 Virginia & East Coast Strongman Competitions have grown in numbers since the 1980s. Back in the ‘80s in the State of Virginia, the number of meets available were less than 1 per year and very few people were aware of the sport. Since 1999 there has been at least 3 or 4 Strongman competitions held through out the state of Virginia and all the meets were covered by the local media. For 2005 we are looking at 1 meet, sanctioned by the North American Strongman Society [NASS] to held in Norfolk, Virginia.
NASS is the amateur sanctioning body for American Strongman. Virginia meets sanction with NASS, which qualifies the winners to compete in NASS Nationals. The 2005Azalea Festival Strongman Challenge is a Gold NASS Competition.
Through out America, Strongman competitions are growing in number, competitors and fans.
This fact is acknowledged in that every New Years Day, ESPN 2 runs the World Strongest Man 24 Hour Marathon. This consists of WSM competitions from the 80s to the present.
A typical Strongman Championship is comprised of events or variations of events, many of which, have been adopted from the Scottish Highland Games and the Basque contest in Spain, as well from the pure test of strength from powerlifting and Olympic Lifting.
As a rule a Strongman meet will be held one day and consist of 5 or 6 events. If it is a 6 event meet the first 4 events are the elimination rounds. The top 10 or 12 contenders will then compete in the final 2 events for the championship meet title.
The meet should be a balance of events which test the athletes in different areas of strength.
For example in a well balanced meet the events could be 1)the Hercules Hold, a test of Grip Strength 2)Truck Pull [harness only], testing back & legs 3) Log Lift, an overhead press, testing shoulder strength 4)Arm Over Arm Vehicle Pull, testing arms & back 5)Stone Loading, a multiple discipline event 6)Conan's Wheel, tests the arms & legs. Many meets will include a Medley as an event. A Medley is a series of 2 or 3 events ran consequently with a time limit of 75 or 90 seconds. An example is the Carry & Drag, where the competitor will carry the Husafell Stone for 80 feet, drop it grab the end link of a 500 lb Chain and drag it for 80 feet across the finish line.
Some of the most commonly used, but not limited to, and familiar event are
The Log Lift
Rock Lift,
Viking Press
Fingel Fingers
Hercules Hold
Deadlift Hold, Truck Hold
Farmers Walk
Sled or Chain Drag
Squat
Deadlifts
Super Yoke
Atlas Stones
Tire or Car Flip
Vehicle Pull with Harness and Rope
Husafell Stone
Arm Over Arm Vehicle Pull
Conan's Wheel
Keg Loading
Keg Throw for Height
56 Pound Throw for Height
Tire Throw for Distance
Tug of War
Strongman competitions are exciting to compete in and exciting to watch. The events are rarely the same and the athletes are constantly challenged. Interested in competing or spectating, contact Gayle Schroeder, NASS Virginia State Chair at strength@exis.net
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