AWFUL IFSA television coverage ...

[Tony Christopher]

In case anyone noticed, yesterday VS. broadcast the final portion of the IFSA world championships.

We see Big Z break the World Record in the heavy circle of stones to defeat Misha by 1.5 points.

As a guy who had read all about the championship, knew how it played out, and anticipated what was coming, it was thrilling to see.

However, if if you didn't know in advance that Z and Misha were going into that final event tied, and that the stones were going to decide the World Championship, the television broadcast certainly doesn't tell you.

You watch the circle of stones and then all of a sudden, one guy is crowned champion and it's over. You think to yourself: "What the hell, I didn't know that was the final event?"

I don't understand why the production of the IFSA championships is so terrible ... it honestly looks like a high school drama student put it together on his/her PC for an end of term assignment.

The finish in IFSA was every bit as thrilling as the battle between Pudz and Pfister in WSM, but whereas WSM got the most out of that rivalry, IFSA did essentially nothing with theirs.

I actually feel kinda sorry for Z and Misha: they deserved better ... they put on an absolutely thrilling show that you absolutely can't appreciate based on the television coverage.

[Matt Stiefel]

I have not seen that one yet, but I have thought that all of the IFSA shows have been poorly produced since the split with WSM. They show so few athletes and don't do a good job explaining what is happening in the contest. It seems like the Canadian guy is always shouting about a new world record and not much else. Just my opinion.

But I still watch because it is strongman.

[Arnell Castillo]

i have the 2005 dvd and i can't stand to hear the commentators voice at all ! so i watch it on mute. the guy knows nothin and his voice is so annoying ! :LOL:

[Richard Reynolds]

I have to agree with you except I thought the announcer reminded me of episodes of the show Gladiators. Most of the time it looks like the athletes are by themselves in some freezer. Are they trying to do the opposite of WSM? Just do it outdoors in the sun in front of a big crowd. And keep us posted of current point standings!

On another note, By did big Z look BIG. What's the circumference of his arms these days?

[Scott Markowitz]

In case anyone noticed,

I didn't notice. Most people didn't. That is a major part of the problem. VS has done a poor job of promoting (or even airing) the show. In their defense, maybe if the shows were better produced, more people (aside from us) would watch.

[Garrick Daft]

I didn't think it was awful....but it could have been a lot better. The announcer messed up quite a few times...like announcing that Zydrunas already had the WR in the stones. before his stone run was even shown yet.
I do like though how the IFSA athletes were focused on a little more.

BTW. Nick Best was smoking that Yoke!!! damn I saw that and was amazed. Nick Best has great speed on the Yoke and Farmers and everything. He has a great DL and grip. Just imagine how well rounded he will be once his overhead is brought up to par with his other abilities!

Overall I thought is was good and the darkness and coldness provides a contrast to the WSM. You got to remember people complained about the WSM 06 contest shows too. Kinda hard to please, but I think that a great show would be somewhere in the middle of the two and also with the IFSA athletes competing against the SS athletes for the WSM title!

They needed two announcers also, don't know why they went with just one this time.

[rickfreitag]

I'm not fond of the production of IFSA world championships. I've seen all the episodes aired on VS. Overall very poorly put together. Lots of mistakes. The athletes deserve better! The sport deserves better!

[Derek Poundstone]

I think VS should list the event and current points going into the event and after the event on the bottom of the screen like WSM use to do in the 90's. This is all you really need to do and have a decent announcer!! VS is scheduled to film America's Strongest Man down in North Carolina during the Pepsi 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway. There's a big chance for VS to get alot of exposure. I've already seen The Speed Channel Advertising the hell outta the race, VS should do the same with the competition and cross advertise on The Speed Channel!!!

[Mac Smith]

I didn't think it was awful....but it could have been a lot better. The announcer messed up quite a few times...like announcing that Zydrunas already had the WR in the stones. before his stone run was even shown yet.
I do like though how the IFSA athletes were focused on a little more.

BTW. Nick Best was smoking that Yoke!!! damn I saw that and was amazed. Nick Best has great speed on the Yoke and Farmers and everything. He has a great DL and grip. Just imagine how well rounded he will be once his overhead is brought up to par with his other abilities!
Overall I thought is was good and the darkness and coldness provides a contrast to the WSM. You got to remember people complained about the WSM 06 contest shows too. Kinda hard to please, but I think that a great show would be somewhere in the middle of the two and also with the IFSA athletes competing against the SS athletes for the WSM title!

They needed two announcers also, don't know why they went with just one this time.

We're working on it Garrick!!! Expect big thangs from Nick at Nationals!!!!

[Jim Glover]

I would have never known Misha and Big V were neck and neck going into the stones if I hadn't read about them on this thread and I just watched this a couple of nights back.

[Jared Enderton]

I thought the 2005 IFSA dvd wasnt so bad. I agree about the announcers though. Kind of annoying but it's strongman so I can deal with it haha.

[Michael Douglas - uk]

I have not seen that one yet, but I have thought that all of the IFSA shows have been poorly produced since the split with WSM. They show so few athletes and don't do a good job explaining what is happening in the contest. It seems like the Canadian guy is always shouting about a new world record and not much else. Just my opinion.

But I still watch because it is strongman.


Yes i think this statement is spot on, they dont really show every athlete, just the top 3 or 4, hopefully its just teething problems and they sort it out soon, and produce it as good as wsm.

[Michael Douglas - uk]

I didn't think it was awful....but it could have been a lot better. The announcer messed up quite a few times...like announcing that Zydrunas already had the WR in the stones. before his stone run was even shown yet.
I do like though how the IFSA athletes were focused on a little more.

BTW. Nick Best was smoking that Yoke!!! damn I saw that and was amazed. Nick Best has great speed on the Yoke and Farmers and everything. He has a great DL and grip. Just imagine how well rounded he will be once his overhead is brought up to par with his other abilities!

Overall I thought is was good and the darkness and coldness provides a contrast to the WSM. You got to remember people complained about the WSM 06 contest shows too. Kinda hard to please, but I think that a great show would be somewhere in the middle of the two and also with the IFSA athletes competing against the SS athletes for the WSM title!

They needed two announcers also, don't know why they went with just one this time.


I would love to see IFSA compete against SS for the WSM title, but with respect no one catch touch big z at the minute.

[Jared Enderton]

I would love to see IFSA compete against SS for the WSM title, but with respect no one catch touch big z at the minute.

not to start a huge debate.. but in ifsa events or wsm events? it seemed to me the wsm events this year were favoring the more mobile guys...

[Michael Douglas - uk]

not to start a huge debate.. but in ifsa events or wsm events? it seemed to me the wsm events this year were favoring the more mobile guys...

im not going to go there mate, i end up getting in trouble.

[Tony Christopher]

I don't even mind the mistakes so much, what really gets me is:

1) They don't show / comment on the leader board between events.
2) Sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the athletes they show and the ones that they don't. I understand that you can't show everyone because of time restrictions, but the simple solution to that is to do what WSM does "4 athletes have already competed, here were there times, now we're going to show you athlete X ..."
3) When they do flash the leader boards or stats on someone they are very often such small fonts, and they're up so briefly that it's impossible to read. Fortunately, I have TiVO, so I can pause it and look, but without that, or a 50"+ plasma set, forget it.

I did like the conversation pieces they had with the athletes this year, it was neat to hear everyone talking about why they got into strongman. Also, the footage itself isn't bad ... the filming tends to be professionally done. All you need is someone who knows how to edit and produce a show and it will be fine.

They should hire Garrick Daft ... if he did 1/2 as good a job with this as he does with his Youtube videos, they'd have a winner!

[Bob Toth]

They should hire Garrick Daft ... if he did 1/2 as good a job with this as he does with his Youtube videos, they'd have a winner!
I 2nd that!!!

IFSA could learn a lot from WSM productions.. but they would smoke everyone if they had Garrick!!

[JonCohen]

not to start a huge debate.. but in ifsa events or wsm events? it seemed to me the wsm events this year were favoring the more mobile guys...

But wouldnt Marius have won then? Cuz how can u be mobile without abs?

[Scott Markowitz]

But wouldnt Marius have won then? Cuz how can u be mobile without abs?

:rolleyes:

This is a joke, isn't it?

[Garrick Daft]

Thanks Tony and Bob!! What nice compliments, made my day. I will remember your kindness! What I have done with my videos is small compared to what the editing crew that WSM and IFSA has to do. I would love to do something like that though.

[ADAMBAUER]

I 2nd that!!!

IFSA could learn a lot from WSM productions.. but they would smoke everyone if they had Garrick!!
Ill add my vote to that... after the awesome job Ive seen on YouTube it couldn't be a better idea.