"As it did with the IronMind® Overhead World Challenge, Fortissimus 2009 will bridge with the history of great stone lifting performances and feature the Slater King of Stones World Challenge," Fortissimus president Paul Ohl reported to IronMind® today.


Travis "Texas Stoneman" Ortmayer had some bad luck on the stones at Fortissimus last year, but he took it in stride and he is expected to be back with a vengeance this year. IronMind® | Randall J. Strosen photo.
 

"It could very well turn out to be the greatest event in stone lifting ever," Ohl said. "Similar to the IronMind® Overhead Challenge, the winner of the stones will be the competitor with the most stones lifted in the fastest combined time. The Challenge will consist of a total of 10 stones (6 Slater Atlas Stones on day 1) and (4 Natural Stones of Strength on day 2), the very last stone of the entire contest being the 517-lb. Louis Cyr 1883 Stone."

"This year, given the title at issue, Fortissimus 2009 wanted to honor the prominent place that Stones of Strength have had in Scotland's history, as a part of the Highland clansmen longstanding culture of stone lifting," continued Ohl's prepared statement.

"And honoring as well the first strongman to put up all five stones in 1986, at the 10th World's Strongest Man contest (held in Nice, France), the legendary Jon Pall Sigmarsson of Iceland. Remembering that David Webster, OBE, a pioneer of the sport of strongman and the historian of the iron game had once said that the [original] McGlashen Stones were the best test of strength ever staged in strongman competition events.

"The total poundage of the King of Stones Challenge amounts to 3,892 lb. (1,769 kg), representing 24 % of the overall poundage of the 2009 Fortissimus Strongest Man on Earth competition."