Q&A with World's Strongest Man competitor Travis Ortmayer

**PotKettleBlack** · 01-11-2009, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by mentalmorph

Thanks for that.

No problem. I keep coming in here with questions in mind, but they have already been asked, and answered. One time I'll get one, lol.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by nockowt1

Do you do any specific grip training?

Not really. I do a lot of heavy farmer's walks so that helps and sometimes I will do farmer's holds for time.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by test_titan92

I have a question, do you do any box work for your squats in your training?If so what kind with what bars?Bands chains?Or do you stick to back squats,zerchers,front,overhead etc?

I haven't done any in a while but I love box squats with bands for speed work. I think they help both my squat power and my deadlift tremendously.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by someonefat

Are you going to do strongman? 6'2 seems to be the perfect height for strongman based on other pros. (Vasyl Virastyuk, Bill Kazmeir, svend karlson, Jouko Ahola, Marius-he was listed 6'2 on tv-, J?n P?ll Sigmarsson, zydrunas savickas, Mikhail Koklyaev, travis ortmayer, ext) All those strongman are 6'2-6'3.

Question: What would you like to see change with the WSM, or strongman in general?

Better prize purses!! There is a lot of money out there and someone is getting a fat chunk of it.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Eddie-M

I like that Travis. It applies to so many things, whether its training your ass off to be something special, or acting profesional at work and taking school seriously. Its mine now

I'm glad you like it. You just have to give proper notation for the creator of that quote though...

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by db2000

Did you become a strongman because of your huge deadlift...
or did strongman training give you a huge deadlift?

I have always loved to deadlift!! Strongman definitely pushed it to a new extreme but I would have had a pretty good deadlift even if I never got into Strongman.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by str8flexed

Travis, great answers, this is fantastic for your fans. Do you have a DVD or book out? Anything you'd like to plug?

I wish. I am working with Garrick Daft on a documentary which I hope to get out in the next year. He is the same guy who made my Texas Stoneman promo video.

**81Ort** · 01-11-2009, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Disenfranchised

First off, props to you for taking the time to answer people's questions and engage with our online community, that's awesome. What does your daily "diet" look like? I'm betting the answer is TONS of food. What are the staples of your dietary regimen?

Right now I am trying to eat a little cleaner so I eat a lot of chicken and wild rice together in a bowl. I'll have about 2 breasts and 3/4 cup (dry) rice along with a liter of whole milk. I have a Labrada whole food shake with 3 eggs mixed in it in the morning then I eat about 6-8 eggs with toast and milk 2 hours later. I'll either have a pizza or whatever leftovers are in the fridge for lunch. I have a weight gainer shake after my workout and then I eat a big ass dinner (see above). I'd like to get in another meal during the day but I'm not sure how... Sometimes I have a shake if I wake up in the middle of the night too.

**EinMassengrab.** · 01-11-2009, 08:23 PM

Hey Travis, how big of a role do you think genetics play in becoming so damn strong? I look at you and these other guys on TV and feel pretty much worthless because i'm not even sure if my genetics will EVER allow me to get so strong. But then again i think with 100% effort, time, dedication and extreme consistency pretty much anyone can achieve your level of strength. what do you think?

**str8flexed** · 01-11-2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by 81Ort

I wish. I am working with Garrick Daft on a documentary which I hope to get out in the next year. He is the same guy who made my Texas Stoneman promo video.

do you offer any training/consulting services to up and coming strongmen or powerlifters looking for advice?

**BigLarge** · 01-13-2009, 02:03 AM

Travis,

I noticed that you incorporate them somewhat in your routine, and I seem to recall that Big Z was a former Olympic lifter. It seems to me that this is an overlooked training style. What is your opinion on Olympic lifts?

**vigor5** · 01-13-2009, 05:39 AM

Big Z hasn`t been olympic lifter but powerlifter. In one interview he said he would like to compete again in powerlifting one day.

Generally speaking, oly lifting is necessary part of preparing for competition for every strongman.

Good example of dependence between strongman events and weightlifting is Mikhail Koklyaev.

**mentalmorph** · 01-13-2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by str8flexed

do you offer any training/consulting services to up and coming strongmen or powerlifters looking for advice?

One word: marketing.

Just don't sell your soul.

**81Ort** · 01-13-2009, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by BigLarge

Travis,

I noticed that you incorporate them somewhat in your routine, and I seem to recall that Big Z was a former Olympic lifter. It seems to me that this is an overlooked training style. What is your opinion on Olympic lifts?

I think they are absolutely necessary. As far as athletic lifting goes you can't have a routine without basic Olympic lifts. I see a lot of football strength programs that involve cleans but they neglect the press... this is just stupid. You hit a guy on the line with your hands. Of course you use your body to your advantage but the only thing connecting your body to your hands is the shoulder joint. Without strong shoulders all that power generated by the hips goes to waste because that energy is lost by the shoulders giving way. Front squats too are great for athletes. They really make your core stay tight while driving upward with the legs. Again, this is functional full body training leaving no weak links in the chain.

**vigor5** · 01-14-2009, 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by 81Ort

I think they are absolutely necessary. As far as athletic lifting goes you can't have a routine without basic Olympic lifts. I see a lot of football strength programs that involve cleans but they neglect the press... this is just stupid. You hit a guy on the line with your hands. Of course you use your body to your advantage but the only thing connecting your body to your hands is the shoulder joint. Without strong shoulders all that power generated by the hips goes to waste because that energy is lost by the shoulders giving way. Front squats too are great for athletes. They really make your core stay tight while driving upward with the legs. Again, this is functional full body training leaving no weak links in the chain.

Travis,
talking about shoulder strength and front squats,
what are yout maxes for military press and front squat?

**Arlecchino** · 01-14-2009, 01:29 PM

Can you answer this guys question?

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post273699271

**81Ort** · 01-15-2009, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by vigor5

Travis,
talking about shoulder strength and front squats,
what are yout maxes for military press and front squat?

I'm not really sure about a strict military press max but my best clean and push press max is 365x3 reps (with axle) done last Sunday.
I did some front squats last year and easily got 400 but then I jumped to 460 (210 kilos) and missed it.

**str8flexed** · 01-15-2009, 08:34 AM

Hey Travis, will you be at the Arnold Classic this year?

**Shanecutler51** · 01-15-2009, 05:42 PM

Hey Travis, I'm a big fan and you're quite the inspiration. Just wondering what events do you feel were personally your worst this past year and what changes have you made to improve them this year. You have great intensity when you lift and I really have learned a lot from your lifting style. Do you ever do agi drills/sprints or do you get most of your speed/endurance from event training? Thanks again for answering our questions.

**81Ort** · 01-16-2009, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by str8flexed

Hey Travis, will you be at the Arnold Classic this year?

Hell Yes!!!! I get to compete in the Arnold's Strongest Man competition. Only 10 guys from around the world get this opportunity each year.

Originally Posted by Shanecutler51

Hey Travis, I'm a big fan and you're quite the inspiration. Just wondering what events do you feel were personally your worst this past year and what changes have you made to improve them this year. You have great intensity when you lift and I really have learned a lot from your lifting style. Do you ever do agi drills/sprints or do you get most of your speed/endurance from event training? Thanks again for answering our questions.

First off, I appreciate what you said. Strongman is not about the money; it's about brotherhood, comraderie, and inspiring others. Thank you.
I'd have to say that my worst events last year were the first three events of the finals in WSM... I didn't really have much practice on these since I don't have a good way to train them. I don't know anyone other than Dave Ostlund who has a car yoke to train with and there's no one around here with power stairs so I made due with what I had. As for the Fingal Fingers, I have one but the pin that holds the whole thing together is so bent it almost doesn't work...
The other thing I am changing for next year is to turn that intensity down a notch in the qualifiers so I have that energy for the finals where it matters!

**str8flexed** · 01-16-2009, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by 81Ort

Hell Yes!!!! I get to compete in the Arnold's Strongest Man competition. Only 10 guys from around the world get this opportunity each year.

awesome, will you be working any booths at the expo or will there be any place that people can come up and meet you? I'm sure some of the members here would love to meet you.

I will also be there working my sponsors booth, I'll try to get over to the strongman comp to root you on

**Mr.Fail** · 01-16-2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by 81Ort

The most important lifts you can do in the gym, in my personal opinion, are:
deadlifts
squats
clean and press
rows
bench
... and pretty much in that order.

travis why is the bench important in strongman?
what befenits does pull ups and chin ups do in strongman?

ty

**ighairynutsack** · 01-16-2009, 02:50 PM

i know for a fact those with a strong bench and dead do very well with tire flipping and the part with the stone where you actually place it on the thingy. and there are a few other thigns where bench helps but i would prefer ort to answer this as well

**LeakyQuesadilla** · 01-17-2009, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by EinMassengrab.

Hey Travis, how big of a role do you think genetics play in becoming so damn strong? I look at you and these other guys on TV and feel pretty much worthless because i'm not even sure if my genetics will EVER allow me to get so strong. But then again i think with 100% effort, time, dedication and extreme consistency pretty much anyone can achieve your level of strength. what do you think?

Can you please answer this?

**81Ort** · 01-17-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by str8flexed

awesome, will you be working any booths at the expo or will there be any place that people can come up and meet you? I'm sure some of the members here would love to meet you.

I will also be there working my sponsors booth, I'll try to get over to the strongman comp to root you on

A lot of the time we will be hanging around the side of the stage and that is where people can get their pictures with the competitors. If I, or any of the other competitors, seem a bit distant please don't take it personally. It's just contest mode!
What booth are you working?

Originally Posted by Mr.Fail

travis why is the bench important in strongman?
what befenits does pull ups and chin ups do in strongman?

ty

I totally forgot about pull-ups! I think they are very important as well.
In my experience, you are only as strong as your weakest link. My weakest event used to be my overhead press and for years I couldn't get it to move any significant amount... Then last year I trained for a PL meet and my overhead strength shot through the roof. I learned that this was due to two seperate things: 1. my triceps got way stronger from benching a lot of weight using a shirt- they had too, and 2. my shoulder joint was not strong all the way around. For good shoulder health you need to be balanced a total 360 degrees around the joint and since my chest was so weak compared to other muscles it held everything back. That is also why I like pull-ups, rows, rear lateral raises, side lateral raises, and rotational exercises for complete shoulder health.

**str8flexed** · 01-17-2009, 05:19 PM

hey Travis, I'll be at the Scivation booth. If you get a chance to stop by I'll throw some free stuff at you

**swolegantor** · 01-17-2009, 05:24 PM

Okay enough pussy footing im asking the only question on everyone mind so we can just close this thread.

how much ya bench?

**Mitsuomi** · 01-17-2009, 05:35 PM

i'd say bout tree fiddy

megatons

**greatestathlete** · 01-18-2009, 08:00 AM

hi travis.
how many meals do you eat a day, what your recommended amount of protein for best strength gains,
thanks

**Phill_UK** · 01-18-2009, 11:36 AM

Great work in WSM 08! Will be expecting to see a top 3 finish next year!!

What is your pre workout meal?

Do you use any nutritional supplements?

Thread: Q&A with World's Strongest Man competitor Travis Ortmayer

Thread Tools

Search Thread

training

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions