2001 Beauty and the Beast

LifeFitness® & Ohana Hotels

present

The 24 Hour Fitness®

'Beauty & the Beast' 2001
World Strongman Challenge tm

&

Women's Strength & Fitness Challenge tm 

The Beauty and The Beast Strongman Challenge has turned into probably the most note worthy contests of 
the western hemisphere...attracting the highest caliber competitors from all over the globe. The top athletes in the game seem to show up, making this a preview for the World's Strongest man. The list of past and present top strongmen keep growing each year. Names such as Jouko Ahola, Jani Virtanen, Magnus Samulson, Magnus Ver Magnuson, Mark Philippe, Phil Pfister, Brian Neese, Brian Schoonveld, Gary Mitchell, Hugo Gerard, & Ken Brown, just to name a few of the men that have made it to "The Big Show" (The World's).

Odd Haugen has done an incredible job of organizing one of the great contest on the strongman circuit.

Now Let The Game Begin!

Mike Kromer with a great Tattoo!!! ;-)

MEN’S Event One:             24 Hour Fitness® Log Lift (for reps)

Athletes will attempt to lift a 125 kg /275 lb steel log from the ground to overhead for maximum repetitions within the 75 seconds time limit. Each repetition must be locked out (elbows and knees), feet parallel and under control (head under bar) before it is counted (referee signal down/count), and returned/lowered back down under control to the pedestals for each repetition to be good.  NO DROPPING OR THROWING OF THE LOG WILL BE TOLERATED.  NO TOWEL OR BUILT-UP BELT.

The contest started off with three Mastiff logs, each loaded to 272 lbs, using rubber bumper plates. The Judges were Jamie Reeves (WSM '89), Dr Douglas Edmonds (Commander-in-Chief of IFSA), and "PJ" (sorry I couldn't remember the name). The judging was strict, at least for me, I had Dr Edmonds as my referee. It took three reps before he gave me one...I didn't have my head "under the weight". Pfister and Schoonie cruzed through with 9 reps each with Philippi and Samuelsson following with 8 each.

MEN’S Event Two: Bridgestone-Firestone Tire Flip Race

Athletes will attempt to flip an 980 pound off-road truck tire 66 feet in the shortest amount of time.   Number of flips will be scored if athlete fails to complete the 66 feet within the 90 seconds time limit.  

These tires were heavy, weighing in around 980lbs. They also were almost a problem...the tread design was such that when the tire was on it's side, you couldn't get your fingers under it. After searching the whole island, Odd came up with the idea of putting intertubes inside each tire and blowing them up. This solution worked very well, and allowed some great flipping!. Svend seems to be the tire flip king of strongman, dominating the course in 33.36 seconds...probably 8 or 9 flips...you do the math, that's fast! Mark Philippe filled in the rear of the pack due to a calf strain, from his last work out, which turned into a "Something Popped" in the first flip. He was even more disappointed that the window of his hotel room didn't open far enough for him to jump out of! ;-)

Competitors	Distance	Time	Place	Score(*)		FEET	Inches	Minutes	Seconds	Total time
Svend Karlsen		0.3336	1	1					33.3600	33.36
Magnus Samuelsson		0.3562	2	2					35.6200	35.62
Zydrunas Savickas		0.3741	3	3					37.4100	37.41
Phil Pfister		0.4728	4	4					47.2800	47.28
Karl Gillingham		0.4816	5	5					48.1600	48.16
Chad Smith		0.4869	6	6					48.6900	48.69
Janne Virtanen		0.48.78	7	7					48.7800	48.78
Odd Haugen		0.494	8	8					49.4000	49.4
Grant McReynolds		0.5019	9	9					50.1900	50.19
Wade Gillingham		0.52.78	10	10					52.7800	52.78
Magnus ver Magnusson		0.5325	11	11					53.2500	53.25
Ken Brown		0.5496	12	12					54.9600	54.96
Rastislav Sevcech		1.0252	13	13				1	0.0252	60.0252
Bruce Tessier		1.0316	14	14				1	0.0316	60.0316
Brian Schoonveld		1.0545	15	15				1	0.0545	60.0545
Jan Bartl		1.0707	16	16				1	0.0707	60.0707
Chad Coy		1.0744	17	17				1	0.0744	60.0744
Jared Spybrook		1.1309	18	18				1	0.1309	60.1309
Jaroslav Kopecky	56-3		19	19		56	3.00			0
Mark Keshishian	48-7		20	20		48	7.00			0
James Barientos	48-2		21	21		48	2.00			0
Doug Ahr	47-10.5		22	22		47	10.50			0
Bryan Neese	47-5		23	23		47	5.00			0
Brian Rehberg	40-9.5		24	24		40	9.50			0
Michael Kromer	32-7		25	25		32	7.00			0
Thomas Ingalsbe	31-10		26	26		31	10.00			0
Grant Higa	24-10		27	27		24	10.00			0
William Amos Jr.	17-9		28	28		17	9.00			0
James V. Fountain III	17-5		29	29		17	5.00			0
Mark Philippi	16-10		30	30		16	10.00			0

MEN’S Event Three:  LifeFitness®  Heavy Duty (Super Yoke, Conan Wheel and Samson Power Wheelbarrow) Medley

Athletes will compete in reverse order of finish in the first event, each athlete carrying a 365 kg (801 pound) Super Yoke over  66 foot course, then, lift in the crux of his arms (5 inch pipe attached to a universal joint and loaded with 600 plus pounds, the “Conan Wheel”) and walk around a complete circle (360 degrees), before then picking-up and pushing a 2,000 lb Samson-Power barrow back over another 66 foot course in the shortest amount of time.  Implements may be set down as many times as the time limit allows, but cannot be dragged. Distance (and implement) will be measured if athlete fails to complete course in the 2 minute time limit.   The event will start with the Super Yoke implement on the ground, the signals Get Ready, Set, Lift (Whistle)…will be given, and end when the rear end of the wheels of the wheelbarrow crosses the finish line.  

Well this was the event we were all dreading! "The Medley from Hell!" I personally was most worried about the Yoke. (Odd's Yokes always feel heavier! May be gravity is stronger in the Islands)  The Yoke started well for me, I was the first person to take it to the finish without dropping it, then the Wheel...well this is when I, as well as quite a few others fell apart. The Conan Wheel was not that heavy, but after exerting one's self on the Yoke, the Wheel was Hard! I stood up with it fine, took a few steps, then my body started shutting down, everything started cramping...cramping like I haven't had since I was powerlifting! Other people where having trouble also, it seemed everyone forgot to lean back, thus, they stumbled forward and down. Then onto the Samson-Power Samson's Barrow: Chad Coy wowed the crowd, being the smallest guy to get to the Barrow. The top 4 finishers were only separated by 6 seconds! A very close finish!

Final Events

MEN’S Final Event One:  CASALL Apollon Axle Lift

The twelve (12) finalists will compete in reverse order of cumulative standing.

Athletes will attempt to lift the Apollon Axle from the ground (clean or continental) to shoulders and then press or jerk to lockout (elbows and knees) and under control overhead (head under), feet parallel, for maximum weight.  The Log must be lowered back down under control.  NO INTENTIONAL DROPPING OR THROWING OF THE AXLE WILL BE TOLERATED.  Starting weight will be 120 kg (264 pounds), then 130 kg (286 pounds); 140 kg (308 pounds);  and in 5 kg (11 pounds) increments thereafter (including 166 kg, which is the weight of the original Apollon Axle).  There’s 90 second time limit on each lift/attempt, each lifter has total of 4 attempts unless competitor fails on a weight, and he is out of the competition.  Tie breaker, fewest attempts.  NO TOWEL OR BUILT-UP BELT.  

The Axle turned in to an exciting event, with Svend Karlsen and Brian Schoonveld taking top honors and setting a new world record of 374lbs! Both guys used the continental (but no one used the "Keshishian, sad to say)...but Svend looked as though he could have cleaned it from the ground...quite explosive. Old man Odd had a close call at 374lbs when about 3/4 of the way in his "Jerk", his right wrist rolled and the bar proceeded to fall behind him...it looked painfull,but he let go soon enough to prevent any injury. Magnus Samulson also looked quite impressive here also missing the 374lbs mark.

World record for Schoonveld and Karlson!

MEN’S Final Event Two:  World Class Fitness Farmers Walk

Athletes will compete in pairs, each athlete carrying a pair of 330lbs Plate loaded Mastiff Farmer's Walk implements FOR THE LONGEST POSSIBLE DISTANCE.  Distance will be measured where the athlete drops the cylinders. No straps or grip aids other than chalk are allowed.  Go till you drop. No time limit.  

A heavy one!...They say the Farmer's walk comes down to the grip...and I would totally agree. Schoonveld's grip prevailed out distancing the field...not by a large margin either. Everyone seemed to go just a little further than the man before...sort of a "One Uppmanship". This weight was even too heavy for one of the finalists to break off the ground! The course was basically a half circle, the men when clockwise, thus there was only a 90 degree turn as apposed to the typical and brutal 180 degree turn.

MEN’S Final Event Three:  Gordon Biersch®  Keg Toss for Height

Athletes will throw a ¼ keg (20kg/44 pounds) over a wall/bar.  Athlete is eliminated  if he fails to clear a height in three attempts.  Athlete will have 60 seconds to complete each attempt.  Fewest total attempts wins in case of a tie for height.

The Keg toss...seems to be becoming a truly American event. The Americans seemed to do quite well at his event. Karl Gillingham and Chad Coy toping the field. Jani Virtanen was seen making a pretend nuce around his neck, realizing this event was "Killing" his chances.

MEN’S Final Event Five:  ERGOGEN Labs® Power Stairs Medley

Another medley...One Fire Hydrant, 3 kegs and three Power-stair implements. Load the first 4 objects onto a 60inch platform, then the first power-stair, which was located right at the stairs, then the second...10 foot away, and the third, 15 foot away. The power stair part seemed to confuse everyone for just that split second when they turned to grab the first one. I believe everyone took at least one step towards the furthest Power-stair weight...some took more than one step. This is what separated the top 3 competitors! Phil Pfister was one of the guys that took more than one step, and it cost him!

MEN’S Final Event :   Samson-Power's Samson's Barrow Hold  

Athletes, with bare hands lift & hold Samson-Power's Samson's Barrow, for as long as possible. 

 No straps or grip aids other than chalk are allowed.  No time limit.  

Ahh...a nice heavy, skin tearing event! If the Farmer's walk didn't tear your calluses off, this one did! Loaded down with last years Farmer's walks at 275lbs X 4 and a power bar with 4 100lb plates on each side, plus the weight of the trailer (and the added weight of all the Samson-Power stickers)...well, it was probably heavier at he handles than most of the car deadlift you'll see. Phil Pfister showing his Gorilla like grip, with the win and Samulson barely 2 seconds behind! Very close!

NEWS Press Release

The 2001 24 Hour Fitness 'Beauty & the Beast' World Strongman Challenge to
> aired on EuroSport in 52 countries.
>
> The 'Beauty & the Beast' World Strongman Challenge scheduled for June 2,
> 2001 at Andrews Amphitheatre on the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus will
> be aired on June 22 in primetime on EuroSport in 52 countries.  The
> contest will pit 24 of the strongest men in the world against each other
> in an eight-event battle.