Hey guys, you guys are gonna see me there this weekend.
It's my 1st time competing in strongman so hopefully I wont get destroyed too bad.
Anyone have some advice for a complete beginner?

Oh & btw, is there like a roster or some kind of event confirmation?

SO EXCITED

My name is Bo Qin.
I'm competing in the teenage division 265 weight class.
My biggest concern is that I don't have any experience with the implements. Although I do have some powerlifting experience.
My squat is 425. Deadlift:475 Bench:310 Overhead jerk: 255

Right now I'm not sure what to expect on contest day. I'm not sure how well my lifts are going to transfer over the the yoke/viking press/tire/keg/etc

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

& I'm sooo happy to now be a member of the strongman community

Yeah if you can post the competitor listing that would be awesome

Qin, the teenage division is open, so you'll be one of the heaviest there.

USUALLY they are divided into LW/HW teen which is under/over 200. Here we have only open this time.

Your lifts are very good in an absolute sense and relatively for your size they are quite respectable as well (I assume your numbers are based on RAW powerlifting - or wraps+belt only). 255 was my first OH press in my first strongman in January 2008. That was a middle-of-the-pack LW number so that should give you a sense of how substantial that is for a teen.

If you are up for it, and can sustain the travel depending on where you live, on Wednesday or Thursday you can stop by and we can show you the implements.

If not, here are my thoughts.

Many things in strongman for the first time are hit-or-miss for the competitors. Yoke and Farmer's especially - if you are built with a wide, thick-hipped body, yoke carrying will be more natural. If not, slap on two (or three if you can fit them and if it's allowed) lifting belts and do the best you can. I am assuming, however, that the reason you're in a 265 class is NOT bacause you are 7 feet tall.

Farmer's holds depend on grip strength (obviously) so if you have the large hands and forearms for it there is not much to learn. If you have small hands and wrists it will take a lot of grit to improve over time and there is also nothing to teach at this point.

Viking press is a mechanical press - since it is attached to a pivot, focus on leaning into it and throwing the weight FORWARD, unlike a barbell where you throw it behind you to maximize power. Put your head through the press as always but think of leaning your body forward into the weight while you do, rather than on your heels as with a barbell.

Keg carry is subject to certain preferences - I can show you how I do it, which is the most efficient way over a long carry since I am a lighter, weaker competitor where athleticism is the key.

Tires all have their own personalities - some have to be deadlifted and curled, others can be shouldered and angle-squatted. A few practice flips wouldn't hurt ahead of time. After that, it's a matter of practice and conditioning. I'd say fast time in tire flipping is arguably the most affected by perfecting technique of all events in strength athletics.

On game day I'll show you a few things I do for the implements since I'll most likely be staffing not competing (I have some nagging injuries and with ILSM in the crosshairs I ought to forgo this one).

I doubt you'll get 'destroyed' - I've seen the performance of some of the teens. They're strong, but most of them save for Brad Baldwin are novices too and he weighs 170 at like 6'3" tall. In any case, however you do, everyone has a first meet - this one is all about getting teens and novices into it - with eight of you, you guys will be the'main event'.

I look forward to seeing you there.

DM

I really appreciate your very comprehensive post and look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
It's certainly nice to feel a strong sense of comaraderie here which I think is what the spirit of strongman should be all about.
Thinking about my pursuit of strongman in the long term, right now my primary focus is on making my first meet the most pleasurable experience possible and performing the best I can.
Unfortunately, I wont be able to make it Wednesday and Thursday. Perhaps I can arrive early on Saturday and try to pick up as much technique as possible in the given time.
Thanks for all the advice!

Jakked Hardcore Gym seems like an awesome place to train at! If only I lived closer...

Here is a competitor listing as of Tuesday, June 16th.

Teens

Austin Acree
Lewis Heater
Bo Qin
Brad Baldwin
Robert Fife

Novice

Jason Sauber
Patrick Regan
Thomas Schwartz

Women

Uni Muniz
Victoria *don't know last name*

200's

Sean Kline


231

Alex Camacho (possibly 265)
Karia Coleman
Keith Crone (out, I believe)


265

Ray Makeijus
Chris Alitz


UNL

P.J. Hauser
Chris "Herm" Hartman
Dennis Craddock
Matt Barron

Also, don't forget there's an additional, optional event - the K2 Sandbag challenge - 7 sandbags carry and load over a crossbar.

LW/HW split at 231, no classes - all competitors welcome, everyone else, $10.

Weights:

LW will carry (in lbs) 100,125,150,175,200,225 bags
HW will carry (in lbs) 125,150,175,200,225,250 bags

Winner takes cash or gift certificate TBA. This is the first time these bags will be field-tested. I filled them myself two weeks ago - supposedly the best no-frills sandbags on the planet. Have at it!

The sandbag "bonus feature" look like a LOT of fun haha. how high is that crossbar going to be?

Looking forward to stopping in and seeing everybody. I will be at Hesed house from 11-3(homeless shelter I volunteer at which is 1.68 miles from Jakked), but plan on coming over there when the people are having lunch and getting my new sweet and totally freaking awesome 20 inch dumbbell handle from Mr. Soucie!
Hope everyone does well and has a great time.

Dan- I'm not sure that I'll be up there Saturday anymore. I pulled my rhomboid on log press last night (odd, I know). I can barely breathe today from it. I'm taking advil and applying heat to it so we'll see how fast I can heal haha.

boqin,

Welcome aboard to our little forum. I would have welcomed you earlier however haven't had much time this week for computer duty.

See you Saturday!
Tony Soucie




Brad,

Booger, hope it gets better for you.

Tony

lots of heat has helped a bit. It still sucks though. Hopefully another day of rest will make a big difference. I'd really like to do ILSM, but its so close to nats that I feel it'll take away from training for that. Is Jennifer doing womens nats? That'd be really cool if she does.