Also missing will be Mike Jenkins, the runner up at the Arnold Strongman Classic earlier this year in his first year as a pro. Both of these athletes will be across the Atlantic in Poland, competing in Giants Live, the official Worlds Strongest Man qualifying tour. Brian has already secured his spot with his second place finish at the WSM last year. Big Mike has shown his abilities with solid 2nd place finishes in several contests this year. He is in Poland to show he is worthy of an invite to this years World's Strongest Man in South Carolina.
However, there is an impressive list of who's who in American strength who have committed
to this years competition. Perennial favorites like Brad “Wolverine” Dunn, Rx Muscle Power Hour Radio host Ryan Bracewell, Multiple Champion Travis “The Texas Stoneman” Ortmayer, Big Van Hatfield and many others. Absent also will be last years winner Derek Poundstone who has just resumed training after a 6 month layoff due to a vertebral injury.
This list of events appears to be even more challenging than last years version. Each event brings a new challenge to these athletes, grip strength, upper body strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular conditioning.
Day 1: Iron Mind Axle Clean and Press Max: Each lifter will have three attempts to press above their head a 2.5” thick bar with a weight of their choosing. Our winner will be the athlete to complete the heaviest attempt. This event is for an official Iron Mind “world record” event.
Lander’s Harley-Davidson Yoke & Sled: Lets put this event into perspective. Each athlete must stand under a 950lb bar, lay it across their shoulder and “run” 60' as fast as possible. However it doesn't end there. When the athlete crosses the 60' line a 700lb “Harley Davidson Fat Boy” sled will need to be pulled back to the original start line 60 feet behind them, all within a 60 second time limit.
Bigg Dogg Strongg Husafel Stone: As an athlete, you either really like this event, or you
despise it. A 400lb 2'x3' flat stone has to be lifted from the ground, cradled into the athletes arms and walked as far as possible until it is dropped.
Allen Tillery Chevy Colorado Wheelbarrow: The last event of the day will be a 6,000lb Chevy Colorado fitted with special bars in the rear that must be lifted and carried 80' with a 60 second time limit. Athletes may not use lifting straps here making this a bit more challenging to each athletes grip.
Day 2: Coco Beverage Budweiser Keg over the bar: Here athletes must heave 8 kegs of various weights over a 16' bar, all with a one-minute time limit.
Push-Pull Medley: 200lb circus DB, 675lb axle deadlift, 320lb Axle Clean & Press, 715lb standard deadlift, 340lb log Clean & Press. OK, if everything that these athletes attempt isn't enough, the ASC throws this medley into their collective laps. Each athlete must complete each portion of the 5 events before moving onto the next one. First the athlete must pick up with two hands and place upon their shoulder a massively thick handled 200lb dumbbell and press it with one arm. Once completed they will drop it and run to the next discipline, a thick handled 675lb axle deadlift. Athletes may use straps for any portion of these events. Once that is done, the athlete has to catch their breath, grasp a 320lb thick handled bar, bring it up to their chest and press above their head into the full locked out position. Next, another deadlift, this time a standard gym bar fitted with 715lbs and if that wasn't enough, each athlete will run to a 340lb log and press it above their head. Just writing this makes me tired.
Allen Tillery Chevy Cruz Car Hold: OK, no running or moving about for this event. This discipline brings about each athletes overall brute strength into the forefront. Simply, using lifting straps so as not to test the grip primarily, each athlete will lift the vehicle with specially fitted apparatus and hold on for dear life. No time limit. Just lift it and try to find your inner nirvana.
Atlas Stones: No strongman event is really complete without these behemoth spherical
stones. Each athlete has 75 seconds to lift a 300# to 60”, 330# to 60”, 360” to 54”, 380 to 54”, 420# to 54”. Remember, this is after 9 other long painful and grueling events.
This years competition event is primed to be one of the best events in several years. The ASC has pulled out all of the stops to make sure each event is more difficult than the previous. Fans and spectators will get to see and interact with these athletes each day of competition. Rx Muscle will be there to bring you play by play of each event, in-depth interviews and a whole new approach to American strongman reporting.
Please visit www.hotsprings.org for more information. The host hotel for this event is the Austin Hotel http://www.theaustinhotel.com/ in downtown Hot Springs, only moments away from the competition venue.
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