I see a lot of parallels between Marijuana and Steroids. Both have been victims of extensive 'Reefer Madness' negative propaganda. Now while marijuana is on the verge of widespread acceptance and legalization, steroids and PEDs of many kinds are still terribly demonized.
Here are the only three questions necessary to ask to give you the full picture of steroids.
Are steroids dangerous? Yes
Can steroids be used safely and effectively? Yes
Even when used safely, are there potential side effects of their use that a user should be aware of? Yes
The effectively part is understood, they work great. That's why people actually use them. What you don't hear much of is that with proper guidance, there are very safe for people to use towards their goals. This goes for all sorts of different PEDs (but not all I'm sure).
So if they can be used but have potential downsides, how are they any worse than alcohol? I personally do not drink alcohol nor do I smoke, do narcotic drugs, or take steroids or PEDs. I am for a person's right to choose, yes even to take the hard drugs, and that choice needs to be made with all the information and without outside pressure. That is the ideal. Knowing the pros and cons, and of their own free will a person should be able to take anything they wish.
Are drugs cheating? In many sports currently, yes. They are cheating if the rules explicitly state they are not to be taken by a competitor in preparation for an event. Is it 'cheating' for a recreational user, just a bro or broette in the gym, to use them to improve their physique? Is it cheating in sports such as powerlifting or strongman with federations/contests that do not have rules against PEDs? No to both. It isn't cheating if it isn't against the rules.
Where the waters get murky is in sports with governing bodies that have imposes PED bans. I would go as far as to bet that every single one of those still have an overwhelming number of "dirty" athletes. If a contest/league is recognized to crown the greatest in that sport in the world, or it is a stepping stone to the the one that does, then you have a conflict of spirit. The drive and need to be the greatest at something doesn't play well with limits, especially when there is no guarantee that your competition are going to follow them either.
Cheating the system is an unwritten rule of strength sports. Even if it weren't that way originally, secretive culture and rampant paranoia drove it there. The greatest the human body is capable of is achieved with talent, hard work, luck, and topped up with pharmaceuticals. That's the truth. If you want to be the best, you let nothing stand in your way. That comes with extremes of ego and pride that it takes to be the best at something. Necessary evils.
Are there wrong ways to take PEDs/Steroids? Yes.
1) Taking the wrong kind when you are too young and screwing up your maturation process.
2) Taking too much. Either in amount or frequency. Supplanting and undermining your body's natural processes.
Neither of these things will really deter the single minded. They are risks they are willing to take, sacrifices they are willing to make. Is it really a sport's place to put limits on the commitment to excellence of their athletes? Especially for professionals when it is their livelihood and legacy at stake.
So now we finally visit the title question. Why all the hate? I think it's jealousy, plain and simple. The average person has never felt the bone deep, overwhelming drive to be the best at something. That their purpose in life is to leave a lasting mark on the history books of their passion. I know of scientists, musicians, and artists that feel the same and sometimes go to unhealthy lengths to achieve it, yet are never vilified for it.
The sports viewing audience is torn. They want to see spectacle, they want to see the unbelievable, but they want to feel like they could have achieved it themselves. Most every sports fan doesn't have even an iota of the drive and commitment it would take, but they want to delude themselves into thinking they could. Steroids and PEDs are a step too many know, either because of ignorantly or knowledge, that they are not willing to take, and that destroys their illusion. This grudge is compounded but fear mongering and demonization until it reaches the levels we know and love today.
It's a step I will never take, could never take, but will never condemn someone who will.
I personally think the professional level of commitment is scary and extreme. I have too many wants in life including specifically my career and family. I'm also way too lazy. I love sport and challenge I also love wasting a day playing video games and eating awesome food. I've never even formed sport fandom. When I watch sports, I'm never really cheering for one team or individual, I want to see good competition. Even as a kid when I had a team that was "my team", I was only going through the motions. I have a hobby and a love of challenges. I'm never going to be 'that guy' and I'm okay with that. If you aren't, you should be too eventually.
Steroids can still be a shortcut. If you plan on taking them you better have all your other affairs in order. You had better be a professional in your nutrition, training, recovery, and financial support or you do not really have the proper commitment and your just looking for a quick fix for your failings.
What do I want? PED and Steroid acceptance. Then we can easily create two streams of competition, one for their use and one without. Notice I didn't say with/without testing. Testing is a joke and a terrible waste of time and money for sports that don't earn nearly enough. If there is acceptance, and two streams, then there is no added prestige in winning a competition on performance enhancers in a league for those who do not use them. If there is nothing to hide, there is no stigma, and you can compete in your place. Some powerlifting federations are currently operating like this and I plan to support them. In strongman, there are beginning to be choices. I can see the light of possibility.
We need to erase the hate and build a competitive landscape for both. I'm pretty sure it will never happen, but I can always hope. All of strength sports are already held back by this and can never step into the spotlight without the hate and paranoia cloud that surrounds them.
Rack
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Squatting for Strongman
Squatting
for Strongman
by David Jennings
by David Jennings
Squatting has been called the King of
Exercises before and while for Strongman we often think of Deadlift as the most
useful movement Squatting still has a vital role. Any serious strength athletes
should know of the many merits of the Squat already without me having to state
them. The point of this article is not to convince you that Squatting is
important or to explain and give advice on how to perform and improve the
various types of Squat but more to analyze what I think the purpose and
methodology behind training the squat should be for an athlete looking to
succeed in Strongman. This article is also specifically directed towards a
Strongman competitor. This information may not apply to athletes seeking to
compete in other strength sports as well.
Most strength programs have at least one
squat day in them a week. But what type of squat variations are most useful for
Strongman training? Let me talk a bit about how I used to squat. Like many
newer lifters I determined the success of my squat training based on how many
reps I could get with how much weight. So naturally I would take up a wide, low
bar powerlifting stance and just go down far enough to barely break parallel
and have the squat actually count as a squat. This type of training got me to a
point in summer 2013 where I finally hit a raw squat of 515 lbs. Although this
was great for my ego I was beginning to realize this type of attitude and
method was not good for my long term training goals. As a very tall lifter with
long legs I was using this kind of squat as a crutch for my relatively weak
quads by using my strong lower back and hips. Some friends of mine commenting
on that lift had a very good observation when they described it as turning into
a “crappy Good Morning” since I would lean forward to allow my legs to drive my
hips up and have to finish the squat by bringing my back up as in a Good
Morning. Are Good Mornings a great accessory lift after deadlifting? Yes they
definitely are. Is it good to lean
forward and turn your squat into a Good Morning when it becomes too heavy for
your legs? No absolutely not. I knew I needed to switch things up. Powerlifting
style squats can also be used to compensate for lack of mobility. So if
exclusively using this style of squat isn’t effective
Strongman training than what is?
Although I had a good idea of what I should
be doing it was confirmed to me at a seminar I attended where Magnus Ver
Magnusson in no uncertain terms advised that for your primary back squat an
Olympic lifting style squat had better carry over to Strongman than a
powerlifting style squat. Now since Magnus is essentially a god among men whose
word is law when it comes to Strongman I could leave it there but I feel I
should explain things a little. Olympic lifting style squats put more focus on
the quadriceps and less on the hips and lower back than powerlifting style.
They also help to increase mobility and are a more natural squat position that
has better carry over to most strongman events and can develop amazing
explosive power within the legs. The squat is very rarely used as an event in
strongman and so for the most part the numerous Squat variations are the go to
group of exercises that build the legs and lower body. So what strongman events
can squatting help you be better at? I think the list of events it wouldn’t
help with would be shorter.
Probably the best piece of advice I have
ever gotten for Strongman training is "Don't be too mechanical" by
this I mean doing a very narrow variety of lifts a very specific way all the
time. Unlike Powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting where the goal is to do a
very specific lift for 1 rep Strongman has you doing a ton of different
movements in different volumes. Every competition you go to will probably have
different events with different kinds of implements that will force your body
to be strong in multiple ways. This is the whole principal of odd object
lifting that is one of my favourite aspects of Strongman. For an event like
natural stones you can just go get a bunch of random boulders and tell the
competitors to move them. This kind of performance along with the countless
other possible events requires highly balanced overall lower body strength.
This means add variety to your squatting. My favourite way to switch up
standard squatting is pausing at the bottom. This makes the lift harder by
taking away some stretch reflex and allows you to explode up out of the hole.
Will this make you able to use less weight? Totally but sometimes you have to
put the ego away and make training harder in ways other than just making it
heavier. Another point that may seem contradictory to what I said before is
that powerlifting style squats can totally be incorporated within a balanced
squat program as long as they are only a portion of the squatting you do.
The
other best type of squat is something I almost feel sick saying since I hate
them so much. Front squats. Yes for me at least they are possibly the least
comfortable exercise in my training but if you wanted to be comfortable this
isn't the sport for you. Front squats remove the possibility of using your
lower back to do the lift and force you too keep an upright torso to avoid
dropping the weight in front of you. They carry over well to almost any event
having the weight held in front of you, can help build the type of quads that
force you to buy new pants and they are easier on your lower back than back
squatting. They are also a great exercise to add pauses to especially if you
are masochistic. There are many other forms of squats that can be added into a
program like Zercher squats or Safety bar squats and as long as you know how to
safely perform these exercises feel totally free to add them in a part of your
program. Just don't get too reliant on any specific style.
As far as gear goes for squatting my
general idea is try to use more supportive equipment than assistive. By
supportive I mean something like a belt or light knee sleeves that help support
you through the lift but don't use elastic recoil to make the lift easier like
knee wraps or a squat suit. I think knee wraps can still be used occasionally
providing they aren't used as a crutch for muscular weakness but I personally
prefer almost never using them. I will usually use my belt for lower rep sets
but will do large amounts of my training without one. This comes down to
individual factors and preferences though.
So what kinds of accessory work are good to
do after squatting? Well getting back to the whole "don't be too
mechanical" thing variety is key. Just remember that accessory work is
meant to be an accessory and not something you try to 1 rep max with. I think a
general good rule for accessory work is to focus on volume and good form. Here
are some accessory exercises I like.
Leg Press- Yes a machine (gasp). Now some
people make it their goal with leg press to load up every plate in the gym plus
get their buddies to stand on the thing and barely pump out 1 tiny rep. This is
actually fairly dangerous. When this huge amount of weight folds you up and
drives your knees past the headrest it also lifts your hips off the back rest
and can put huge stresses on your lower back. People have literally been
carried out of gyms on stretchers doing this kind of thing. Instead try to get
more volume and really focus on exploding the weight upwards and slowly
lowering it. Leg press is also a great way to continue training your legs if
the infamous lower back pump kicks in while squatting.
Leg extensions- Pick your chins up off the
floor now any free weight purists. How many guys at WSM do you see who have
tiny legs? The answer is none. High rep leg extensions can be a great way to
end a squat training session to really pump up the quads and encourage growth.
I think the infamy leg extensions get is when ordinary people do them as a
primary exercise and don't squat. But you are all smart enough not to do that.
Step ups- I think step ups are a highly
under rated exercise as they are great for building agility. One variation I
like is putting a barbell with some light weight on your back, walking up 2
steps, walking down backwards and then repeating leading with the opposite
foot. Once again this is something to focus on volume, speed and good form
(seeing a pattern with accessory work here). You want the set to end when you
are getting tired not when one of your legs collapses under you from using too
much weight.
Lunges- walking, stationary, barbell or
dumbbell just do them and follow the rules of accessory work.
Sled drag- These destroy your quads. After
doing a heavy drag for a good distance prepare to possibly fall down if you
aren't used to them.
Prowler- After a lower back injury I had
last year I used heavy prowler pushing as a rehab tool to keep my legs strong
since it doesn't put a lateral stress on your lower back the way squats do. It
is also my favourite conditioning tool when used with light or moderate weight
for speed.
So take home points. Olympic style squats
should be your primary back squat style. Front squat. Do paused front and back
squats. Variety is key. Use you accessory training to do volume and maintain
good form.
David
Friday, March 21, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Dominant Displays in World's Strongest Man History
We're on the eve of WSM 2014 and with it we bring you round four, the Top 5 Dominant Displays. We tried to keep this list fresh so we weren't rehashing situations we'd presented before. Enjoy.
Honourable Mention - Sigmarsson at Pure Strength '87
Not an official WSM competition. In fact, 1987 is the only year since its inception that didn't feature an event with that title. This year featured an old school scottish-themed showdown with the title 'Pure Strength' between all three WSM champions of the 1980s. This could have been a strongman fan's wet dream had Capes not been on the verge of retirement and Kazmaier not yet back to his best (as he would be at WSM 1988). Those two may have been below par but Jon Pall Sigmarsson was at his finest. He won in convincing fashion with 8 victories out of 10.
Not Really Honourable Mention - Pudzianowski in 2005
What could be second most dominant win at WSM won't be on our list. 2005 was the first year for the WSM after the split with IFSA and 5 out of the top 6 competitors from the last year were no where to be found. No offense to Jesse Marunde and Dominic Filou but at this competition they were barely any trouble as Pudzianowski cruised to victory. He didn't really even seem to be trying. The split did force the sport to develop a much deeper and stronger field of athletes. The benefits of which were obvious when the split ended. 2005 though was right at the beginning and the rebuilding process was painfully obvious to see.
5) Reeves in 1989
The history of strength sport is rife with 'what ifs'. "What if so-and-so was there", "If only this guy didn't get injured", or "But if he was at his best he would have won". We're all guilty of it. Some of it is luck but preparation is the key to shaping luck to your will. Even with injuries, you can consider some of it bad luck but also some of it is that the competitors mind or body was just not prepared for the challenge.
In 1989, Jon Pall Sigmarsson and Bill Kazmaier were not prepared and Jamie Reeves capitalized. Kazmaier's body was especially not prepared for the events as he sprained his ankle, pulled his groin, and partial tore his bicep all in the first two events. Jon Pall's leg was hurting him at the start too but didn't seem to be specifically troubling him too much. Yet, the Viking seemed a step off his game the whole time.
Jamie's name only once left the top three. After being only up by 0.5 points after 4 events he pulled away to the where he only needed to place a single implement on the truck in the loading race to secure his win. He's also the subject of his own what if: "What if he hadn't been injured for the next two WSM's, what might the leaderboard have looked like then"?
4) Wilhelm in 1977
The first 'World's Strongest Men' show was really more novelty than true test of the world's greatest strength athlete. It featured powerlifters, weightlifters, highlanders, football players and bodybuilders, but many of them were past their primes. However, that shouldn't minimize the display of first champion, Bruce Wilhelm. While many of the other athletes would do well in one event or another, Bruce did it all well and was the undisputed winner that year. His display legitimized the event as more than just spectacle.
3) Kazmaier in 1980
The loudest criticism of the earliest WSM events was that they predominately featured Americans. While that is true of some of Bill Kazmaier's wins, 1980 had a very international flavour. There was a Swede, a Dane, a Canadian, and an Englishman among an array of Americans. Of the American's two were world powerlifting champions. This competition was legit. Going in, the favourites were the top two from the previous year, Don Reinhoudt and Lars Hedlund. No one expected the clinical display that occurred. None of the athletes could do a thing but stand in awe as they witnessed the rise of the first true Strongman athlete, Bill Kazmaier.
2) ver Magnusson in 1991
A few people, even ver Magnusson himself, try to play this one up as a surprise. It's true that Magnus entered the competition as the reserve but that was only because at the time the WSM had a tradition of only inviting one strongman from each country. When Jon Pall Sigmarsson had to withdraw, ver Magnusson was there to step into his place. During the first round interviews with athletes they all named ver Magnusson as the man to watch. He was no stranger to winning other competitions. He and Hjalti Arnason, Sigmarsson's coach, beat the team of Bill Kazmaier and O.D. Wilson at Pure Strength in 1989. No small feat. Magnus was certainly strong enough to compete as WSM, he just held away by the legendary Sigmarsson's presence. This did allow him to develop away from the top stage and already be in world beating form when he got there.
Magus was strong enough to stand up with anyone statically, faster than any strongman before him, and smart enough in figuring out the best ways to attack the awkward implements. He excelled at event after event and stayed near at the top of the leaderboard. It was a crashing entrance for the man that would be a dominant force at the competition for years to come.
1) Poland in 2003
He was called the Dominator for a reason. He was good when he won in 2002 but he was unstoppable in 2003. Of a total possible 70 points to be won, he nabbed 66. He was 10 points clear of the other competitors after four events. He'd won before the final event. We talk here a lot about his losses and close wins, but for those two years he was virtually unbeatable. There's nothing much more to say, in 2003 he was unbelievable.
Now you'll notice I titled this Poland, not Pudzianowski, in 2003. That's because that year also featured the rise of a dominant champion of Strongwoman in Aneta Florczyk. She, also of Poland, was crowned World's Strongest Woman in 2003. While it wasn't in quite as convincing a fashion as her male counterpart it did cement their nation as the undisputed strongest of the planet that year.
An unfortunate casualty of the IFSA split was also losing the development of Strongwoman alongside Strongman as one cohesive event. 2003 of WSW can be found on YouTube with all same production quality as WSM. It is every bit as compelling and exciting to watch as WSM. Maybe one day they will get back to showcases both genders side-by-side again.
Honourable Mention - Sigmarsson at Pure Strength '87
Not an official WSM competition. In fact, 1987 is the only year since its inception that didn't feature an event with that title. This year featured an old school scottish-themed showdown with the title 'Pure Strength' between all three WSM champions of the 1980s. This could have been a strongman fan's wet dream had Capes not been on the verge of retirement and Kazmaier not yet back to his best (as he would be at WSM 1988). Those two may have been below par but Jon Pall Sigmarsson was at his finest. He won in convincing fashion with 8 victories out of 10.
Not Really Honourable Mention - Pudzianowski in 2005
What could be second most dominant win at WSM won't be on our list. 2005 was the first year for the WSM after the split with IFSA and 5 out of the top 6 competitors from the last year were no where to be found. No offense to Jesse Marunde and Dominic Filou but at this competition they were barely any trouble as Pudzianowski cruised to victory. He didn't really even seem to be trying. The split did force the sport to develop a much deeper and stronger field of athletes. The benefits of which were obvious when the split ended. 2005 though was right at the beginning and the rebuilding process was painfully obvious to see.
5) Reeves in 1989
The history of strength sport is rife with 'what ifs'. "What if so-and-so was there", "If only this guy didn't get injured", or "But if he was at his best he would have won". We're all guilty of it. Some of it is luck but preparation is the key to shaping luck to your will. Even with injuries, you can consider some of it bad luck but also some of it is that the competitors mind or body was just not prepared for the challenge.
In 1989, Jon Pall Sigmarsson and Bill Kazmaier were not prepared and Jamie Reeves capitalized. Kazmaier's body was especially not prepared for the events as he sprained his ankle, pulled his groin, and partial tore his bicep all in the first two events. Jon Pall's leg was hurting him at the start too but didn't seem to be specifically troubling him too much. Yet, the Viking seemed a step off his game the whole time.
Jamie's name only once left the top three. After being only up by 0.5 points after 4 events he pulled away to the where he only needed to place a single implement on the truck in the loading race to secure his win. He's also the subject of his own what if: "What if he hadn't been injured for the next two WSM's, what might the leaderboard have looked like then"?
4) Wilhelm in 1977
The first 'World's Strongest Men' show was really more novelty than true test of the world's greatest strength athlete. It featured powerlifters, weightlifters, highlanders, football players and bodybuilders, but many of them were past their primes. However, that shouldn't minimize the display of first champion, Bruce Wilhelm. While many of the other athletes would do well in one event or another, Bruce did it all well and was the undisputed winner that year. His display legitimized the event as more than just spectacle.
3) Kazmaier in 1980
The loudest criticism of the earliest WSM events was that they predominately featured Americans. While that is true of some of Bill Kazmaier's wins, 1980 had a very international flavour. There was a Swede, a Dane, a Canadian, and an Englishman among an array of Americans. Of the American's two were world powerlifting champions. This competition was legit. Going in, the favourites were the top two from the previous year, Don Reinhoudt and Lars Hedlund. No one expected the clinical display that occurred. None of the athletes could do a thing but stand in awe as they witnessed the rise of the first true Strongman athlete, Bill Kazmaier.
2) ver Magnusson in 1991
A few people, even ver Magnusson himself, try to play this one up as a surprise. It's true that Magnus entered the competition as the reserve but that was only because at the time the WSM had a tradition of only inviting one strongman from each country. When Jon Pall Sigmarsson had to withdraw, ver Magnusson was there to step into his place. During the first round interviews with athletes they all named ver Magnusson as the man to watch. He was no stranger to winning other competitions. He and Hjalti Arnason, Sigmarsson's coach, beat the team of Bill Kazmaier and O.D. Wilson at Pure Strength in 1989. No small feat. Magnus was certainly strong enough to compete as WSM, he just held away by the legendary Sigmarsson's presence. This did allow him to develop away from the top stage and already be in world beating form when he got there.
Magus was strong enough to stand up with anyone statically, faster than any strongman before him, and smart enough in figuring out the best ways to attack the awkward implements. He excelled at event after event and stayed near at the top of the leaderboard. It was a crashing entrance for the man that would be a dominant force at the competition for years to come.
1) Poland in 2003
He was called the Dominator for a reason. He was good when he won in 2002 but he was unstoppable in 2003. Of a total possible 70 points to be won, he nabbed 66. He was 10 points clear of the other competitors after four events. He'd won before the final event. We talk here a lot about his losses and close wins, but for those two years he was virtually unbeatable. There's nothing much more to say, in 2003 he was unbelievable.
Now you'll notice I titled this Poland, not Pudzianowski, in 2003. That's because that year also featured the rise of a dominant champion of Strongwoman in Aneta Florczyk. She, also of Poland, was crowned World's Strongest Woman in 2003. While it wasn't in quite as convincing a fashion as her male counterpart it did cement their nation as the undisputed strongest of the planet that year.
An unfortunate casualty of the IFSA split was also losing the development of Strongwoman alongside Strongman as one cohesive event. 2003 of WSW can be found on YouTube with all same production quality as WSM. It is every bit as compelling and exciting to watch as WSM. Maybe one day they will get back to showcases both genders side-by-side again.
CWSA's Top 5 Greatest Rivalries in World's Strongest Man History
Back for round 3. Here we run down the Top 5 Greatest Rivalries in World's Strongest Man History. These are rivalries in competition not personal. Unique to the sport of strongman is the high level of camaraderie between the athletes. These guys routinely trained with each other and shared their secrets. In no sport have I ever seen opponents cheer each other on as much as strongmen do. No one ever wants to beat someone on an off day. They want to beat each other at their best.
5) The Scandanavians
This multi-man rivalry spanned the late 90s and into the early 2000s. What was a tight group of friends outside of competition turned into fierce rivals on the field of battle. Jouko Ahola, Magnus Samuelsson, Janne Virtanen, and Svend Karlsen were the best of them. All of these men were immensely strong yet none possessed the total package to let him completely dominate the field. For five years the title bounced around between them, the others nearly always looked on from the other podium positions.
4) Shaw and Savickas
This modern rivalry is still going strong. Once the cloud of politics passed and Savickas finally won his WSM crown by ending the Pudzianowski era he didn't get much time to enjoy it. In 2009, Savicakas's first victory, the up and coming Brian Shaw placed an impressive third. The next year provided Savickas's second win but it came from the first tie in WSM history. Both Savickas and Shaw being even on points, Zydrunas squeaked out the top spot by virtue of more 1st place event finishes. Since then Shaw has won twice to Savicakas's one. Both have had their fitness questioned; Shaw developed nerve problems in his right hand after a bicep tear and Savickas's age and long, non-stop, career in the sport beg the question of how long he can last. Despite the problems, both find themselves fitter and stronger than ever in 2014 and are ready for their showdown in this year's WSM. Who knows how long these two could go on. I can't wait to see where it goes.
3) Kazmaier vs Sigmarsson
This was a rivalry built out fan's fantasies. Bill Kazmaier's dominant reign of WSM was cut short and Jon Pall's rise began immediately afterwards. By 1987, Geoff Capes was ready to retired and there was no one yet ready to challenge the Viking for dominance. There were other contests they all battled in but none on the stage everyone watched. In 1988, dreams came true. Bill Kazmaier back to his best versus Jon Pall Sigmarsson reaching his prime. We got to see a real toe-to-toe slug fest with the duo trading wins back and forth. Kaz cracked on the weight-over-the-bar event, one in which he was known to be Jon Pall's better, and Sigmarsson seized the win on the MacGlashan Stones. 1989 featured a sub-par Sigmarsson and a fit Kazmaier quickly ravaged by injury and therefore didn't contain the true rematch we were craving for. The next year Bill made way for O.D. Wilson to be the American challenger and the dream was gone. We only got one, but for one brief moment we saw the clash we all wished for.
2) Sigmarsson and Capes
Old vs young, veteran vs rising star. The Capes vs Sigmarsson battle may be what made WSM what it is today. The earliest years were a novelty and then Bill Kazmaier took a strangle hold on the title for three years leaving no real room for drama. Geoff Capes got to see first hand the era of Kazmaier as one of the few non-American competitors. Once Kaz stepped aside, or had been cast aside depending on who you ask, the title for WSM was wide open and finally took on a more international flavour. Capes and Sigmarsson rose to the top and alternated victories for four years.
Their battle was what made the competition compelling. Both had different strengths and body types. Jon Pall was strong, flashy, and fiercely determined with the physique of a body builder and loads charisma. Capes was heavier and not nearly as lean, but he was the natural athlete. A former Olympian and Highland games champion Geoff wasn't nearly as statically strong but could adapt and learn any event. Their battles lasted until Capes declined to retirement just as Sigmarsson reached his prime. What might have been if these two met in their primes, we'll never know.
1) Savickas and Pudzianowski
This rivalry may never have hit the heights and drama it did without forces at play beyond the athletes control. Savickas and Pudzianowski hit the scene together. Rarely in sport do two dominant rising stars arrive at the same time but here they were in 2002 surging to the front of the pack. Pudzianowski was first and Savickas second for two years in a row. In 2004 neither man was first, but they were still on the podium. Savickas managed to be one better than Pudzianowski but came up short of having a title of his own.
The greatest tragedy to strength sports occurred in 2005 when IFSA, the organizaiton previously run as an athletes union, cut ties with the WSM and set out to creat their own rival contests. Savickas went with IFSA and Pudzianowski stayed with WSM. For WSM 2006 only Pudzianowski remained of the top six finishers from the previous year. For four years they were apart. In that time Pudzianowski won three more WSM titles to become the first man to win a legendary five titles, though he did it against what can only be described as a weaker athlete field. Savickas won two IFSA World Championship titles against tougher fields of Strongmen but that competition could never hold the prestige and history of WSM.
Finally in 2009, with IFSA dissolved, both sides of Strongman sport were reunited and we were given the showdown of a lifetime. Four years in the making, WSM 2009 was a clash of legends that played out better you could script it. The battle went back and forth until it all ended with a showdown between the two on the Atlas Stones. Savickas finally turned the tide on Pudzianowski and was crowned World's Strongest Man.
5) The Scandanavians
This multi-man rivalry spanned the late 90s and into the early 2000s. What was a tight group of friends outside of competition turned into fierce rivals on the field of battle. Jouko Ahola, Magnus Samuelsson, Janne Virtanen, and Svend Karlsen were the best of them. All of these men were immensely strong yet none possessed the total package to let him completely dominate the field. For five years the title bounced around between them, the others nearly always looked on from the other podium positions.
4) Shaw and Savickas
This modern rivalry is still going strong. Once the cloud of politics passed and Savickas finally won his WSM crown by ending the Pudzianowski era he didn't get much time to enjoy it. In 2009, Savicakas's first victory, the up and coming Brian Shaw placed an impressive third. The next year provided Savickas's second win but it came from the first tie in WSM history. Both Savickas and Shaw being even on points, Zydrunas squeaked out the top spot by virtue of more 1st place event finishes. Since then Shaw has won twice to Savicakas's one. Both have had their fitness questioned; Shaw developed nerve problems in his right hand after a bicep tear and Savickas's age and long, non-stop, career in the sport beg the question of how long he can last. Despite the problems, both find themselves fitter and stronger than ever in 2014 and are ready for their showdown in this year's WSM. Who knows how long these two could go on. I can't wait to see where it goes.
3) Kazmaier vs Sigmarsson
This was a rivalry built out fan's fantasies. Bill Kazmaier's dominant reign of WSM was cut short and Jon Pall's rise began immediately afterwards. By 1987, Geoff Capes was ready to retired and there was no one yet ready to challenge the Viking for dominance. There were other contests they all battled in but none on the stage everyone watched. In 1988, dreams came true. Bill Kazmaier back to his best versus Jon Pall Sigmarsson reaching his prime. We got to see a real toe-to-toe slug fest with the duo trading wins back and forth. Kaz cracked on the weight-over-the-bar event, one in which he was known to be Jon Pall's better, and Sigmarsson seized the win on the MacGlashan Stones. 1989 featured a sub-par Sigmarsson and a fit Kazmaier quickly ravaged by injury and therefore didn't contain the true rematch we were craving for. The next year Bill made way for O.D. Wilson to be the American challenger and the dream was gone. We only got one, but for one brief moment we saw the clash we all wished for.
2) Sigmarsson and Capes
Old vs young, veteran vs rising star. The Capes vs Sigmarsson battle may be what made WSM what it is today. The earliest years were a novelty and then Bill Kazmaier took a strangle hold on the title for three years leaving no real room for drama. Geoff Capes got to see first hand the era of Kazmaier as one of the few non-American competitors. Once Kaz stepped aside, or had been cast aside depending on who you ask, the title for WSM was wide open and finally took on a more international flavour. Capes and Sigmarsson rose to the top and alternated victories for four years.
Their battle was what made the competition compelling. Both had different strengths and body types. Jon Pall was strong, flashy, and fiercely determined with the physique of a body builder and loads charisma. Capes was heavier and not nearly as lean, but he was the natural athlete. A former Olympian and Highland games champion Geoff wasn't nearly as statically strong but could adapt and learn any event. Their battles lasted until Capes declined to retirement just as Sigmarsson reached his prime. What might have been if these two met in their primes, we'll never know.
1) Savickas and Pudzianowski
This rivalry may never have hit the heights and drama it did without forces at play beyond the athletes control. Savickas and Pudzianowski hit the scene together. Rarely in sport do two dominant rising stars arrive at the same time but here they were in 2002 surging to the front of the pack. Pudzianowski was first and Savickas second for two years in a row. In 2004 neither man was first, but they were still on the podium. Savickas managed to be one better than Pudzianowski but came up short of having a title of his own.
The greatest tragedy to strength sports occurred in 2005 when IFSA, the organizaiton previously run as an athletes union, cut ties with the WSM and set out to creat their own rival contests. Savickas went with IFSA and Pudzianowski stayed with WSM. For WSM 2006 only Pudzianowski remained of the top six finishers from the previous year. For four years they were apart. In that time Pudzianowski won three more WSM titles to become the first man to win a legendary five titles, though he did it against what can only be described as a weaker athlete field. Savickas won two IFSA World Championship titles against tougher fields of Strongmen but that competition could never hold the prestige and history of WSM.
Finally in 2009, with IFSA dissolved, both sides of Strongman sport were reunited and we were given the showdown of a lifetime. Four years in the making, WSM 2009 was a clash of legends that played out better you could script it. The battle went back and forth until it all ended with a showdown between the two on the Atlas Stones. Savickas finally turned the tide on Pudzianowski and was crowned World's Strongest Man.
Monday, March 17, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Round 2 in our celebration of WSM this year. Either called the McGlashan or Atlas stones they embody everything that is strongman into one contest. More often than any other event they have been the final decider to the World's Strongest Man contest.
Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Honourable Mention - Kazmaier and Sigmarsson in 1988
Only held off our list because the Stones were not yet contested head-to-head. Kazmaier and Sigmarsson had been trading the lead back and forth the lead all competition. Kaz looked to be pulling away until falling apart in the weight-over-the-bar. All that remained were the McGlashans. No one had yet managed to lift all five stone when Kazmaier's turn came. Knowing his only chance lay in lifting it, Kaz struggled through each one until finally placing the last one on its barrel. Sigmarsson proceeded to make everyone else's struggles seem meanless by tearing through every stone with speed ahead of his time to win the event and secure his 3rd title.
5) Savickas vs Virastyuk in 2004
For two years Zydrunas Savickas had come up second to Marius Pudzianowski but this year would be different. Marius was sitting in third. Savickas was tied for the lead with the explosive Vasyl Virastyuk three points clear of Pudzianowski. This was Savickas vs Virastyuk with Pudzianowski looking on. Savickas immediately fell behind and rushed to make up the difference but Virastyuk was too fast. The drama builds every time the camera turns Pudzianowski as he slowly realizes he's lost his title. Vasyl puts home the last stone while Savickas is still pulling it to his lap. In the after event interview you can see the heartbreak set in as Savickas realizes he's placed second at WSM for the third year in a row.
4) Pudzianowski vs Pfister in 2006
Phil Pfister does the impossible, beating Marius Pudzianowski at his prime. Despite winning four events in a row, Phil Pfister still found himself trailing Pudzianowski by half a point coming down to the Atlas stones. Everyone watching was thinking "Can he do it? Can he dominate the Dominator?". It's raining, the stones are wet and the tacky on the Strongmen's arms is nearly useless. The whistle blows and both men nearly skid into the first stone. For the first two they are neck and neck. On the third, Pudzianowski pulls ahead. On the very last stone, Pudzianowski laps it first and waddles to the pedestal. Pfister gambles and lifts the stone to his chest from where he picked it up. Phil guides his stone into place an instant before Pudzianowski and lets out a triumphant roar. Marius's stone skips over the hole and he let's it fall over the back in disgust.
3) Savickas vs Pudzianowski in 2009
The final climax of an epic rivalry. Savickas had been gone for four years. Pudzianowski had won three titles since the two he had over Savickas but in those years real competition was scarce. This was the biggest showdown in WSM since Kazmair and Sigmarsson in 1988. The stones were the fitting final event. Pudzianowski shot out to an early lead but bobbled the second stone. Savickas seized the lead and didn't let it go. When he put his final stone in its place and had the title that eluded him for seven years the joy in his face was unmistakable. Pudzianowski's era of dominance was over.
2) Magnusson vs Hoeberl in 1994
The first time the stones were contested face to face was in 1993. That event was between Riku Kiri and Gary Taylor. That showdown was spoiled by Kiri knocking over the second barrel with his stone and letting Taylor cruise to his victory. This was the first time we saw the now standard tiered podiums and as a showdown it didn't disappoint. It had been three years since Magnus ver Magnusson had won his first title and he'd been second in both the intervening contests. Manfred Hoeberl, the former bodybuilder with the huge physique and supermassive biceps, was getting better every year. Unfortunately, due to a serious motorcycle accident soon after this, it would be his last time at WSM. The two shirtless giants strode out into a colosseum to do battle. The imagery made us feel like this was a clash of titanic proportions. Manfred led out of the gates but Magnus over took him on the third stone. Hoeberl made one last surge at the end but it wasn't enough. Magnus captured his second of four crowns. It was epic, it was close, and it set the standard for years to come.
1) Pudzianowski vs Poundstone in 2008
Half an inch was all that separated this one from going the other way. Marius Pudzianowski was on the verge of his unprecedented fifth title. Derek Poundstone was in his first WSM and had upset Pudzianowski in an event earlier in the year. Poudstone was doing what no one expected and actually led Pudzianowski by a point coming into the Atlas Stones. The lead changed hands more times than you would think possible in such a short race. Poundstone hit the last stone first and was on the verge of ending the competition. He landed the stone on the lip of the podium. The audience held their breath. Instead of it rolling up on to the podium, the stone spun and fell to the ground. Marius placed his stone and won. Just half-an-inch.
Top 5 Stone Showdowns in World's Strongest Man History
Honourable Mention - Kazmaier and Sigmarsson in 1988
Only held off our list because the Stones were not yet contested head-to-head. Kazmaier and Sigmarsson had been trading the lead back and forth the lead all competition. Kaz looked to be pulling away until falling apart in the weight-over-the-bar. All that remained were the McGlashans. No one had yet managed to lift all five stone when Kazmaier's turn came. Knowing his only chance lay in lifting it, Kaz struggled through each one until finally placing the last one on its barrel. Sigmarsson proceeded to make everyone else's struggles seem meanless by tearing through every stone with speed ahead of his time to win the event and secure his 3rd title.
5) Savickas vs Virastyuk in 2004
For two years Zydrunas Savickas had come up second to Marius Pudzianowski but this year would be different. Marius was sitting in third. Savickas was tied for the lead with the explosive Vasyl Virastyuk three points clear of Pudzianowski. This was Savickas vs Virastyuk with Pudzianowski looking on. Savickas immediately fell behind and rushed to make up the difference but Virastyuk was too fast. The drama builds every time the camera turns Pudzianowski as he slowly realizes he's lost his title. Vasyl puts home the last stone while Savickas is still pulling it to his lap. In the after event interview you can see the heartbreak set in as Savickas realizes he's placed second at WSM for the third year in a row.
4) Pudzianowski vs Pfister in 2006
Phil Pfister does the impossible, beating Marius Pudzianowski at his prime. Despite winning four events in a row, Phil Pfister still found himself trailing Pudzianowski by half a point coming down to the Atlas stones. Everyone watching was thinking "Can he do it? Can he dominate the Dominator?". It's raining, the stones are wet and the tacky on the Strongmen's arms is nearly useless. The whistle blows and both men nearly skid into the first stone. For the first two they are neck and neck. On the third, Pudzianowski pulls ahead. On the very last stone, Pudzianowski laps it first and waddles to the pedestal. Pfister gambles and lifts the stone to his chest from where he picked it up. Phil guides his stone into place an instant before Pudzianowski and lets out a triumphant roar. Marius's stone skips over the hole and he let's it fall over the back in disgust.
3) Savickas vs Pudzianowski in 2009
The final climax of an epic rivalry. Savickas had been gone for four years. Pudzianowski had won three titles since the two he had over Savickas but in those years real competition was scarce. This was the biggest showdown in WSM since Kazmair and Sigmarsson in 1988. The stones were the fitting final event. Pudzianowski shot out to an early lead but bobbled the second stone. Savickas seized the lead and didn't let it go. When he put his final stone in its place and had the title that eluded him for seven years the joy in his face was unmistakable. Pudzianowski's era of dominance was over.
2) Magnusson vs Hoeberl in 1994
The first time the stones were contested face to face was in 1993. That event was between Riku Kiri and Gary Taylor. That showdown was spoiled by Kiri knocking over the second barrel with his stone and letting Taylor cruise to his victory. This was the first time we saw the now standard tiered podiums and as a showdown it didn't disappoint. It had been three years since Magnus ver Magnusson had won his first title and he'd been second in both the intervening contests. Manfred Hoeberl, the former bodybuilder with the huge physique and supermassive biceps, was getting better every year. Unfortunately, due to a serious motorcycle accident soon after this, it would be his last time at WSM. The two shirtless giants strode out into a colosseum to do battle. The imagery made us feel like this was a clash of titanic proportions. Manfred led out of the gates but Magnus over took him on the third stone. Hoeberl made one last surge at the end but it wasn't enough. Magnus captured his second of four crowns. It was epic, it was close, and it set the standard for years to come.
1) Pudzianowski vs Poundstone in 2008
Half an inch was all that separated this one from going the other way. Marius Pudzianowski was on the verge of his unprecedented fifth title. Derek Poundstone was in his first WSM and had upset Pudzianowski in an event earlier in the year. Poudstone was doing what no one expected and actually led Pudzianowski by a point coming into the Atlas Stones. The lead changed hands more times than you would think possible in such a short race. Poundstone hit the last stone first and was on the verge of ending the competition. He landed the stone on the lip of the podium. The audience held their breath. Instead of it rolling up on to the podium, the stone spun and fell to the ground. Marius placed his stone and won. Just half-an-inch.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
World's Strongest Man is coming early this year. We're now less than a week away from the start of the 2014 competition and in celebration I've put my many hours of watching all the previous years contests to good use. In celebration, here is the first CWSA's Top 5 WSM lists.
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
5) Magnus ver Magnusson can't hold on to beat Ted van der Parre in 1992.
As he recounted in the "30 Years of Pain" TV Special, Magnus ver Magnusson had a narrow lead going into the final event, the Hussafel Stone, at WSM 1992 in his native Iceland. ver Magnusson picked the stone up too high and couldn't see. When he stopped to readjust, the stone dropped from his hands. Before the drop Magnus looked like he could have gone on forever, van der Parre could barely hang on to it. Ted did manage to struggle his way to just past ver Magnusson's mark and the title.
4) Lars Hedlund's certain victory is taken away by Jon Kolb in 1979.
For all three of the first WSMs, the final event was a tug-of-war. In 1978 it was a showdown between leader Don Reinhoudt and reigning champion Bruce Wilhelm. Don brought Bruce right to the edge but a misstep cost him and he had the tables turned on him and lost the title. The next year, it was a close race with Don Reinhoudt out front of a young Bill Kazmaier and Lars Hedlund. Fourth place going into the tug-of-war was Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He weighed about 260lbs, O-Linemen were much smaller in those days, and was well outweighed by the other three men. Kolb beat Kazmaier and Hedlund beat Reinhoudt. All Hedlund needed to do was beat Kolb and the title was his. If he lost, Reinhoudt was the champion. He lost.
3) ver Magnusson, Kiri, and Badenhorst all fail to qualify for the finals in 1997.
At WSM 1996 were ver Magnusson 1st, Kiri 2nd, and Badenhorst 3rd. This was the fourth year they'd run a qualifying group system and it had already once produced an unexpected exit when Gary Taylor failed to make the finals in 1994, the year after he had won. This was worse. All three of the podium finishers, including 4-time champion ver Magnusson were shut down in their qualifying groups. This opened the way for first time competitor Jouko Ahola to pull a minor upset of his own when Flemming Rasmussen fell apart in the Deadlift and become champion.
2) Phil Pfister relentlessly runs down Marius Pudzianowski in 2006.
Have you ever had one of those days when almost everything's going right? Marius Pudzianowski was having one of those competitions in 2006. He shared the win in the Deadlift and had it all to himself in the Power Stairs but then Phil Pfister turned on an there was no stopping him. Phil Pfister won 5, that's right 5, events in a row to win the title. Marius did all he could to hold on, despite a blip in the Fingals Fingers he stayed ahead of Pfister all the way until the Atlas Stone finally. Pudzianowski even led after the 4th stone. Pfister surged ahead at the last second and locked in his last stone an instant before Pudzianowski could his.
1) O.D. Wilson was robbed in 1990.
Everyone knows Jon Pall Sigmarrsson was an amazing champion. So it's not easy to say he didn't deserve one of this championships. In 1990 the american O.D. Wilson dominated the field and came into the final event with a 5.5 point lead. That last event sunk him. Looking more like "CrossFit, the Early Years" than a WSM event, the competitors had to take 100kg of bricks on their back and run them 200m around a track. The massive O.D. Wilson faded fast on the run and Sigmarsson cruised around to victory. O.D. Wilson lost by 0.5 points overall. O.D. is considered by many to the strongest man never to win the title.
CWSA's Top 5 Biggest Upsets in World's Strongest Man History
5) Magnus ver Magnusson can't hold on to beat Ted van der Parre in 1992.
As he recounted in the "30 Years of Pain" TV Special, Magnus ver Magnusson had a narrow lead going into the final event, the Hussafel Stone, at WSM 1992 in his native Iceland. ver Magnusson picked the stone up too high and couldn't see. When he stopped to readjust, the stone dropped from his hands. Before the drop Magnus looked like he could have gone on forever, van der Parre could barely hang on to it. Ted did manage to struggle his way to just past ver Magnusson's mark and the title.
4) Lars Hedlund's certain victory is taken away by Jon Kolb in 1979.
For all three of the first WSMs, the final event was a tug-of-war. In 1978 it was a showdown between leader Don Reinhoudt and reigning champion Bruce Wilhelm. Don brought Bruce right to the edge but a misstep cost him and he had the tables turned on him and lost the title. The next year, it was a close race with Don Reinhoudt out front of a young Bill Kazmaier and Lars Hedlund. Fourth place going into the tug-of-war was Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He weighed about 260lbs, O-Linemen were much smaller in those days, and was well outweighed by the other three men. Kolb beat Kazmaier and Hedlund beat Reinhoudt. All Hedlund needed to do was beat Kolb and the title was his. If he lost, Reinhoudt was the champion. He lost.
3) ver Magnusson, Kiri, and Badenhorst all fail to qualify for the finals in 1997.
At WSM 1996 were ver Magnusson 1st, Kiri 2nd, and Badenhorst 3rd. This was the fourth year they'd run a qualifying group system and it had already once produced an unexpected exit when Gary Taylor failed to make the finals in 1994, the year after he had won. This was worse. All three of the podium finishers, including 4-time champion ver Magnusson were shut down in their qualifying groups. This opened the way for first time competitor Jouko Ahola to pull a minor upset of his own when Flemming Rasmussen fell apart in the Deadlift and become champion.
2) Phil Pfister relentlessly runs down Marius Pudzianowski in 2006.
Have you ever had one of those days when almost everything's going right? Marius Pudzianowski was having one of those competitions in 2006. He shared the win in the Deadlift and had it all to himself in the Power Stairs but then Phil Pfister turned on an there was no stopping him. Phil Pfister won 5, that's right 5, events in a row to win the title. Marius did all he could to hold on, despite a blip in the Fingals Fingers he stayed ahead of Pfister all the way until the Atlas Stone finally. Pudzianowski even led after the 4th stone. Pfister surged ahead at the last second and locked in his last stone an instant before Pudzianowski could his.
1) O.D. Wilson was robbed in 1990.
Everyone knows Jon Pall Sigmarrsson was an amazing champion. So it's not easy to say he didn't deserve one of this championships. In 1990 the american O.D. Wilson dominated the field and came into the final event with a 5.5 point lead. That last event sunk him. Looking more like "CrossFit, the Early Years" than a WSM event, the competitors had to take 100kg of bricks on their back and run them 200m around a track. The massive O.D. Wilson faded fast on the run and Sigmarsson cruised around to victory. O.D. Wilson lost by 0.5 points overall. O.D. is considered by many to the strongest man never to win the title.
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