It's a tangled mess that involves shipping massive amounts of IFSA Strongman equipment halfway around the world for the 2007 IFSA World Championships, and along with athletes who never received their prize money for competing, the freight company that moved the merchandise so the show could go on was left holding the bag, to the tune of US$63,000; and to recover at least some of the money it is owed, the shipping company is going to sell all the IFSA Strongman equipment it has in its possession.


It's quite a change from the one-time high flyer of the strongman world, when IFSA Strongman talked of seven-figure purses and compared itself to WWE and Formula One. Now, it's fire sale time, and even the people who once were happy to present themselves as kings and queens from the land of IFSA are quick to distance themselves from the organization whose strongman equipment is being sold for lack of payment on a shipping bill. IFSA Strongman: Going, going . . . . Photo courtesy of Al Thompson.

Al Thompson has provided the following inventory list, so that prospective buyers can review the offerings:

Logs (2): $1000 each
Deadlift (1): $2500
Metal Timberwalks (2): $1500 each if bought separately; $1250 if bought together
Stands and Stones: $4000 total (10 each); $2500 for stands; $1500 for stones; must buy all or none
Wheels (18): $200 each
Bars (9): $250 each
Shields (4?): $200 each
Super Yokes (?): $400 each
Blocks (8): $150
Platforms (3) $200 each

Thompson is involved with the sale because it was his sponsor that got burned on this deal, he said, adding that he had hoped to initiate the sale earlier, but he was hospitalized and that slowed things down.

"John Cirone can be reached at jcir1@yahoo.com to make offers," Thompson said, referring to the man who's firm got stiffed by IFSA. "Freight FOB origin. John will make a freight deal if enough equipment is bought."

Derek Poundstone has officially confirmed that he will be competing at the Eleiko WSM Super Series set for Madison Square Garden on June 21, so if you haven't already bought your ticket, go get it now.


And why shouldn't Derek Poundstone smile? He was a couple of hours from making good on Bill Kazmaier's prediction as he won the Eleiko WSM Super Series Mohegan Sun Grand Prix. Poundstone would follow this win with a superb performance at the Arnold a few weeks later, and next, he'll be back in the saddle as the Eleiko WSM Super Series comes to the legendary Madison Square Garden on June 21. Randall J. Strossen photo.

"It's not just about 'Poundstone versus Pudzianowski' . . . it's about all the athletes," Derek Poundstone told IronMind, but the truth is, everyone would like to see a rematch between the two guys seen as favorites to win the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest, as they headline a card that will make strongman history in the United States.

Talking about his need to focus on "the biggest and the best shows" at this point, Poundstone said he's "very, very excited about being at the Garden . . . it's the frigging Garden - what more do you need to say?!"

"As the NYAWA prepares for its most spectacular 2008 season ever, we would like to present for the first time, a monumental year of arm wrestling preparation, practice and instruction," said Gene Camp, public relations officer for the New York Armwrestling Association.


Get over to the NYAWA practice sessions and maybe next year it will be you on a table with Tim Bresnan (left) or John Brzenk (right) at the Arnold. Randall J. Strossen photo.

And if that's not good enough already, "It's free, there's no residency requirement and everyone is welcome!"

Everyone benefits, Camp explained. "Beginners learn safety, how to arm wrestle and proper warm-up exercises. For amateurs, there is improvement of technique and advanced secrets on 'How to Win.' The pros get three hours of continuous challenge and practice matches."

And for all the fans, Camp says, "Watch the pros practice, with a display of awesome feats of strength and explosive raw energy."

For full details, please check www.nycarms.com.

NAS, IFSA-USA and ASC president Dione Wessels has just released an announcement that ASC will be holding a contest at the Flex Wheeler Classic.


"Contracts with this group [for the Flex Wheeler Classic] were just signed," ASC president Dione Wessels told IronMind, adding, "This is one of several things that are going on with American Strongman Corp. The photo is of New School ASC athlete Jason Kristal at the St. Patrick's Day ASC Qualifier in Columbia, SC on March 14th and 15th. Photo is courtesy of Scott Powers of Columbia Regional Sports Council."

"American Strongman is proud to announce a partnership with Team Flex Wheeler and the newest event during what ASC insiders are calling the Summer of American Power!'" according to Wessels' press release. Wessels is enthusiastic about the contest, which she said "will feature the 'American Strongman Record Breakers Classic' . . . The contest will feature three classic American Strongman disciplines with cash prizes awarded to record breaking athletes in each category." According to this announcement, "all three disciplines will be standardized and thus new records will be set in each event during this inaugural contest."

ASC has also announced the next contest in its 2008 series, called the Splash Bash for the Troops, and it is scheduled for May 17 in Minneola, Florida.

ASC bills itself as being "the sole sanctioning body for Professional Strongman Contests in the United States," with the following explanation: "On November 9, 2004, American Pro Strongman's rebirth was completed. IFSA, the world governing body for professional strongman, selected long-time strongman competitor and promoter Dione Wessels as the representative for its interests in the United States." One of the distinguishing characteristics of IFSA strongman contests in the recent past was the development of standardized strongman events, and from the sound of things, this concept is being applied to Wessels' upcoming ASC contest at the Flex Wheeler Classic.

It's "the world's most famous arena," so wouldn't you expect strongmen of the same stature when the Eleiko WSM Super Series comes to Madison Square Garden on June 21?

How's this for big names for the center-stage arena? Getting the ball rolling, IronMind has been told, officially, that Magnus Samuelsson and Hugo Girard will be competing. Samuelsson is a World's Strongest Man winner who is also known as having the world's strongest arms, which include hands that have been certified on the Captains of Crush® No. 3 and No. 4 grippers; and Girard is a former world record holder on the Apollon's Axle, as well as as a past Super Series champion and Canada's Strongest Man winner.

Three more World's Strongest Man winners will also be on hand, as Jouko Ahola, Svend Karlsen, and Philip Pfister will be working in various capacities, and while we have yet to confirm it, there is a rumor that the vivacious Lene Karlsen might be available to autograph copies of MILO for her fans.

Ulf Bengtsson, founder and president of World Class Enterprises, which organizes the World's Strongest Man Super Series, told IronMind, "This is nothing but an amazing opportunity for the sport of strongman. [This is] an extraordinary step towards achieving high-end exposure of the athletes and the Super Series tour. Personally, I can't wait to take my seat and see the action take place."

And so that you can plan to be there too, IronMind has just received the ticket information:

Tickets will go on sale next Wednesday, but Madison Square Garden and WSMSS are launching a pre-sale on Monday at noon. All fans are welcome to visit Ticketmaster or the Madison Square Garden site and use the promo code HP Strong.

"I attended the O.H.F [Oscar Heidenstam Foundation] annual dinner and awards for the first time [Saturday night]" Laine Snook reported to IronMind.


Laine Snook, a former world record holder on the Rolling Thunder®, shows his grip strength at the OHF dinner this past weekend, as he deadlifts a replica Inch Dumbbell and the Millennium Dumbbell. Donna Snook photo.

"Sadly, it would appear that this was going to be the last dinner. I think, and I am sure all others would agree, that this great re-union should continue and hopefully things will change to allow people to continue to enjoy many more of this great event. I went to the dinner to see my old Shot Putt coach Geoff Capes receive an award for outstanding contribution to Physical Culture, and it was also great to meet and socialise with so many legends of yesteryear and the present day," Snook said.

"I was lucky enough to be seated at a table with Mr. John Gallagher - the first man [after Thomas Inch, himself] to lift the Inch Dumbbell, way back in 1957. I think that he should get a special mention in the IronMind News for this great achievement; he is a true gentleman and I hope to see more of him in the near future."

"At the end of a great evening I was asked to do a few 'party tricks' and managed to clean the Inch Dumbbell with one hand and also do a full deadlift with the Millennium Dumbbell in my left hand and the Inch Dumbbell in my right. I stood with them for several seconds and returned them to the floor under control. I am pleased to report that I can still walk today - slower than normal, but still walking! I have attached a few photos for you taken by my wife Donna - I am sure you will agree that I turn a lovely shade of purple."

"David Webster was in attendance if you need clarification of the lifts," Snook added.

Certification on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper at the GNC Grip Gauntlet during the Arnold - it's the dream setting which combines the benchmark honor in the grip world with the world's largest, most famous grip contest, held at the world's largest, most famous multi-sport expo; and putting together all the pieces, Chris Mathison and Andrew Durniat nailed the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper at the 2008 Arnold, with grip world luminaries Richard Sorin and Wade Gillingham doing the honors as the official witnesses.


If you think 6'-3" 280-pound Chris Mathison looks small, consider the crowd. Left to right: Richard Sorin, Chris Mathison, Karl Gillingham, Wade Gillingham. Randall J. Strossen photo.


Among his accomplishments, Andrew said he holds "the record for most snatches by an American in competition at 147 reps. Grip strength definitely plays a part with this ability," he added. Randall J. Strossen photo.

The energy level at the Arnold tends to be off the charts, and one of the nuclei in the Expo Hall is the GNC Grip Gauntlet, the big dog of the grip contest world, so every March, IronMind®, with the tremendous support of GNC Pro Performance, offers the perfect setting to anyone who's truly ready to prove himself as a gripmaster by getting certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper.

And this year, two guys showed they had the right stuff: Chris Mathison and Andrew Durniat proved they were the real deal, two guys who have world-class grip strength.

Chris Mathison is an amateur strongman, who has his eye on hitting the top ranks within a few years. Andrew Durniat competes on kettlebells, and one of his goals in 2008 is to complete 200 snatches at the World Championships.

Congratulations guys - you're now certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper, and your names have been added to the official list.

In the wake of recent comments, the Fortissimus steering committee has released the followed statement, which IronMind is publishing verbatim.

"FORTISSIMUS is very conscious of the fact that bridging the gap between schools of thoughts is not an easy task, yet it feels that it has met the challenge with the core of the events for the competition.

Since the launching of FORTISSIMUS in October 2007, its management has always been attentive to the opinions and suggestions of the world strength community. And it is proud of that.

FORTISSIMUS has received great support along with comments and a certain number of deserved critics from notables in the domain. We took immediate note of the sum.

To insure an even higher level of excellence, FORTISSIMUS has sought for additional advice from outside experts including TV strongman producing specialists. And, on top of such feedbacks, FORTISSIMUS has mostly benefited from the unique input of the 4-time World's Strongest Man, Iceland's own Magnus Ver Magnusson, the man who influenced the sport in many significant ways through the years.

FORTISSIMUS declares that, as a matter of principle, it will not discuss any issue concerning the concept, the format, the events, with any of its competitors.

FORTISSIMUS announces that the Steering Committee along with the events supervisor have come to a clear and unanimous decision after a thorough review of the events, one by one. Thus, all its competitors will be receiving the official list of events, as reviewed if so, Monday, March 17. That list will be final."

Zydrunas Savickas was not a happy camper when he learned about the events scheduled for Fortissimus, but IronMind was told that the Fortissimus steering committee is re-evaluating things, so expect the possibility of some adjustments in the coming days.

IronMind asked Zydrunas Savickas what he thought of the events and even before he had read them in detail, he expressed concern, reporting, ". . .weights is so light for this competitions. I receive a lot emails from fans and everybody say that is joke. I think organizers will put more weights in some events. Why invited best athletes if weights in events lighter then in Lithuanian Junior Championship . . . I think that it is not normal strongman events."

Continuing, after he had studied the events, Zydrunas Savickas told IronMind, "It's more for strength endurance. In ten events not [any] events for maximum weight. Very lights weight in super yoke, atlas stones, overhead lift and so so so light weight in power stairs (in Europe we use sometimes 350 kg), deadlift very high from ground. And most strange that in [some] events we have two different events . . . It's so for endurance."

Hardly ducking questions about the events or merely digging in, Paul Ohl summarized for IronMind the extensive basis for developing the events as presented, pointing out what he felt was a clear precedent for the event list, including the examination of "the training log book of a prominent world-class strongman . . . So whoever thinks that FORTISSIMUS is way out, meaning tailor-made for one super athlete, needs to think it over twice."

As is Fortissimus, because Paul Ohl continued, "This said, we do intend to slightly review and, possibly, correct one or two things . . . And, lastly, we are consulting, first-hand, one of the greatest, bar none, in order to fine tune the list."

"We hope that this shows the immense respect we have for the world strength community, as we owe FORTISSIMUS to the strength athletes who honor us by their participating in it, firstly."

Hjalti Arnason was quick to praise Fortissimus for its slate of events, but others were more measured.


Mariusz Pudzianowski is the prohibitive favorite going in, according to IronMind's informal poll of leading strongman experts, but Derek Poundstone has also been mentioned as someone who could excel at Fortissimus, and Hjalti Arnason told IronMind that the heavier, stronger guys can be surprising sometimes because their relative strength advantage makes each rep/event easier. Still, the consensus is that an in-shape Mariusz Pudzianowski will be unstoppable at Fortissimus. Hjalti Arnason photo.

IronMind directly asked a number of leaders in the field what they thought, and to provide a well rounded perspective, our poll included competitors, promoters and TV producers - emphasizing again that we went to the absolute top stratum in the sport.

Hjalti Arnason, Defi Mark Ten winner and co-producer/director of the Jon Pall Sigmarrson documentary, told IronMind, "It will be a major achievement just to finish," commenting on the huge volume presented to the competitors. "This almost doubles even Douglas Edmunds' attempts to make a contest really heavy," Arnason said, referring to the total tonnage involved. "The winner of this competition is made of iron . . . not just the strongest, but the toughest because he survived the pain."

Arnason praised Fortissimus for breaking the mold of traditional strongman contests and championed its focus on a huge overall workload, as opposed to simply focusing on lifting huge weights. "Strongman competition is a bit different from weightlifting or powerlifting," Arnason said. "It's more like hard work," rather than just heavy singles. "This is the best of the Defi Mark Ten, the Arnold, and World's Strongest Man all mixed together," he said. "Maybe this is exactly what the sport needs."

The very same volume was cause for concern in other quarters, though, as one the world's most experienced and knowledgeable top strongman promoters said, "The events are not bad, but why so many reps? This is for lighter guys - for runners," citing what, by top standards, are modest weights in such things as the yoke, log lift, power stairs and farmer's walk. "These are not weights," he said. "Come on."

The absence of a truck pull, which along with Atlas stones, is seen as a cornerstone strongman event, was also cited as a big gap in the Fortissimus program (even though Paul Ohl had previously said that a truck pull would not be included).

Addressing the volume, another top source told IronMind, "It reads like someone's training program for a week, but the weights remind me of the '80s or '90s. It's dated. It's one man's fantasy." Still, this same person said that he tipped his hat to the organizers for taking things beyond the comfort zone, for trying something different.

Another member of IronMind's expert panel expressed disappointment overall in the events, explaining, "The contest has been hyped so heavily: "The events are coming soon . . . ,'" he said with a dramatic flair. "This is a little too much."

When you consider the multiple rounds within three of the events, there are actually eight events on the first day, and IronMind did talk to someone who has firsthand experience. Four-time World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Ver Magnusson told IronMind that he did eight events in one day in Finland once - he landed in a hospital and was not released until he'd had three liters of fluid replaced! Still, even with that history and even though he would prefer to see a heavier format, Magnus Ver said, "It would have been good for me when I was competing."

For the variety of comments on the events, there was little disagreement on the the contest's suitability for TV, with one person calling it "A TV nightmare," and another saying, "quite complicated for the audience to understand it" and another saying, "I would not want to turn this into a TV show."

Even clearer were the feelings about who was expected to excel at this contest: "I'd hate to be the other competitors if Mariusz shows up in shape," "Mariusz will wipe the floor with the rest of the field," "Savickas will be laid bare," "They have no chance against Mariusz - he will leave them in his dust."

For all the apparent surprise at the final dance card, it should be remembered that - even if the precise scope of the events has been surprising, Paul Ohl set the stage for a contest along these lines as he explained why he felt maximum lifts were not the true realm of strongman, and there never was any doubt of his primary allegiance to the great Louis Cyr and unwillingness to shape the contest according to the dictates of "good television."

And where does IronMind end up on this? "High volume, low intensity and theme specific," we would say, covering the first two points by saying that this is a test of stamina maybe even more than strength, and while we would prefer to see heavier events, the points raised by Paul Ohl and Hjalti Arnason certainly have merit. In terms of the theme, we heartily applaud honoring the great Louis Cyr, especially befitting a contest in Quebec, by Quebec and for Quebec, but if we had our choice, IronMind would opt for the backlift and a heavy overhead dumbbell event as the preferred way to achieve this tie-in, and from there, IronMind would include such classics as the Atlas stones and a truck pull, and, most likely, a Husafell-type event as well.

For IronMind, though, the bottom line on this contest is that even if we might have nudged the events in this way or that, there will never be unanimity on this, and if for nothing else, the Fortissimus organizing committee should be recognized for having the vision and wherewithal to pull together this contest - not to mention endurance not unlike that needed to compete in the contest itself.

The 2008 Strongman Champions League kicks off its 2008 season with a contest in Riga, Latvia on March 22, and with a US$20,000 prize list plus a formidable list of competitors, the organizers are wasting no time making their mark.


Fresh from his victory in Columbus, Zydrunas Savickas is set to compete in Latvia, in the Strongman Champions League. The organizers of Fortissimus told IronMind that Zydrunas Savickas has been (re)invited to their contest, with the six-time Arnold Strongman winner saying that he would give his final decision tonight. Randall J. Strossen photo.

Marcel Mostert, who organized the Strongman Champions League with Ilkka Kinnunen, said the competition will feature "a strong field with great champions who proved already their strength in their countries," and this is no idle boast when you look at the lineup:

1. Zydrunas Savickas (Lithuania)
2. Andrus Murumets (Estonia)
3. Oleksandr Pekanov (Ukraine)
4. Misha Koklyaev (Russia)
5. Travis Ortmayer (USA)
6. Jarno Hams (Holland)
7. Etienne Smit (South Africa)
8. Jan Salata (Czech)
9. Tamas Malatinzsky (Hungary)
10. Farzad Mousakhani (Iran)
11. Jani Kohlemainen (Finland)
12. Agris Kazelniks (Latvia)
13. Mareks Leitis (Latvia)
14. Andris Leisavnieks (Latvia)

Mostert told IronMind that Oleksandr Pekanov (Ukraine) is substituting for 2007 IFSA World Champion Vasyl Virastyuk, who was injured at the Arnold.

The all-star cast continues, as Illka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert will be the referees, and Raimunds Bergmanis will be the announcer.

The events are: Viking press, yoke race, farmer's walk-tire flip medley, deadlift, wheelbarrow and Atlas stones.

Mostert told IronMind that the contest will be held in the Riga Arena, which is the largest in the city (holding 8,000 people), and with a total purse of US$20,000 (US$6,000 for the winner), the Strongman Champions League has the pieces in place for a big start.

Invoking a Scottish expression, Douglas Edmunds was quick to praise Zydrunas Savickas and Derek Poundstone, pointing to their performances in last weekend's Arnold Strongman contest as further proof of his high opinion of them.


Derek Poundstone shows his stuff on the stones at the 2008 Arnold Strongman contest, where he boosted the already high value of his stock. Randall J. Strossen photo.

"Savickas is the strongest man on the planet," Edmunds told IronMind. "His six straight wins at the Arnold prove it."

"The Arnold is the real proving ground because it is the only competition that is truly open [to all the top strongmen]," Edmunds continued. "No more king of your midden heap type of thing," said Edmunds, invoking a Scottish saying which would translate into American English as something like, "No more king of your garbage pile," which is Edmunds' allusion to what he sees as pretentious claims in the strongman world.

"Given my 30-odd years in strongman, I'm often asked who was the best ever. It's Zydrunas. He is so strong all-around and winning six in a row at the Arnold is unbelievable."

Also high on Edmunds' list is Derek Poundstone, who made the headlines (again) in the strongman world with his victory over four-time World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski at the Eleiko WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix in January, and then came in second only to Zydrunas Savickas at the Arnold.

"He's the best guy from America since O.D. Wilson," Edmunds told IronMind, a compliment that sounded much like Bill Kazmaier's comment to Randall Strossen in the warm-up room at the Arnold this year: "Derek Poundstone is the best American strongman in the last 10 or 12 years," said the Kaz. And for all of Mariusz Pudzianowski's victories, Edmunds said, "Poundstone is better, but Mariusz has more experience."

All of this creates a very interesting opportunity, the possibility of a competition that would bring together this group of three - Pudzianowski, Poundstone and Savickas - in one competition . . . and this is the very idea that Fortissimus would like to consider.

Fortissimus organizing committee chairman Paul Ohl told IronMind, "Yesterday, at our committee meeting, we chewed up [on] the idea and Mayor Dub", the host of the competition, said that the fans should be allowed to react. We are prepared to invite all the strongman fans to comment and support or not the idea by emailing forticyr@hotmail.com ."

WSMSS managing director Jesper Albansson just told IronMind that, "The Gaspari Nutrition All-American Strongman Challenge will be up on www.strongman.tv tomorrow (Friday)."


Booting up: Travis Ortmayer is a busy guy these days - winning at the FitExpo, doing color commentary at the Arnold, and getting married in about a week. Randall J. Strossen photo.

This was a terrific strongman contest held at the FitExpo in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and "If you want a recap of Travis Ortmayer's big comeback, Strongman TV is where you'll find it," Albansson said. And speaking of Strongman TV, Albansson added that, "Other new content includes the 'Fitness Features' sub-channel, which will contain various helpful tools, such as nutrition advice. Apex Fitness delivers video newsletters on nutrition. The Fitness Features channel is being released today."

Incidentally, showing his versatility, fresh from this win, Travis Ortmayer did a great job on the other side of the microphone, as he was the color commentator at the Arnold Strongman contest last weekend, which also gave him a chance to let us know that he's getting married in about a week - congratulations!