Americas Stronge Man WV

[Matt Schumann]

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bigboldtext align=left>America’s Strongest Man Contest is Back on the Radar by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind



</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytext>America’s Strongest Man is a big title in its own right and with the added promise of an invitation to the World’s Strongest Man contest, what Phil Pfister is talking about is guaranteed to gain attention in the strongman community.


http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/system/galleries/ironmind/philbridge_lg.jpg (http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/system/galleries/ironmind/philbridge_lg.jpg)
2006 World’s Strongest Man winner Phil Pfister was key to bringing WSM 2008 to Charleston, West Virginia, and he is involved in talks that could bring IMG’s America’s Strongest Man contest to West Virginia for the next three years. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Phil Pfister, the 2006 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man (WSM) winner, was instrumental in bringing the 2008 WSM contest to his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, which won rave reviews for its support of this television show that enjoys an enormous worldwide following and that spawned a sport - strongman - in its wake.

“Following up on the success of hosting WSM 2008 in West Virginia, organizers are meeting to consider a three-year commitment to host IMG's America’s Strongest Man contest,” Pfister told IronMind. “The top three athletes will go to the World’s Strongest Man contest, and the US$50,000 purse will be split among the ten top finalists. Additionally, the show will air on ESPN2.”

Earlier this year, Pfister had sparked tremendous interest by announcing a contest along these lines, but then the contest - America’s Strongest Man - was postponed when Charleston seized the opportunity to hold the just-completed 2008 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man contest instead.

In a hands-across-the-water gesture, Pfister told IronMind that he is offering, “an open invitation to ASC” to participate in this contest, referring to the American Strongman Corporation, which is the professional strongman group run by Dione Wessels, who is also the vice president of NAS, an organization for amateur strongman competitors.

“I have repeatedly made the offer for ASC to be involved with America's Strongest Man,” Phil Pfister told IronMind today, “and I am renewing this invitation.”

“It is hoped that given the greater lead time, ASC will see this as the great opportunity that it truly is for the sport and its athletes,” Pfister concluded.

“The door is open!”




I know this contest was cancelled this year because of WSM. But I am a little confused. Will this be the same ASM that Poundstone won, or a seperate ASM.

Wonder if they will have that first day where ams can compete with the winner getting a spot in the ASM contest.

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[Easton Taylor]

Here we go.....this should be interesting.

[Adam Keep]

It is not the same ASM that ASC puts on, but I dont see the harm in having this contest. They need to make sure thatquality athletes show up to this contest though. We don't want a bunch of ill prepared guys competing in the biggest contest in the sport. It should have some good guys showing up though. I bet guys like Steve Macdonald would show and compete since he is not a part of ASC anymore. Good luck to Phil and his contest!

[Matt Wanat]

From what I heard, Phil's group has lost the lawsuit regarding using the name 'America's Strongest Man'. So, don't be shocked if it's called something else.

[Alex Klotz]

Is this the drug-tested contest he wanted to hold?

[Kevin Cronin]

I know this contest was cancelled this year because of WSM. But I am a little confused. Will this be the same ASM that Poundstone won, or a seperate ASM.

No, Poundstone won the 2007 ASM. It's not 2007 any more

Personally, I really really hope ASC gets involved in this. Then again, I'm sure there's lots of background stuff I'm not privy to, and an open invitation show essentially nulls the point of having qualifiers for nationals, or indeed, even a pro card system. then theres the question of who gets the entry fee money ... yeesh

[Rob Haan]

I know no one knows but If this is added as a qualifer for WSM, how does it change the Super Series and the Fit Expo as an American qualifer for the Super Series contest.

[Matt Schumann]

Oh I know that.. I just had a mental fart when I was writing that and forgot that ASC ran it.



No, Poundstone won the 2007 ASM. It's not 2007 any more

Personally, I really really hope ASC gets involved in this. Then again, I'm sure there's lots of background stuff I'm not privy to, and an open invitation show essentially nulls the point of having qualifiers for nationals, or indeed, even a pro card system. then theres the question of who gets the entry fee money ... yeesh

[Brandon Campbell]

i say ASC gets involved with it, and just makes this the ASM they always put on. Pros will compete and qualify for a spot in the finals for this show.

NAS can use the plat+ as qualifiers for up and comers. And Maybe phil can help put on four to five shows to get some more qualifiers for it. Then have one show that is the open catagory for the final spots.


Its not a complicated process to filter out people who should and shouldnt be there. Its the politics involved that will make this hard. If they work together it could be the biggest thing since WSM

[DaveMihalov]

Strongman is going to turn into boxing..4 different federations trying to compete for the same spotlight and that's why boxing is horrible right now..

We need one single solitary corporation, that's the only way this sport is going to grow..

[Kevin Cronin]

i say ASC gets involved with it, and just makes this the ASM they always put on. Pros will compete and qualify for a spot in the finals for this show.

NAS can use the plat+ as qualifiers for up and comers. And Maybe phil can help put on four to five shows to get some more qualifiers for it. Then have one show that is the open catagory for the final spots.


Its not a complicated process to filter out people who should and shouldnt be there. Its the politics involved that will make this hard. If they work together it could be the biggest thing since WSM
Is Phil's camp even interested in having qualifiers? Last time it was supposed to be an open invite, has that changed? And who gets the money from the entry fees? 50/50? 60/40? Who gets the 60? I'm hopeful, but not optimistic

[Kevin Cronin]

i say ASC gets involved with it, and just makes this the ASM they always put on. Pros will compete and qualify for a spot in the finals for this show.

NAS can use the plat+ as qualifiers for up and comers. And Maybe phil can help put on four to five shows to get some more qualifiers for it. Then have one show that is the open catagory for the final spots.


Its not a complicated process to filter out people who should and shouldnt be there. Its the politics involved that will make this hard. If they work together it could be the biggest thing since WSM
Is Phil's camp even interested in having qualifiers? Last time it was supposed to be an open invite, has that changed? And who gets the money from the entry fees? 50/50? 60/40? Who gets the 60? I'm hopeful, but not optimistic

We need one single solitary corporation, that's the only way this sport is going to grow
...says the company man with a corporate card ... :JT:

[DaveMihalov]

Is Phil's camp even interested in having qualifiers? Last time it was supposed to be an open invite, has that changed? And who gets the money from the entry fees? 50/50? 60/40? Who gets the 60? I'm hopeful, but not optimistic


...says the company man with a corporate card ... :JT:


:M: good one Kev

[Paul F.X. Armstrong]

Politics aside-
Phil and his group-The governor,The mayor,The City of Charleston,Chesapeak Energy,West Virginia Coal Association and all the other small businesses and local sponsors and organizers did a good job at WSM 2008.
With IMG happy and ESPN on board+the citizens of Charleston they should be able to put together another good contest.

[Kevin Cronin]

Politics aside-
Phil and his group-The governor,The mayor,The City of Charleston,Chesapeak Energy,West Virginia Coal Association and all the other small businesses and local sponsors and organizers did a good job at WSM 2008.
With IMG happy and ESPN on board+the citizens of Charleston they should be able to put together another good contest.
HOW can you POSSIBLY forget "YES! Coal" best sponsor ever, and makers of the tremendously awkward video on coal shown at the athletes dinner on tuesday night? That was classic :D

[Carl Dorr]

So how does one get into Phil's group? Is it the say way you get into ASC or what?

[Paul F.X. Armstrong]

So how does one get into Phil's group? Is it the say way you get into ASC or what?
"phil's group"
I was just referring to Phil,the organizers,sponsors,politicians, that were involved in "bringing"WSM 2008 to Charleston West Viriginia.

"YES! Coal" maybe they are part of www.friendsofcoal.org also involved with WSM 2008?

Phil's job is now as the 'Community Development Coordinator'for Chesapeake Energy Corporation.Maybe he could ask his boss Aubrey McClendon to waive any entry fee's. :o

[Brian Shaw]

I hope that everybody understands what a huge step this contest can be for american strongman as a whole. If we can get all of the ASC pros in one contest we can finally have a legitimate Americas Strongest Man. This will be a great venue as we all found out at WSM. Also getting major exposure on ESPN can only help with getting american strongman into the mainstream.

I am personally very excited about this contest and I think it will be a big step forward in 2009!

[brianwalsh]

Has Phil ever run a show before? If it worked out with ASC and everyone competed and it was on ESPN it would be amazing. Last year's ASM was the legit champ. Just because every single person did not show up does not mean he was not a legit champ. Everyone who did not show up had the oppurtunity to but choose another route. I am just skeptical since it was supposed to happen last year but did not because something better came along. Also is it gonna be drug tested like last year's was supposed to be. This may affect alot of people competing. Just throwing ideas out there because the system wehave now has produced the best WSM finish by Americans in awhile if not ever. Why mess with it?

[Brian Shaw]

Has Phil ever run a show before? If it worked out with ASC and everyone competed and it was on ESPN it would be amazing. Last year's ASM was the legit champ. Just because every single person did not show up does not mean he was not a legit champ. Everyone who did not show up had the oppurtunity to but choose another route. I am just skeptical since it was supposed to happen last year but did not because something better came along. Also is it gonna be drug tested like last year's was supposed to be. This may affect alot of people competing. Just throwing ideas out there because the system wehave now has produced the best WSM finish by Americans in awhile if not ever. Why mess with it?

I am not sure if Phil has personally ran a contest before. If everyone including ASC is on board this contest will be awesome and will be ran great.

I didnt mean to come across as saying that Jason Kristal didnt deserve to win ASM. It was just unfortunate that the WSMSS @ MSG was the same weekend. There were a few of us that had to make a decision about where to compete. It was fairly easy because WSMSS gets you to WSM and ASM did not this year. Now we can have a ASM that gets guys to WSM.

As far a drug testing goes I am personally all for it. I think it would be great to find out who the strongest man is naturally with a level playing field. I really believe that drug testing can only help strongman become more mainstream. Hopefully in the future that can happen. From what I am hearing this contest will not be tested so that should not play a factor in who will show up.

The system we have now with NAS is really great. Dione and Willie have done great things for american strongman. The feeder system for ASC has made sure that the best guys get to compete at pro contests. This year ASM only qualified guys for Worlds Strongest Nation (Awesome contest by the way) which from what I heard a lot of the guys turned down. It used to be a qualifier for IFSA worlds in previous years, but IFSA is done now. It would just be nice if we could have ASM be a qualifier to get guys into WSM.

The system we have now can only be improved if everyone gets on board with this contest. Hopefully we can have a few more guys weigh in on the topic.

[Mark A Cummings]

So if ASC does not get on with Phil's contest for whatever reason, are we going to have 2 America's Strongest Man titles? Phil has been quoted before as saying he wants to help unify the sport. Seems to me that he should have taken care of the Phil/ASC combo thing before announcing that he was going to call his show's winner the America's Strongest Man. To beat a dead horse, it sounds like its one step closer to getting the multiple fed problems that plague Powerlifting. Just a thought.