2009 WSM on Virgin

Hey Derek, why the strap??

Those of you like me, either too poor or too tight, to add Bravo to their TV packages (a little from box a and b please Bob ha ha) will have missed out on the qualifying rounds and then later on the WSM finals. Well now Virgin 1 and +1 are showing the programs previously only watchable on their sister channel Bravo. Yesterdays episode was the Mohegan Sun (part of the Giant series). Derek Poundstone, in front of a home crowd, won 4 and came 2nd on the fifth event.

The new World's Strongest Man is...

Big Z!! It's easy enough to find out the rest of the results sufficent to say that coming into the last day there was 0.5 points between Mariusz and Zydrunas. Many strength affectionados have been saying for some time that Big Z was the man but since the IFSA spilt etc had not had a chance to prove it. Sufficent to say there are many much happier fans this morning. Perhaps not too many in the USA where the noise from the Poundstone camp pre WSM was loud and then during the event were a little quieter. Derek himself seems to have enjoyed his time in Malta from the many facebook photos I've seen.

Image Loz preps for the Apollon's Axle (155kg or so)

For me, co-owning what is called the Whey Gym (we've never actually formerly named it, it;'s just our gym in the warehouse) this years WSM has been all about seeing how well my buddy Laurence Shahlaei would do. It's worth reminding everyone that Loz, as he is sometimes known, has not been doing the sport a great time. It's a matter of... what?? 5 years?? Year one was 'let's see if I am any good'. Year two 'do well in a regional qualifier' - job done. Year 3 'qualify for the Britain's'... job done. Year 4 'make the podium'... out by one spot (4th not 3rd) but he still got an invite to the 08 WSM and won the squat. Year 5 and he said 'I'd like to make the finals...' Well there he damn well was. Again with a squat win (only athlete in the qualifying rounds to do all the barrels).

Loz boat pull.

One day he'll say 'I want to win the World's Strongest Man'. When he says that... I'll be seeing if the local bookies will take a dead cert bet for me.

Loz car deadlift

The photos are from a bunch on Facebook showing some highlights of Loz's journey this year.

Loz with Derek Poundstone

Who dat short arse on the left?

Six feet 2 and he looks tiny

Video of WSM plane pull

Link

Only a three man highlight... but 3rd man is Loz

Hang on in there Loz

Farmers walk
1. Pudzian - 25,05
2. Poundstone - 32,...
3. Shahlaei - 33,...

WSM Fingals fingers

From SDF (unconfirmed): Big Z (Zydrunas Savickas) has just set an almost unreal 28 seconds (yes that's correct) on ALL of the Fingals Fingers

And those going through to the WSM finals are

Debby the gold envelope please... (sounds of a drum roll)...

1. Shaw (USA)
2. Big Z
3. Poundstone (USA)
4. LPJ
5. Pudzianowski (POL)
6. Pfister (USA)
7. Terry Holland (UK)
8. Loz Shahlaei (UK)
9. Travis O (USA)
10. Dave O (USA)

Worlds Strongest Man

I think Loz's group compete again today doing their last 2 events before the finals. Will Loz continue kicking ass or, more sensibly, hold back a little saving what he needs for the finals now he's qualified. The competitor in me says I'd crack on but my sensible head says... careful, play the game.

More from the WSM

Who dat? Dat winner of squat!!

Loz looks like he's qualified

Update: From his brother harry ''loz won both his events today, and has made the final with 2 events to go, said all the british guys are doing well!''

World's strongest man 2009

Latest news...
SDF has the news from day 2... first event: Squat. Not only has he placed 1st in his group but our very own Laurence 'Lozza' Shalaei was the only athlete to do all the barrels! Go SHAHLAEI!

So far so good...

Strongman
A text message via his brother Harry 'H' Shahlaei has Laurence S in second place on his first event (medley) and via SDF and Ironmind it looks like Loz got a 1st on the second event - Truck Pull.

Oh yes... as Loz predicts so it becomes. This years was 'to make the final 8'.

Bodybuilding
And in the el numero event of the year, the Mr Olympia, its proving equally as exciting with no one a clear winner. I've never seen so many 'well I think it...' and they be so different. That said everyone's agreeing on two things 1) Jay Cutler has brought his best game to date as has 2) Branch Warren.

Fingers crossed for the Brits

To all the British lads but esp locals Laurence Shahlaei at the WSM and Lee Powell in the 202 class Mr Olympia - best of luck lads.

Fighting talk

In more ways than one (MMA anyone??). Mariusz Pudzianowski says 'it's on' or words to that effect. IM report

New WSM website

From Ironmind: IMG just made a lot of World’s Strongest Man fans happy, as their new website has been launched.The new WSM website features 2009 World’s Strongest Man event details, athlete profiles, an online store and much more.

WSM Site They also have some fun shirts featuring such as 'who's the daddy', 'Viking Power' and then such shirts as 'worlds strongest dad' and 'worlds strongest man in training'.

What I'm waiting for...

These next few weekends (3-5) will be interesting. Very soon we have the mr Olympia and I await the photos of the yop 6 or so looking amazing a few weeks out. In their way these photos are better than the oiled up posing pants ones. No oil, no special lights, maybe just a little sunlight and usually with a pump from having just worked out. No one can deny the photos of Dorian that we all remember. Dennis James, as per an earlier post falled into this catagory. So if you see a photo of Phil Heath looking even more amazing than he did a few weeks ago... don;t be too suprised.

Then, at end of September as some of know, we have the WSM (World's Strongest Man). With Poundstone doing some big ass lifts, our man Loz (Laurence Shahlaie) looking good and Big Z joining the line up... it's gotta rock right?

You know I'll bang the images up ASAP so we can all check them out. Let's get it on!!

WSM: Loz yes or no??

From SDF / Terry Hollands.
I also spoke to Laurence's brother Harry Shahlaei this morning and he confirmed Laurence DOES have an invite after all.The knee tweak picked up in Poland is not the same as before and apparently will be ok in a week or so. Cool. Harry also mentioned most of the events likely to be in the qualifying rounds and from what he said and what we both know none of them will be too much of a problem.

Go LOZZA