Pick the 2008 WSM winner!

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

I know their are many WSM threads already, but now that we know who the finalists are, this should be an interesting survey of who the members think will be the winner of WSM 08. I think it will serve a better place than a top 5 prediction thread as that is pretty much a shot in the dark with this stacked field.

*your vote will be visible to the rest of the forum readers*

Apologies for not leaving room to say derogatory things about Brouse.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Fri 12th Sept 9:00 AM Power Stairs
followed by Fingal Fingers
3:30 PM Car Walk
Sat 13th Sept 9:00 AM Car Deadlift
3:00 PM Overhead Lift
Sun 14th Sept 11:00 AM Plane Pull
7:30 PM Atlas Stones

[Bob Toth]

I would like to vote, but I can't figure out how to choose the 4 gentlemen who are going to tie for 1st place. :mad:
My choice for 1st place is Mr. Mariusz Derek Pfister Ortmayer. :F:

How does one choose after the prelims?? It really does seem like this year that all 10 have a shot at the title...

[darrell baker]

i voted pfister, but i could see travis o winning it too. pfister looks massive in those pics people posted.

[Brian_Worden]

I know how i'd vote, assuming every athlete had no injuries... but since the injury report has been inconsistent and subjective... initially i think... derek or mariusz... but who knows... everyone is a threat!

[Jyrki Rantanen1]

I voted Mariuz if the leg stays ok...Another one is Pfister..I don´t think that Derek, Travis or Arild can win yet..

I also won´t be surprised if in the end Tarmo stands on the podium.. :mag: if it comes real..

[phil hesstahl]

I believe Phil Pfister or Mariusz will take it this year. But Ortmayer should have a saying in this as well... As for Arild I think he is still too young and unexperienced, though he displays retard strengh :D And his technique on the fingals finger and truck pull still needs alot of work. So my vote would have t be split between the wolfman and the dominator. Mariusz is insane on the power stairs, so I think he will win that one. And Phil is just an overall giant in all the events, so he who lives will see!

[Ryan Duncan]

I am voting for Phil, just because Mariusz and Derek both have injuries right now. I still expect great outcomes for the other guys. After seeing DP at Fortissimus I know that a little sprained ankle isn't going to faze him. And hearing about Mariusz winning the truck pull with all he has going on makes me think he's more than human.

Dark horses: Travis, Terry, Arild

[dronga]

I'm voting Derek, injury or not, he's an animal! And don't forget folks, he had a torn pec( I think at the Arnold), and still Circus DB pressed away! Sometimes injuries make you put the blinders on, he'll be so focused it will be unreal!

[Stephanie Kimball]

I'm voting Derek, injury or not, he's an animal! And don't forget folks, he had a torn pec( I think at the Arnold), and still Circus DB pressed away! Sometimes injuries make you put the blinders on, he'll be so focused it will be unreal!

He did have a torn pec at the Arnold!

I would love to see Travis or Derek win this!! Travis had a back injury a couple years back and has come back stronger than ever!

[Knelly]

Sometimes injuries affect athletes in positive ways. Derek had his hand in a cast days before the Mohegan Sun WSMSS. He hurt his hand during his police work (chasing someone down) ....why they ran from him in the beginning is beyond me.....

He tore his pec exactly one week before the Arnold. Didn't know if he was going to compete and made the decision the night before. After the first day he was tied with Zydrunas. Ended up placing 2nd.

Not many people know this. But the day before Fortissimus, I had to take Derek to the emergency room in Canada. His wisdom tooth had been bothering him days prior. But it was so bad that he couldn't sleep, barely eat and the right side of his face was blown up. He had to be put on antibiotics and wouldn't take pain medicine for fear of getting drowsy. After each event his mouth would be throbbing.

Now his ankle is hurt. But he tells me it's getting better by the minute. Now I believe Derek is going into each event with the mind set that he's got nothing to lose but much to gain.....


So we need to watch out for Mariusz too, this injury may have a positive affect on him as well...I know he is a very tough competitor......

[Stephanie Kimball]

So we need to watch out for Mariusz too, this injury may have a positive affect on him as well...I know he is a very tough competitor......


No doubt about it, this is going to be a very exciting final!!

[brian kling]

Not sure about the top dogs because of injuries so i voted for one of the under dogs, arlid.

[CHANTZWILSON]

I voted for Phil. He has the home town crowd, and Derek (my first pick) is hurt. I think this may be it for Mariusz, but hey, he is a :F: so what do I know.
I hope that Travis makes me regret not voting for him, but we shall see.

[Pat Flanigan]

Shouldn't the polls close before the finals start?

I chose Phil, but I really want to see an American sweep.

[Matt Makousky]

Lets be optomistic :YR:

Marius, Poundstone, Ostlund not in any particular order.


M2

[Adam Keep]

Stop worrying about injuries everybody!!! Injuries are a part of the freaking sport. How many of us have competed totally healthy? Not many people will be raising their hands will they? I competed at last years 105kg pro nats with a broken foot, but didn't even mention it till way after the contest because it doesn't really matter. Porter competed this year with a busted knee (he did mention it though, but he is Porter and we expect a little bitching out of him anyways ;) ) We all have injuries and we all know how to deal with them. Guys like Derek and Mariusz know what they are capable of and wouldn't continue if they didn't think they could win. Ok I am off my soapbox now. Back to the polls I guess.

[Ryan Carey]

Im not voting just want a USA guy to win! :B:

[Dan Montague]

Stop worrying about injuries everybody!!! Injuries are a part of the freaking sport. How many of us have competed totally healthy? Not many people will be raising their hands will they? I competed at last years 105kg pro nats with a broken foot, but didn't even mention it till way after the contest because it doesn't really matter. Porter competed this year with a busted knee (he did mention it though, but he is Porter and we expect a little bitching out of him anyways ;) ) We all have injuries and we all know how to deal with them. Guys like Derek and Mariusz know what they are capable of and wouldn't continue if they didn't think they could win. Ok I am off my soapbox now. Back to the polls I guess.

Yeah!

Who needs to consider all factors and outside influences when determining probabilities of victory in competitive athletic events!

March on Washington!

[BradyJones]

i pick pudz..

[Adam Keep]

Yeah!

Who needs to consider all factors and outside influences when determining probabilities of victory in competitive athletic events!

March on Washington!

Dude I know there are lots of other factors in there, but it is enough already. The facts are out there, lets move on.

[Scott Markowitz]

i pick pudz..

Did you even need to post that? Is there anyone who thought there was the smallest possibility you might pick someone else? :D

[Matt Schumann]

I voted for Derek Poundstone to win in all. Derek came in 2nd at the Arnold, and won one of the most brutal shows ever (that some consider a world championship) Fortissimus. These were all top level shows with against the same athletes (except MP)

Now that I think about Derek has beat everyone at WSM throughout 2008. Its hard to count him out.

But, WSM seems to be a much different kind of contest and there are some amazing athletes there. Im hope'n that the qualifiers took a toll on some of the athletes becuase Derek seems to shine when everyone else is tired.

Power Stairs - Derek trained this event hard, with weights heavier than what will be used in WSM. So i dont see why that combined with his conditioning wont help him place high here.

Fingal Fingers- Derek won this event in his qualifying heat. Not bad for a newbee. He also beat Jason Bergmann who posted a video of himself practicing fingal fingers really hard months ago. Dereks time was 42 seconds, it would be interesting to know how that 42 seconds compares t the other athletes times... Last year 42 seconds would be a decent effort but with the increase on the weight of some of the fingers its hard to say what a good time would be. I also had the pleasure of seeing Derek kill himself practicing on a fingl finger compariable to the heaviest one in the WSM set... he was doing sets of 4 or 5 with it. Hopefully Derek can get a top placing.

Car Walk- I think this event will be a good chance for Derek to stand out. I remember reading when Poundstones interview came out, that yoke was his weakest event. in 2008 it seems like he has improved leaps and bounds. I think he came in 3rd in the Yoke at Mohegan to Terry & Mariusz, but then SMASHED a 1000+ pound yoke at the arnold, Smashed the yoke at fortissimus and clearly beat travis in the yoke portion of the medley at MSG. I know the car walk at WSM is much different than a sturdy Yoke, but I think this will be a good chance for Derek to make a move.

Car Deadlift- I think Poundstone will definitely be in the hunt for the top position here... Definitely top 3, if not #1. Im hoping that the fatique factor steps in for some of the other athletes and it gives Derek a chance to shine. Definitely a potential win....

Overhead lift- Defintely will be a battle between MP and Derek, I think Derek will win this event..... Hopefully this will be his 2nd or 3rd win in a row.

Plane Pull- WHO KNOWS! From what everyone is saying, this is airforce one ... I know Derek will pull it, and probaly place high, but its hard to predict anything on any type of truck/plane pull.... .

Stones- Travis, Dave O and A. Haugan will be hard to beat. Especially if the platforms are decending heights. hopefully by this time Derek wont need a win, but he is definitely capable of it. Hard to call
GO POUNDSTONE!


Fri 12th Sept 9:00 AM Power Stairs
followed by Fingal Fingers
3:30 PM Car Walk
Sat 13th Sept 9:00 AM Car Deadlift
3:00 PM Overhead Lift
Sun 14th Sept 11:00 AM Plane Pull
7:30 PM Atlas Stones
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[Jim Wood]

i think terry might surprise a lot of ppl!!!!

He gets my vote

[anton axelsson]

i went with derek he has sure proven himself and he is a savage and wont let injury get the best of him :F:

[BradyJones]

Did you even need to post that? Is there anyone who thought there was the smallest possibility you might pick someone else? :D


im not gonna lie, it is a very stacked field this year.. but pudz is still on another level imo...

[Pat Wilson]

Dude I know there are lots of other factors in there, but it is enough already. The facts are out there, lets move on.


YEAH!!!

THIS IS STRONGMAN NOT DRAMAMAN!

[Joe Bosnick]

Just by glancing through the results (who picked who) I suspect there's at least a small corellation (sp?) between region/training group and the favorite to win. For instance, most in the Texas area picked Travis while most in the North East picked Poundstone and a lot of West Coasters/non-Americans picked Pudz. While I'm sure we have "favorites" I think there's more to it than that...Just thought it was kinda interesting.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Just by glancing through the results (who picked who) I suspect there's at least a small corellation (sp?) between region/training group and the favorite to win. For instance, most in the Texas area picked Travis while most in the North East picked Poundstone and a lot of West Coasters/non-Americans picked Pudz. While I'm sure we have "favorites" I think there's more to it than that...Just thought it was kinda interesting.


I noticed that too. I'm a huge Ortmayer fan, but after Pudz won the Truck Pull, I'm going to pick him.

[Daniel Atchison]

The Texas stoneman will put on his game-face. Dominate everyone else's faces off. Then put on a cowboy hat and sing and dance to "Thunder-rolls".

[Steve Trippe]

I called for Lbstone to win it from the beginning, and almost reconsidered after hearing about the qualifiers, but I think he has been focused on this and will pull through, so I stuck with him.

No matter what happens, it is sure to be a great final, and with the athlete list here, it would be easy to be wrong.

[Sean Hatley]

Here's how i think the line up will be

1. Poundstone
2. Ortmyer
3. Pfhister

[BradyJones]

I noticed that too. I'm a huge Ortmayer fan, but after Pudz won the Truck Pull, I'm going to pick him.


if pudz werent in it id definetely pick ort...

[Billy Wolt]

i just voted...and picked my winner based on current injuries

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Alban Schmid, ALLEN HEGG, Ashley Christopher Moore, Ben Miles, BradyJones, Brandon Campbell, brianwalsh, Chris George, Ian Duggan, Jamie T, Jared Enderton, Jean-Charles Péronnet, John Sullivan, Jonathan Macfarlane, Jyrki Rantanen1, Karl Gillingham, Lucjan Zolnierowski, Martin Schiller, Matt Dawson, Matt Makara, michael nee, Pat Wilson, Rian, Richard Reynolds, Scott Porter, shane solomon, Simon_De_Vogelaere, strongwoman, supermagnamon, svend karlsen, Vince Decker

;)