McNeil Wilson photo
Honolulu's Joe Onosai will be among the strongmen
competing in Saturday's trolley pull.

Strongmen pull their
weight, and more, at
Sea Life Park

By Dawn Sagario
Star-Bulletin

The two-day 24 Hour Fitness "Beauty and the Beast" competition starts Saturday at Sea Life Park with the World Strongman Challenge.

"This event is big," said Odd Haugen of 24 Hour Fitness. "The average size of these men is 290-300 pounds."

This year's competition sports a total of 26 athletes, six of whom are invited professionals. Last year was a smaller event, with 13 men participating.

Haugen said the event, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, should be entertaining. Both Sports Illustrated magazine and ESPN will be covering the competition.

"The best in the world will be there and it's going to be a very fun thing for families," he said.

If looking at beefy guys is not your thing, the event is accompanied by the Women's Bikini Fitness Challenge Sunday, in which 24 women will be judged on beauty and physique. The first place prize includes a bicycle, a one-year membership to 24 Hour Fitness and $500. Contestants include "Baywatch" finalists Noy Southichack and Flo Wu.

McNeil-Wilson photo
Mark Phillipe took the title of World Strongman in 1998 and
Angel Teves was the Women's Bikini Fitness Challenge winner.

Day one of the Strongman Challenge will have amateur athletes participating in four qualifying events: the Farmer's Walk, Apollon Axle Press, Gordon Biersch Keg Toss and Life Fitness Tire Flip.

The last event on Saturday will feature the top eight American finishers competing against six international professional strongmen in a trolley pull. The athletes will be pulling an Atlantis Trolley weighing more than 25,000 pounds, with the bikini contestants as passengers, over an incline course.

Competitors in the event include the 1998 and 1997 World's Strongest Man title holders, Magnus Samuelson from Sweden, and Jouko Ahola of Finland. America's Chief Iron Bear Collins and former NFL pro and Honolulu community leader Joe Onosai will also be vying for the top spot.

Day Two of the tournament will test these athletes in five more events: the 24 Hour Fitness Log Lift, Outrigger Hotels Lava Rock Loading, Hercules Hold, Hammer Strength Super Yoke Race and Pinnacle Power Stairs Race.

"The last event is going to be a killer," Haugen said. "Competitors will have to carry 440 pounds worth of welded steel plates up a set of six, 17-inch stairs. Then they have to run down and repeat the process two more times."

The top five "Strongman" finishers will divide a total purse of $10,000.

Park admission for those ages 13 and up is $25; $12.50 for ages 4 to 12; and free for ages 3 and under. Kamaaina rates are available with Hawaii I.D. Rates are $12.50 for ages 13 and older and $6.25 for ages 4 to 12.

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calendars and events.