WSM Qualifiers

[Wayne Meyer]

Exactly how many WSM qualifiers are there? I understand there to be a total of (25) available competitors for the WSM contest. 5 heats x 5 competitors per heat = 25.

And if I understand correctly as well each qualifier qualifies the top (4) competitors. Doing the math then....there can't be more than (6) qualifiers (6 contests x 4 competitors per show = 24 competitors). The last or (25th) competitor is usually a token competitor chosen for a variety of reasons none of which having anything to do with deserving a slot in the WSM (but thats another discussion).

So as of right now, who has qualified for the 2008 WSM? How many competions have there been to qualify for the WSM? How many contests are left to qualify for the 2008 WSM? How many positons are left for the 2008 WSM?

[Brandon Smith]

Well, I think this is what we have so far. Top 4 from each of the Super Series events and the winner of BSM is usually guarenteed a spot. The returning WSM and Canada's Strongest Man are also included at the WSM. Anybody else have any to add?

Mohegan Sun SS
1. Derek Poundstone
2. Mariusz Pudzianowski (plus WSM 2007)
3. Terry Hollands
4. Mark Felix

BSM
1. Jimmy Marku

MSG SS
1. Travis Ortmayer
2. Derek Poundstone (already qualified at Mohegan)
3. Dave Ostlund
4. Brian Shaw

Viking Power Challenge SS
1. Arild Haugen
2. Sebastian Wenta
3. Richard Skog
4. Johannes Arsjo

So I count 12 there since Derek placed in 2 events.

[James Deffinbaugh]

WSM is mostly just invite-only. WSM-SS is a separate entity that sends some people there, but last year only like 8 or 9 qualified via super series (a number of people qualify multiple times).
Last year the only qualifiers that I know of were Mohegan Sun, Venice Beach, and Viking Power.
This year there was the Mohegan Sun, Madison Square Garden, and Viking Power, and now a contest in Sweden soon apparently. And I think the winner of Fortissimus was to be given an invite to WSM too if I remember right (but of course Derek already qualified), and BSM was a qualifier. There will probably be about 14 competitors that actually qualified for WSM, the rest will just be invites.

They also always invite at least one person from the host country, eg. Gu Lan Yi.

[Eric Jett]

I also believe the winner of ASM gets an invite, in which case, Kristal is in.

[Wayne Meyer]

I forgot to ask mention this in the thread earlier is this years WSM going to be a TRUE WSM contest? In other words is IFSA no more?

And if that is the case are the IFSA competitors competing in the WSM? Is this the year when we see Big Z. Ortmayer, Misha, Poundstone, Ostlund, Mariuz to name a few batteling it out to have 1 TRUE WSM?

If this is the case and I am hoping it is, who ever wins out of that potential group will have earned the title of WSM.

[James Deffinbaugh]

I also believe the winner of ASM gets an invite, in which case, Kristal is in.
That was going to be the case for Phil Pfister's ASM, but I don't think for ASC's ASM.

[Rob Haan]

The winner of the Iceland strongest man, Canada's strongest man and I think Australia's and Germany also get invites.

[Wayne Meyer]

That was going to be the case for Phil Pfister's ASM, but I don't think for ASC's ASM.

This sounds very potitical. On one hand the ASC ASM had to beat out ALL pros to earn the title of ASM. There by legitimizing the title and equalizing the playing field.

Phil Pfister's contest was going to be opan to ANYONE willing to send there entry form in along with there money. A ameteur could have potentially (yes a very long shot but still however possible) won the show and been given a place at the WSM???

[Paul F.X. Armstrong]

The winner of the Iceland strongest man, Canada's strongest man and I think Australia's and Germany also get invites.

and add Pfister to the list--he'll be competing--hopefully they give Zydrunas and kristal an invite.

[strongwoman]

I think we might see top 4 from BSM.

Hanne

[rob meulenberg]

Didn't the Arnold used to be a Super Series event? I know the 2006 contest was...Colin Bryce wrote the article for Milo and said it was a Super Series event (just that Z, Vasyl, and Misha turned down WSM for IFSA). But as far as I understand, those three guys were invited to the 2006 WSM.

If you factored in Arnold results, you can add Big Z, Koklyaev, and Murumets to the list (as Derek is already in).

I hope Kristal gets an invite, but I think it will be hard for any more Americans to make it unless they qualify through a SS competition. We already have Derek, Travis, Dave O, and Shaw and you know Pfister will get an invite. That is already 5 Americans and they typically seem to not want more than one American and one Briton per heat. Even a guy like Nee, who has been invited since 2005, may have a tough time getting an invite this year!

[Garrick Daft]

** Just for thoughts,...please refrain from throwing the rotten tomatoes..lol.. what if the invite qualification was like this for 2008? Hopefully they have a more organized 2009... i.e a final organized structure on how to qualify..**

This brings together the 2 main leagues, so to speak, SS and SCL, for one overall champion.

Champions
Mariusz Pudzianowski - Poland
Vasyl Virastyuk - Ukraine


Mohegan Super Series
Derek Poundstone - USA
Terry Hollands - Britain
Mark Felix - Britain

Madison Square Garden Super Series
Travis Ortmayer - USA
Dave Ostlund - USA
Brian Shaw - USA

Viking Power Super Series
Sebastian Wenta - Poland
Richard Skog - Norway
Johannes Arsjo - Sweden

Sweden Super Series
TBD


Strongman Champions League - Latvia
Zydrunas Savickas - Lithuania
Travis Ortmayer - USA (Qualifed through Super Series MSG also)
Agris Kazelniks - Latvia
Mikhail Koklaev - Russia

Strongman Champions League - Serbia
Ervin Katona - Serbia
Andrus Murumets - Estonia

Strongman Champions League - Holland
Top 4 already qualified

Strongman Champions League - Bulgaria
Stoyan Todorchev - Bulgaria

Don't know how really to organize all the countries strongest man ... so just posted who is maybe qualified. With the exception of BSM, apparently just the champion qualifies...

Iceland's Strongest Man
Boris Haraldsson - Iceland

Canada's Strongest Man
Dominic Filiou - Quebec, Canada
or whoever it is by then...

Norway's Strongest Man
Arild Haugen - Norway

Britain's Strongest Man
Jimmy Marku - Britain
Laurence Shalahei - Britain
Mark Westerby - Britain

America's Strongest Man
Jason Kristal - USA

[Dan Eberhardt]

If they take the top 4 from the super series events, what do they do if the same 4 come in the top 4 at every super series event?
Just asking out of curiosity.

[Jay O'Neill]

I think Garrick has his finger on the pulse.... As always! Nice Job and thanks for writing this up.

[Paul F.X. Armstrong]

Phil Pfister
Derek Poundstone
Dave Ostlund
Travis Ortmayer
Brian Shaw
Kevin Knee
Jason Kristal
jason bergman
Van HAtfield
Is Don Pope still training?he has put together two good years in a row @ WSM



Listed in no particular order It will be hard for the producers to decide which of these Americans shouldn't be 'on the show' or in the contest.
They are all great strongmen and have a chance be on the podium AND they all have a good story line. :o
Maybe they'll all get a chance--if you go back several years it was(in the opinion of some 'experts')hard to justify having 5 americans on the show--now it's hard to justify not having more than 5.

There are so So many interesting possibilities.
The rematch of Poundstone and Marius and,hopefully,the rematch of Poundstone and Zydrunus.
Current 'America's Strongest man'(Kristal) vs. last years 'America's Strongestman'(Poundstone)vs the only American to ever win WSM and long time top American(Pfister).
Pfister's been on the podium twice,1st 2006 and 3rd 2007,plus 4th in 2001,5th 2000,4th in 1998--- that is an amazing legacy and incredible longevity.
Don Pope hasn't been busy this year but has been on the podium(3rd) in 2006 and 4th in 2007.His 3rd place in 2006 overlooked because Phil beat Marius for the win.
I'd like to see 2004 WSM and top IFSA athlete Vasyl Virstyuk ,if he's healthy,compete--He beat Zydrunus and Marius that year.
Kolykaev,Murumets HAVE got to be there.
Still room for a lot of good athletes.
4 or 5 Brits? 6 or 7 Americans ? a couple of Canadians?(hugo?) 2 or 3 from Poland?
maybe they should expand to 6 groups of 5? ;)

[Zach Snyder]

Phil Pfister
Derek Poundstone
Dave Ostlund
Travis Ortmayer
Brian Shaw
Kevin Knee
Jason Kristal
jason bergman
Van HAtfield
Is Don Pope still training?he has put together two good years in a row @ WSM



Listed in no particular order It will be hard for the producers to decide which of these Americans shouldn't be 'on the show' or in the contest.
They are all great strongmen and have a chance be on the podium AND they all have a good story line. :o
Maybe they'll all get a chance--if you go back several years it was(in the opinion of some 'experts')hard to justify having 5 americans on the show--now it's hard to justify not having more than 5.

There are so So many interesting possibilities.
The rematch of Poundstone and Marius and,hopefully,the rematch of Poundstone and Zydrunus.
Current 'America's Strongest man'(Kristal) vs. last years 'America's Strongestman'(Poundstone)vs the only American to ever win WSM and long time top American(Pfister).
Pfister's been on the podium twice,1st 2006 and 3rd 2007,plus 4th in 2001,5th 2000,4th in 1998--- that is an amazing legacy and incredible longevity.
Don Pope hasn't been busy this year but has been on the podium(3rd) in 2006 and 4th in 2007.His 3rd place in 2006 overlooked because Phil beat Marius for the win.
I'd like to see 2004 WSM and top IFSA athlete Vasyl Virstyuk ,if he's healthy,compete--He beat Zydrunus and Marius that year.
Kolykaev,Murumets HAVE got to be there.
Still room for a lot of good athletes.
4 or 5 Brits? 6 or 7 Americans ? a couple of Canadians?(hugo?) 2 or 3 from Poland?
maybe they should expand to 6 groups of 5? ;)


you have some of your facts wrong.

-Pope got 9th place in 2007, not 4th. I believe he had an injury, but i'm not sure on that.

-Pfister did not get 3rd in 2007, Hollands did. He got 4th in 2007.

i would like to see Kristal and Bergman get an invite to world's along with what everyone else has said. But i agree with what you said, that the talent pool is very high right now, and there are bound to be a few people deserving to be in world's left out in favor of other countries being represented.

[Jesse Snadden]

** Just for thoughts,...please refrain from throwing the rotten tomatoes..lol.. what if the invite qualification was like this for 2008? Hopefully they have a more organized 2009... i.e a final organized structure on how to qualify..**

This brings together the 2 main leagues, so to speak, SS and SCL, for one overall champion.

Champions
Mariusz Pudzianowski - Poland
Vasyl Virastyuk - Ukraine


Mohegan Super Series
Derek Poundstone - USA
Terry Hollands - Britain
Mark Felix - Britain

Madison Square Garden Super Series
Travis Ortmayer - USA
Dave Ostlund - USA
Brian Shaw - USA

Viking Power Super Series
Sebastian Wenta - Poland
Richard Skog - Norway
Johannes Arsjo - Sweden

Sweden Super Series
TBD


Strongman Champions League - Latvia
Zydrunas Savickas - Lithuania
Travis Ortmayer - USA (Qualifed through Super Series MSG also)
Agris Kazelniks - Latvia
Mikhail Koklaev - Russia

Strongman Champions League - Serbia
Ervin Katona - Serbia
Andrus Murumets - Estonia

Strongman Champions League - Holland
Top 4 already qualified

Strongman Champions League - Bulgaria
Stoyan Todorchev - Bulgaria

Don't know how really to organize all the countries strongest man ... so just posted who is maybe qualified. With the exception of BSM, apparently just the champion qualifies...

Iceland's Strongest Man
Boris Haraldsson - Iceland

Canada's Strongest Man
Dominic Filiou - Quebec, Canada
or whoever it is by then...

Norway's Strongest Man
Arild Haugen - Norway

Britain's Strongest Man
Jimmy Marku - Britain
Laurence Shalahei - Britain
Mark Westerby - Britain

America's Strongest Man
Jason Kristal - USA


Well Dom retired so I'm putting my money for Canada's champ to be either Hugo Girard or Louie-Philipe Jean

[Garrick Daft]

I think Garrick has his finger on the pulse.... As always! Nice Job and thanks for writing this up.
haha, thanks for the good words... I just wrote up part of how I'd like to see the WSM athlete qualification go... looking for a pulse would be a better way to describe it! lol..

Well Dom retired so I'm putting my money for Canada's champ to be either Hugo Girard or Louie-Philipe Jean
Louis-Phillipe Jean will be bringing a World Championship to Canada in the future...I'm sure of it if he keeps improving. His performance at Fortissimus was amazing, and just a little slip up on the 5th atlas stone kept him from the 3rd place podium finish. He's young (22) and in fantastic shape... he seems like a fun lovin guy though.. so hopefully he can stay focused...It was great to watch him compete!

[Brandon Smith]

Current 'America's Strongest man'(Kristal) vs. last years 'America's Strongestman'(Poundstone)vs the only American to ever win WSM and long time top American(Pfister).


One other correction to add to Garrick's...kind of a big one. Please do NOT tell Kaz that Phil was the only American to ever win WSM....

Bill Kazmier - WSM 1980, 1981, 1982
Bruce Wilhelm - WSM 1977, 1978
Don Reinhoudt - WSM 1979

Quite a tough group of American's to narrow down this year though now that the IFSA competitors should be available too.

[Paul F.X. Armstrong]

One other correction to add to Garrick's...kind of a big one. Please do NOT tell Kaz that Phil was the only American to ever win WSM....

Bill Kazmier - WSM 1980, 1981, 1982
Bruce Wilhelm - WSM 1977, 1978
Don Reinhoudt - WSM 1979

Quite a tough group of American's to narrow down this year though now that the IFSA competitors should be available too.

LOL--I meant in the last 20+ years :BB: Yeah i'm old enough to have watched some of those old American WSM contests live on CBS.

brandon/zach-Sorry about the other bad facts--going off the top of my head-heat of the moment-Pope's 3rd is often forgotten--
Having watched strongman for a long time it is just amazing the level of ALL the american Pros.
There are other American not listed that would do well this year.

Edit:Zach,you are correct--I just checked the world strongest man site--I must have read those placings on the site awhile ago--they have the placings out of order but the scores are correct on the site :confused:

[Matt Schumann]

forgive me if this has been talked about all ready.

I know there has been mention of the athletes that have qualified but who will be invited? Is there any chance we will see Z, Misha, Vasyl and company invited to WSM?

[Wayne Meyer]

As I am learning more and more about the WSM and it's becoming more and more clear politics and not the purity of the sport enter into who gets invited and who doesnt.

How the hell can anyone have a WSM and not invite Big Z. unless one has an agenda and not intrested in seeing the best the sport has to offer. I mean he's only the reigning IFSA World Champion. Kristal should receive an invite as well, he won the ASC ASM.

Question: Who actually decides who gets invited and who doesn't? Is it one person or a committee? I'd really like to see this process stream lined and make some clear established criteria for who gets in and who doesn't.

[Grant Buhr]

How the hell can anyone have a WSM and not invite Big Z. unless one has an agenda and not intrested in seeing the best the sport has to offer. I mean he's only the reigning IFSA World Champion. Kristal should receive an invite as well, he won the ASC ASM.

Just a couple of notes in passing:

- Savickas is not the reigning IFSA champion -- Vasyl Virastyuk won the 2007 title.

- It is up to the head of the country's federation to negotiate a place for their national champion with TWI/WSM. ASC negotiated their deal with IFSA for the IFSA World Championships.

[Jon Butler]

Big Z isn't the reigning IFSA world champion, but I get your point nonetheless.

[Zach Snyder]

LOL--I meant in the last 20+ years :BB: Yeah i'm old enough to have watched some of those old American WSM contests live on CBS.

brandon/zach-Sorry about the other bad facts--going off the top of my head-heat of the moment-Pope's 3rd is often forgotten--
Having watched strongman for a long time it is just amazing the level of ALL the american Pros.
There are other American not listed that would do well this year.

Edit:Zach,you are correct--I just checked the world strongest man site--I must have read those placings on the site awhile ago--they have the placings out of order but the scores are correct on the site :confused:

no big deal Paul. Yea, i remember the finals the past few years so that's the only reason i remember it. I looked on the WSM site to see the placings and they were wrong, so i checked chasingkaz and found it.

[Ian Duggan]

As I am learning more and more about the WSM and it's becoming more and more clear politics and not the purity of the sport enter into who gets invited and who doesnt.
Purity of the sport? What sport? WSM is a TV show.

I think the criteria goes something like - this is a TV show; what's going to look good on TV so we can sell it around the world?

There's nothing wrong with that as such, and it's certainly not a reflection on the dedication of the competing athletes.

But to talk about "the purity of a sport" that is usually over 50% invite seems a bit pointless.

[Stewart Jordan]

Purity of the sport? What sport? WSM is a TV show.

I think the criteria goes something like - this is a TV show; what's going to look good on TV so we can sell it around the world?

There's nothing wrong with that as such, and it's certainly not a reflection on the dedication of the competing athletes.

But to talk about "the purity of a sport" that is usually over 50% invite seems a bit pointless.


100% Agree

[Kevin Cronin]

As I am learning more and more about the WSM and it's becoming more and more clear politics and not the purity of the sport enter into who gets invited and who doesnt.

How the hell can anyone have a WSM and not invite Big Z. unless one has an agenda and not intrested in seeing the best the sport has to offer. I mean he's only the reigning IFSA World Champion. Kristal should receive an invite as well, he won the ASC ASM.

Question: Who actually decides who gets invited and who doesn't? Is it one person or a committee? I'd really like to see this process stream lined and make some clear established criteria for who gets in and who doesn't.

The politics/invites have been there forever. That was one of the great things about IFSA, it would've been straight "win and youre in" rather than the invitation format. Too bad they couldnt pay the bills

EDIT to add:

Purity of the sport? What sport? WSM is a TV show.

I think the criteria goes something like - this is a TV show; what's going to look good on TV so we can sell it around the world?

There's nothing wrong with that as such, and it's certainly not a reflection on the dedication of the competing athletes.

But to talk about "the purity of a sport" that is usually over 50% invite seems a bit pointless.

That is true at the moment Ian, and I'm surprised by how many seem shocked at all of this, but with the increasing popularity (at least in the states) of the Super Series, you wonder what could be done if the organizers actually cared to treat it as a sport. There are more people at mohegan sun every year, adn publicity was all over the place in NYC for the MSG show. You have to believe with the number of casual fans out there that there might be more in WV for the WSM if we could actually get 100% confirmation that it is in fact taking place there and find out when ... if they dont let us know soon I might have a fight on my hands to get the time off of work, and that's coming from someone who's actively looking for info. While I'm sure treating it as an event/sport rather than solely a television production would bring new headaches, I'm equally certain that it would bring in some mo' $$$

[Ian Duggan]

The politics/invites have been there forever. That was one of the great things about IFSA, it would've been straight "win and youre in" rather than the invitation format. Too bad they couldnt pay the bills
[...]

While I'm sure treating it as an event/sport rather than solely a television production would bring new headaches, I'm equally certain that it would bring in some mo' $$$
See the link?

:D

I think the big question is; would adding spectators to WSM, over the full 5 days (or is it 6? Two days for the finals?) add more cost than it would bring in revenue? This is central to the question of strongman becoming a full blown sport, because without fans you've got no income.

I obviously don't know any figures, but I imagine that WSM is already done with a pretty tight profit margin. Adding in extra expense, that would only be recouped if X number of people turned up to watch just might not be a risk worth taking.

Obviously my own preference would be IFSA style, but done with the show style and flair of WSM / Super Series. But... I don't know, sometimes I think that in actually fact there's just not that much of a market out there for strongman.

[Steven Cooper]

Here is what i think will be the most likely competitor list for WSM 2008 :

1. Poundstone (SS qualified)
2. Pudz (SS qualified)
3. Hollands (SS qualified)
4. Felix (SS qualified)
5. Ortmayer (SS qualified)
6. Ostlund (SS qualified)
7. B.Shaw (SS qualified)
8. A. Haugen (SS qualified & Norway Strongest man)
9. R.Skog (SS qualified)
10. S. Wenta (SS qualified)
11. Johannes Arsjo (SS qualified)
12. Jimmy Marku (2008 BSM qualified)

the above will definitely be there, now for the speculation

13. Hugo Girard or LP Jean (most likely either of the 2 will be Canadian champion). I suppose they could invite both of them.

14. Pfister (i think he is sure to get invited based on past performances and the likely location for WSM will be in his home state).

15 Kevin Nee or possibly Don Pope (there are already 5 Americans above, so, based on last year's WSM where they had six Americans there is only a spot for one more, i have a feeling it will be Nee).

16. Magnus Samuelsson (I am sure he will get an invite).

17. Boris Haraldsson or Stefan Solvi Petersen (Iceland's champion - i know that Stefan was Icelands strongest this year, but politically i dont know if he will compete with him being associated with the Champions League, though i hope this isnt the case, either way one of these 2 will probably be at this year's WSM).

18. Laurence Shahlei (3 britons have already qualified, so going by rumours that there will be 5 britons there, i have picked Loz because he placed 4rth at BSM thsi year).

19. Oli Thompson or Westaby (the 5th Briton - I think that Oli has a better chance of doing well at WSM than Westaby, even though Westaby placed higher at BSM,, but i know they are both good).

20. Stoyan Tordorchev (he was there last year, and he is very good)

21. Tarmo Mitt (he has been invited last few years, so probably again this year, and he made the finals as well).

22. Nigmatullin or Koklyev (as the Russian representative, i hope politics doesnt get in the way of Koklyev competing as i'm sure he'd do well,but if he isnt there Nigmatullin probably will be).

23. Janne Virtannen (going by past years invites, he will probably be there)

24. Raivis Vidsis or Savickas (i am sure we all hope Savickas is there, but if for political reasons he is not then Raivis will be).

25. Andrus Murumets or a second Canadian (hoping murumets is there, but if he's not then there could possibly be whoever comes 2nd in Canada).


SO there's my list, anyone i missed or overlooked, what do u lot reckon?

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Cooper, I think Boyer might get in there, same with Ettiene Smit.

Otherwise there is NO ONE from the Southern Hemisphere.
Hopefully within a few years that will change due to better athletes coming through.

[Steven Cooper]

Cooper, I think Boyer might get in there, same with Ettiene Smit.

Otherwise there is NO ONE from the Southern Hemisphere.
Hopefully within a few years that will change due to better athletes coming through.

Would be great to see the southern hemisphere represented, if either of those 2 blokes mentioned above will go , whose place u reckon they'd take?

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Would be great to see the southern hemisphere represented, if either of those 2 blokes mentioned above will go , whose place u reckon they'd take?


Wouldn't have a clue.

[Kevin Cronin]

See the link?

To be honest, I think that's a coincidence, and not a cause-and-effect pattern

[Ian Duggan]

To be honest, I think that's a coincidence, and not a cause-and-effect pattern
Yeah, I think you're right. I was being jocular.

Clearly I failed. What is it they say about a joke you have to explain...

:D

Although, on a serious note I will say this - IFSA never got the mainstream TV coverage that WSM has had for years, at least not in the UK it didn't. Best it did was Eurosport now and again with dreadful production and another Sky channel that I can't remember right now. Latterly the shows were repeats and few and far between. In my opinion the IFSA stuff was always a poor show when compared to WSM's production values.

In most major, or minor for that matter, sports if you can't sell the TV rights, you're not going to make much money.

[Wayne Meyer]

All -
Many good points raised. I was hoping this years WSM contest would merge IFSA and TWI competitors together for the WSM creating a ridicilously competitive field. Which is what many people said they wanted for years.

It appears TWI as in years past will "cherry" pick who is in and who is out based on marketability, looks and personality.

Doesn't seem right not having Misha, Big Z. or Visyl (sp) not competing.

There is always the Arnold.

[Paul E Ohl]

Who makes the rules ? Who picks the contestants ? Who decides of the events ?

WSM is not a title, it is a trademark.

And as long as the best there are are not given a proper and deserved invitation, the WSM will have to be decided on other grounds.

If there would be a world ranking, Zydrunas Savickas, Andrus Murumets, Mikhail Koklyaev, Vasyl Virastyuk, to name the notables, would be near the top by any standards.They are competing at least ten to twelve times at the international level and they show consistant results.

As for Derek Poundstone, he is the Strongman of the Year. As much as Zydrunas Savickas will deserve to be named the Strongman of the Decade if he keeps on winning the way he does.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Regardless of who is competing, here is the latest.

World’s Strongest Man Update: Charleston, West Virginia by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


IronMind expects an official announcement shortly regarding the dates and location of the 2008 World’s Strongest Man contest and in the meantime, we can say that the Appalachian District of the United States Postal Service will be releasing a special edition World’s Strongest Man - Phil Pfister stamp on September 3 in the Cultural Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, West Virginia.

The stamp will feature the World’s Strongest Man logo and images of Phil Pfister, the 2006 World’s Strongest Man winner, Kim Whittington, a retail specialist in the District’s Marketing Department, told IronMind today. Whittington is the man who proposed this idea, which he said won the support of the Appalachian District’s Marketing Director, Delores Cummings, and the District Manager, Karen Schenck.

“It’s nice to be grouped with some iconic West Virginian athletes,” Pfister told IronMind, as he becomes the fourth athlete in his state to receive this honor.

This will be a limited edition stamp that will appear on what is called a cachet envelope, Whittington explained. The one presented to Phil Pfister on September 3 in Charleston, West Virginia, will mark the public unveiling, "its first day of issue," and it will go on sale at local U.S. Postal Service offices for a short period of time thereafter.

So if you are a World’s Strongest Man fan, and maybe a stamp collector, too, get ready to buy this - whether or not you plan to be in Charleston, West Virginia this September.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

World’s Strongest Man: IMG Press Release by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


The strongman world has been whispering about it for months, but the curtain has just been raised: minutes ago, World’s Strongest Man producer Tim Kowalski sent IronMind the IMG press release naming “Charleston, West Virginia as the host city for the upcoming 31st season of the ‘MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man,’” with filming to begin on September 6.

World’s Strongest Man is simply called “World’s” by the biggest names in a world populated by guys who often stand about 6’ 6’’ (two meters) tall and weigh about 350 pounds (160 kg) - these are the guys who pull planes and buses, and who casually lift rocks that most people would think of as forklift material. After Bill Kazmaier retired, Americans were not known for being especially good at this sort of thing, but when a Charleston firefighter named Phil Pfister won the title in 2006, that was just the spark needed in the U.S.

With Pfister’s win as the catalyst, the mayor of Charleston, Danny Jones, the governor of West Virginia, Joe Manchin, and numerous businesses rallied in full support of the cause, and Pfister’s hometown is about to host a sports-entertainment event unlike any other.

The World’s Strongest Man contest is the brainchild of Barry Frank, Executive Vice President, Media Sports Programming at IMG, a show so successful that it’s embarking on its 31st season, with worldwide broadcasts - and it’s the stuff that fills some big strong men’s heads with visions of greatness as they fight gravity in many forms for television broadcasts around the globe.

For more information on this year’s contest and the history of this show, please check the official World’s Strongest Man website: www.theworldsstrongestman.com and for more information on IMG, “the world’s largest independent producer and distributor of sports programming,” please check www.imgworld.com.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Where would the strength world be without Randall Strossen? In the dark!

2008 World’s Strongest Man Contest: First Press Conference by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


In a press conference featuring the mayor of Charleston, West Virginia, the 2008 World’s Strongest Man Contest was officially announced today.

Contest dates are September 6 - 14, and event locations will feature a combination of urban yet scenic settings, 2006 World’s Strongest Man winner Phil Pfister told IronMind today. “Charleston is the perfect-sized city to to host the World’s Strongest Man contest,” Pfister said, “and I am very happy to have it held in my hometown, both for the live contest and for the re-broadcast.”

[dave barron]

Where would the strength world be without Randall Strossen? In the dark!

Word.

What is it they say about a joke you have to explain...

What? What do they say???

[Ian Duggan]

What? What do they say???
What is it they say about old adages that you have to explain...