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robert da strongman
02-20-2009, 03:57 PM
some interesting stuff for the new name in strongman...


Zydrunas Savickas Wins Fortissimus Strongman of the Year Award by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind


Explaining to IronMind that their work involves “making a sport of a sport,” Paul Ohl, president of Fortissimus, announced the organization’s Strongman of the Year award - with Zydrunas Savickas getting the top honors for 2008.


Zydrunas Savickas, a name synonymous with victory at the Arnold strongman contest and the log lift world record, has just won the Fortissimus Strongman of the year award. Photo courtesy of Marcel Mostert.

“This award recognizes the strength athlete with the most outstanding accomplishments during the entire year,” according to Ohl’s statement.

“A selection committee has reviewed performances of world-class strength athletes on the basis of four criteria:

Level of competitions
Track record during the entire year
Value of each accomplishment
Record-breaking performances”

“Three strength athletes were selected: Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland (historical fifth World’s Strongest Man); Derek Poundstone of the USA (first strongman ever to reach all three podiums during the same year (Arnold Strongman Classic, Fortissimus and World’s Strongest Man); Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania (first strongman ever to win six consecutive Arnold’s, first strongman ever to establish five strength world records during the same year, first strongman ever to enter 125 professional strongman contests (August 23, 2008, in Marijampolé, Lithuania, first strongman ever to enter 20 contests in a single year, with 16 wins and 4 runner up places)”

“The recommendation was unanimous,” Paul Ohl’s statement concluded: “Zydrunas Savickas is named 2008 Strongman of the Year.”

robert da strongman
02-20-2009, 03:57 PM
Fortissimus 2009: Announcement of the Events by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind


Fortissimus president Paul Ohl has released a statement explaining that the list of the events for this year’s Fortissimus strongman contest will be released shortly after the Arnold.

"The entire set-up of the competition is ready and sealed. The events have been thoroughly reviewed in the light of last year's experience, taking into account the feedback from the athletes and the comments of experts in the field.”

“FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH reminds the world strength community that what is at issue in 2009, is the title of the World Strongest Man on Earth. Consequently, the standards have been raised to unprecedented levels."

"Since a number of strength athletes on the starting list of 2009 FORTISSIMUS (at least seven ) will be competing at the 2009 ARNOLD STRONGMAN CLASSIC, we have chosen to delay the release of this year's official list of events to after the Arnold's competition. That will allow the competitors, the promoters and the fans to remain totally focused on the 2009 Arnold's and thus enjoy the full attention they rightfully deserve.”

“FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH will therefore release its 2009 official list of events on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 12:00 hrs ( Québec Time), considering that all European participants at the Arnold's will be back in their home country.”

robert da strongman
02-26-2009, 05:11 PM
Mariusz Pudzianowski Wins 2008 Fortissimus Strongman Achievement of the Year Award by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind


Duly recognizing Mariusz Pudzianowski’s record-breaking fifth win at the World’s Strongest Man contest last year, the Fortissimus board of directors voted unanimously today to give Mariusz Pudzianowski the 2008 Strongman of the Year award.


Mariusz Pudzianowski made strongman history by winning the World’s Strongest Man contest five times. Photo courtesy of Pudzian Team/Wojtek Witkowski.


Here is the official statement, issued by Marcel Catellier, Chairman of the Board, and released to IronMind:

“Considering that WSM [The World’s Strongest Man contest] is recognized by the world’s strongman community as the one competition that has set the standards of the sport of Strongman since 1977;

Considering that only four strength athletes have won the WSM title three times or more ( Bill Kazmaier of the USA, Jon Pall Sigmarsson of Iceland, Magnus Ver Magnusson of Iceland and Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland) between 1977 and 2008;

Considering that in 2008, Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland, in the course of his 9th year of professional Strongman competition, has won the WSM title for a fifth time (5th), thus becoming the first strength athlete in the history of the sport of Strongman to reach that milestone;

Considering that such an accomplishment is unprecedented, as Mariusz Pudzianowski has defeated 28 different world-class strength athletes from 14 different countries and in 18 different events, this at the 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 World’s Strongest Man annual competition;

The FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH’s Board of Directors , at its meeting of February 25, 2009, has appraised the recommandation of the Awards Committee with regards to the 2008 STRONGMAN ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR and voted to the effect that:

The 2008 STRONGMAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OF THE YEAR is awarded to MARIUSZ PUDZIANOWSKI of Poland, as the winner of a 5th World’s Strongest Man title.”



http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/system/galleries/ironmind/mariusz-2003_lg.jpg

robert da strongman
02-27-2009, 04:04 PM
2009 FORTISSIMUS Website Goes Live by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind


This morning, the 2009 FORTISSIMUS website went online “in English and French, with a Louis Cyr summary in Polish and Swedish as a bonus,” according to a statement IronMind received from FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH.


FORTISSIMUS 2009 - the website is live. Need we say more? Artwork courtesy of Fortissimus World Strength/Julie Payeur.


“For its opening, it features both Zydrunas Savickas and Mariusz Pudzianowski, the first having been selected as the 2008 Fortissimus Strongman of the Year, while Mariusz Pudzianowski got a unanimous vote for the 2008 Fortissimus Strongman Achievement of the Year,” continued the official statement. “‘The website will not only serve the immediate purposes of the 2009 Fortissimus Strongest Man on Earth competition. It is also meant to promote in many ways the sport of strongman,’" said Isabelle Normand, webmaster of the site and Fortissimus Media Relations Coordinator.


http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/system/galleries/ironmind/fort-homepage_lg.jpg

BEAST MODE
02-27-2009, 04:13 PM
Awesome to see Savickas win that award. I'm always pulling for him. He's a fucking BEAST!!!

robert da strongman
02-27-2009, 04:17 PM
well he will be at fortissimus this year...wonder if he will go back to worlds?

tjoe
02-28-2009, 01:23 PM
http://www.fortissimus.ca/pages/index_e.aspx?CategoryID=190#3

four videos on this page.
pretty cool, I thought...

check em out!

robert da strongman
02-28-2009, 01:39 PM
now that is fucking strongman!!

Thad
02-28-2009, 01:41 PM
http://www.fortissimus.ca/pages/index_e.aspx?CategoryID=190#3

four videos on this page.
pretty cool, I thought...

check em out!
Wow, Poundstone is the man. That final stone was awesome. I don't see anybody stopping him this year.

robert da strongman
02-28-2009, 01:49 PM
the press medley was insane!


i think ironmind has the dvd for sale.

tjoe
02-28-2009, 03:03 PM
Wow, Poundstone is the man. That final stone was awesome. I don't see anybody stopping him this year.He was the ONLY athlete to load that feild stone!

Thad
02-28-2009, 03:52 PM
Nobody has ever loaded that if I'm correct.

robert da strongman
03-18-2009, 11:15 AM
Mariusz Pudzianowski Pulls Out of Fortissimus by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

Wojtek Witkowski, the co-manager of 5-time World’s Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski told IronMind, “Mariusz Pudzianowski will not compete at 2009 FORTISSIMUS Strongest Man on Earth because it is so dangerous to his recovery of [his torn] biceps.”

“This is his private decision after consultation with specialists and professional doctor's advice.”

“And now this is only official information (dated 03/16/2009, Poland),” Wotek continued, quoting Mariusz Pudzianowski: “I'm sorry but I can't take a part in 2009 FORTISSIMUS competition . . . it is so dangerous for me at that time!”

“If the organizers from FORTISSIMUS need any help in finding any replacement for Mariusz Pudzianowski,” Wojtek Witkowski continued, “we can recommend new person from Poland which is Grzegorz Szymanski - second after Mariusz Pudzianowski strongest man from Poland!”

"FORTISSIMUS WORLD STRENGTH was aware of the situation from the moment we were informed of the injury,” Paul Ohl told IronMind. “And we were in constant contact with Mr. Witkowski. We thank him and Mariusz for their cooperation and we wish him a full recovery. We surely realize his disappointment as we know that he had set his sights on winning FORTISSIMUS.”

"As an organization we have to be ready at any time and we are. The name of the competitor to step in will be announced in the coming hours."

robert da strongman
03-18-2009, 11:15 AM
Fortissimus 2009: The Events by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

Released to IronMind, the Fortissimus 2009 events are designed so that the contest “will leave no doubt as to who will be the Strongest Man on Earth,” Fortissimus president Paul Ohl told IronMind.


Fortissimus 2009 takes up where Fortissimus 2008 left off and the ground is already shaking. Artwork courtesy of Paul Ohl.


Its menu is not merely a decathlon spread over two days: it is a series of events testing both static and explosive strength, with close ties to strongman history, and load levels that are designed to expose weaknesses and give strength a chance to shine. Here is a summary of the officially-released events for Fortissimus 2009.


Day 1

1. Power Stairs: 205 kg, 227 kg, and 239 kg; 5 steps
2. Super Yoke: 420.5 kg, 30 meters
3. Sigmarrson Wheels Deadlift: 400 kg, for reps, with straps
4. IronMind Overhead World Challenge (Part 1): 1980 log (157.7 kg), 1892 Apollon’s Axle (166.5 kg), 1988 Kazmaier True Log (170.5 kg), IronMind Axle (177 kg); 2004 Z Log (189 kg)
5. Slater King of Stones World Challenge (Part 1): six atlas stones (136.5 kg, 148 kg, 159 kg, 170.5 kg, 182 kg, 193 kg)


Day 2

6. Inukshuk/Husafell Medley Challenge: 4 medium barrels (102, 114, 125 and 136 kg); 2 large barrels (182, 193 kg); Husafell replica (182 kg); Inukshuk replica (193 kg)
7. Hip and Thigh Backlift: starting weight is 909 kg; last man standing
8. Louis Cyr Dumbbell Power Walk: 615.5 kg
9. IronMind Overhead World Challenge (final): one-arm dumbbells clean and press (68 kg right and left hand, then just one arm: 80, 89, 93 98 and 103 kg)
10. Slater King of Stones Challenge (final): four natural stones (159 kg, 182 kg, 205 kg, 235 kg)

“Determining 10 events that would be conclusive with regards to the title at issue (Strongest Man on Earth) was our greatest challenge,” Fortissimus president Paul told IronMind. “We did take into account the comments of last year's participants and observers. We added advice coming from experts from Europe, USA and Canada.”

“We knew firsthand that the decathlon of strength formula was unique in itself. We also wanted to remain linked to the roots and the history of strongman. Next, we sensed that anchoring the 2009 competition with both Overhead and Stone's challenges would prove the contest to reach the highest level.”

“We then increased the poundages and the distances based on the comments. In the case of the poundages, the overhead events and the stone lifting were increased by 20% and 40%, respectively. Deadlift by 9% and Yoke by 5%. The distances by 7.5%. Overall, the 2009 contest is now at 16,434 lb. (7,470 kg), up by 17% over 2008.”

“With static strength events and explosive power events almost at level, we feel that Fortissimus 2009 has peaked towards the strongman contest that will leave no doubt as to who will be the Strongest Man on Earth,” Ohl concluded.

For full details on the events, please visit the official Fortissimus website.

robert da strongman
03-18-2009, 11:16 AM
Fortissimus: Top Strongmen Praise the Events by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

“I like them,” Derek Poundstone said about the just-announced Fortissimus 2009 events. “They turned it up a notch from last year.”

Poundstone, who won Fortissimus 2008, was barely edged out of the 2008 World’s Strongest Man title on the last event, and then roared back to win the 2009 Arnold Strongman competition, is ready to rumble and he likes the fact that Fortissimus is centered around heavy events.

“When it’s lighter, there is always a little luck involved,” Poundstone explained, especially when you are talking about handheld timing being pushed, perhaps, beyond the limits of human reaction times. Poundstone, who is high on the brute strength meter, is also very fit, but beyond that, he compares himself to Magnus Ver Magnusson, who was masterful at understanding events and how to get the most from his body in each of them.

As a case in point, Poundstone says that when he approached the 517-lb. stone last year, he had a precise plan for lifting it, and that is how he will attack this year’s contest, too.

Also enthusiastic about the events is Travis Ortmayer, who told IronMind, “I think that Fortissimus 2009 may just be the most brutal competition I have ever seen! For instance, the dumbbell press medley was completed by three of us last year (Derek, Zydrunas, and myself), so what do they do this year? They certainly didn't do the obvious thing and take the last implement off and replace it with a heavier one, no . . . they just ADD another, even heavier one! The first day is going to pulverize the back and the second will take away what little will be left of the legs.”

And if you just want to cut to the chase, consider how Zydrunas Savickas assessed the mix: “Very good, heavy and interesting events."

Make your plans now - Fortissimus 2009 . . . “very good, heavy and interesting.”

Skeptic
03-18-2009, 01:03 PM
I live an hour north of Toronto. I'll be loadn' up the BMW and goin' ta see the big boys! Aboot 6-7 hours away I'm guessing. Of course I prefer to motorcycle on back roads so maybe I'll stretch it into a day.

How is Strongman as a live spectator sport anywho?

robert da strongman
03-18-2009, 01:09 PM
I live an hour north of Toronto. I'll be loadn' up the BMW and goin' ta see the big boys! Aboot 6-7 hours away I'm guessing. Of course I prefer to motorcycle on back roads so maybe I'll stretch it into a day.

How is Strongman as a live spectator sport anywho?

from the videos i have seen and quality of strongmen competing this should be a real good one.

tjoe
03-18-2009, 01:27 PM
This years Fortissimus looks to be AWESOME!!
Very heavy and just a ton of work crammed into 2 days.

I know I always lean towards Poundstone to take it but I do think he will win 2 of the events anyway... The Stone challenge (Slater stones on day 1 and Field stones on day 2) and the Overhead Pressing Challenge (Logs and axles on day 1 and dbs on day 2). Pretty cool how they "built in" those two "challenges" into the main competition itself. This should be a fantastic show!

Thad
03-18-2009, 04:33 PM
I seen a couple of the stones. They look nice.:D

robert da strongman
03-18-2009, 04:36 PM
I seen a couple of the stones. They look nice.:D

rub it in why dont ya!

robert da strongman
03-19-2009, 06:54 PM
Brian Shaw and Jimmy Marku Added to Field at Fortissimus by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind


“Brian Shaw, the towering strength athlete from Colorado, USA, and recent winner of the 2009 Fit Expo All American Strongman Challenge, has been confirmed on the starting list of 2009 FORTISSIMUS STRONGEST MAN ON EARTH,” Fortissimus president Paul Ohl told IronMind. “At 6' 8" and 380 lb., Brian Shaw will be the tallest and heaviest competitor in the field.”

“Jimmy Marku, from the United Kingdom, has also been confirmed on the starting list,” Ohl reported. “A late starter in the sport of Strongman, Jimmy Marku caused one of the sport's greatest surprise in 2008 by winning the 2008 Britain's Strongest Man title over such notables as Terry Hollands and Mark Felix,” said Ohl.

“I think that the world strength community is up for a great class act and a couple of possible upsets at 2009 Fortissimus, this coming June. Given the field and the reactions to the events, it will be a memorable encounter. I would call it a clash of Titans," Ohl concluded.

Thad
03-19-2009, 07:25 PM
Shaw was at the Arnold and and I could'nt believe how big he is.

tjoe
03-19-2009, 09:57 PM
again... gonna be a GREAT comp!!