America Peals

Ok. Brace yourselves. I just received my new balls in the mail. Actually, they are molds of balls but I still find myself whispering: Be still my beating heart.

For as long as I remember, I wondered how I could get my hands on said balls seeing that they are not easily purchased. In fact, one cannot purchase balls, one needs to make them from scratch; with concrete.

Terrible word play aside, I began CrossFit, functional training, research, writing, Paleo eating for one primary goal. I want to be a strong woman (not like Jim Carrey from In Living Color.)

I ordered from Slaters Hardware a 10 inch Atlas Stone mold which should yield a 43 lb stone. Steven Slater who delightfully answered a very non-feminist email from me, explained that I would need an 80lb bag of Quikcrete to make my first ball. Slater and his brethren Lou and Jackie now run the family biz which has been manufacturing Strongmen/Strongwomen equipment for over 60 years. And, their Atlas Molds have been featured in high profile competitions and have been part of breaking worlds records. I feel like I am in good hands and greatly appreciate Steven for taking the time to figure out how much concrete this nerdy librarian needs before making her first stone.

Hats off to my CrossFit London’s hunk Steven Shrago for giving me some impromptu advice about mixing cement:

Hi Amanda,

I have not made an Atlas stone before, but now that I know that it is possible, I think I will be giving it a go.

Mixing cement and sand: Hire a mixer! Seriously, there is nothing sexy at all about mixing cement (as Andrew and I discovered when reinforcing the floor to the gym). It is hard, boring and messy work. A mixer for £24/week (umm…$36?) is a bargain. You can make many balls!

As for the cement/sand mix, you may need to be guided by the instructions that came with the mold

That said, there do seem to be a few useful guides on the matter scattered across the dusty corners of the internets

http://www.bodyresults.com/S2stone.asp

http://www.purepowerathlete.com/files/Everything_You_Need_to_Know_About_Making_Atlas_Stones.doc

http://www133.pair.com/iain/vault/house/stones/stonemaking.html

Good luck! I’d like to see pictures when it is done!

Steven

I will be video taping my Atlas Stone creation so fear not. After I pass…er…make my first stone, this is what I will be doing with it: