Finals for WSM 2008

[ASGARDIAN]

Five Americans Go Through to the 2008 WSM Finals by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2008 IronMind


With the qualifying round of the 2008 MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man contest completed, five Americans have made it through to the finals.

Setting the stage for the upcoming battle, head referee Colin Bryce, who has been directly involved with the World’s Strongest Man contest since 1996, said, “It’s the best field ever. We have seven events coming up that should split the field. We have good tests of all types of strength.”

Mariusz Pudzianowski led the field on the Axle Press this morning, winning “easily,” further reinforcing feelings that he will be a major force to be reckoned with in the WSM finals. 2006 WSM winner Phil Pfister is also getting nods as the favorite to win, in part because of his impressive performance throughout the qualifiers and in part because the events in the finals are well-suited to the hometown hero. Derek Poundstone and Travis Ortmayer continued to be mentioned as podium favorites, and just to keep Mariusz from being the only one sporting a damaged limb, Derek Poundstone reportedly tweaked his foot/ankle today. Taking a bigger hit today, Mark Felix tore a biceps on the stones, although he continued and finished the event.

Finally, what better way to end the qualifiers than with the stones, and to add an accent mark, to have a stellar performance on them.

Arild Haugen did the honors, with a performance that was in another league - blowing through the series several seconds faster that the second-fastest finisher. As one wag put it, “Someone else might be King of the Stones, but this makes Arild Haugen the Emperor.”

Here are the finalists for what promises to be the best World’s Strongest Man contest ever: Derek Poundstone, Jason Bergmann, Phil Pfister, Sebastian Wenta, Tarmo Mitt, Terry Hollands, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Arild Haugen, Travis Ortmayer, and Dave Ostlund

[GTLifter]

I can't wait until this is televised. I'm actually considering driving up there from ATL for the events on sunday.

[Luca Brasi]

Cant wait for the broadcast either ... i just wish they would get it together and start producing dvd's already for those with limited tv coverage . I hope Wenta can do it .

[RagingBull666]

What happened to Kevin Nee??

[ILIEKFUDE]

Badass....
Thats rough to hear about Mark tho. That guy just doesnt quit. He's about mid 40's now isnt? Id be happy to be anywhere in the same galaxy as him when im his age.

[TedKoppelspegleg]

Originally Posted by RagingBull666

What happened to Kevin Nee??

[Shakes]

Originally Posted by RagingBull666

What happened to Kevin Nee??

He was in a tough qualifying group and was not able to earn a spot this time.

Not sure if he is 100% yet since his bicep injury a few months back.

[RagingBull666]

I told him it was to early to compete anyways. The damn thing wasn't healed all the way yet but he's a stubborn kid. He comes up and squat with us every now and then when he get his ass out of bed early enough!!

	ASS Nelson Montana

[dronga]

After the first event today:
wsm2008
Finals Prelims


.
Finalists Power Stairs
.



.
Mariusz Pudzianowski 12 sec faster than 2nd 10
.
Derek Poundstone Finished 9
.
Dave Ostlund Finished 8
.
Phil Pfister 14 steps 6.5
.
Tarmo Mitt 14 steps 6.5
.
Sebastian Wenta 4
.
Arild Haugen 4
.
Travis Ortmayer 4
.
Jason Bergmann 2
.
Terry Hollands 1

Mariusz is in the lead only by a point, and Conn.'s own Strongman is nipping at his heels. Heres the rest on the schedule:
Fingal Fingers Car Walk Car Deadlift Overhead Lift Plane Pull Atlas Stones
.

[ILIEKFUDE]

mariusz will annihilate with that line up of events. Sparing possibly the fingers and the plane pull.
10 fake bucks on the line - any takers?

[dronga]

Originally Posted by ILIEKFUDE

mariusz will annihilate with that line up of events. Sparing possibly the fingers and the plane pull.
10 fake bucks on the line - any takers?

10 fake bucks it is! I'm pulling for Poundstone or Travis.

[dronga]

Friday September 12, 2008 - 12:27 PM
American's Walking Away with it?
Event two at WSM, the Car Walk, saw the American contingent taking the top 4 spots with home town hero Phil Pfister claiming top position and Super Dave Ostlund turning on the gas for position number two. With Pfister and Ostlund's best event coming up next (Fingals Fingers), the American duo will be trying to put a gimpy Mariusz Pudzianowski in the review mirror before his 330lbs of supercharged Polish fury hit the afterburners in days two and three.

Athlete Power Stairs Car Walk Overall
Poundstone 9 8 17
Ostlund 8 9 17
Pfister 6.5 10 16.5 Pudzianowski 10 6 16
Ortmayer 4 7 11
Wenta 4 5 9
Mitt 6.5 2 8.5
Bergmann 2 4 6
Haugen 4 1 5 Hollands 1 3 4

4 guys in the top five are from the US of A! Woo hoo!!

[Kabeetz]

I remember watching Poundstone at the WSM in Mohegan Sun take it, despite falling behind Mariusz early due to a DQ.

If anyone can do it, he can.

[ILIEKFUDE]

Poundstone is a beast for sure and id be happy to look like that mofo but im just sayn... JUST SAYIN..
the lineup favors mariusz...

[getjacked]

poundstone can pull with marius.. the other americans are just as good if not better at stones than marius.. poundstone is just a good of a presser as marius.. not sure why he would annihilate. the speed events are just about done forl. not that marius isn't buck strong, but he isn't much stronger than the other guys, and weaker than some

btw poundstone beat marius in overhead..

at this point all poundstone needs to do is take 2nd in the pull and 2nd in stones to win.

the thing is though, is that this is THE most stacked WSM in the history of WSM just about. never has there been so many guys that can easily take 1st.. so it can definitely all change in a couple events. poundstone needing to finish 2nd in stones is very hard to do when you have travis ortmayer, dave ostuland, even pfister, and marius doing stones with him.. its a lot easier said than done.

[saiyanjin]

im pulling for my boy mariusz!