COEUR d’ALENE — One hundred seconds is not a very long time.

But when attempting Action Entertainment’s "action bar challenge," it can feel like an eternity.

The challenge, which has become a staple at the North Idaho State Fair, is simple: spend $10 to hang from a metal bar using an over- or underhand grip without letting go for 100 seconds. After that one minute and 40 seconds is up, win $100.  

It sounds easy enough to the hundreds that attempt each summer, but Action Entertainment only sees an average of 30 to 35 winners over 10 days at the fair, according to owner Andy Smith.  

As of Wednesday, 16 people had successfully completed the challenge.

The key, Smith explained, is grip strength, as the bar itself provides no resistance.  

“Overall body strength actually has very little to do with it,” Smith said.  

Though based in Billings, Mont., Action Entertainment has returned to the fair for the past seven summers, always drawing crowds as people cheer on those willing to take on the challenge.

The action bar also attracts returning challengers. Anthony Luke Hyslop has attempted the challenge the past four summers and walked away with the cash prize three times.

“You really can do anything you set your mind to,” Hyslop said.

Aside from grip strength, Hyslop said, mental fortitude is critical to reaching the 100 second mark; he advises against keeping track of remaining time on the bar.

Hyslop’s wife, Elizabeth, concurred.

“You’re just thinking, ‘don’t let go, don’t let go,’” she said.

Elizabeth has made one attempt on the action bar. Though she didn’t quite make it to the end, she walked away with an appreciation of how difficult the challenge truly is.

“I expected to win,” she said. “But those last 10 seconds, your hands start to get sweaty and that’s it.”  

Elizabeth advises challengers to lock their wrists once they find their grip on the bar.

“You cannot regrip once you’re up there,” she added.  

Fairgoers can attempt the action bar challenge for a few more days, until the fair winds down Sunday.

    Caleb Brewer holds on as he attempts the action bar challenge Thursday.
  

    Sam Hoekskra (left) and Lyal Winschell (right) attempt the action bar challenge Thursday.
  

    A crowd gathered as Caleb Brewer attempted the action bar challenge Thursday at the North Idaho State Fair.