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Ortmayer's 2008 WSM write-up (prelims)
Topic Started: Sep 23 2008, 05:04 AM (668 Views)
TEXAS STONEMAN
I shot J.R
World's Strongest Man 2008
Charleston, WV. USA
9/6-14/08

The athletes were set to arrive on the 2nd of September which was a few days before the actual contest started. Already having so many days to sit around before the contest even started I knew we were in for a long haul...

Day 1
Loading Medley- 2 kegs (230 each), 2 sacks (275 each). 10 meters to a 54" box.
This event had me really nervous since I didn't know we were doing it and I had never trained for it! Above all else, the event was to be done in the sand! Thankfully Dave taught me the best way to carry a sandbag in the familiarization the day before... All the groups did this event and there were some great races to watch. This was one of the most exciting contests I have ever seen in person! My heat was the last one of the day and I like to think we did not dissapoint. I went against Magnus Samuelsson and Dave Ostlund- it's not every day that I am the short guy of the group! The whistle blew and we took off; well, they did. I felt like my feet were stuck in mud but I stepped up the pace and started to make a good run of it. I really messed up the first 2 barrels and lost a lot of time but I started to catch up. On the last leg I could see Dave was too far ahead to catch but Magnus wasn't! I sprinted with the sack and we both hit the platforms at the same time... he just got his on a split second faster. We had three of the top 4 times of the day but this meant I was still 3rd since my group tore this event apart.
3rd

Keg Toss- 8 kegs over a 16' barrier.
I was looking forward to this event since I had actually practiced it a couple times. There were 8 half-sized kegs filled with gravel to make them heavier. The first 2 were 17 kilos, the second pair-20, the third-22, and the fourth-24. After seeing a few of the groups go I got a little intimidated because most of the guys weren't finishing them! I got really worried when I saw Dave miss his last keg because I knew he was good at this event.
I was the last person to go for the day which added a little more pressure since I didn't want to dissapoint the fantastic crowd that had showed up for the event. I didn't quite have my bearings for the first two kegs. The first was too far in front and it came down on top of the barrier; luckily it went over, and I threw the second one too far back and hit the front of the barrier. Luckily it had enough power behind it went over. After that something switched in my head. I quite thinking so much and my vision narrowed so that all I could see was my hands on the kegs. I don't remember looking back. What I do remember was that if I didn't hear a "bang" I went to the next keg. The best time of the day, for all the competitors, had been 28 seconds or so. I finished with a time of 21 seconds!! I felt honored when Kazmaier said to me that this might be "The" performance of the whole competition.
1st

Day 2
Truck Pull- Coal truck completey filled for 20 meters.
This was one of the hardest pulls I have ever done in my life!! It started on a bit of a decline so the start was extremely tough. A lot of guys didn't even finish the course. Terry Hollands (group 3) tore the course up though with a time of 39 seconds! I knew I was going to have to really put it all out since there were some great truck pullers in my group and I was 3rd to go. I finished the course in a time of ~44 or 45 seconds and it absolutely kicked my ass! I threw up and my quads were so pumped they felt like they were going to burst. All the effort was worth it though because I ended up winning the event!
1st

Day 3
Deadlift- 7 lifts, each progressively heavier, for time. ~600-800 lbs
This is the famous barrel deadlift apparatus were a keg is dropped into the basket after each successful lift making it progressively heavier. I was feeling a little off this morning but what the hell, it's only a deadlift! Dave Ostlund went before me and put up a good time. I knew it was going to be hard to beat but I was confident that I could do it. I felt like I couldn't quite catch my breath while I was setting up to go. I am not sure what was up but I had to give this everything I could since I was so close to qualifying for the finals. I got 6 lifts 1 or 2 seconds faster than Dave which put my into the lead for the moment. I know I could have done all 7 but I was set up wrong for this type of apparatus and I wasted a lot of energy. Jimmy Marku came roaring back from his dissapointing finish on the truck pull to win this event with a time of 23 seconds for 6 lifts- just barely edging out Dave and myself.
2nd

Viking Press- 308 for reps.
This is the Giant Log Lift that I have seen so many times on TV. I have always wanted to try this event since I love the viking press and now is my chance! This apparatus is tough to work with for two reasons. The first is that you are facing away from the whole thing which makes it tough to use bodyweight or height to your advantage, and it is a little disorienting. The second reason is the handles are very wide which eliminates any kind of cushioning your body can give you to help stop the weight from coming down. The weight was all on the arms and shoulders the whole time!
This is where I was going to make my move and secure my place in the finals. Jimmy is a great presser but I was confident I could beat the rest of my group. He went out and put up a great number, 15, which was 1 or 2 reps better than the previous best of the day. I set up, knowing what I had to beat, and flew through 13 or 14 in about 30 seconds! I set it down to take a breath then resumed. I pressed up another rep or two, desperately trying to get 16 reps for the win, then completely died. My arms were fried! I ended up tying Jimmy Marku for the lead and new World Record of 15 reps. Dave needed a good performance here and he delivered. He beat Magnus out for 3rd place and saved his lead over Jimmy Marku.
1st tie

Day 4
Atlas Stones- 225, 245, 265, 310, 400 (6'-4.5')
Finally they made the set a little heavier!! It was still really easy though. I had already qualified for the finals so I didn't need to do this but in the name of sportsmanship I had to. Plus, I got to go head to head with Magnus Samuelsson!! We both flew through the stones but I got the victory with 21.18 seconds. It was an honor to have competed with Magnus. It is an experience I will never forget.
Dave and Jimmy now found themselves in a very familiar situation... Basically, what happened to them last year was about to happen again; whoever won between them went through to the finals. Dave beat the stones to dust with a time that just edged out my own- 21.10. 8 hundredths of a second! He ended up winning the event and took his spot in the finals.
2nd

This was a long qualifier! I was now really tired and I couldn't wait for the 2 day break ahead. I learned a few things though, I will not go so hard through the qualifiers next year if it's not necessary and I now have an idea of how to train for this.
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THE THING

excellent write up travis - looking forward to the final report
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Vinny
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Ditto, again looking forward to reading your interpretation on the final.

The log and world record of 15 reps? Was this a different log that Oli did 20+ in the BSM, reading your write up it sounds like the same bit of kit.
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GrantB
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Grant is a magnificent bastard
Good stuff, Travis -- thanks!
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BigKen
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Oli did 20 on the viking press, it was a log at WSM. Think this is correct! :D
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Laurence Shahlaei.
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Now you're boring us
Oli did 23 at BSM but the viking was lighter. same equipment but they can adjust the weight. saying that i still think Oli would have won the one in worlds 2 hes fucking awsome at the viking.
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TEXAS STONEMAN
I shot J.R
Loz is right on both accounts. But Oli didn't get a chance to go so the record is mine and Jimmy's! Whoo, me with a record on an overhead event...hahaha!

I'm working on the one for the finals now. I hope to be finished by tonight.
Edited by TEXAS STONEMAN, Sep 23 2008, 08:44 PM.
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THE THING

still well done travis not everybody gets a world record. but i think oli will be banging on the door of that record soon
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Laurence Shahlaei.
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Now you're boring us
TEXAS STONEMAN
Sep 23 2008, 08:42 PM
Loz is right on both accounts. But Oli didn't get a chance to go so the record is mine and Jimmy's! Whoo, me with a record on an overhead event...hahaha!

I'm working on the one for the finals now. I hope to be finished by tonight.
very true, great post by the way Mr O.
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neil campbell

Now,this (Travis O.) is the kinda competitor that I like to watch.No bs-a nice down to earth guy-but a beserker in the heat of competition.THAT is what people pay to see.by the way I really enjoyed the clips you did about weightlifting-nice gym too!
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