Clash in the Coulees Strongman competition returns to showcase sport

By JAMES TUBB on April 23, 2025.

Strength athletes from Western Canada will be back in the Hat to put their talent and will on display.

The Clash in the Coulees strongman event returns for a second year, with athletes coming from across the prairies looking to showcase their strength and qualify for provincials. The second-year event will be held at the Medicine Hat Curling Centre on May 17.

Promoter Ray Zich is looking forward to getting the event underway and allowing Medicine Hat to get another chance to see these athletes perform and, he hopes, get bit by the strongman bug.

He says they have 27 competitors signed up for the provincial qualifier and expects more to signup before the April 27 deadline.

The competition will return similar strength events from last year, featuring 14 weight classes from teen and novice, men’s and women’s open, up to master men U105kg. There will be five events – log clean and press, yoke run to sandbag carry, farmer’s carry, deadlift and new this year, the Dinnie hold.

Zich says the Dinnie hold offers a face-to-face competition for those involved, increasing the drama and pushing those athletes further. He says the event pays homage to Dinnie Stones from Scotland, traditional stones with tough-to-grip handles.

“Whoever could lift those stones were considered real tough guys,” Zich said.

“It definitely really tests the grit, you have to dig deep within yourself because there is quite a bit of pain involved with those handles. So you have that because it separates who’s strong from who’s tough.”

The deadline to apply for those interested is April 27. They’re also looking for volunteers to help set up, run and take down the event. Zich says volunteering allows an up-close view of the strength sport and says they had volunteers show up last year who fell in love with the sport and immediately took it up.

“They dipped their toes in that way and got to see what the sport was like,” Zich said. “You get a nice up-close look at what’s all involved with the sport and you can also make connections with people around the province and the country.

“If you like training and power lifting, or you’re just a gym rat, you can make connections throughout the province, and if you’re travelling, you go where there’s a good gym to go to for your specific training instead of just going to a commercial gym.”

For those intrigued, it is free admission to watch the competition on the May long weekend, allowing for anyone with interest to come out.

“Come support the athletes and see if someday maybe they want to dip their toes into the sport and give it a shot,” Zich said.