CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The 2008 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man competition kicked off preliminary rounds this weekend, featuring 30 athletes from around the world - including two West Virginians.
Christopher Boggess of Sissonville carried his 3-year-old son, Caden, on his shoulders to watch the second round of the keg toss.
Boggess said he first started watching World's Strongest Man on ESPN about three years ago.
"It's exciting something like this came to Charleston," he said.
The preliminary competitions continue today on Kanawha Boulevard, with the "Fingal's fingers" obstacle course event at 9 a.m. and the truck pull at 3 p.m. More events are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, and the final rounds will take place Friday through next Sunday.
All the events are free and open to the public. For a full schedule, visit http://www.cityofcharleston.org/.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com">alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.
Schedule
Today
Kanawha Boulevard
9 a.m.: Fingal's fingers
3 p.m.: Truck pull
Monday
Capitol Complex
9 a.m.: Squat lift, followed by dead lift
3:30 p.m.: Viking press
Tuesday
University of Charleston
9 a.m.: Overhead lift
3:30 p.m.: Atlas stones
Events continue Friday.
Visit www.cityofcharleston.org for a full schedule.
View a slideshow of photos from the World's Strongest Man competition in Charleston.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - All the big-muscled men competing on Magic Island on Saturday had plenty of support from the crowds, who cheered loudly even for the losers.
The 2008 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man competition kicked off preliminary rounds this weekend, featuring 30 athletes from around the world - including two West Virginians.
The competition will air in December on ESPN, which will rerun the show in the coming year. The World's Strongest Man started in 1977 and has traveled to countries including Zambia, Iceland and China. Last year, it was held in Anaheim, Calif.
On Saturday, spectators jumped, whistled and cheered when the camera panned toward them.
Tim Kowalski, a producer with IMG Sports Media, said the show is often filmed in more secluded spots.
"We've been at resorts before, and it's nice to be in an actual city," he said. "The crowds are better [in the city]."
Fans were especially loud when Charleston native Phil Pfister competed. The 37-year-old placed second in his group in the afternoon's keg toss.
In the event, competitors had 75 seconds to hurl eight kegs backward over a 15-foot-high barrier. The kegs weighed between 33 and 50 pounds
The crowds gasped whenever a competitor didn't get a keg over the barrier, then applauded when he picked the keg up to try again.
Pfister, a former firefighter and now a spokesman for Chesapeake Energy, won the world championship in 2006. He helped persuade organizers to bring the contest to Charleston.
"It's really cool for all the folks who have supported me over the last decade to have an opportunity to come out and see not just a Strongman contest but the most prestigious one in the world," Pfister said. "I hope I do my hometown some justice."
His wife, Michelle, said he is focused on getting to next weekend's final round.
"So far, so good," she said Saturday afternoon. "The whole goal is to qualify for the finals. It'd be great to see him win it in his hometown. But right now I'm just focusing on getting him to the finals."
She said her husband - who loved skateboarding as a teen - usually starts training about three months before a contest, weightlifting for two to four hours a day.
When he's not training for a contest, he hits the gym three to four times a week "so he doesn't turn into a marshmallow," she said.
Another West Virginian also is competing for the title: 29-year-old Clendenin native Brian Siders, a mental health counselor at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
Charleston will spend about $500,000 on the event, Mayor Danny Jones said. The city will get international exposure whenever the show is rebroadcast on television, he said.
"It will help us in the long run," he said.
Jones said he was very pleased with the crowds that turned out Saturday. More than 1,000 people attended.
"This is a much bigger deal than it would be in a big city," Jones said. "The excitement level was actually better than I thought it would be."
Many parents brought their kids to watch the competitions.
Christopher Boggess of Sissonville carried his 3-year-old son, Caden, on his shoulders to watch the second round of the keg toss.
Boggess said he first started watching World's Strongest Man on ESPN about three years ago.
"It's exciting something like this came to Charleston," he said.
The preliminary competitions continue today on Kanawha Boulevard, with the "Fingal's fingers" obstacle course event at 9 a.m. and the truck pull at 3 p.m. More events are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, and the final rounds will take place Friday through next Sunday.
All the events are free and open to the public. For a full schedule, visit http://www.cityofcharleston.org/.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com">alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.
Schedule
Today
Kanawha Boulevard
9 a.m.: Fingal's fingers
3 p.m.: Truck pull
Monday
Capitol Complex
9 a.m.: Squat lift, followed by dead lift
3:30 p.m.: Viking press
Tuesday
University of Charleston
9 a.m.: Overhead lift
3:30 p.m.: Atlas stones
Events continue Friday.
Visit www.cityofcharleston.org for a full schedule.
Post a comment
Viewing left a lot to be desired. Tents around the area blocked many viewing angles. One area had people standing and waiting two hours before the event before they were forced to move to make room for competitors families. Nothing against the families having a good spot. Why wasn't that area marked?
We had decent spot until group of "yuppies" wiggled their way through and in front of us. Then they had questions. They had no idea what they were there to see.
And pictures in the paper. Was fun to see and look to see if we made into the picture. Seeing Danny Jones in one ruined all of them. Would been much better if he just stayed away. Can't we have a little enjoyment in this town without his grabbing the spotlight