Arnold Strongman Classic

Bigger Stronger Leaner Powerlifting & Strength Sports
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For those that don’t read MM but still follow strongman:

From Terry Todd

BIG CHANGES AND NEW EVENTS AT THE 2010 ARNOLD STRONGMAN CLASSIC

CONFIRMED ATHLETES

Derek Poundstone (Reigning Arnold Strongman Classic Champion and America’s Strongest Man) - USA

Zydrunas Savickas (Reigning World’s Strongest Man and Fortissimus Strongest Man Alive Champion) - Lithuania

Brian Shaw (Reigning Super Series Champion) - USA

Mikhail Koklyaev - Russia

Travis Ortmayer - USA

Phil Pfister - USA

Donnie Thompson - (powerlifter with highest total in history) - USA

Brian Siders - USA

The 2010 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) will maintain most of its signature events, and will once again be sponsored by Maximum Human Performance (MHP). The ASC will also introduce several changes in an effort to improve the contest. These changes have been made by the ASCâ??s organizing committee, led by Dr. Terry Todd and made up of Scotlandâ??s David Webster, Strongman legend Bill Kazmaier, equipment manufacturer Richard Sorin, historian Dr. John Fair, and Dr. Jan Todd, former world record holder in powerlifting.

The Arnold Strongman Classic originated in 2001, when Jim Lorimer asked Terry Todd if he would design and oversee a Strongman competition for the 2002 ASC. From the beginning, Lorimer and Todd, along with Arnold himself, wanted a Strongman contest that would be the truest test of brute strength in the world as well as exciting to watch. Every year the ASC Committee has tweaked or even replaced certain events in order to make the overall contest better. This year the ASC will consist of five challenges instead of the six which were used last year. The Heavy Yoke will be dropped, and the remaining challenge will be:

The Tire Deadliftâ??no change. The Tire Deadlift is done on a unique bar 14 feet long and loaded with Hummer tires. The men can wear lifting straps, which eliminate any strain on the grip, and the bar is approximately 2â?? higher than a standard Olympic bar would be when loaded with either 20 kilo or 45 pound plates. The world record on this bar is an amazing 500 kilos (1102 pounds).

Manhood Stoneâ??no change except for the addition of approximately two kilos or 4 pounds for record-breaking purposes. Last year the round, smooth Manhood Stone weighed 529 pounds, and was the heaviest stone of this sort ever lifted over a bar 48â?? high.

Apollonâ??s Wheelsâ??major change. This event has been used in each of the eight ASC contests, and the challenge has always been to lift the 166 kilo (366 pound) barbell from the floor to the shoulders and then overhead for as many complete repetitions as possible. The same man who designed and built our Apollonâ??s Wheels, Tom Lincir, has designed a way to allow the basic Wheels to be increased from 166 kilos in four 10 kilo jumpsâ??to 176 kg (388 pounds), 186 kg (410 pounds), 196 kg (432 pounds), and finally to 206 kg (454 pounds). Men who reach the top weight will be asked to do as many floor-to-overhead reps as they can in 90 seconds.

Circus Bellâ??weight change. Last year our winner, Derek Poundstone, made a remarkable 15 complete reps, and so the committee decided to increase weight. Last yearâ??s format will be used, but the weight of the huge, awkward implement with its 3â?? diameter bar will be boosted to approximately 103 kg (228 pounds). The ASC committee believes that no event in a true Strongman contest should use a weight so light that one or more of the competitors could do 12 or more repetitions with it.

Timber Carryâ??major change. For many years we have used the same massive, solid frame built out of old barn timbers and weighing approximately 875 pounds. In the past the men were not allowed to use straps and they were required to walk up a ramp about 36â?? long as fast as possible. This year the ten giants will be allowed to use straps because the weight of the frame will be approximately 450 kg (1003 pounds)–an increase of more than 57 kilos (approximately 127 pounds) heavier. To offset this dramatic weight increase the men will carry the Timbers on a flat platform instead of up a ramp. Each man will be given the same 30 second time limit as has been used in the contest from the beginning.

As has been the case since the first Arnold Strongman Classic in 2002, the contest will award the greatest top prize in the sport and will feature the leading strength athletes in the world. At this point we have commitments from Zydrunas Savickas, winner of six ASC titles from 2003 through 2008 and also winner of the 2009 Fortissimus title and the 2009 Worldâ??s Strongest Man tv contest; Derek Poundstone, winner of the ASC in 2009, Winner of America’s Strongest Man 2009, and 2007, winner of Fortissimus 2008; Phil Pfister, winner of the Worldâ??s Strongest Man tv in 2006; Brian Siders, winner of the superheavy class in the International Powerlifting Federation and world record holder; Brian Shaw, winner of All American Strength Challenge; and Travis Ortmayer; past winner of the MSG WSM Super Series contest. As usual, an invitation has been sent to Mariusz Pudzianowski, five-time WSM winner, MMA fighter, and winner of Polandâ??s version of Dancing with the Stars.

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With straps being allowed in the frame, and the weight increases, it’s tough to bet against big-Z. Poundstone is going to be coming back looking to prove that last years arnold win wasn’t a fluke and that he’s capable of beating Z in his own contest. He always seems to pull out amazing performances as the underdog.

I’m predicting Shaw as the darkhorse. Hopefully Misha comes in good shape.

I see Donnie Thompson getting schooled hear. I’m sure people will disagree, but I can’t see him doing that well in this contest with the transition to strongman. I know Siders did it, but I don’t think DT has the kind of strength that Siders has.

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[quote]threewhitelights wrote:
I’m predicting Shaw as the darkhorse. Hopefully Misha comes in good shape. [/quote]

I’ve advocated thsi before, but nobody is allowed to pick shaw as a “dark horse” any more. I understand that him beating Zydrunas would be a surprise, but since Zydrunas is the favorite, ANYONE beating him would be a surprise. Shaw has gotten better and better and better every tiem we’ve seen him for the last year. After podium finishes at fortissimus and worlds, i dont think anyone should be surprised by anything he does

I guess it depends what you mean by “well.” I’m expecting donnie to put up some good numbers, but not necessarily place all that well … which is about what I expect siders to do. Siders will prob beat donnie, and I’m not saying that it is due solely to greater experience, but I do think they are approx equal in strength. Although new england record breakers was almost 4 years ago, Donnie and Brian were just abotu neck and neck there, and thats with a controversial turn-down of donnies 870 squat. All in all, should be very interesting.

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I guess what I mean is that I expect Donnie to have a tough transition to strongman. I’m all for it and all, but I just think that for his “debut” contest he should have been a little more conservative.

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I am psyched to see the S-Man comp. It will be a good show overall.

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I don’t think anyone is going to touch Big Z. Big Z has basically skipped the frame walk every year and still won commandingly and often does just enough to win. Even last year, Big Z’s numbers from 2008 would have got him first place with Poundstone and Koklyaev pushing each other hard. Taking grip out of the frame carry makes it his to lose.

The real entertainment will be seeing Poundstone, Shaw, Ort, and Koklyaev (if he’s back up to 100%) duel for the top spots.

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[quote]Donut62 wrote:
I don’t think anyone is going to touch Big Z. Big Z has basically skipped the frame walk every year and still won commandingly and often does just enough to win. Even last year, Big Z’s numbers from 2008 would have got him first place with Poundstone and Koklyaev pushing each other hard. Taking grip out of the frame carry makes it his to lose.

The real entertainment will be seeing Poundstone, Shaw, Ort, and Koklyaev (if he’s back up to 100%) duel for the top spots.[/quote]

Donut venturing out of the combat sports forum. Nice.

I don’t remember this exchange perfect, but I do remember seeing a clip of someone asking zydrunas something to the effect of “The first year you won the arnold you completed the frame carry with no drops. It hasnt gotten much heavier, and yet you havent completed it again. why is that?” and zydrunas basically shrugs and says “that year it was the final event, and I needed to do it again. If I needed to do it again, I could.” just awesome.

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How was Poundstone’s win last year a fluke?

Are there only going to be 5 events this year? What happened to the yoke?

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[quote]KBCThird wrote:

[quote]Donut62 wrote:
I don’t think anyone is going to touch Big Z. Big Z has basically skipped the frame walk every year and still won commandingly and often does just enough to win. Even last year, Big Z’s numbers from 2008 would have got him first place with Poundstone and Koklyaev pushing each other hard. Taking grip out of the frame carry makes it his to lose.

The real entertainment will be seeing Poundstone, Shaw, Ort, and Koklyaev (if he’s back up to 100%) duel for the top spots.[/quote]

Donut venturing out of the combat sports forum. Nice.

I don’t remember this exchange perfect, but I do remember seeing a clip of someone asking zydrunas something to the effect of “The first year you won the arnold you completed the frame carry with no drops. It hasnt gotten much heavier, and yet you havent completed it again. why is that?” and zydrunas basically shrugs and says “that year it was the final event, and I needed to do it again. If I needed to do it again, I could.” just awesome.[/quote]

Yeah, it was interview with him and Marumets that Garrick Daft put up on Youtube. Marumets said he had strong grip because he shoveled cow shit all his life.

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[quote]Donut62 wrote:

[quote]KBCThird wrote:

[quote]Donut62 wrote:
I don’t think anyone is going to touch Big Z. Big Z has basically skipped the frame walk every year and still won commandingly and often does just enough to win. Even last year, Big Z’s numbers from 2008 would have got him first place with Poundstone and Koklyaev pushing each other hard. Taking grip out of the frame carry makes it his to lose.

The real entertainment will be seeing Poundstone, Shaw, Ort, and Koklyaev (if he’s back up to 100%) duel for the top spots.[/quote]

Donut venturing out of the combat sports forum. Nice.

I don’t remember this exchange perfect, but I do remember seeing a clip of someone asking zydrunas something to the effect of “The first year you won the arnold you completed the frame carry with no drops. It hasnt gotten much heavier, and yet you havent completed it again. why is that?” and zydrunas basically shrugs and says “that year it was the final event, and I needed to do it again. If I needed to do it again, I could.” just awesome.[/quote]

Yeah, it was interview with him and Marumets that Garrick Daft put up on Youtube. Marumets said he had strong grip because he shoveled cow shit all his life.
[/quote]

Oh, ok, good video. For some reason I thought it was when svend was interviewing him for eurosport or something. Donut, do you train strongman, or just PL?

Johnny, people will say that about poundstone sicne Zydrunas took last year off in preparing for fortissimus. I wouldn’t call it a fluke, and Derek certainly shouldnt have an asterisk - it’s not like he forced zydrunas out - but it will be interesting to see two former champions head to head for the first time this year

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[quote]KBCThird wrote:
Oh, ok, good video. For some reason I thought it was when svend was interviewing him for eurosport or something. Donut, do you train strongman, or just PL?

Johnny, people will say that about poundstone sicne Zydrunas took last year off in preparing for fortissimus. I wouldn’t call it a fluke, and Derek certainly shouldnt have an asterisk - it’s not like he forced zydrunas out - but it will be interesting to see two former champions head to head for the first time this year[/quote]

I’ve only competed in powerlifting up till now but plan to do my first strongman meet this year. Maybe in May in June. I want to put up an “elite” raw total in a powerlifting meet but other than that strongman interests me much more.

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Max squat instead of max deadlift!

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If Mateusz is healthy at all, this is his big chance to win an Arnold. He should be the favorite at every event except the squat; and unlike the deadlift, he’s at least competitive in the squat.

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Martins has a video up, training with JF Caron in Quebec, in below freezing weather. Must watch YT entertainment.

Spoiler alert: JF has a pet cow. Quote: “It’s not meat”.

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Some dude named Silky posted the following comment, thought it was interesting:

“It’s a special bar called the “Double T Bar” named after the ranch owned by Dr. Terry Todd. It was made in conjunction with Louis Simmons from Westside Barbell. It’s thicker diameter than a “traditional” sloped barbell.”

(click the link to see the Arnold setup for the squat event)

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Mateusz K out due to hip injury.

Imo Martins now the favorite unless his recent back tweak flares up during the competition.

Sad, but it looks like Mateusz’ body is just not built to endure the weights, both body and in the events, necessary for a long career. If he’s lucky, maybe he’ll hold up enough to win one of WSM/Arnold/Rogue before he has to call it quits.

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