Updated:06/30/08 12:24:02 -0400

6-30-08    July 5th will be the Central USA Strongman Championships...15 years running! I should have first hand accounts, scores and photos for you!

6-30-08    June 28th and 29th, The Liberty Strongman Classic was a hit again! Held in scenic down town Philadelphia Pa, at the base of the Steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. Phil Pfister won. I will have the scores and photos up soon.

2-5-08 Contest results...Kandahar Holds 'Strongest Man' Competition Story by Staff Sgt. Tony Spain

2-2-08 Training Article Discipline and Regret, by Matt Gary, CSCS

1-27-08 I Have started updates on Samson-Power.com... and will start adding articles!

So Check back Soon!!!!
 

1-2-08 Two more Historic Strength web sites back up! World Strength Legends and Power Building.
 

3-28-07 I Have Brought The World Famous and Historic Website Back... American Strength Legends! at StrengthLegends.com... and will be also bringing back the WSL site to!
 

1-27-08I Have started updates on Samson-Power.com... and will start adding articles!

So Check back Soon!!!!

3-28-07 I Have Brought The World Famous and Historic Website Back... American Strength Legends! at StrengthLegends.com... and will be also bringing back the WSL site to!

9-24-06  Phil Pfister wins the World's Strongest Man! Phil is the first American to win since 1982, when Bill Kazmire won his third title. Phil, as some of you avis fans might remember, from a few years ago, while at the World's, and wile on the Hurculese Hold, stated that He was going to bring the trophy back to the United States! Congrats to Phil! You have worked long and hard for this!

7-7-06 Iceland's Strongest Viking 2006 (with a few pic's)

6/3/06 Pacifico Liberty Strongman Classic 2006 June 30 - July 1st(waiting for pic's)

6/3/06 Iceland strongest man 2006(with a few pic's)

3-8-06  ARNOLD CLASSIC PHOTOS!!!!!

10-6-05  Men's Fitness Magazine Article with quotes from Mark Philippi on training ... check it out!

3-7-05    Photos from the Arnold Strongest Man contest!

8-17-04     2004 MARYLAND STRONGESTMAN CONTEST AUGUST 7^th ,  2004 Results!

 7-5-04     
STEVE KIRIT IS THE 2004 STRONGEST MAN ALIVE®! For Lots of Photos Click here!

SEEN HERE ACCEPTING THE FIRST PLACE CHECK FROM OUR FRIENDS AT PACIFICO FORD

About 10,000 fans watched the three segments that made up the Pacifico Ford Strongest Man Alive Championship.
Steve Kirit won first place finishing first in the Stones Challenge in front of 7,000 fans that packed Daniel S. Fawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware.
Many athletes such as Magnus Ver Magnusson, Walt Gogola and Jesse Marunde had their first names chanted by the focused audience during their runs.
Jon Anderson suffered a quad injury in the truck dead lift and could not participate in the stones.
Marunde turned the event into a mini-WWE show when, after his run, flattened Rocky Moose, the Blue Rocks mascot, in what was really an exaggerated high five...Rocky was OK but refused to be in the picture like he did last year.
A big part of the crowd booed Marunde as he flexed in the middle of the infield. You really, really had to be there.
They did cheer later when Robby, the PA guy, got Marunde to kiss Rocky and make up.
In all, including the Phillies promotion (say what you want about it), 54,000 people saw strongman live and countless millions more on TV.
Gary Mitchell was incredible as the ref and Bryan Neese was great talking to the crowd. Robby, the other announcer, was hired by the Blue Rocks as their announcer because of the job he did.
The order of finish:

1.     Steve Kirit

2.     Jesse Marunde

3.     Karl Gillingham

4.     Jon Anderson

5.     Chad Coy

6.     Walt Gogola

7.     Magnus Ver Magnusson

8.     Mark Keshishian

Log Lift winner: Jon Anderson
Conan's Wheel: Jesse Marunde
Truck pull: Jon Anderson
Truck Dead Lift: Chad Coy
Stones: Steve Kirit

6-22-04     TV dates for Pacifico Ford Strongest Man Alive Championship

6-3-04   Entry Form for The Wise Fitness Center STRONGMAN CHALLENGE ,Grove City, PA. 2004 WISE FITNESS CENTER STRONGMAN CHALLENGE APPLICATION Saturday, July 31st, 2004 * Wise Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Complex * Grove City, PA

5-3-04    Life Fitness BATTLE OF MUSCLE BEACH 2004 American Championship Series...Video expected to be available 4 to 6 weeks!

5-3-04   Vegas Strongman Challenge... on the net for sale! We will also be video taping the Battle of Venice Beach May 1st ...so Stay tuned in!...4 weeks!

4-2-04  Final Lineup for Strongest Man Alive® Atlas Stones Challenge July 2nd & 3rd - Delaware County, Pa & Wilmington, DE
Alphabetical order (starting with first name):

Chad Coy
Jesse Marunde
Jon Anderson
Karl Gillingham
Magnus Ver Magnusson
Mark Keshishian
Steve Kirit
Walt Gogola

4-1-04  Magnus to compete at Blue Rocks event July 2 & 3

Four-time World's Strongest Man champion Magnus Ver Magnusson will compete in the Strongest Man Alive® Atlas Stones Challenge July 2 & July 3 in the Philadelphia area.
Kudos to Mark K. for his efforts in getting this done.
 

The lineup so far:
Magnus Ver Magnusson
Steve Kirit
Jesse Maurnde
Walt Gogola
Chad Coy
Mark Keshishian
Jon Anderson

3-23-04  Samson-Power.com & Kicnjab.com will be releasing a contest video of the Vegas Strongman Challenge... The final editing will be done in the next few weeks and should be up on the net for sale soon! We will also be video tapeing the Battle of Venice Beach May 1st ...so Stay tuned in!

3-23-04  More updates on the Strongest Man Alive® Atlas Stones Challenge July 2 & 3, 2004

3-23-04   and it's official..."Strongest Man Alive" goes from "™" to "®"! Now a fully registered trademark!
 

2-27-04    STRONGEST MAN ALIVE™ AND STRONGEST WOMAN ALIVE™ will be a sponsor for the Atlas Stones Challenge July 2nd and 3rd, 2004!

·       The Lagoon entertainment and hotel complex in Essington, Pa (just south of Philadelphia airport and sports complex) will host the Atlas Stones Challenge and Strongman Showcase with two events on Friday night, July 2nd.

·       The Wilmington Blue Rocks are hosting the final three events Saturday, July 3 -- two in the parking lot (late afternoon) before the game -- and the Atlas Stones event after the game (about 9:30 p.m.) in front of an expected crowd of 7,000 fans.

·       Two events will be held at the complex in The Lagoon's outdoor arena. This area has been used for pro boxing in the past and has a spotlight and PA system, a large area (perfect for a Conan's Wheel) to perform and has three bars. There is enough space for over 1,000 fans to watch the event. We expect a full house.

The night club routinely draws over 2,000 fans every Friday and Saturday night. I will continue to update everyone as more details unfold.
Competitors confirmed to compete:
Steve Kirit
Walt Gogola
Mark Keshishian
Steve Pulcinella
Chad Coy

There will be three more spots offered after a title sponsor is named and a purse amount confirmed.

Thank you,

Al Thompson
Meet Promoter
gymtalk@yahoo.com

2-17-04 The new rankings are up.... www.ifsausa.com  as well as the final rankings for 2003...by the points. Pfister placed 1st even though Kirit won the nationals. So it was by the points...no disrespect intended for anyone who feels the belong higher up than some one else. Thanks!

2-2-04  NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD "STRONGMAN" is not your average training video. Top of the World Films Presents: with the participation of The National Film Board of Canada's Filmmaker Assistance Programme "Strongman" Featuring: Hugo Girard
With: Jessen Paulin and Travis Lyndon Music by: M. Ward and Cyclesomething Directors of Photography: Allan Shifman and Yale Massey Produced, Edited and Directed by: Alan Black ..."STRONGMAN" is a personal, intimate, and unique look at Hugo Girard, one of the strongest men on the planet. It reveals Hugo's deepest motivations, desires, and secrets. We follow Hugo from the gym, to his training compound, and finally to Louisiana where he competes to become "North America's Strongest Man". Along the way, we get a glimpse of Hugo's relationships with his wife, with his fellow athletes, and with the sport that he is determined to conquer. "STRONGMAN" is a film about passion, determination, hard work, and strength. It is a movie about a strongman the likes of which we have never seen before; and may never see again. The movie is in English and the running time is approxiamately 45 minuntes.

1-6-04   California 2004 Pro-Am, May 15th 2004, Riverside Ca.

1-2-04    Happy New Year! Jim Davis has posted a tentative schedule for the 2004 season: See more at http://x-tremestrongman.com/

12-26-03 4  NEW CONTESTS FOR 2004 IN MARYLAND!
2004 MID-ATLANTIC STRONGMAN CONTEST  DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 3rd, 2004
2004 ‘QUALIFIER’ STRONGMAN CONTEST of Maryland  MENS’ MASTERS & OPEN WOMEN ONLY!  MAY 8^th , 2004
2004 MARYLAND STRONGESTMAN CONTEST AUGUST 7^th ,  2004 
2004  FALL CHALLENGE STRONGMAN CONTEST OCTOBER 23^rd , 2004

12-2-03  Julie Scanlon hits some big numbers! 550 squat, 402 Bench 4th attempt and 525 Deadlift 4th attempt!

12-2-03 Shannon Hartnett, 8 time world highland champ make cover of Milo www.shannonHartnett.com

Reprinted with permission.  Photo by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. 
MILO®: A Journal For Serious Strength Athletes  is published by
IronMind Enterprises, Inc.  Go to www.ironmind.com for subscription
information and to see the full line of IronMind® products.

12-1-03   NASS will be featured on the "Fox 2 in the Morning" with Tim Ezell on Tuesday 12/02/03. Willie and Dione will be demonstrating events, talking about the organization, and promoting The Monster's of the Midwest competition. NASS will be featured on 4 different segments at 6:45 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 7:40 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. This will be local Fox 2, but is available via satellite.
Dione Wessels
NASS Vice-President
www.nastrongman.com

11-10-03    Press Release!!!!

10-29-03   SNOWMAN CHALLENGE 2004 PRO/AM STRONGMAN COMPETITION January 17 2003 Entry form

10-12-03 2004 Azalea Festival Strongman Challenge, A Salute to NATO, Honoring Italy. April 25, 2004, Town Point Park, Norfolk, Virginia

10/5/03  The entry form is up for Art McDermott's 2003 X-Treme Strongman Showdown  February 8^th, Shriner’s Auditorium – Wilmington, MA

9/10/03   on 9-9-03 @ 8:52am Mark Samson Keshishian II was born! 7lbs 14oz, and 22.5 inches...and has all 10 fingers! (unlike Dad ;-) Mother and Baby doing great!

9/3/03 The Iranian Grand-Prix...November 26-30, 2003 Tehran, Iran. This will be the first international contest of it's type in Iran! The Iranian StrongestMen Association ,ISA, is putting the show on. Stay tuned as I get more info!

8/24/03 As of now, I do not have a shopping cart...nor do I have credit card services. All orders must be mailed in. Cashers checks and money orders will be processed quicker, personal checks will wait for checks to clear. Send checks to: Samson Power, 18608 Flower Hill Way, Gaithersburg MD 20879....Plus Shipping and Handling Charges:

"Normal, Priority Mail, allow 5 to 10 Business Days;$5"
"Canada, Ground US Mail (1 to 3 weeks);$10"
"Canada 2 day UPS, allow 24hr processing time;$25"
"2nd Day UPS, allow 24hr processing;$15"
"International (Non Canada) US Mail, allow 1 to 4 weeks;$35"
"Hawaii 2nd day UPS (only choice for HI) allow 24hr processing;$25"
MD residents 5% sales tax

Call (301) 538-3001 
or e-mail with your questions

8/21/03  Product News! Some Good News! Samson-Power has teamed up with T-Shirts.com...We now have T-Shirts again!...Some new designs and variations on some old ones...and I will be adding more! 

and The Sleeves are gone...But, I am in negotiations to license my sleeves and have them produced by another company...so stay tuned!

8/11/03 The Nationals! Kirit, Pfister, Philippi, Marundie & Pope...Walter G as alternate...way to go guys!

8/8/03 Good Luck and Safe Contest This Weekend Guys at The Nationals!  

8/8/03 “STRONGMAN" does for strongmen what "PUMPING IRON" did for bodybuilders" In October 2002, a film crew followed mighty Hugo Girard as he prepared for the North American Strongman Championship. The product is the exciting new documentary "STRONGMAN".
"STRONGMAN" chronicles Hugo's hard work, passion, and determination. It follows him from his home in Gatineau, Quebec to the Louisiana bayou as he goes on his quest to become "The World's Strongest Man". The movie gives the viewer a rare and unique glimpse into the life of one of the world's premiere strength athletes. If you would like to find out more, please go to the official "STRONGMAN" website at: http://www.topoftheworldfilms.com/strongmanmovie The site contains a full movie description, the film poster, links to the athletes and filmmakers, exciting never-before-seen pictures, and a downloadable movie trailer.

7/26/03  Some very big news...another brother goes down for the count!...Well...but its a good thing! Mr. Walt Gogola is engaged! Congratulations you two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know all of Walt's groupies will be very disappointed.....So Walt...when is the bachelor party?????

7/26/03    I have been doing the weekend work outs again!...with my new playground!....I will be tiring to put photos up each week

7/5/03  Happy 4th Everyone! For those who didn't see it, Odd Haugen was interviewed on the Fox Sport Net show "The Best Dam Sports Show Period". He did the famous "Inch Dumbbell", shouldered a 265lb stone, cleaned and pressed a 265lb log for several reps. They use video clips when introducing the segment from www.Kicnjab.com, a company (my brother-in-law) I paid to film the Vegas contest to be used as a demo video for a future contest for TV. I hope to have some excerpts from Odds interview up in the coming weeks.

7/9/03   Iceland strongest Viking - the qualifier for WSM:  9 events over a period of 3 days. 9 competitors. Winning 6 events and getting no 2 in the other 3 events

No 1 Magnús Ver Magnússon. - 78 points.(not bad for an old man)
No 2 Jon Valgeir Williams - 60,5 points
No 3 Aðunn Jonsson - 54 points.

7/5/03 The Battle of the Beasts in Ventura California took place, (a mile from my cousins house...but I still couldn't go!), a very pretty part of the world. Go to www.X-treamstrongman.com for results

6/21/03     Check out the Contest Coverage page...I have put up a few new entries!

6/21/03    Photos up for www.Vegasstrongmanchallenge.com

6/3/03  The Vegas Strongman Challenge...Pfister wins...Kirit takes 2nd by a point! I should have some photos in the next few days here or on the Vegas site... Turned out to be a great show...I had a blast...a great diversion...Even coming in 8th on the 830lb weight walk! I don't know where I pulled that one from??? I guess my grip was better than I thought...or the month off of work-outs????Naah...;-)

5/28/03  Congrats to Sioux-Z Hartwig! She won the 114 lb class at the IPF Powerlifting World Championships!!!!
Sioux-Z did 363 on her second squat and the third squat of 380 was turned down
on depth.  She did 214 on the second bench and missed a 231 when her lower
back cramped and couldn't power it out. It came down to the last deadlift.  "My back was feeling really tired but
I would not give in or give up.  My coaches loaded 369 on the bar and slowly but surely I pulled it up.  Wow, what a feeling.  What a great experience!!!" "I have so many people to thank.  My family and friends for their love
and support.  The coaches of team USA, especially Tod who did my numbers and Matt and Mike who where my hands on coaches.  I would also like to thank my sponsors who help make this possible.  I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life and for all my hard work and dedication to pay off in the end. Here are a few photos at the banquet.  Matt is my training partner.  I
will have about 200 photos on my site next week http://www.siouxzhartwig.com , Sioux-z"

5/25/03   Wilmington Blue Rocks Atlas Stone Challenge Exhibition a success! Al pulled it off. I have a few photos taken from the T-Shirt table by "Da Wife" 

5/22/03  Atlas Stone Challenge Exhibition! May 24th

Defending U.S. Champion Steve Kirit will throw out the first pitch at the Wilmington Blue Rocks-Lynchburg Hillcats Single A game Saturday night, May 24 (7:05 p.m.) According to a team official the game is a sellout. After the game and before a fireworks display, over 6,100 fans will watch Kirit, Walt Gogola, Mark Samson Keshishian and Steve Pulcinella take part in the "Atlas Stones Challenge" making it one of the largest crowds to watch a strongman event in the United States. The logo for the shirts for the night was designed by Jake Jones, formerly of PowerMag Magazine. If anyone is interested in purchasing a t-shirt (l-3XL) from the event, please write me at gymtalk@yahoo.com for details ($20 each). Pictures will be posted at www.footballstories.com Samson-Power.com and on www.ironsport.com next week.

5/21/03 For those who don't know, my father passed away May 15th 6:30am. He had been battling Pancreatic Cancer since November. Here is a link to a little memorial page I threw together. Please take a look James Mark Keshishian 1925-2003

4/22/03 Congratulations to Mike and Lisa Kromer....Xavier Alexander Kromer, 8lbs 12oz/ 19 inches, Born on Friday, April 18th at 6:28pm, Built just like his dad, but with more hair.

4/12/03   Vegas Strongman Challenge / USA World's Qualifier # 3. OK guys ...its up! First 30 entrants make it!

click here

4/12/03 Entry form:   Central U.S.A. Strongman Contest   July 5, 2003    Kokomo, Indiana

4/2/03  Newspaper coverage of Miami! of course, one of last years photos (looks like one of mine)

4/2/03   Johnny Perry Memorial Strongman Contest May 31 2003 Elizabeth City NC This will be a NASS gold level contest. For more info go to nastrongman.com or contact Tim Stallings ncstrongman2002@yahoo.com ,or phone (h)252-264-3008(c)252-337-5031

3/29/03  ....the website is up...more info to come!

3/29/03  Just got word from a relative in Florida...X-Tream Strongman is in all the newspapers...He said "there's some guy with a patch on his eye"...LOL

3/16/03   Posted by george farren on March 16, 2003 at 09:03:15 on The Diesel Power Forum: J.V. ASKEM, FRIEND,COACH,WEIGHTLIFTER,AUTHOR.) died in his sleep this morning of a brain tumor. John died of a brain tumor He was 56 years old. He held the Washington state record DL in his age group (560lbs.)and pulled 405x5 as recently as 2 months ago. But he will be most remembered for his no nonsense advice on this and other forums. And his articles in Milo.

3/16/03   4th Annual Jackson Weightlifting Club Strongman Contest May 3, 2003

3/12/03 3/27-3/30,X-TREME STRONGMAN Viking Challenge,South Miami Beach, FL, Kristjan Kristjansson Promoter.....There are spots still open guys! Most of the guys are already qualified who are going...this could be your chance ;-) A total of over $23 Grand will be won! The XTREME STRONGMAN Qualifier will be aired nationally on Fox Sports, and will be seen by over 88 million

 3/1/03  Travis Lyndon has updated his web site to indicate a deadline date for ordering 2003 Trading cards. Unfortunately the response for orders has not been as good as it was last year. So people know the cost is based on total of 25,000 or more cards printed. Beyond this the cost increase is very minimal. So far I have 4 requests for trading cards. If I do not get enough orders I will have to cancel this years cards. Travis Lyndon 2003 Trading Cards    SO GET OUR ORDERS IN!!!!

2/17/03  The 2003 Rankings are up after last weekends Boston contest