Strongman Equipment

[drizzt]

Hi all, I'm looking at incorporating some strongman training routines into pre-season Rugby training early next year. Tyre flips, sled drag, keg carries/presses, farmers walk etc, and am after the gear to do this.

Does anybody know where I could find the equipment for this? It doesn't have to be tip-top shape or new and shiny, and I don't even mind if the equipment isn't exactly what it's meant to be - for example I intend to use paint buckets filled with cement/gravel for farmers walk, and the sled will probably be one person lying on something (maybe a tarp? ) and being towed by someone else :pfft:

I'd also appreciate any ideas you may have surrounding this training, e.g. more "inventive" ways of doing the traditional exercises

I'm after the cheapest option possible, but if there is a cost involved I'm sure I could get my Rugby club to help out somewhat - as they are usually quite keen to assist players in these sorts of situations, especially if it benefits more than one player (I've got a few guys keen to participate).

Any other thoughts/suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance

[rose]

If you see a skip on the side of the road, raid it 8)

[drizzt]

Sweet, dumpster diving added to the list

[nate225]

Tyres - go to a tyre shop (that deals with industrial vehicles). Get a loader tyre weighing 180kg - 250kg range (any heavier is probably too much for most). Weights for major brands can be found at Ontario Strongman site.

Car tyres are good for dragging as well - tie them to a rope and to your belt (in lieu of a sled and harness).

Rocks can be found at landscape suppliers (or at the top of major riverways!). Small stones for throwing, medium for pressing, shouldering & carrying, and large ones for stone lifting.

Heavy objects such as anvils & scrap steel can be used for carries, pressing etc.

[genetic freek]

I built my strenth from carrying my mum

[drizzt]

Awesome

Rock "hunting" may be on the cards this weekend then! Metals may be harder to come by, but I'll keep an eye out.

I'm sure I could scrounge a few old car tyres, they shouldn't be a problem. I'll ring around a few tyre stores and see about loader tyres - I assume they may cost a bit, any idea on this (roughly)?

Thanks again

[nate225]

Awesome

I'll ring around a few tyre stores and see about loader tyres - I assume they may cost a bit, any idea on this (roughly)?

Thanks again

They're free - they have to pay to dispose of them!

[drizzt]

Oh that's great news :grin: I was expecting to fork over at least a couple hundred, good to hear it'll probably only cost a trailer hire I'll have a ring around tomorrow morning.

Sounds like I should be able to get most/all of the equipment I need for bugger all, cool 8) Cheers Nate.

[nate225]

Oh that's great news :grin: I was expecting to fork over at least a couple hundred, good to hear it'll probably only cost a trailer hire I'll have a ring around tomorrow morning.

Sounds like I should be able to get most/all of the equipment I need for bugger all, cool 8) Cheers Nate.

They may even deliver it for you! :nod:

Call in and see Warren at Powerhouse Gym (Taranaki St) and look at their tyre, it's probably the size you want.

Try to get one with good lugs (tread) on the outside (although the middle will be usually worn out). It helps a lot when trying to grip. You can also bolt some thin blocks of wood to the outer walls to add clearance off the ground, (some tyres are hard to get your fingers under!).

[drizzt]

Ha, I wouldn't want to push my luck in asking for delivery, but if they do I wouldn't argue! :pfft:

I'll be hiring a trailer to get some rocks from the river anyway, so probably able to chuck a tyre on the back as well :nod:

Powerhouse you reckon? Worth a look, will drop in next time I'm in that part of the city

[HaNs]

If you get stuck for a tyre i know some tyre importers and they should know who has some for free.

[drizzt]

Thanks Hans I'll let you know if I have no luck calling around

[nate225]

Ha, I wouldn't want to push my luck in asking for delivery, but if they do I wouldn't argue! :pfft:

I'll be hiring a trailer to get some rocks from the river anyway, so probably able to chuck a tyre on the back as well :nod:

Powerhouse you reckon? Worth a look, will drop in next time I'm in that part of the city

Go scope out the river first if its not too far away (we had an hour plus drive each way up into the ranges). Lower portions of the river tend to have stones that are too small. Look for smoothish stones, jagged ones claim too much skin off your forearms! :nod:

[drizzt]

It is a wee while away (was thinking the Hutt river - I'm in Jville), but will see what I can do

[nate225]

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/tire_flippin.htm

[rose]

Good article Nate :nod: "Flip until you puke" :grin:

[nate225]

Good article Nate :nod: "Flip until you puke" :grin:

I encourage our guys to use the method referred to as "Svend's", by encourage I mean screaming 'don't use your f*cken knee you f8cken blouse' :grin:

Realistically the tyres used in NZL comps aren't heavy enough to need to use your knee, although many tend to as they get tired (unfortunately it's a much harder way once you get tired as you have to use your biceps more in place of the larger/stronger lats, traps, quads, hams).

[Napier_Life]

I made my own sled and harness out of some old skis and 4x4 the harness made out of seat belts from a wrecker they give them to you for a pack of smokes!

[drizzt]

I made my own sled and harness out of some old skis and 4x4 the harness made out of seat belts from a wrecker they give them to you for a pack of smokes!

Haha good idea!

Thanks again for the tips Nate, the place I was looking at storing the equipment can't take it for a few weeks, so I'm going to have to ring around in the new year.

I'm really excited about it, and I know a few of the Rugby guys are too :nod:

[Pseudonym]

[drizzt]

\:D/ Found a bit of a gold mine I think. Was ringing around this morning looking for loader tyres, hit a couple of dead-ends but then called Beaurepaires Kaiwharawhara, who seem to have a bit of a range ready for disposal

Heading out for a look this afternoon and all going well, will be carting a few of them back with me :pray:

[drizzt]

Big ups to the fellas at Beaurepaires Kaiwharawhara, happy to show me around what they had, and even let me "try" a few of em out :grin:

Not only that, but they're delivering 3 of 'em (3 different sizes to hopefully cater to all) as well as a bunch of smaller ones (for "sled" drags) to me for free tomorrow 8)

Legends :clap:

[rose]

Pix please 8)

[drizzt]

Will do indeed when they're delivered :nod:

[drizzt]

Still haven't heard from them... bet they'll call when I'm back at work next week Pity too, because I had kept the last couple of days pretty clear just in case they called and I had to meet them for the delivery (they're going to my Rugby club). I was hoping to get a trial session under way tomorrow but ah well :shrug:

If I don't hear from them by mid next week I'll give 'em a call to see what the haps is. Don't want to sound pushy as I am getting this stuff for free after all (and I'm bloody grateful for it! :nod:), but I do kinda want to know when I can expect it so I can prepare 8) (they originally said it would probably be Thursday, and if not, Friday)

When I get this stuff I'll probably start up a new log :shifty: