The Valhalla Winter Sports Fest is kicking off the 2002 strongman season in California, and will also serve as a tune up for the upcoming Northeast Strongman Showdown.

Scheduled for January 26th in Jamestown, California this contest toasts the reopening of The Shake, and it is expected to draw some of the strongman competitors who will be going to Boston in February, in what is the first of the series of contests for Americans trying to qualify for the World's Strongest Man show.

Events at the Jamestown contest are: a medley, yoke, Conan's wheel, overhead log press and a farmer's walk. Steve Davis, who will be competing in Jamestown, is putting on the western regional qualifier for the WSM show, tentatively scheduled for June 8th and 9th.