less then one year ago. In the beginning I wasn't able to do any double overhand bending because I couldn't understand the technique and had poor shoulder mobility. But also because the reason I started to bend was that a swedish gripsport competition always have reverse/DU as one event. So I started with DU bending and Reverse and it went pretty fast forward to the point I was working with G8 bolts. But then I really wanted to be able to DO bend. So I tried and tried and finally with great help from David Wigren and Siamak Sobhanei I finaly figured it out. Went from not bending 8mm HRS to destroy a 207k G8 in like 3 hits. It took about 5 months after that that I certified on the IronMind red nail and one month after that I certed at your 8.8 bolt! Currently working on the 10.9, got it down to 90mm left as my best attempt so far.
Question 03:
What do you love about steel bending?
I touched it in the first question but I really love the fight. To give it your all and beat the steel. Making it bend and destroy it. There's also some love to overcoming the pain in some of the bends, not letting pain getting in the way for progressing on the bends.
Question 04:
What do you hate about steel bending?
I hate wrapping between bends.
Question 05:
How does your training for steel bending look like?
At the beginning I could do every 3 styles so I trained it 3 times a week with different styles but as off recent the heavy DO taxes to much so I focus mostly on that with one session a week. Sometimes I can't stick to it and do other stuff during the week
Question 06:
How does your other training look like (strength or other)?
I do some powerlifting training, just to keep the body strong but mostly gripsport!
Question 07:
What goals have you set for yourself?
I want to cert the 10.9, bend a Gold Nail in doubles. Reverse and DU red nail and perhaps cert the 8.8 DU.
Question 08:
What was the most impressive bend you ever saw (live or on video)?
Bat Tibilov and Alexander Klimovichs bends are crazy.
Question 09:
Rapid stuff – choose one
Bolts or steel?
Steel
Unbraced or braced?
Unbraced
Singles or doubles?
Prefer Singles but are way stronger on doubles
Chalk or not?
Chalk
Beer or water?
Water
Cordura or leather or both?
Both
Short bars or long bars?
Short
Horseshoes or flat bars?
Horseshoes
Chips or chocolate?
Chocolate
Question 10:
The last words belong to you. What do you want the reader take away? Let us know your poems of steel!
I hope this inspires some people to go out in their preferred bendingspot and go ham on something heavy! Don't be hesitant on trying out heavier bars then you think you can handle, worst case scenario is you get some good ISO training!