Prize Money at Grip Contests

[Randall Strossen]

How important is the prize money/prize list at grip contests?

[Robert artmont]

How important is the prize money/prize list at grip contests?

If I had to travel a ways... It would be a huge plus!

[Andrew Durniat]

With the economy on edge and the cost of airfare ever rising, it does help a great bit. If I am hosting a local comp with everyone within a 3 hour drive, it's not as important. A nice t-shirt, lunch/dinner, drinks and plague are solid. If you are hosting a National meet and/or are looking to entice competitors from across the country and globe, then yes, cash is necessary. The Arnold and FitExpo draw big grip names because cash is available to top placers. I know I train I bit harder knowing I can earn my flights cross country.

[Ben Edwards]

How important is the prize money/prize list at grip contests?
Not really important to me. Icing on the cake to get a prize and very rare to get money at a grip contest.

[Bob Lipinski]

I did it once to get a big draw to Larkin's, and it worked- I figured if people saw the place once they would come back now and again. $500/$100, nothing amazing, but in addition to winning the money I think it creates a little excitement. Besides that, it matters little to me. I would compete in any nearby contest- The closest contest to me is the one I promote, and I drive almost 4 hours to that one. The next nearest is Gripmas, an 8+ hour drive. With young children, my motivation to drive that far is at a low point.

[Chris Rice]

When you take away the Expo type events (and there have been problems there also I heard) - there has been very little money offered at grip contests. And of course only the very best will ever see any of that money as prizes. For most of us - we hope for a trophy and some equipment to train with. But the reason we (at least I) compete is for much different reasons than any personal gain. Would cash prizes be nice? Of course - and it will probably attract a few people that otherwise might not show up. But attracting sponsors with deep pockets for the typical grip contest is not going to be easy. Where is the payback for them? Some method of marketing with the possibility of a return on their investment needs to be found. I don't know enough of marketing to have a clue where to start on that.

As to the original question - money doesn't mean much as to if I attend a competition as I'm not likely to win any of it anyway under the current set up of no weight classes etc. The money will go to the biggest and strongest - neither of which I am. Monetary prizes only mean something to those who have a chance to win some of it - for the rest of us - not so much.

[Steve Gardener]

The $600 I won at Chad Woodalls event helped a lot towards the $1000 I think I spent out getting there. Had I won any at the Mighty Mitts that would have been the same - enough to pay my expenses only.

[Euclides D. McQuade]

For your average contest, I don't think it matters..... but I do think IronMind should host a biennial, end-all-be-all, grip championship!
Bending, leveraging, pinching, crushing..... all aspects of grip to see who has the world's strongest hands. Winner gets money, a custom gold plated #4 with their name, "2012 IronMind grip champion" on the side of the handles.... and a big ass trophy.

[Casey Emery]

I always pay money to enter grip contests ! And with some stiff local competition, I never even place top three, heck top five would be nice ! I don't care about the money, I could imagine if you travel for a comp it would be very nice.