No 2009 World’s Strongest Man Qualifiers

[Brandon R.]

<table class="bodytext" width="641" align="center"><tbody><tr><td class="menudate" align="center" bgcolor="#cc0033">Tuesday, November 18, 2008 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="bigboldtext" align="left">2009 World’s Strongest Man Qualifiers by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind

</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="bodytext">A source close to the negotiations has told IronMind that at this moment, there are no contracts in effect for a 2009 World’s Strongest Man qualifying tour.

http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/system/galleries/ironmind/wsmcarfork_lg.jpg
The World’s Strongest Man contest is the competition everyone on the professional strongman circuit wants to win, but even if you are as strong as a forklift, first you have to qualify. Randall J. Strossen photo.

Notably, the agreement between IMG and Super Series that has allowed athletes to qualify for the 2005, 2007, and 2008 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man contest expires this year, and at this point, IronMind was told that the contract has not been extended.

IronMind will try to follow related developments, but for now, here’s the bottom line: There are no agreements between IMG and any parties in terms of qualifying competitors for the 2009 World’s Strongest Man contest. </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table>

If there aren't any qualifiers this year, then how are people going to be invited besides already being a big name? We all know Derek should get an invite, but what if there's some new freak that could give Derek a run for his $? How will he get there?

[Declan Mac Daid]

Maybe I'm not following this on correctly but if there are no qualifiers, will there be a World's Strongest Man contest at all?

[rob meulenberg]

If there aren't any qualifiers this year, then how are people going to be invited besides already being a big name? We all know Derek should get an invite, but what if there's some new freak that could give Derek a run for his $? How will he get there?

We do not know if there will be qualifier yet. All this article says is that the Super Series will not be the qualifying route to WSM. But if there are no qualifiers, and some new freak is out there, I am sure someway, he will get an invite.

This saddens me. The one aspect I always have disliked about WSM is the "invites". I believe a returning champion deserves an automatic invite to the next years contest, but, short of a horrendous injury, everyone else should have to qualify. That is why the IFSA format was so awesome.

[Clint Darden]

From the interview I did and posted here...

The Strongman Champions League (former IFSA) will be meeting with the people of SS and TWI to work on some sort of "merger" which will allow a unified World's Strongest Man contest for 2009. WORKING on it...

Wouldn't make sense to schedule qualifiers when you are working on another, better, option.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

From the interview I did and posted here...

The Strongman Champions League (former IFSA) will be meeting with the people of SS and TWI to work on some sort of "merger" which will allow a unified World's Strongest Man contest for 2009. WORKING on it...

Wouldn't make sense to schedule qualifiers when you are working on another, better, option.

I'd heard this from another source too. Negotiations are under way and personally I expect to see a new federation of sorts with plenty of shows in 2009. I wouldn't expect WSM to ever become a 'qualify-only' show anytime soon. Having a large TV audience means they will seek to do what is best for their show.