A test of might: Competitors to battle it out for the title of Alberta's strongest man

Fakiha Baig · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 29, 2025 12:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Tristain Hoath says helium was 10 years aged erstwhile helium archetypal noticed helium was unusually strong.

The Edmonton constabulary serviceman says his dada and different antheral were struggling to assistance a ample soft onto a motortruck erstwhile they called him for help. Hoath says helium grabbed a country and lifted the instrumentality with ease, arsenic his dada stood successful shock.

"He was like, 'How did you help?"' says the 33-year-old.

"I was like, 'I don't cognize ... I utilized my body.' I don't retrieve breaking a sweat."

Hoath, whose father died successful 2012, has continued to flex his spot successful competitions, including the inaugural Strongest Man contention successful cardinal Alberta.

Hoath says helium volition beryllium among 12 ample men connected Saturday who volition shudder the grounds of a Red Deer parkland portion they assistance and flip circus dumbbells, brew kegs, boulders and a alloy artifact afloat of weights.

Weighing successful astatine much than 145 kilograms, Hoath says helium has already gained planetary designation erstwhile helium came successful 5th spot successful the World's Strongest Man competition, the "Super Bowl of strongmen" and aft lifting a pickup truck. He expects the contention to beryllium a breeze.

"There's a bully accidental that I win," the six-feet-two rival says cheekily. "I'm not consenting to fto the others locomotion each implicit me. It'll beryllium a battle."

Josh Cloherty, co-organizer of the event, disagrees with Hoath.

LISTEN | Edmonton constabulary officer's strongman journey: 

"[Hoath] is decidedly the favourite overall," says Cloherty, who is besides competing.

"He's 1 of the biggest names connected Saturday. But determination volition beryllium guys that are going to springiness him a tally for his money."

Cloherty says Alberta has held amateur strongmen competitions, but this is the archetypal "pro-am" event. He says immoderate of the competitors are friends and regularly tease 1 different implicit who's the strongest.

"What started retired arsenic a amusive small gag backmost and distant has turned into this archetypal competition," helium says.

The prize?

"Bragging rights," Cloherty says with a laugh. "We person a just magnitude of prize packs for the athletes overall, but mostly it's the prestige of becoming Alberta's archetypal strongest man."

He says contention volition beryllium held outdoors contempt the dump of snowfall Alberta received this week.

Cloherty says the contention volition spot six rounds. The men who implicit the situation successful each circular oregon bash it the fastest volition person a point. At the end, the antheral with the astir points with beryllium declared winner.

'Be our best'

In the archetypal round, beardown men volition seat property a much than 70-kilogram alloy artifact with nary grip arsenic accelerated arsenic they tin 4 times. In the second, the men assistance a much than 320-kilogram circus barbell and rise it to the entity with 1 arm.

The 3rd circular volition marque the men deliberation astir God.

Cloherty said whoever tin bash a crucifix clasp — lasting with their arms outstretched similar Christ connected the transverse — with a astir 12-kilogram value connected each limb portion it's extended for the longest clip volition gain a point.

Cloherty and Hoath accidental becoming a strongman is nary casual endeavour.

Fuelling for the fight

Both were talented with spot from an aboriginal age. To support their power, they are successful the gym astir each time for hours astatine a time. And though some men emotion to eat, the hardest portion is overeating.

Both accidental they devour up to 7,000 calories a time to support their physique.

Breakfast unsocial consists of capable eggs to provender 3 people.

Hoath says he's truthful ample helium goes done information astatine airports sideways.

"I drawback people's eyes each the time," helium says. "You basal retired erstwhile you're a ample person."

Cloherty and Hoath accidental the carnal and intelligence situation of being a strongman is fun.

"We each privation to beryllium our best," Hoath said.