Strongman resurgence centred in southeast

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This article was published 05/06/2023 (707 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a scorching hot day May 27, but that didn’t stop competitors and fans from flocking to Elsie’s Hotel in Tolstoi for the Battle at the Border strongman competition.

The event was the first qualifier of the year for the Stongman Corporation Canada provincials, which lead to nationals, hosted in Winnipeg this year.

Tyler Sigurdson helped organize the event, which saw 35 competitors battle across five events. Many athletes were making their return to strongman after years away from the sport.

“We’ve had a bit of a resurgence,” Sigurdson said of strongman competitions.

“I always refrain from saying it was dead, but strongman was very much on life support in Manitoba for a while.”

Canada even boasts the world’s strongest man for 2023, as Barrie Ont. native Mitchell Hooper took home the crown this year. Hooper is the first Canadian to win the title.

One of the events in Tolstoi was the Hercules hold, where competitors battled to stop two weighted columns from falling down for as long as possible. Sigurdson, who emceed the event, noted the Hercules Hold is a rare event to see at this level of competition.

“We try to make sure all the events are in some way different, exciting and eye-catching,” he said, adding fellow organizer Devin Penner has amassed a wide range of strongman equipment.

“It’s not very often you’re going to go to a gym and see a Hercules hold, it’s just not something you’re going to see. We’re able to give that to our competitors here.”

Other events included the viking press, sandbag throw, keg over bar, and car deadlift.

The owner of Elsie’s hotel, Ben Holodryga, said he was thrilled when he got the call proposing Tolstoi host strongman.

“We’re gonna have Tolstoi on the map yet,” Holodryga said.

“Bigger and better.”

Southeastern Manitoba will be a hotbed for strongman competitions this year. Events are scheduled for Morris on June 10, Vita on July 1, and Manitoba’s strongest man will be hosted in Grunthal Aug. 20.

“They’re always excited to have strongman, we’re always excited to come out to the small towns and give them a little bit of entertainment,” Sigurdson said on coming to smaller centres.

“The small towns are really where people are the most hospitable, they’re the friendliest, they always come out and watch.”

Jocelyn Grimolfson took home the women’s overall championship, with Dan Cadger winning the open men’s division alongside the overall title. Grimolfson dominated the division, winning three of the five events, and was the only masters women to complete a rep in the keg over bar event. Cadger also won three events, including a dominant performance in the viking press, completing nine reps more than anyone else in the division.

Gord Grimolfson and Dan Sirski won the masters lightweight and heavyweight divisions respectively.

Travis Klassen was the u120 kg winner, with Blaine Cheadle winning the u105 kg division and Ryan Deloli taking home the u90 kg victory. Garret Werstiuk was the only competitor at u80 kg, with Anna Deloli the only competitor at u56 kg on the women’s side.

Rose Hebert was the u82 kg champion, with Kelsey Guieb winning the open event.