The epic and impressive display of all things strength sports related, strongman competitions have been going on since the late 70s and are just becoming more popular as it attracts more fans and more fans. We might have seen a large beast of a man pick up a bar as it bent in his grasp or pull a large plane, but what is strongman and what happened at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2016?
DAVE - the purpose of the strongman is to get the strongest men on earth to compete in various events that include throwing heavy objects, running with awkwardly shaped heavy objects, pulling large vehicles, squatting 1000+ lbs, and deadlifting a bunch of weight.
What are the different competitions? WSM, Arnold Strongman Classic, local and state competitions, and each country has their own strongman competition. Winners of each country gets considered to be invited to the WSM.
EVERETT: The Arnold is probably the most exclusive strongman event. Not only is it by invitation only (like WSM, which has various qualifiers) but it is also limited to 10 athletes (WSM gets 30).
EVERETT: In some ways the rules are stricter in strongman, but in other ways more lax. For instance, athletes have strict time limits for each lift - how long it can take them to get to the bar and begin the lift - but the lift itself can look really ugly...but if you get it, you get it. For instance, in the deadlift, you can use straps and hitch the bar...some of the deadlifts looked like they were going to break the guys’ backs.
Who were the athletes at the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic?
The events (ASC Arnold Strongman, RRB Rogue Record Breaker):
Some of the info used in today's podcast are found here:
http://www.arnoldstrongmanclassic.com/rulesresults.html
http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-equipped-events/2016-arnold-strongman-classic?icid=carousel
ASC Event One: The Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift - Eddie Hall starts the deadlift event at 1016 and ends up deadlifting 1026 lbs. Jerry Pritchett becomes the first American to deadlift 1000+ lbs and the 4th person in the world to deadlift that weight on a strongman stage.
They used the specially made Rogue Elephant bar which is the same size as a normal deadlifting bar but longer and strong enough to handle the load being put on it (and weighed 65 lbs). The plates were also specially made at 2” wide each. This made the load a bit wider, creating the bend in the bar. In earlier years, the deadlift was with the Hummer tires so this event meant that they didn’t have the height to start as they would with earlier years as the bar is lower to the ground. This made it possible for a world record to be set.
ASC Event Two: The Austrian Oak - Eddie Hall injured tricep - in training - and had to pull out during this event.
“We will use two logs. The “Small” log weighs approximately 385 pounds (175 kg); The “Large” log weighs approximately 450 pounds (204 kg). The event will be conducted just as it was in 2015. One rept with the 451 pound log is worth more points than 20 with the 385 pound log.
The logs are made of wood, metal and rope and the dimensions of the heavier log—The Austrian Oak—are as follows: length, 9’; diameter between the handles, 12”; distance between the handles, 26”; handle diameter, 1.25”; diameter at each end, 22”. The logs are also balanced so that the handles are equidistant from the exact balance point of the log.
The challenge to the athletes will be to take the log from the platform, lift it to arms’ length (and control it) Repeat for as many repetitions as possible.”
ASC Event Three: The Cyr Dumbbell
The rules for how the Cyr Dumbbell is lifted will be the same as last year—two hands may be used to lift the dumbbell to the shoulder, but then only one arm can be used to push it to arm’s length overhead. This year, however, we will use two dumbbells with different weights—just like we do in the Austrian Oak event. The Heavy Cyr—made by Rogue Fitness especially for the 2016 ASC—will weigh 300 lbs. (136.5 kg) and the Light Cyr will weigh 274 lbs. (124.5 kg.) Anyone who wants to attempt the Heavy Cyr will take their attempts in the reverse order of their placing at that time, and will do as many reps as possible. Those who want to wait for the Light Cyr will wait until the attempts with the Heavy Cyr have been made.
ASC Event Four: The Bale Tote
This year we will load our yoke so that it weighs approximately 1300 lbs. for the first of two heats. We have had two bales of cotton made at the oldest operational gin in America— in Burton, Texas—which began to gin and bale cotton in 1914. These bales were made the old-fashioned way so that they are larger than modern bales. Each bale weighs over 400 lbs. (182.5 kg) but will be reweighed before the event begins so the weight will be exact when announced from the stage. The yoke that will carry the cotton bales and any additional weight we need was designed and built by Rogue Fitness.
ASC Event Five: The Timber Carry
This event will be the same as in 2015, and straps will be allowed. We have used the same Timber Frame since the ASC began in 2002, although the weight of the frame has often been different. It was adapted through the years by Steve Slater. This year it will weigh approximately 1102 pounds (500 kg) and the goal is to carry it approximately 35 feet (10.7 meters) up the same ramp as fast as possible. No sliding of the frame is allowed. The timbers can be dropped and picked back up again. The time limit is 30 seconds.
