Could (should) I become a strongman?

S

Sniggel

New Member
I have been lifting weights for 8 years and become more and more serious, especially the last 2-3 years.
I have some experience from bulking and some from cutting.
I am more interested in strength than muscle (although I like mass almost as much!)
I like eating and I know bulking can ramp up your strength like no other (legal) method.
And I seriously dislike dieting (I guess thats normal).

I have been interested in doing bodybuilding, powerlifting and olympic lifting.

In bodybuilding there seems to be a lot of juicers and theres also the extreme diets to get in shape for contests. There´s also a lack of real competition and since I am a competetive person thats a minus.

In powerlifting they use all these shirts and equipment that help far too much with the lifts. And I dont like it for that reason.

I think I have good genetics for olympic lifting since I have always been very explosive, but it doesnt seem as fun since its only two type of movements on competitions.

But I would like to compete in something where I can use my strength and strongman seems like a very fun thing to do. I can eat a lot of food and I get to do crazy stuff like pulling vehicles and flipping tractor tires.
The problem is that I am still quite small and far from strong enough but I know how to gain weight and I know that weight gains means strength gains.

My current stats are
Age: 25
173 cm (5'9)
77 kg / 169 lbs (dieted down from 88 kg / 194 lbs)
Squat: 150 kg / 330 lbs
Bench: 125 kg / 275 lbs
DL: 190 kg / 418 lbs
Military press: 6 reps @ 50 kg (110 lbs) or so, havent tried so much presses over head.

Should I start a plan for competing or do you think I´m too old / too weak to have a chance of ever competing?

I was thinking I could try to gain 1 kg / month for 2 years which would put me at around 100 kg (220 lbs) at the age of 28 and during that time try to improve my strength on all big lifts and even try to do some strongman-specific training.
The reason for only 1 kg / month is I think it will give me a much better ratio muscle:fat than doing 2kg / month.

What do you guys think? Should I try it out and check how my strength improves and if it seems doable or should I pursue another goal?
 
At 5'9 you're too short. Most events are made for 6 footers plus. Even at local strongman comps I've seen really well built (think Stumpy Raines/Darren Sadler) short professional strongmen; being beat in events by the local farmer, who's never trained for strongman; but who was 6'+ and strong.
Events where height is an advantage:Barrel stacking, 56lb weight toss over bar, Atlas stones, caber toss etc. Other events may favour "longer" legs, so that only really leaves the deadlift, log press etc.
Even at local level - the will to win is high, and those less genetically endowed will & do resort to chemical assistance.
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Don't get me wrong - if you really fancy a go at strongman/highland games; go for it. I love watching strongman, most of the time you know who the favourites to win are, however most spectators view it as "man against nature (gravity)". Each competitor will usually get equal amounts of encouragement from the crowd, whether they've got a chance or not.
So have a go, find out if SM is for you... And good luck
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(Sniggel @ May 12 2007,15:51)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">Should I start a plan for competing or do you think I´m too old / too weak to have a chance of ever competing?</div>
I've seen this type of question posted a lot on forums, and my opinion is that if you have to ask others if they think you should compete, that you probably shouldn't compete.  

It's great to ask others for training advice, but the desire to train and compete has to come from you.  Training for competition is too hard and time consuming for anyone to do if the motivation to do it doesn't come exclusively from themselves.
 
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(stevejones @ May 13 2007,08:18)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE"><div>
(Sniggel @ May 12 2007,15:51)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">Should I start a plan for competing or do you think I´m too old / too weak to have a chance of ever competing?</div>
I've seen this type of question posted a lot on forums, and my opinion is that if you have to ask others if they think you should compete, that you probably shouldn't compete.  

It's great to ask others for training advice, but the desire to train and compete has to come from you.  Training for competition is too hard and time consuming for anyone to do if the motivation to do it doesn't come exclusively from themselves.</div>
The problem is I want to do too much. I have a craving for competing in something but I dont know what would suit me the best.
You are probably right though. I dont have burning interest for this, but maybe it could become one if I try it out. If it doesn´t workout it is fairly easy to convert to some other strength sport or maybe even bodybuilding at a later time. A failure and insight of my limitations makes me see other possibilities.
 
According to your avatar, you probably don't have many limitations, and you've allready become a bodybuilder!
I'm not trying out for comps because a.) work gets in the way and b.) I don't think you can just &quot;play&quot; with it, as Steve said. I wouldn't want to go out and look like a fool: if I do something I'm gonna do it well.
 
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(RUSS @ May 14 2007,08:52)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">THere are raw federations for PL.
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There are?
The question is, are there any ones I can compete in, in Sweden? I guess thats up to me to find out btw...

I know there are discussions about raw PL going on here and there but I havent seen anyone comment on that there are raw federations (in Sweden).

quad: Thanks, I dont consider myself that just yet, this stuff takes time without steroids
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But the more proud to get if I get somewhere 100% clean.
 
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