WSM 2011 Qualifiers Channel 5

[Bokers]

They are all qualifiers until new years day which is the final. A good excuse to watch them all week :-P

[MJ.23]

Watching back over the episodes; this year has not been brilliant tbh. Some of them are being blown out the water by some of the better guys. It is not evenly matched. Ortmayer threw a tantrum and withdrew from the competition because he was having his butt kicked. Ever since he lost the weight, his performance has really suffered. I also think it would be a better idea if points were carried forward onto the next round. It does not look good for the sport when the leader goes into the last event, gets one rep and stops; as he is playing the numbers game.

The numerous times people gave up with time on the clock was annoying as well. It is 75 seconds of your life. Go for FULL time. 10 seconds can easily be used for 1 more rep; not walking off lol.

I am not sure what happened to the IFSA league but imo they put on much better shows. Have not seem a show from them in a long while. The wsm events are becoming incredibly linear. They used to do fridge runs, engine wheelbarrows, cannon pulls up a hill, boat pulls etc...

[SpiderDan]

Watched the finals last night, was good to see the english guys do well and nice to see terrry hollands on the podium again.

Although Zydrunas and Shaw are so far out in front at the moment it would have been difficult to see anyone else making a challenge for the top two spots.

Shame about Mike Jenkins pulling out, he looked great.

[MJ.23]

I was very surprised whilst watching the final. It was anyones competition during the first few events. It was very surprising to see Savickas struggle on the frame carry. I think he was not in his best shape like he usually is going into the comp. Whether or not he had an injury I do not know.

Mike Jenkins had a very impressive competition overall. I think if he was able to continue he would have pushed Hollands out of 3rd place.

The max deadlift event was a good watch. Savickas was not letting that 440kg go! lol.

I know Brian Shaw won the competition; but something is still telling me that Savickas is the strongest.

[SpiderDan]

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I was very surprised whilst watching the final. It was anyones competition during the first few events. It was very surprising to see Savickas struggle on the frame carry. I think he was not in his best shape like he usually is going into the comp. Whether or not he had an injury I do not know.

Mike Jenkins had a very impressive competition overall. I think if he was able to continue he would have pushed Hollands out of 3rd place.

The max deadlift event was a good watch. Savickas was not letting that 440kg go! lol.

I know Brian Shaw won the competition; but something is still telling me that Savickas is the strongest.

Totally, it was definitely up in the air. There will certainly be some impressive people coming up in the next few years.

I think Savickas ripped his hand open like Hollands and a few of the others did. They said the handles were thin so they probably got a little more movement and opened up the calluses.

Savickas is definitely has more raw strength as you only have to look at his press , squat and deadlift to know that he outclasses everyone (maybe except shalaei in the squat). I think Shaw is just better at events.

[Elvis]

I was very impressed with Lawrence Shalaei and I think he will improve. He needs better technique in the truck pull and a bit more overhead strength.

[SpiderDan]

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I was very impressed with Lawrence Shalaei and I think he will improve. He needs better technique in the truck pull and a bit more overhead strength.

I think its more his conditioning, give him a sub 30-45 second event I think he's good, get up to around a minute and he struggles. That was shown in the truck pull and the stone lifting

[MJ.23]

I stumbled across an interview with Mike Jenkins which was done a while ago. I cannot link the site as it mentions competitor supplements, but here is a quote. He has a good philosophy to his training.

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Well I obviously set goals depending on whats at my next show, if its a max log I pick a number I want to hit and train for it or reps then I do the same. I really dont get to deep with the numbers and percentages, I probably should but there seems to be a method to my madness, Ive gotten alot stronger beating to my own drum I guess you could say. I shoot more for reps during workouts, and the reps I want depends on how far out I am from a show. Obvioulsy I would be hitting 6-8 reps on something 2 weeks out from a show with a max in that lift. I try not to get too heavy too quick, my CNS will crash if I go all out too much, resting and training smart is more important to me then trying to hit PR's every workout. Somedays its just not going to be there, as long as I live again to fight another day in the gym its a win!

As far as front squats and back squats I do different variations. I use mostly an axle to back squat, I find it easier to handle heavy loads without all the whip of a regular bar. I mainly do my back squats to a box a tad above parallel with a wide stance, my front squats the same way and Ill go no box on them from time to time too. I usually do them two weeks at a time instead of alternating weeks. I keep it simple, too many people try to over think training and reinvent the wheel, if its not broke dont fix it.

I appreciate the compliment! Im glad things played out the way they did over the past years of my career, I was close to turning pro on three occasions but now looking back Im glad I didnt, I was nowhere near ready after any of those shows. I was close to good enough to turn pro but by no means was I ready to mix it up with the big guys, I still have a long way to go and by no means am I satisfied with where I am at physically or mentally in the sport but Im glad I got to mature before jumping head first into the pool. Losing when it counts sometimes ends up being the best thing that can happen to someone!

[Elvis]

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I think its more his conditioning, give him a sub 30-45 second event I think he's good, get up to around a minute and he struggles. That was shown in the truck pull and the stone lifting

That is true, that said he was very impressive in the qualifying squat and deadlift events and they lasted longer than 30 seconds.

Oh and the farmers walk, wow! (yes I know it was over quick)

[Bokers]

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Savickas is definitely has more raw strength as you only have to look at his press , squat and deadlift to know that he outclasses everyone (maybe except shalaei in the squat). I think Shaw is just better at events.

Think you got it about spot on there