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July 27, 2008

Men — and a woman — prove their strength

By Brian Ojanpa

WASECA — He ain’t heavy, he’s my semi.

Twenty man-beasts of burden sweated and grunted their way along a 100-foot course Saturday. Which is what men do when they tow 23,000-pound semi cabs using nothing but brute strength.

“I enjoy the pain,” competitor Ben Hanson said, “because when I get old I won’t be able to do this.”

The North American Strongman Challenge at the Waseca County Free Fair included five events — deadlift, overhead beer keg press, oxen-like carries using yokes bearing 750 pounds, hefting stones weighing upwards of 300 pounds, and the aforementioned truck pull.

Waseca native Hanson, who lives in Eagan, has been participating in Strongman competitions since 2005.

“I play rugby as well, and I was kind of looking for something to spice up my training,” said the 32-year-old, who competes in perhaps the only sport where someone 6-foot-1, 230 pounds is classified as a lightweight.

Hanson competes nationwide half a dozen times a year in a sport whose rewards don’t include the monetary kind.

“We’re in this for the love of the game, as they say,” Hanson said.

The crowd favorite Saturday may have been the event’s only female participant, Rebecca Schmidt of Waverly.

Schmidt had planned to compete in the women’s division, but when the required minimum of five competitors couldn’t be obtained, the women’s competition was scratched.

Schmidt pulled a truck anyway — “good training,” she said — struggling mightily but pulling her load to the finish line nonetheless.

Schmidt’s interest in Strongman competition required a quantum leap in athletic pursuits.

She was a slim marathon runner before an injury steered her into powerlifting. She bulked up and, by and by, took up the arcane pursuit of towing and toting vehicles, rocks and barrels.

A day of doing that will take it out of person, she said.

“I’m always just drained afterward, and it takes me almost a week to recover.”

In the truck pull Saturday, Hanson finished third in his division with a time of 34.65 seconds.

He said the sport has a high degree of camaraderie among participants, who train together and make-do with equipment. Because semi trucks aren’t generally available to tug on, they go to Plan B.

“A lot of people use a pickup truck — with the parking brake on.”

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