Strongman in Oz

I am only up to speed with what is happening in Oz. But I will be making an effort to rectify that.

A new organisation has started up in Australia (http://www.ozstrongman.com.au/rules.html) and I am targeting their June
competition before I return to Scotland. Their total range of events is below, with my weight category in bold.
Their QLD state title is using the following events.

total range of events
Shield walk 50 mtrs - Pro = 185kg - AM HW = 140kg - AM LW105 = 120kg - AM LW90 = 100kg

Log Lift Reps - Pro = 125kg - AM HW = 100kg - AM LW105 = 90kg - AM LW90 = 80kg

Monster Dumbbell - Pro = 85kg - AM HW = 60kg - AM LW105 = 50kg - AM LW90 = 40kg

Conans Wheel - Pro = 350kg - AM HW = 300kg - AM LW105 = 250kg - AM LW90 = 220kg

Apollons Axle Reps - Pro = 160kg - AM HW = 130kg - AM LW105 = 110kg - AM LW90 = 90kg

Car Deadlift Reps - Pro = 300kg - AM HW = 250kg - AM LW105 = 220kg - AM LW90 = 200kg

Farmers Walk 50 mtrs - Pro = 160kg x 2 - AM HW = 110kg x 2 - AM LW105 = 100kg x 2 - AM LW90 = 75kg x 2

Atlas Stones - Pro = 130kg to 170kg - AM HW = 100kg to 140kg - AM LW105 = 90kg to 130kg - AM LW90 = 80kg to 120kg

Super Yoke - Pro = 380kg - AM HW = 300kg - AM LW105 = 250kg - AM LW90 = 200kg

Truck Pull - 30,000KG (Pro & AM HW)


It looks like they are running the following events this year at my level
Farmers Walk - Super Yoke - Over Head Press Medley (log/axle/block/monster dumbell) - Atlas Stone - Car Deadlift

Overhead stuff is always a weakness of mine and I can't yet clean 110kg olympic bar let alone an axle. Probably can't 1-arm
press a 50kg thick dumbell either, so I have lots of work to do. If anyone has had a battle with improving their
overhead press I would love to hear how they went about it.

Sounds a cool event.

One arming a dumbell is a lot different to a 2 arm Press/Push. I think you'll be fine with 50K, get a D/B made up and start practicing.

Strict Pressing
Push Pressing
Tricep work
and light Shoulder work with dumbells and strands/Woody band for health is what's needed.

They have announced the Sydney state title events. It is a 2 day marathon! Here is the email I got..apologies for the
poor formatting.


OZ Strongman “Sydney’s Strongest Man” 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am proud to announce the first NSW state titles “Sydney’s Strongest Man”
It is a 2 day extreme strength challenge which includes 8 disciplines 4 per day.
There will be Amateur and Pro class categories.

When!! - Sat 27th and Sun 28th June 2009

Where!! – Sefton Hotel, 54 Clapham Rd, Sefton, Sydney.

Time!! – 11.00am to 5.00pm SAT/SUN




Disciplines below
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Day one:

1. Medley: Heavy Farmers walk 25 metres then load 1 x sand bag 1 x keg 1 x stone

Farmers (Pro 160kg, HW-AM 130kg, LW105-AM 115kg, LW90-AM 100kg) 3 Drops

Sand bag, Keg and Stone (Pro 120kg, All Amateurs 100kg)

2. Sand bag carry – 1 large sand bag to be carried across the shoulders for 2x20 metres

Pro 170kg, HW-AM 140kg, LW105-AM 120kg, LW90-AM 100kg

3. Over head press medley: Axle, Log, Block, dumbbell (Both hands)

4. Hip and Thigh Back Lift MAX Weight!! – Suits, raps and belts allowed

Starting weight: Pro 450kg, HW-AM 350kg, LW105-AM 300kg, LW90-AM 250kg

5. Rolling thunder challenge – Pros and Amateurs round 1


Day two:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Car Deadlift for reps

2. Barrel load – Placing 4 barrels on descending height platforms

Pro & HW-AM 160kg to 200kg – LW105-AM & LW90-AM 120kg to 150kg



http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=izJeQvE1oL8


3. Atlas Stones – Height 1600mm – 1200mm

4. 4 Natural stones of Australia – Lift and load 4 natural stones onto staggered height platforms

Pro 150kg to 190kg, HW-AM 130kg to 160kg, LW105-AM 120kg to 150kg, LW90-AM 100kg to 140kg

5. Rolling thunder challenge – Pros and Amateurs round 2 final

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rolling thunder strength challenge $1000 Prize cash
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rolling Thunder challenge will be over 2 days with 2 rounds
The winner will have the best total lifts over the 2 days.
There will be 2 divisions - Pro & Heavy Weight Amateurs and
Light weight 105 & 90 Amateurs.
The Total prize money is $1000 - $500 each division

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice prize money for the Rolling Thunder!

I like the inclusion of natural stone lifting.

#4. Hip and Thigh Back Lift MAX Weight!! – Suits, raps and belts allowed

- this is a bit different to the norm!

I attended the Berwick Highland Games in Victoria. I had to sit out most events due to my shoulder
injury but I was okay for the stones.

They were a bit heavier than usual. There was 115kg, 130kg, 140kg and 160kg
all to be walked in.

I managed the 115 and 130 but the 140 beat me this time.

Here is my attempt... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_kSxw6qqdQ

and here is how it should be done.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESeoCKc3V4w

James,
Nice stuff, and a nice appreciative crowd there.
What tacky were you using, as you didn't seem to be sticking too well.

Also fast loading by Aaron, he's a tall fella.

I was using Dave Ostland's Elite Tacky from jackalsgym. But it was brick hard on the day as the temp dropped from 46 to about 20 overnight. I really should have bought the cold-formula as well as regular.

By the time I got to the 140, my hands were covered in grass and i could get no more from the back of my hand
as it would not spread.

Lesson learned.

Aaron is about 6'4" at a guess and he's some sort of Commonwealth games champ. Either the Oz rep in discus or maybe he won the Discus at the Commonwealth games? Not certain.

Apparently he failed to qualify for the olympics by 15cm in the discus.


It was a good day but then we were brought down to earth by a minute's silence for those killed in the bushfires overnight.

It was a good day but then we were brought down to earth by a minute's silence for those killed in the bushfires overnight.

I saw that on the news this morning. Puts things into perspective.

Yes, getting the right tacky for the temperature is essential, otherwise it can be too runny like honey or too hard like toffee.