Beijing China— Carlsbad resident, George Hood received a formal invitation from China to represent the USA at China’s 2nd international World Cup Plank Challenge May 14-15, 2016 in Beijing, China . The world cup event is sponsored by Mens Health-China and will be held at the prestigious Shangri-la Hotel in Beijing.
A highlight of this year’s world cup is that Hood will attempt to set a new Guinness world record for the plank ‪on may 14, 2016 starting ‪at 10am (Beijing time)- which is 7:00 pm PST Friday May 13 here in San Diego. The event will take place at the Shangri-la Hotel. Guinness world record adjudicators will be on site to certify Hood’s attempt which will streamed live via u-stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Hood-s-guinness-world-record-attempt , this attempt will also be on behalf of the Semper Fi Fund.
Hood has the current international world record at 5 hours, 15 minutes, 15 seconds set in may 2015 in Oceanside, on behalf of the Semper Fi Fund. For the first time, Hood is being challenged by his Chinese rival Mao Weidong, who set the GWR in Sept 2014. During a recent training exhibition on April 10, 2016, in preparation for his challenge in China, Hood set a new personal best and an unofficial world record with a plank of 5 hours, 35 minutes and 35 seconds at the way of life boot camp facility in Oceanside, Hood remarked “that 5:35:35 plank prepared me both mentally and physically to accept this plank challenge in China”.
This is Hood’s second appearance at China’s World Cup. He appeared in Beijing in June 2014 and set the world record at 4 hours, 1 minute. Hood is the only man in the world to have set the Plank record 4 times since 2011. In sept 2015, he was the first to set the world record for the 40lb weighted plank on behalf of the united way and Semper Fi Fund in Indiana, PA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tvjzq1nh_i&feature=youtu.be
Hood has distinguished himself among elite ultra endurance athletes when it comes to functional fitness records such as the plank, an exercise pose held in high regard in China. Http://usa.Chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2014-08/01/content_18231913.htm
Hood, a former Marine officer and retired DEA agent has 9 world records, all of which have been fundraisers for worthy causes. He is the founder of Oceanside Paddle Board and is on staff as a trainer and Group-X instructor with Fit-X San Diego. Hood has trained up to 6-7 hours a day to prepare for the word cup challenge in Beijing. Hood is assisted by a dedicated crew who will accompany him to Beijing. Hood’s crew will chart his every move during the course of his long arduous and extremely difficult effort on his platform. “My success is a genuine blessing for a crew who commits to my well-being when I execute any record attempt”, Hood said.
For the attempt in China, Hood’s all important cognitive crew will consist of Dana Glowacka from Montreal, Canada who will also participate in the world cup event. Glowacka is the #1 seed going into the China event. Under training with Hood, Glowacka has consistently improved her time and in March 2016 planked for 2 hours, 25 minutes during a training event with Hood. Also participating in the women’s portion of the challenge is fitness enthusiast and TV celeb Karen Coffee from Chapel Hill, NC who has also adopted Hood’s method of training for the plank. Coffee recently appeared on TV’s “Naked and Afraid” where her mental and physical toughness will be of tremendous help to Hood. Both Glowacka and coffee are well-trained in the plank and will be critical to sustaining Hood’s cognitive conditioning while executing his record attempt. Rounding out team Hood is operations manager Mary Shanley from Escondido, CA, platform coach Craig Thompson from San Diego, CA and Christine Epstein also from San Diego. Team member Brenna Shanley from, Seal Beach, CA will be assisting with social media postings during the event stateside.
Hood is joined by an international following in over 7 countries around the world with nearly 22 million views on social media alone https://t.co/hgsvrlujoa. As a result, Hood’s fundraising initiatives and record attempts are often referred to as “the people’s plank” due to his vast network of support. Hood has once again committed to donating a portion of any proceeds generated from his plank challenge in China to the Semper Fi fund.