America's Strongest Man 2011

The American Strongman Corporation brings its annual strength festival to Hot Springs, Arkansas to determine who reigns supreme in American Strongman competition. The 2011 version will be missing a few key combatants. Namely, Brian Shaw, ASC Pro strongman and winner of the this years Arnold Strongman Classic. Brian took out arguably the strongest man on the planet, Zydrunas Savickas and 8 other champions en route to his impressive win.

Also missing will be Mike Jenkins, the runner up at the Arnold Strongman Classic earlier this year in his first year as a pro. Both of these athletes will be across the Atlantic in Poland, competing in Giants Live, the official Worlds Strongest Man qualifying tour. Brian has already secured his spot with his second place finish at the WSM last year. Big Mike has shown his abilities with solid 2nd place finishes in several contests this year. He is in Poland to show he is worthy of an invite to this years World's Strongest Man in South Carolina.


However, there is an impressive list of who's who in American strength who have committed to this years competition. Perennial favorites like Brad “Wolverine” Dunn, Rx Muscle Power Hour Radio host Ryan Bracewell, Multiple Champion Travis “The Texas Stoneman” Ortmayer, Big Van Hatfield and many others. Absent also will be last years winner Derek Poundstone who has just resumed training after a 6 month layoff due to a vertebral injury.



This list of events appears to be even more challenging than last years version. Each event brings a new challenge to these athletes, grip strength, upper body strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular conditioning.



Day 1: Iron Mind Axle Clean and Press Max: Each lifter will have three attempts to press above their head a 2.5” thick bar with a weight of their choosing. Our winner will be the athlete to complete the heaviest attempt. This event is for an official Iron Mind “world record” event.

Lander’s Harley-Davidson Yoke & Sled: Lets put this event into perspective. Each athlete must stand under a 950lb bar, lay it across their shoulder and “run” 60' as fast as possible. However it doesn't end there. When the athlete crosses the 60' line a 700lb “Harley Davidson Fat Boy” sled will need to be pulled back to the original start line 60 feet behind them, all within a 60 second time limit.

Bigg Dogg Strongg Husafel Stone: As an athlete, you either really like this event, or youdespise it. A 400lb 2'x3' flat stone has to be lifted from the ground, cradled into the athletes arms and walked as far as possible until it is dropped.



Day 2: Coco Beverage Budweiser Keg over the bar: Here athletes must heave 8 kegs of various weights over a 16' bar, all with a one-minute time limit.

Push-Pull Medley: 200lb circus DB, 675lb axle deadlift, 320lb Axle Clean & Press, 715lb standard deadlift, 340lb log Clean & Press. OK, if everything that these athletes attempt isn't enough, the ASC throws this medley into their collective laps. Each athlete must complete each portion of the 5 events before moving onto the next one. First the athlete must pick up with two hands and place upon their shoulder a massively thick handled 200lb dumbbell and press it with one arm. Once completed they will drop it and run to the next discipline, a thick handled 675lb axle deadlift. Athletes may use straps for any portion of these events. Once that is done, the athlete has to catch their breath, grasp a 320lb thick handled bar, bring it up to their chest and press above their head into the full locked out position. Next, another deadlift, this time a standard gym bar fitted with 715lbs and if that wasn't enough, each athlete will run to a 340lb log and press it above their head. Just writing this makes me tired.


Allen Tillery Chevy Cruz Car Hold: OK, no running or moving about for this event. This discipline brings about each athletes overall brute strength into the forefront. Simply, using lifting straps so as not to test the grip primarily, each athlete will lift the vehicle with specially fitted apparatus and hold on for dear life. No time limit. Just lift it and try to find your inner nirvana.

Atlas Stones: No strongman event is really complete without these behemoth sphericalstones. Each athlete has 75 seconds to lift a 300# to 60”, 330# to 60”, 360” to 54”, 380 to 54”, 420# to 54”. Remember, this is after 9 other long painful and grueling events.


This years competition event is primed to be one of the best events in several years. The ASC has pulled out all of the stops to make sure each event is more difficult than the previous. Fans and spectators will get to see and interact with these athletes each day of competition. Rx Muscle will be there to bring you play by play of each event, in-depth interviews and a whole new approach to American strongman reporting.

2011 America's Strongest Man Competitors List


Hot Springs, Arkansas – With less then 3 weeks to go the ASM 2011 competitor list is growing.

The question on everyone’s mind is will there be a new America’s Strongest Man in 2011? The confirmed list has 15 athletes so far and they will be competing for the largest prize package in ASC history. “The total prize value is $25,000K which includes $15K in cash awards,” said ASC President Dione Wessels, “Athletes will have meals and hotel rooms paid for and the winners will receive prize money payments at the show.”





So far the athlete list includes Brad Dunn, David Hansen, Andrew Palmer, Van Hatfield, Vincent Urbank, Travis Ortmayer, Carl Foemmel, Ryan Bakke, Ryan Bracewell, Michael Burke, Erik Peterson, Justin Warren, Scott Weech, John Conner, David Ostlund, Josh Thigpen, Kevin Nee, and Matt Dawson. “Our goal is to have 20 plus athletes at ASM this year and I am excited to see how this year’s rookies, Burke and Urbank perform,” remarked ASC VP Mike Johnston, “I know a few of the veterans have been injured, but with a prize package like this and the amazing fanfare that we received in Hot Springs last year, my only question is, why wouldn’t you come?”

The contest will be held on August 5 & 6, 2011. For more information visit:

http://www.hotsprings.org/events_calendar/default.aspx?id=2172

Worlds Strongest Man 2011 U.S. Invites Released

A big congratulations to the top American's invited to the 2011 World's Strongest Man at Wyngate University in North Carolina in September. Listed are the just released invite list:

Brian Shaw: This mountain of a man showed what he is cabale of by winning the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic, Giants Live and the Philadelphia MHP event, and thats just for this year. In addition he was the runner-up at the WSM in 2010. Certainly brian is the favorite coming into this years event.

Derek Poundstone: Former America's Strongest Man, Arnold Strongman Classic champion is just resuming training after a 6 months layoff to rehab a nagging vertebral injury. His recent training video releases and photos show that he is not far off the great shape he always displays.



Mike Jenkins: In his first year as a pro, Mike has put himself on the Strongman map by placing 2nd at the Arnold Strongman Classic, placing ahead of perennial champion Zydrunas Savickas. He followed that up with 2nd place finishes at the Sin City event and the MHP Liberty event. Mike is also the Bros vs Pros 7 Strongman Champion.

Travis "The Texas Stoneman" Ortmayer: Travis, a multiple All American Strongman Challenge winner and Top Arnold Strongman Classic competitor, has also finished in the top half of the WSM finals over the past 3 years. Earlier this year, Travis set the world record for 5 atlas stones in Europe.

Jason Bergmann: With two appearances in the finals of World's Strongest Man in 2008 and 2010, jason is a formidable threat to any show he enters. Coming off a strong off season and repaired from previous injuries, Look for Jason to make the finals again.

Just announced today as well is some exciting news for the for the American Strongman Corporation. In an email from Colin Bryace of the World's Strongest Man production team, he had the following to announce:

"...currently WSM is looking to take one more American to WSM 2011. We have decided the only fair option left in the calendar is the US Nationals (ASC)- a highly respected event. Therefore, we will be looking to take the winner as either an alternate or very likely as a competitor."

This year will see 6 American combatants battling for the coveted finals spots at the 2011 World's Strongest Man. Based on this incredibly strong and talented group of athletes, the United States may see it's first WSM champion since Phil Pfister won in 2006. Previous to him was Bill Kazmeier with 3 wins in a row in the early 80's.

For more info the American Strongman Corporation and it's athletes, please visit www.americanstrongman.com