The 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic was rocked with information today when it was announced by Ironmind Magazine that the 2x reigning champion Derek Poundstone has withdrawn from this weekends event. Ryan bracewell first broke the news here on RxMuscle.com around 1:00pm today.
Behind every strong man is a stronger woman. Sorry guys, but honestly, to be successful in life, the balance of family man to athlete are always tenuous. Working two jobs, competing in a non-stop lifestyle of international travel for athletic competition and being a husband and father is tough. But, with support from family and friends, the goal to be the best in your game is that much easier. Travis
Ortmayer has everything a man could ask for in Strongman; except that 1st place trophy at the Arnold
Strongman Classic.
Sometimes, it’s the unexpected that can make for a great conversation. In a recent tête-à-tête with 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic Amateur Champion, Mike Jenkins, I felt a bit like Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said; “Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Great Enthusiasm”. In his tone and dialect, often punctuated with self-deprecating humor, it was easy to hear Mike’s enthusiasm as he spoke about his sport. Humble? Maybe to a fault. However, not without great pride and understanding of who he is.
Think accomplished, with poise.
At the 2010 Arnold Strongman Amateur Championships, when Mike won the amateur event, he was given an automatic qualifying spot for the next years Pro Arnold Strongman Classic. It was clear in our conversation that he has taken on that “responsibility” to represent himself through hard work and careful planning. Some athletes don’t think the automatic qualifier was a good thing - that there are more experienced and qualified athletes. Mike doesn’t really agree and will show the world what he has what it takes to be among the chosen few.
"For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer." Arnold Schwarzenegger
Truer words have never been spoken in terms of developing a unique and storied athletic event. In 2002 Arnold Schwarzenegger and his planning committee contacted powerlifting expert Dr. Terry Todd to develop a strength contest as part of the overall Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival. The program they developed has become the backbone to the entire centenary Arnold festivities.
The term ‟speed strength" will usually bring a scene to mind like... a sprinter coming off the blocks, or a javelin being thrown. You might think of a lineman, in a 4-3 defense, firing off and trying to get across the offensive line to make things bad for those guys in the backfield; or Barry Bonds, knocking a 100 mph fast ball out of the park.
These are all good examples of speed strength in sports, and for each example special strength training can be used to improve the performance of the athletes.
Editors Note: Rx Muscle's own Bryan Attila Hildebrand will be supplying complete coverage of the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic starting with a series of articles relating to the history of the event as well as in-depth profiles of the athletes competing. Look for the live play-by-play of the ASC on March 5th and 6th as well as video interviews and a competition wrapup following the events.
This year’s Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) has some very familiar faces with the addition of some unusual twists. This year’s ASC will take place March 4-5 in Columbus, Ohio on the main EXPO stage as part of the larger Arnold Sports Festival. 2009 and 2010 Arnold Strongman Champion Derek Poundstone and 6x winner Zydrunas Savickas will face off against each other in a rematch for the ages! Throw in eight other fierce competitors, as well as the addition of one athlete who qualified via an Strongman event in Los Angeles, and you have the making of one spectacular competition!
The All American Strongman Challenge will determine the American athletes to compete in the 2011 World Strong Man Super Series. The competition is OPEN to all qualified Strongman athletes. The top six athletes will receive All American Team Honors and the top 3 athletes will get a direct invite to the 2011 WSM Super Series Tour. Also, the 2011 All American Champion will get a direct invite to the 2011 Arnold’s Classic Strongman competition.
Greg Panora is a legendary powerlifter in the unlimited "equipment" division. He has trained at Westside Barbell Club and Lexen Extreme, and he holds the all-time world record total (2630lb) in the 242lb class. The following is a conversational interview between Greg and RX MUSCLE's Cory ‟Swede" Burns.
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