Clash in the Coulees Strongman competition to showcase sport

By JAMES TUBB on April 19, 2024.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Strength athletes from across Western Canada will be in Medicine Hat to display their might and abilities.

The Clash in the Coulees strongman event will be at Temple Fitness on May 4 with athletes coming from across the prairies looking to showcase their strength and qualify for provincials.

First-year promoter Ray Zich is looking forward to getting the event underway and allowing Medicine Hat to see these athletes perform and, he hopes, get bit by the strongman bug.

“I’m really trying to engage the community here, trying to build some interest in the sport,” Zich said. “I don’t expect a grand slam or anything for this first show, but hopefully get some people in the community to catch the bug and it grows and spreads and then next year, it builds from there.”

The competition, which will run from 11 a.m. to roughly 6 p.m., will feature 14 weight classes from teen and novice, men’s and women’s open, up to master men U100kg. There will be five events – log clean and press, yoke run, farmer’s carry, deadlift and loading medley.

Zich says there are many other events that need specialized equipment and he chose those five because they utilize what he already owns or is available at Temple Fitness. He’s looking forward to seeing all thee competitors and is especially excited by the fact they have so many novice sign-ups for those participating in their first couple of shows.

“With this competition, I wanted to bring in a lot of first timers, which we’ve actually been successful in doing,” Zich said. “The novice class is basically your first one or two shows, that’s the rate you go to try out the sport, see if it’s for you. So I wanted it to be an accessible show, one that everybody would be able to train for and wouldn’t have to get, like, real specialized equipment.”

Zich has been competing in strongman competitions for around seven years and will be handling the organization roles for this event, but looks to get back in action at one soon. He enjoys training for the farmer’s walk, an event where competitors hold a heavy load in each hand while walking for a designated distance. He also likes the yoke run, where competitors support a yoke, loaded with weight on their back, and run with it for time.

Zich says he also appreciates the sandbag carry, where competitors lift up a large sandbag and carry it for a determined distance. He says they all provide their own lessons, both physically and mentally.

“You learn to love all of them,” Zich said.

“With sandbag carries, you just have to basically see how long you can suffer with the bag at the same time, and it might be a little bit of a masochistic tendency in me, but I tend to quite enjoy that now.”

The Clash in the Coulees is open to spectators and Zich encourages anyone interested in strongman competitions or those who are simply piqued by the sport and have never seen it before, to come out and enjoy Western Canada’s best do their work.

“I’ve got seating, people are welcome, if they want to come out bring their own lawn chairs and if they want to ensure they have shade, bring umbrella, but absolutely people are welcome and encouraged to come and watch the show,” Zich said. “Come see all the athletes, see the competition and hopefully some of them catch the bug themselves and come out and try out the sport. And hopefully, we grow the community here in Medicine Hat.”

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