Georgia's Strongest Man 2011 Write-Up (Tom Mutaffis)

[TomMutaffis]

Georgia's Strongest Man 2011 Write-Up:
This was a great contest last year and this year was at an even bigger venue with some fun events. I decided to compete with just a couple of weeks notice and only two weeks after competing at the Arnold. My training partner Adam Scherr agreed to come down to Georgia with me and compete as well.

There were 9 total competitors in the 265 lbs class and about 16 overall HW competitors. I weighed in before the contest at around 225 lbs making me the lightest competitor by at least 15 lbs.

Press Medley: 245 lbs Log, 275 lbs Axle, 280 lbs Log, 140 lbs DB, 220 lbs Keg
This event was on grass and there was a slight slope which presented a bit of a challenge. The equipment was top notch but I have not had much time to train with anything but the log/axle. I ran through the first three implements with relative ease and then grabbed the dumbbell and could not get my footing, tried to press it anyway but could not hold the lockout and dropped the implement. Grabbed it again and after a little stumble managed to press it to lockout and move on to the keg. I one-motioned the keg from my lap and finished all implements in around 50 seconds. This was good for 1st place on the event.

Deadlift for Reps: 600 lbs Barbell from 15-16"
We had to pause each rep on the ground and wait for up/down commands, and there were some big numbers posted in this event. I managed to pull six reps pretty quickly and then two more with a bit of a struggle. Went for a 9th rep which would have tied me for first place but the bar stuck to my thighs and I was not able to bring it to lockout. Finished with 8 reps, tied for 2nd Place.

Arm-Over-Arm Pull: 20,000+ lbs Bus up and incline.
This event looked brutal and by this time the heat was also becoming a factor. Many of the competitors only pulled the bus a few feet and I knew that I would have to battle for every inch. I managed to get the bus moving and immediately could tell that this would take everything that I had to keep the bus going. Used my legs and managed to get a couple of good pulls with the rope. On one of the last pulls the rope slid and tore my forearm apart, managed to get the bus 12-14 feet which was good for around 4th or 5th in this event.

Tire Flip: 800 lbs Tire for 10 reps
The tire is usually a good event for me and I was looking to keep a good pace on this event. At this point in the afternoon everyone was trying to find shade and stay hydrated since we had been competing for a few hours. I did not try to rush too much on the tire but kept a good pace and one-motioned all of the reps for a time of 39 seconds. Took 1st in this event and also finished first out of all HW competitors.

Atlas Stones: 255 lbs, 285 lbs, 310 lbs, 335 lbs, 365 lbs (all to 48")
Going into the atlas stones I had a 4.5 point lead in the contest, but still needed a solid performance to maintain my position. My back and biceps were tight and I was fairly exhausted after the tire flip, tried to relax for a bit and rehydrate. Prepared for the stones and when the whistle blew I placed the first three stones with relative ease. Grabbed the fourth stone and it went up smoothly as well. Took a quick breath and then attacked the 365 lbs stone and pulled it into my lap quickly, grabbed the stone and then drove it up onto the platform for a time of around 34 seconds. Good for 2nd place in this event and secured my 1st place finish overall.

This is my first win in the Heavyweight Division and also earned me a qualifying spot at 2011 North American Strongman Nationals. My training partner Adam also won the SHW Division with outstanding performances on the deadlift, truck pull, and stones. I would like to thank everyone who helped to put on the contest and it was great to see a lot of familiar faces and to meet a lot of new competitors.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEfGhTjKwXk

[NC_Tarheel]

Congrats Tom!!

at crushing that overhead medley!!

[rwsmith3623]

this is awesome. congrats.

[johnsonb90436]

good job man and good luck at nationals!

[austin.j.taylor]

I dont think i could do any of those overhead medley lifts. You made them look too easy. Congrats on the win. Are you going to try and put on some weight for Nationals?

[geneticgamer]

Great job! Stay strong.

[WHT_LIGHTNING]

badass man, you're a beast

[TomMutaffis]

Thank you for the positive comments.

I am going to try to put on a little bit of size later this year for 105Kg Pro Nationals and NAS Nationals.

[sirwazzles]

So are you done competing as a lightweight? Are you gonna try to earn a heavyweight pro card at some point?

[87lifter]

Way to go Tom!
Holding it down for the NC in GA, I like it

[simp3204]

Great job, you crushed the competition.

Does anyone know the name of the band in that video? I love me some bag pipes and metal. Mix the two together and you get awesome!!!

[strongman2002]

awesome performance tom!!!!

[TomMutaffis]

So are you done competing as a lightweight? Are you gonna try to earn a heavyweight pro card at some point?

I will continue competing as a LW, but for NAS show I will compete as a HW since I am a 105 Kg Pro. My plan is to compete at Pro Nationals and then to try to place in the 265's at NAS Nationals and earn another spot at the Arnold this year.

[TomMutaffis]

Way to go Tom!
Holding it down for the NC in GA, I like it

awesome performance tom!!!!

Thank you.

Great job, you crushed the competition.

Does anyone know the name of the band in that video? I love me some bag pipes and metal. Mix the two together and you get awesome!!!

The name of the band is Skiltron, they have some pretty cool songs.

[TomMutaffis]

Here is a picture of the rope burn from the truck pull:

[austin.j.taylor]

Here is a picture of the rope burn from the truck pull:

that looks painful, gjdm

[TomMutaffis]

that looks painful, gjdm

Yeah, it was pretty bad but luckily it is already starting to heal.

[LeakyQuesadilla]

hey tom do you remember what your squat, bench, deadlift, and overhead press were around when you first got into strongman?

[csday924]

I'd like to know how long you have been at it and what did your first comp turn out like?

[TomMutaffis]

hey tom do you remember what your squat, bench, deadlift, and overhead press were around when you first got into strongman?

My first contest was New Jersey's Strongest Man in June of 2006, I competed in the Open 200 lbs class and weighed in at 193 lbs. At the time I did not really squat, bench, or do any overhead pressing. My workouts mostly consisted of deadlifts, incline, dumbbell pressing, pull-up's, and machine work for lower body. This contest was only a few months after I got back in the gym following a layoff, and prior to the layoff I do remember pulling 565 lbs raw (sumo - hitched), benching 385 lbs x 3, and box squatting 315 lbs for 15+ reps all at around 200 lbs bodyweight.

There is a lot more to strongman than just gym strength, and some gym lifts really do not have much carryover. I have seen a lot of guys with big bench and squat numbers who do not perform well in strongman competition. I would say that the most important lifts are deadlift and front squat, and having a strong incline press is also helpful for overhead.

Hope this helps.

[TomMutaffis]

I'd like to know how long you have been at it and what did your first comp turn out like?

I have been competing since June of 2006. My first contest I entered the open division as opposed to the Novice, and ended up finishing toward the bottom of the field but had a great time. After that I started training with implements (had never touched them prior to the contest) and made some good progress in training.

In my second contest two months later I made the podium taking 3rd place, and then a month after that I won my first contest.

[44pirate]

Great job!