Zydrunas Savickas Wins First Strongman Champions League Competition

[Jared Enderton]

here's the link. http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/morenewsv6.php?id=2380#2380

Zydrunas Savickas Wins First Strongman Champions League Competition . . . Travis Ortmayer is Second by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


Just in from Latvia, the debut of the Strongman Champions League in Riga, Latvia today was a huge success, Marcel Mostert told IronMind.

Here are the top five places and points:

1. Zydrunas Savickas 75 points
2. Travis Ortmayer 72 points
3. Agris Kazelniks 66-1/2 points
4. Misha Koklyaev 64-1/2 points
5. Andrus Murumets 59 points

Things got off to a roaring start, with Zydrunas Savickas and Misha Koklyaev both breaking the world record on the Viking Press, the first event, as they knocked off fifteen reps with 140 kg. Zydrunas Savickas, proving once again that when he says he likes things heavy, he means it, broke a second world record, as he took the 454-kg (1,000-pound) yoke 25 meters in 28.72 seconds.

Marcel Mostert also told IronMind that the eagerly anticipated performance of Farzad Mousakhani was short-lived: Mousakhani did 13 reps on the Viking Press, to finish in third place behind Savickas and Koklyaev, but then he injured his knee after one meter in the next event (a heavy wheelbarrow). “In terms of pressing,” Mostert told IronMind, “he is very strong. He looked impressive, very solid.” After the injury, Mousakhani decided to save himself for the second round of the Strongman Champions League, in Dubai, rather than risk putting himself out of that competition as well.

Mostert has been coming to Latvia for six years, but he said fans told him that “This was the best strongman show in Latvia ever.” The arena was nearly sold out, Mostert said, with “a crowd of six or seven thousand.”

“Travis Ortmayer was very impressive,” said Mostert. “He won the stones . . . as usual!”

Total prize money was US$20,000, Mostert confirmed, with $6,000 going to the winner - and the money was paid in cash immediately after the contest ended, Mostert said.

[Jared Enderton]

sorry for the double post but that stinks about the Iran guy. i wanted to see how he would do. one good thing to note-they paid in cash right after the contest ended. obviously competitors are going to like that. i'm also surprised misha got beat by that guy i've never heard of(doesnt mean he isnt good, i just havent heart of him). maybe misha bombed an event?

[Jamey Niewojna]

Great job Travis. 3 points behind the strongest man on the planet! pretty sweet! :YR:

[Scott Porter]

Geez! Does Ortmayer compete every weekend? That guy is a machine.

[BradyJones]

Geez! Does Ortmayer compete every weekend? That guy is a machine.

he's following Mariusz's schedule ha ha

[Joe Bosnick]

Congratulations Travis! You're on a roll man, keep it up!

[barabas47]

Congrats Travis

[bob dobbs]

Great job Travis. 3 points behind the strongest man on the planet! pretty sweet! :YR:

How is Zydrunas Savickas the strongest man on the planet, when he is basically only the best 1rm overhead lifter, as he does not always win when it’s for reps. Holds no WR powerlifting lifts.

But saying that wow he is so damned strong.
Rob

[MarkSikora]

How is Zydrunas Savickas the strongest man on the planet, when he is basically only the best 1rm overhead lifter, as he does not always win when it’s for reps. Holds no WR powerlifting lifts.

But saying that wow he is so damned strong.
Rob


Is this THE JR Bob Dobbs, leader of the Church of the Sub Genius??? :eek:

If so welcome to the board. Your insight is welcomed.

[Kevin Cronin]

How is Zydrunas Savickas the strongest man on the planet, when he is basically only the best 1rm overhead lifter, as he does not always win when it’s for reps. Holds no WR powerlifting lifts.

But saying that wow he is so damned strong.
Rob
hahaha, what a joke

[MarkSikora]

Kevin,

Take it easy on Bob Dobbs man, you don't want his followers to get on your case!! ;) The Chuch of the Sub Genius is a nefarious and far reaching organization. Makes the Knights Templar look like the Girl Scouts. :EL:

And, remember what old JR Bob Dobbs, worlds greatest salesman, once said:

"You know how dumb the average person is? Well, by definition, half of 'em are even dumber than that!"

I think you can apply that to Mr. Dobbs post.....if you want.

see ya boys

oh yeah, Happy Easter.

Mark

[Jeff Bach]

Looks like there could be a few US guys on a good roll this year.

Good Job Travis!

[chrisklavette]

How is Zydrunas Savickas the strongest man on the planet, when he is basically only the best 1rm overhead lifter, as he does not always win when it’s for reps. Holds no WR powerlifting lifts.

But saying that wow he is so damned strong.
Rob
You guys, he has to be kidding. I'm almost sure of it.

[Kevin Cronin]

You guys, he has to be kidding. I'm almost sure of it.
nope. read his 6 posts. He's a huge mariusz fan - which is fine, and certainly understandable - but he also feels the need to repeatedly disparage savickas. It's a total joke.

[DaneGarreau]

Geez! Does Ortmayer compete every weekend? That guy is a machine.


Taken from the SDF...

Final Points
1.Zydrunas Savikas 75
2. Travis Ortmayer 72
3. Agris kazelnikas 66,5
4. Mikhail koklyaev 64,5
5. Andrews Murumets 59
6. Anders Johansson 48
7. Oleksandr Pekanov 43
8. Martins skuyeniyeks 41,5
9. Mareks Leitis 36
10. Yarno Hams 31,5
11. ??? 28,5
12. Tamas Malatinzsky 22,5
13. Andris Leisavnieks 19
14. Fazad mousakkhani 12

Viking press
1. Z 15 reps - 13,5 marks
1. Mikhail koklyaev - 15 reps - 13,5p
3. Travis ortmayer - 14reps - 12p
4. fazad mousakkhani - 13 11p
5. agris kazelnikas - 12 10p
6. Andrews Murumets - 11 9p
7. Oleksandr Pekanov 9reps 7,5p
7. Yarno Hams - 9 reps 7,5p
9. Tamas Malatinzsky - 6reps 5,5p
9. ??? - 6reps 5,5p
11. Martins skuyeniyeks - 1reps 3,5p
11. Anders Johansson 1reps 3,5p
13. Mareks Leitis - 0
13. Andris Leisavnieks - 0

WHEELBARROWS
1. Agris kazelnikas - 13,52 s - 14 p - total 24
2. Z - 13,72 s - 13 p - total of 26,5
3. Trevis Ortmayer - 14,15 s - 12 p - total 24
4. martins skuyeniyeks - 14,76 s - 11 p- total 14,5
5. Andrews Murumets - 15,10 s - 10 p - total 19
6. Mikhail koklyaev - 15,40 s of 9 p - total of 22,5
7. Anders Johansson - 15,69 s - 8 p - total 11,5
8. Mareks Leitis - 20,66 s - 7 p - total 7
9. ??? - 23,47 s - 6 p - total 11,5
10. Oleksandr Pekanov - 26,15 s - 5 p - total 12,5
11. Andris Leisavnieks - 33,74 s - 4 p - total 4
12. Yarno Hams - 21,10 it is meter - 3 p - total 10,5
13. Tamas Malatinzsky - 18 it is meter - 2 p - total 7,5
14. Fazad mousakkhani - 1 meter - 1 p - total 12

Deadlift for reps
1. Mikhail koklyaev - 16 reps - 14 p - total of 36,5
2. Travis Ortmayer - 14 reps - 13 p -total 37
3. Z - 13 reps - 11,5 p - total 38
4. Oleksandr pekanov - 13 reps - 11,5 p - total 24
5. Agris kazelnikas - 10 reps - 9,5 p - total of 33,5
6. Anders Johansson - 10 reps - 9,5 p - total 21
7. martins skuyeniyeks - 9 reps - 8 p - total 22,5
8. Andrews Murumets - 7 reps - 7 p - total 26
9. Mareks Leitis - 6 reps - 6 p - total 13
10. Yarno Hams - 5 reps - 5 p - total 15,5
11. ??? - 2 reps - 4 p - total 15,5
12. Andris Leisavnieks - 1 reps - 3 p - total 7
13. Tamas Malatinzsky - 0 reps ptotal 7,5

SUPER- YOK - 454 kg of!!!!! - 25 it is meter
1. Z - 28,72 s - 14 p - total 52
2. agris kazelnikas - 31,72 s - 13 p - total 46,5
3. Mikhail koklyaev - 22 meters - 12 p - total of 48,5
4. Oleksandr pekanov - 18,8 meters - 11 p - total 35
5. Andrews Murumets - 18,15 it is meter - 10 p - total 36
6. Travis Ortmayer - 16,30 m - 9 p - total 46
7. Mareks Leitis - 15,80 m - 8 p - total 21
8. Anders Johansson - 12,55 m - 7 p - total 28
9. martins skuyeniyeks - 7,8 m - 6 p - total 28,5
10. ??? - 5,4 m - 5 p - total 20,5
11. Yarno Hams - 3,8 m - 4 p - total 19,5
12. Andris Leisavnieks - 1,15 m - 3 p - total 10
13. Tamas Malatinzsky - 0,25 m - 2 p - total 9,5

relay race, 3 flips of a tire+farmer walk 25 meter
1. Andrews Murumets - 24,97 s - 14 p - total 50
2. martins skuyeniyeks - 25,12 s - 13 p - total of 41,5
3. Travis Ortmayer - 25,48 s - 12 p - total 58
4. Z - 26,53 s - 11 p - total 63
5. Anders Johansson - 27,29 s - 10 p - total 38
6. agris kazelnikas - 27,74 s - 9 p - total 55,5
7. Mareks Leitis - 27,78 s - 8 p - total 29
8. Yarno Hams - 30,53 s - 7 p - total of 26,5
9. Andris Leisavnieks - 30,65 s - 6 p - total 16
10. Tamas Malatinzsky - 32,50 s - 5 p - total 14,5
11. ??? - 34,35 s - 4 p - total 24,5
12. Mikhail koklyaev - 35,44 s 3 p - total 51,5
13. Oleksandr Pekanov - 58,65 s - 2 p - total 37

Atlas stones
1. Travis Ortmayer - 20,13 s - 14 p - total 72
2. Mikhail koklyaevs - 23,34 s of 13 p - total of 64,5
3. Z - 25,46 s - 12 p - total 75
4. agris kazelnikas - 29,25 s - 11 p - total of 66,5
5. Anders Johansson - 35,38 s - 10 p - total 48
6. Andrews Murumets - 39,81 s - 9p - total 59
7. Tamas Malatinzsky - 47,64 s - 8 p - total 22,5
8. Mareks Leitis - 59,16 s - 7 p - total 36
9. Oleksandr Pekanov - 59,59 s - 6 p - total 43
10. Yarno Hams - 4 stones 24,15 s - 5 p - total 31,5
11. ??? - 4 stones 36,43 s - 4 p - total 28,5
12. Andris Leisavnieks - 3 stones 27,74 s - 3 p - total 19


Also, you won't hear this from Travis, but Travis was suffering from some flu like syptoms when he left for Houston on Monday, then had to fly 18 hours to Latvia and arrived there late Friday night, then competed Saturday.

So, with some rest and optimal conditions Travis could do some real damage internationally this year. Great Job!!

[bob dobbs]

It was not a joke, and as I said he is amazingly strong, but I will say it again, How is Zydrunas Savickas the strongest man on the planet, when he is basically only the best 1rm overhead lifter, as he does not always win when it’s for reps. Holds no WR powerlifting lifts.

Zydrunas Savickas and Mariusz Pudzianowski have the same deadlift 880.

What world strongman records does he hold? And saying this I think it would be a fantastic idea to put together ALL the strongman world records and we could then put them in a sort of league, or say if so and so hold three world records he could be number one, what do you things guys? Maybe a good idea?

Can he out bench anyone? Or what about any other lifts?

I did not disparage, as will say it again wow he is so damned strong.

And why not prove his strength instead of being sarcastic, can not we keep this frendly..
Bob

[Patrick McGuffin]

Good job Travis! Only 3 points away from top position, that is pretty much amazing in my book.

[Matt Brouse]

Thanks for posting the results Dave and Jared. The rest of this thread is trash, however.

[Jamey Niewojna]

I'm a huge Marius fan, he's prettier and way more athletic, However Zedrunez would decimate him in a HEAVY show. No question, hands down, not open to debate. lol.

[Jean-Charles Péronnet]

I did not disparage, as will say it again wow he is so damned strong.

And why not prove his strength instead of being sarcastic, can not we keep this frendly..
Bob
Zydrunas holds 12 world records if I'm not mistaken.
There are lots of videos of him on youtube so you can watch his performances.
He can outsquat, outbench, outdeadlift and outstonelift my favourite strongman, Mariusz Pudzianowski. I have to live with that.
He deadlifted 410 kg....in 2003. He's waaaayyyy stronger now!
2003: "I'm very happy caus' it's first time I lift fifth stone (160 kg)."
2008: 238kg atlas stone: 3 reps in one minute. "Problem is time. With 2 minutes? I think good result is 5 reps" (Garrick Daft interview).
He won 6 straight Arnold Classic. That's not the absolute best test of strength ever, but add to this that he led his team to victory in World's Strongest Nation in Ukraine 2006 and second place in 2007, and what you get there is a behemoth.

This week-end, he just destroyed Mariusz' record on Viking Press I believe.
And talking about pressing....he holds the log lift world record (205kg) and has already taken a 215kg one in training. He's said to powerpress barbells until 235kg, which I believe due to his monster 200kg axle powerpress in 2007 World's.

So yeah, Zydrunas is the strongest man to ever walk the planet. I've hear about many strong guys, but I seriously doubt that any of them could resist a 30 years old guy who can squat 400kg for 4 reps shirtless (ask T.Ortmayer, I think it was with no belt as well) with strong stature, 17 years of hard training, a 390 pound leverage effect, a terrible will, and optimized nutrition with him.

I don't like powerliting very much, partly because I'm the worst human at it, and I don't care a lot about Z's stats in PL, but his STRONGMAN record is out of this world.

[Paul Neuhaus]

I'm a huge Marius fan, he's prettier and way more athletic, However Zedrunez would decimate him in a HEAVY show. No question, hands down, not open to debate. lol.
I agree!

But, more importantly, who really cares? The "Mariusz vs Z" debate has been beaten to death. Mariusz didn't even compete in this contest, so why even bring it up? When Puds won WSM again, none of us came on here and posted anything about how we think he won only because Z wasn't there. You give credit where it's due. Anytime someone wins a contest, the classiest thing you can do is congratulate that man for beating THE MEN WHO SHOWED UP!

Bob, There are many Puds fans as well as Z fans on this forum. But, we have better things to do than engage in a debate that will go nowhere.

So, huge congrats to 2 of my favorite strongmen, Big Z and Texas Stoneman!

[Laurence Shahlaei]

I dont get why people bad mouth Pudz or the big Z. both are .... amazing. end of!!!

Loz

PS well done Travis :KD:

[Garrick Daft]

Congratulations Travis! That YOKE must have been freaking heavy cuz normally you destroy that event or at least finish, so something must have been up with that.

Hope you rest up well for Fortissimus!

As far as the Z v MP debate. In all seriousness, it really is a shame that these 2 haven't competed together, except once, since 2004. I'm very excited that Z is ignoring IFSA policy to step onto the field with MP during Fortissimus.

[Jared Enderton]

misha bombed that medley!! dang.

travis is making some huge noise on the international scene.

Z and mariusz are 2 of the best strongman ever.

[Easton Taylor]

I hope Mariusz is ready for Fortissumus. It looks pretty heavy and we all know Z is the man at a heavy show.

[BradyJones]

I'm a huge Marius fan, he's prettier and way more athletic, However Zedrunez would decimate him in a HEAVY show. No question, hands down, not open to debate. lol.

i wouldn't bet the house on that.... not saying Z wouldn't, but Mariusz is not a guy to overlook....

[BradyJones]

here's the link. [url]Things got off to a roaring start, with Zydrunas Savickas and Misha Koklyaev both breaking the world record on the Viking Press, the first event, as they knocked off fifteen reps with 140 kg.

I dont get how this is a world record... The viking press at Mohegan was around 315 or so last year, Mariusz is capable of WELL over 20 reps with that weight. He got a fast 12 and stopped. As for this year he got 10 with 340 or so.

[Justin Blake]

Travis - nice job animal, that is a great finish, cant wait to see what you do next!

[Billy Wolt]

I dont get how this is a world record... The viking press at Mohegan was around 315 or so last year, Mariusz is capable of WELL over 20 reps with that weight. He got a fast 12 and stopped. As for this year he got 10 with 340 or so.


if he STOPPED at 12, then that's why his lif is not a world record.

[Pierre Suter]

American strongman has been kicking some major buttocks lately. Looking forward to a showdown between Travis and Derek!

[Mike Landrich]

I dont get how this is a world record... The viking press at Mohegan was around 315 or so last year, Mariusz is capable of WELL over 20 reps with that weight. He got a fast 12 and stopped. As for this year he got 10 with 340 or so.


Different viking presses will feel different, so its not a truly measurable record anyway. Its kind of like car DL or Conan's Wheel. A slight difference in the length of the lever makes a noticeable difference.

[BradyJones]

if he STOPPED at 12, then that's why his lif is not a world record.

he did 10 this year with a heavier weight.

[Lars Gustafsson]

Swedish strongman Anders Johansson competed, with a three day notice(!), in Latvia. Here is a write up he did for SDF and his own site http://starkeanders.se/

"1 Viking press

The Iranian guy was first and did 13 rep and got problems with his knee...then it was me...Sometimes it can happen that you get stupid ideas on comp and this was one of those days for me...I took a wide grip in the Viking press and since I am rather flexible it works as shit...I got 1 rep and was embarrassed...I went to the looker room and stayed for my self for a while...Zavickas won on 16 reps and Travis did well and I think i tied 3.rd after Mish in second....

2 Wheelbarrow with straps....I overestimated how heavy it was and maybe did not go as fast I could (always speculation) but it turned out that I had 15. sec and got like 7 place and Agris who won was 2 s faster. He went down on his knees like a fotball player after scoring a goal and the audience went crazy....nice to see!

3 Deadlift. I got 10 reps and the same did Agris...the +400 kg dead lifters Savickas 13, Pekanov 13, Misha incredible 16....Travis is not known as a deadlift legend but he showed that he is on a mission and got 14. The weight was 330 kg but the frame was flexing a bit (frame with a car on it) so of course it is not comparable with normal deadlift...Muruments was rather pale and only got 7 reps I think.

4 Super yoke...I was told it should be 400 kg for 25 m. When Muruments struggled before me and could make the distance then I thought it touched the ground a lot....I should set it really deep..Hmm I had a hard time picking it up and that gives really bad signals to the brain...after a few drops I could not even pick it up (I notice that knees tends to hurt when you make a deep pick up of a heavy yoke. Only Z and Agris made it to the finish line...Nice that this event was easy to see who did well and not (don't need to look at the time).

5 Medley 3 Flips and then run back and pick up 135 kg farmers (I know that is women weights)...I struggled on one flip were I dropped it and with the time of 27 s I got fifth 3 s after Muruments who won..This was a race against the clock event but maybe we needed that after the super yoke.

6. Stones first on i think 1.80 m (stones in a circle) and then lower height for each stone...I lost some time on the last 180 kg stone on that I almost fell forward when i picked it up in my knee...I was lucky that I did not and got the time of 35 s...it got me 5.th place....Travis what was this...time of 20 s I did watch it but that was really amazing! Respect!

Always nice to compete in countries were the audience is big and they really love strongman! It was a great competition! "

Anders got 6th place and is heading for Dubai.

[jay lyttle]

it seems to me this ortmayer kid is starting to get the hang of this strongman stuff :M:

[Jared Enderton]

thanks for posting his write up lars.

[TEXAS STONEMAN]

I'll try and do a write-up soon... Here's some videos for now.

viking press
Travis Ortmayer and Zydrunas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGyJd9YmRwo

Andrus Murumets and Misha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoSh-KmRFaI

Car Deadlift:
Travis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuD26_4dVho
(listen to the music in the background... the people seated in the stands next to me started to sing it!! That was an awesome experience.)

Andrus Murumets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8bNOboUWyE

Medley: 900 lbs tire for 3 flips and 285 farmer's walk for 25 meters
Travis Ortmayer vs Andrus Murumets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7fxYm4r2UA


Atlas Stones
Misha and Agris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2mqRl_nDS0

Travis Ortmayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ-O6tcw0QY


Wheel Barrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RJ1onWfI1w

[BradyJones]

travis, you are INSANE on stones......

[Jared Enderton]

thanks for the videos. it looks like the crowd loved every event!!! great job man!

[Garrick Daft]

You were quicker then Andrus on the tire flip, but he disengaged from his final flip quicker then you did (it looked like that anyways, just watched the video once for now cuz of time). Mayber that gave him the crucial second he needed. Your Viking Press and pressing in general these days is great to watch, it is nice to see you capture the eccentric energy and explode up. Your Car DL was impressive also! I must admit Andrus's was very impressive too, the way he brutally grinded his reps out...he has some unbelievable power.
Congratulations again.

[Jean-Charles Péronnet]

Damn, Travis was suffering from a bad back 1 year ago, and now he can beat Murumets on the Tire flip ???!!! Call it "feeling better" ! :F:

[Simon_De_Vogelaere]

great stuff, superb performance travis :F:

[Josh Balay]

Hey Travis, post a picture of that trophy if you get the chance.

[TEXAS STONEMAN]

I'll see if this works... I just took this pic with my phone at the gym.
This was made by a local artist. Definitely a trade mark trophy and one I'll never forget!

[Jared Enderton]

wow, that's a sweet trophy. unique

[Kalle Beck]

Very cool trophy Travis, congrats on the win.

[Garrick Daft]

Pictures from Mikhail Koklyaev's website:

Photos Set One (http://koklyaev.ru/photo/strongman-champions-league/photo_strongman_champions_league_riga_2008_1.html)

Photos Set Two (http://koklyaev.ru/photo/strongman-champions-league/photo_strongman_champions_league_riga_2008_2.html)

Photos Set Three (http://koklyaev.ru/photo/strongman-champions-league/photo_strongman_champions_league_riga_2008_3.html)

www.koklyaev.ru

[Jean-Charles Péronnet]

Niiiiice Garrick (imagine Matt Serra's voice to feel it more real) ! :marv:

[Jared Enderton]

thanks for the pics garrick. misha looks like he is about 150kg or so? thanks for the link to his site too, i didnt even know he had one!

[Steve Kirit]

Travis-

Very impressive performance against a heck of a field. I was hoping to see you compete at the Arnold this year. I'm not certain how you were passed up as first alternate, but it's nice to see you very strong this year. Good luck with the rest of the season.


















I'll see if this works... I just took this pic with my phone at the gym.
This was made by a local artist. Definitely a trade mark trophy and one I'll never forget!

[TEXAS STONEMAN]

Thanks Steve!
I actually didn't mind being passed up at the Arnold... maybe...
I really had a good time MC'ing the event and having the opportunity to sit back and watch such a great show.

[TEXAS STONEMAN]

Here's the write up I did:


Strongman Champions League
Riga, Latvia
3/22/08

This was the inaugural competition for the Strongman Champions League and it was possibly one of the most well run and enjoyable contests, both for the athletes and the crowd, that I have ever done. Marcel Mostert, Ilka Kinunnen, and Raimonds Bergmanis did a fantastic job, thank you guys!
The event was held inside a hockey arena and both sides of the stands were packed with spectators. I think there were about 6,000 in all. The athletes came out of the back riding on military Hummers and we drove around the arena right by all the fans. When we got off the Hummers they introduced us and we would, in turn, pick a barrel out of a line to step behind then raise it up to show the number on the bottom. This number would be our starting order... I thought it was an original idea.

Viking Press - 140 kilos (308 lbs)
I drew a 6 for my starting position which kind of sucked since Misha, Zydrunas, Murumets, and the other good pressers were set to go after me. I was impressed when the Iranian, Farzad Mousakhani, posted 13 reps. This gave me something to shoot for. The apparatus was set with overhand grips but it wasn't a solid bar all the way through which meant there was no way to land the bar on your chest and really use leg drive. I am glad I noticed this and changed my grip accordingly. I brought my hands in so that I could get a little recoil out of my arms compressing on themselves.
I felt good as I set up but I remember the first few reps being pretty difficult since I had to stop the weight with just my arms and not with my chest like you can do with a regular barbell. I found a rythm and started to tear into it! I counted 13 reps in my head but I guess I missed one somewhere so I was elated when they told me I got 14!! Zydrunas and Misha both tied with 15 reps. That means they both only beat me by one rep! I know they are probably tired from the Arnold but so am I from my schedule dammit- whew I was so happy with this result!
3rd

Travis and Zydrunas- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGyJd9YmRwo
Andrus and Misha- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoSh-KmRFaI


Wheel Barrow - 600 kilo crushed car (400 kilos, 882 lbs. in the hands) for 25 meters
This was kind of a cool apparatus since they used a crushed car for the weight. I was set to go head to head with Farzad but I guess he hurt his knee on the Viking Press so when the whistle blew he lifted it and put it right back down. We were allowed to use straps which kind of sucked because it made the event too easy in my opinion. I think Agris Kazelniks won this event, Zydrunas was 2nd (he went after me on the next event anyway) and I took 3rd... not sure. Agris went on to have a hell of a contest too. He is definitely tough to beat on his home soil.
3rd?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RJ1onWfI1w


Car Deadlift - 330 kilos for reps (727 lbs)
We used a PT cruiser for weight and the apparatus was a front bar not a side handled deadlift which I thnk is much tougher. There were a lot of guys who struggled with this event. A few only got a few reps then Andrus Murumets did 7 or 8. Misha went after him and blew away the number to beat with 16! He is a machine on the deadlift.
My deadlift has been going really well lately. My back is stronger than ever! I walked out to set up and they started to play "Amerika" by Rammstein over the stereo system. That whole side of the crowd started to sing it to me!! This shot me to another level and I just started to rip this car apart. I ended up doing 14 reps before exhaustion overwhelmed me. You don't get a lot of money or fame out of this sport so when the crowd gets behind you like this it almost brings a tear to your eye and the hair on the back of your neck does more than just stand up- it nearly jumps off!! There was no way I was going to let them down after that.
Zydrunas went right after me and even though he knew he needed to at least beat my number he came up a little bit short with 13. I had beaten the big Z on a deadlift!!!
2nd

Andrus- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8bNOboUWyE
Misha- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME45mudJ5YM
Travis- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuD26_4dVho

Super Yoke - 454 kilos (1000 lbs) for 25 meters!
The word "super" doesn't even begin to describe this yoke! It was supposed to be 410 kilos but they added these sponsor boxes to the sides which made it way over weight. This coupled with the fatigue from the deadlift right beforehand and the fact that it shook around made for a TOUGH event. Only 2 guys finished the course, Z and Agris.
I picked it up fine and started walking but when I tried to breathe in I just couldn't. This thing was literally crushing the life out of me! I have done 1,000 lb. yokes before but damn. I dropped it several times trying to catch a breath but picking it up every time just got more and more difficult. I finished with just barely more than 18 meters...
6th

Medley - 410 kilo (900 lb) tire flip for 3 flips, 130 kilo (285 lb) Farmer's Walk for 25 m.
I think my head was still on another planet when I went out for this event...
I was set to go head to head with Andrus Murumets which was motivation in itself. I think we were running pretty much side by side the whole way through the event. I was a little ahead on the 2nd flip of the tire but I needed to flip it out of the way of the farmer's so the 3rd flip took a little longer since I had to direct it... He and I took off from the line with the farmer's at the exact same time but somehow he gained a step on me. I know I matched him step for step on the rest and I even managed to gain a little on him but he got to the line too fast for me to catch him. It was one of those great races that you hate to be on the losing side of...
Somehow another guy managed to put up a time that was just between us! So I lost 2 points here.
3rd

Travis vs. Andrus- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7fxYm4r2UA
Misha vs. Pekanov- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBNjEpPv90c


Atlas Stones - 120, 130,140,160,180 kilos (264- 400 lbs) 1.8m-1.2 (~68"-48")
By this point I had pretty much secured 2nd overall, I just had to go out and do what I do best... Crush the stones!!!!
These platforms were great. They were set up similar to the IFSA rings but instead of a basket that you could just drop the stone into it was a flat pedestal with a little hole in it so you had to really control the stone too! The stones themselves were spectacular too. They were made out of solid granite, perfectly round, and didn't have a bit of dust on them... perfect.
The Baltic record on this set was 20.88 seconds set by Vilius Petrauskas during the Lithuania vs. USA competition. It pissed me off too because he set the record going against me! There were a couple great times posted by the athletes. Most notably was Misha's 23 second run; he was moving. However, unfortunately for them I have been really good at stones lately... So I knew this one was mine! I ran through them in a time of 20.13 seconds setting a new Baltic Record!!! They felt like nothing.
1st finally!!

Misha and Agris- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2mqRl_nDS0
Travis Ortmayer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ-O6tcw0QY


This was a great contest!! I had a ton of fun and everything went really smoothly. I ended up just 3 points behind Zydrunas!! It turns out that if I had taken 3-4 more steps with the yoke and just been 1 second faster on the Medley I would have won this contest... Oh well, I was just happy to even make it out after the schedule I have had lately.


1st- Zydrunas Savickas
2nd- Travis Ortmayer
3rd- Agris Kazelniks
4th- Misha Koklyaev
5th-Andrus Murumets

[Jared Enderton]

thanks for the write-up travis. and thanks for the vids, that's awesome!

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Excellent write-up Travis! Keep up the good form and crush your competitors!

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[Donnie Rhodes]

Great Write-up Travis, Thanks. :YR: