"Tovarisch Koklyaev” Brings Russian Strongman to the Arctic

Inspired by SCL’s IceMan competition, held in Finland’s Arctic region, Misha Koklyaev and Elbrus Nigmatullin introduced strongman to Russia’s Arctic—where temperatures a week earlier were -49 Fahrenheit.

The debut of ArcticMan enjoyed relatively balmy weather in Nadym, Russia: it was about 12 degrees Fahrenheit.  IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Evgeny Goncharev
The debut of ArcticMan enjoyed relatively balmy weather in Nadym, Russia: it was about 12 degrees Fahrenheit.  IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Evgeny Goncharev



"Tovarisch Koklyaev” Brings Strongman to the Russian Arctic
by Sergei Klimakov

Last Saturday in Nadym in Russia near the Arctic Circle was ArcticMan strongman contest. It was Russia's first outdoors Strongman competition in the Arctic.
For all participants, this was a good day. Weather gave mercy: the temperature was -11 degrees C [12 F], although a week before the tournament was cold -45 C [-49 F]. Also, the tournament was held without injury about which feared referee Misha Koklyaev.

This exotic competition attracted the attention of the crowd of townspeople and aboriginals of this region (their name is Nenets). Nenets sincerely admired the size and strength of the participants, and they respectfully called Misha "Tovarisch Koklyaev.”

Ten Russian strongmen from Siberia competed in ArcticMan. They passed six tests: Sack Сarry (3×90 kg, distance of 8 m for time), Log lift (120 kg for reps, limit 1 min), Farmer’s Walk (2×120 kg for distance), Conan Circle (350 kg for distance), Jeep Deadlift (1750 kg for reps, limit 1 min), Arm-Over-Arm Van Pull (2000 kg, distance of 25 m for time).

Records in the tournament were not established. It is winter and the Arctic Circle, so many participants noted that they are unusually rapidly losing their strength during the events. Nevertheless, here are the winning results in some events: Ivan Lykov 7 reps in Log lift, Rustem Satvalov 11 reps in Jeep Deadlift and more than 2.5 turns Conan Circle, Evgeny Markov 62.6 m in Farmer’s Walk and Valery Chernozubov 24.73 sec in Arm-over-arm.

As a result, contrary to preliminary forecasts, ArcticMan Champion's Belt was won by the rookie from Omsk, Evgeny Markov.

Final results, number of points:

1. Evgeny Markov - 49.5
2. Ivan Lykov - 47
3. Valery Savin - 44
4. Valery Chernozubov - 40
5. Rustem Satvalov - 34
6. Mikhail Sibagatov - 30
7. Sergei Andreychenko - 24.5
8. Stas Miksha - 22.5
9. Maxim Gametsky - 17.5
10. Andrei Yaschuk – 6

The main objective was to test the maximum human force in the Arctic. This work will hopefully continue. At the closing ceremony, local authorities and citizens and the Nenets have confirmed that they want ArcticMan in Nadym each year.
So Russian opponent for SCL IceMan Challenge, with full respect for the prototype, moves on.

misha-comrade_lg
The personable Misha Koklyaev quickly bonded with the Nenet people who are native to this area and they honored him by addressing him as "Tovarisch Koklyaev” [Comrade Koklyaev].  IronMind® | Elbrus Nigmatullin photo

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