Every year since the inception of the Arnold Strongman Classic, Dr Terry Todd and his wife Jan manage to create one of the heaviest and most brutal five event shows on the planet. This year appears to be no exception. Rogue Fitness has stepped up their game by providing some of the unique pieces that will be on stage next weekend. The heaviest dumbbell ever used in competition, a yoke potentially going to over 1,500lbs and the staple Hummer Tire Deadlift which could see more than one man attempt 1,300lbs or more. Chiropractors and Physical Therapists, get your tables ready, because the Todd's are bringing the Pain to Columbus!
This years Arnold Strongman Classic is dedicated to our good friend Mike Jenkins, the 2010 Arnold Amateur Strongman Champion as then the 2012 Arnold Strongman Champion. Mike passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving day. 2013. This show is dedicated to the memory of Mike. His newly wed wife Keri will be on hand to take in the show. Our heartfelt condolences to Keri and her family as we all remember Mike as the great champion and amazing human being he was.
Here is a quick look at the 10 Invitees to this years Arnold Strongman Classic and it's five varied events. This show has two returning former winners and the reigning champion coming back to the big Expo Stage. Additionally three new faces are sure to bring something for the veterans of the stage to notice. In no particular order are the introductions to each athlete as well as my predictions event by event. With no further ado, here are the four events to be contested Friday February 28th and Saturday March 1st on the main Expo stage and the final event to take place Saturday night on the stage of Veterans Memorial Coliseum, just down the road from the Expo Center.
The Austrian Oak: Two logs. The first log is approximately 441lbs. The second is approximately 379lbs.
Each athlete may attempt the heavy log first. If they do not attempt it or make zero good lifts with the heavy log, they may then attempt the smaller log. One rep with the heavy log places higher than any number of reps with the smaller one.
Dimitar Savitinov claims a 500lb+ overhead press with an Olympic Bar. Zydrunas Savickas is one of the greatest overhead pressers of all time. Robert Oberst holds the American log press record and really, any number of these guys can make the big log since it is the first event.
Prediction: Zydrunas, Shaw, Burke, Oberst, Dimitar.
The Bale Tote (Better known now as the Yoke): Starting at more than 1,200lbs, each athlete will attempt to move the yoke 10'. Of those that finish, the yoke will be increased by more than 200lbs with special cotton bales taking the yoke to more than 1,400lbs. Of those that finish that test will see the yoke climb to as high as more than 1,500lbs.
Big men dominate here. If Nick Best were here, it may be a different event, however - Shaw, Thor, Oberst and Zydrunas should be the top... in no particular order.
Timber Carry: This year sees the familiar event going 880lbs up the 39' ramp. This year however is lighter by 250lbs, but they will not be allowed to use 
straps and have only 30 seconds to complete the event.
Mixed bag here. Shaw, Burke, Shivlykov, Pritchett. Rip, grip and run. No drops or your day is done.
Hummer Tire Deadlift: Starting somewhere around 850lbs, the elongated 14' olympic bar and its specially constructed 110lb Hummer H1 rim and tire setup makes this event very unique. Three attempts each makes this interesting with a 30 second time limit.
Predictions: Shaw has been 1,120lbs here before and made a nearly 1,200lb pull just a few weeks ago training in Colorado. Dimitar, if he is able to get all of the tires off the ground is formidable here. Lalas was top three here last year, Pritchett is one of the strongest powerlifting deadlifters on the stage, but Zydrunas is the one to watch. Predictions: Shaw, Zydrunas, Pritchett., Dimitar.
The Cyr Dumbell Press: With a newly commissioned piece, this old school styled dumbbell will challenge athletes with its sheer 273.5lb weight, but it's unique round ball ends make this a longer press than it's predecessors, but with more stability than previous years.
Predictions: So close to call. Lalas, Radzikowski, Shaw, Oberst, Dimitar, Shivlykov are all outstanding pressers. In the end, there can be only one; The current champ makes up for a lackluster weekend in the end – Lalas.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors in this show. A few new guys making waves, some of the industry standard athletes showing us why they are the champions they are. In the end, I do not believe Brian Shaw can be beaten. Shaw possesses unparalleled conditioning and I feel he is really hitting his stride in his all around strength game. His pure physical size gives him a huge advantage in this show and he clearly has overcome his injuries. Most importantly, as the 2013 Worlds Strongest Man champion, no one can deny his ability.
See you in Columbus on Thursday.
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