World's Strongest Man 2012

paul_jtpaul_jt Posts: 219
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A slight surprise that there is not already a thread on this. The Ratings Thread showed decent figures for Channel 5. It is long time favourite at this time of year.

Some early thoughts, having seen Giants Live qualifiers and first two heats, to the get debate going:
  • A decent mix of conventional events, not too many running races so far.
  • Nice to see the heart rate and sports science stats again. The rankings are informative.
  • Good to see/hear usual presenters and commentators, but no Caroline Pearce interviewing at the finals, she did do the well attended Leeds event.
Also worth noting the UK Strongest Man on Challenge. This year was the best edition of the show ever. If only it were a bit more competitive.
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Comments

  • zoepaulpennyzoepaulpenny Posts: 15,951
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    I used to watch it, when it was on BBC and John Inverdale was the host.. not the same without him. or even before him. which i think was RON Pickering.
  • SloopySloopy Posts: 65,209
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    I think the Channel 5 coverage is pretty good, possibly even better than the BBC's presentation which became quite lacklustre in the later years before they ditched it.
  • Cherry-chocCherry-choc Posts: 4,865
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    I hope the ratings remain above a million. James Richardson is terrific as always, shows how redundant the reporter/interviewer is (Caroline Pearce and Zoe Salmon, take note). The rankings in 4 categories are a good addition.

    Eddie Hall looks promising, gave a good account of himself in his first WSM. Looking forward to seeing how Laurence and Terry go in their heats.
  • gomezzgomezz Posts: 44,505
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    The Five coverage is poor as you pretty much know by the edit who are going to do well at each event especially any surprise successes. Complete lack of build up of anticipation and tension.
  • malcy30malcy30 Posts: 7,051
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    gomezz wrote: »
    The Five coverage is poor as you pretty much know by the edit who are going to do well at each event especially any surprise successes. Complete lack of build up of anticipation and tension.

    The problem is with only 45 minutes of actual programme and 6 events or so in each heat the shows are too short. By the time you cut out the crap of setting the scene at the start (presume the venue gives cash to give the place a push) and all the interviews and recaps we are lucky to get 20 minutes of actual action. So with some events done singly it does have to be drastically edited. You can tell the back markers in any heat as they don't even get much screen time in the first event and you never really see them on screen again.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 26
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    I hope the ratings remain above a million. James Richardson is terrific as always, shows how redundant the reporter/interviewer is (Caroline Pearce and Zoe Salmon, take note). The rankings in 4 categories are a good addition.

    Eddie Hall looks promising, gave a good account of himself in his first WSM. Looking forward to seeing how Laurence and Terry go in their heats.

    Shahlaei didn't compete this year.
  • SgtRockSgtRock Posts: 11,302
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    malcy30 wrote: »
    The problem is with only 45 minutes of actual programme and 6 events or so in each heat the shows are too short. By the time you cut out the crap of setting the scene at the start (presume the venue gives cash to give the place a push) and all the interviews and recaps we are lucky to get 20 minutes of actual action. So with some events done singly it does have to be drastically edited. You can tell the back markers in any heat as they don't even get much screen time in the first event and you never really see them on screen again.

    Actually I think an hour is too long for the heats - there is a lot of padding in there (they used to be 30 minutes on BBC) - and too short for the final (which was a full 60 minutes on BBC and only about 45 minutes on C5).

    Nice to see this long-standing iron horse of New Year programming is still going, though!
  • AlrightmateAlrightmate Posts: 73,120
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    Vuelta95 wrote: »
    Shahlaei didn't compete this year.

    That's a shame as I think he's our best shot.
    Is it due to injury?
  • Cherry-chocCherry-choc Posts: 4,865
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    Vuelta95 wrote: »
    Shahlaei didn't compete this year.
    Just realised that, looked it up and a dodgy shoulder kept him out apparently. Shame as he was in great shape and could've ended up on the podium this year.

    All about experience for Gearing. I haven't heard of Graham Hicks. Were Felix, Marku and Sadler unavailable?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 26
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    Just realised that, looked it up and a dodgy shoulder kept him out apparently. Shame as he was in great shape and could've ended up on the podium this year.

    All about experience for Gearing. I haven't heard of Graham Hicks. Were Felix, Marku and Sadler unavailable?

    Marku doesn't compete anymore. Sadler picked up an injury in a qualifier. Felix was injured for a lot of the year, but also picked up another injury in the same qualifier as Sadler. Both were biceps injuries, which they have had issues with in the past.
    Hicks used to compete at under 105-kgs and did well at BSM this year with the 'heavyweights.'
  • IsotopeIsotope Posts: 579
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    I like the 5 coverage, it's fine. The commentators talk rubbish a lot of the time, but that's often the case. Anyway, I'm most interested in watching the events and some awesome competition. I like that 5 are showing at least some of the qualifying rounds in the run up to showing the finals.

    What gets my goat a bit is not showing the competition as it takes place, I can't look up *anything* on the net for fear of finding the winner early (happened one year :mad:)

    I'm fancying Savickas to regain the title, he's looking strong this year... I thought Shaw looked a little shaky at times. Still a few heats to go so it will be interesting to see who comes through those.

    It's not looking a good year for the Brits! But I know nothing of Hicks, so we'll see. Shame about Shahlei and Felix not competing. Shahlei especially seems to have been getting stronger and stronger. Who knows, maybe next year.
  • AlrightmateAlrightmate Posts: 73,120
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    I really enjoy this show. But I have to admit that it lacks something when we haven't got a Brit in there who has a chance of a podium place. Or at least to do very well and place quite high.
  • spaniel-loverspaniel-lover Posts: 4,188
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    I always watch it.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 26
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    I really enjoy this show. But I have to admit that it lacks something when we haven't got a Brit in there who has a chance of a podium place. Or at least to do very well and place quite high.

    Terry Hollands has been on the podium twice, and was third last year, so he's always a contender when fully fit.
  • SteelEdgeSteelEdge Posts: 6,903
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    As I said on Facebook a few weeks ago, you know it's Christmas when World's Strongest Man comes on the telly :D

    Only watched about 10 mins of this years one so far, must try and watch more over the next few days, it's becoming a yearly tradition to watch this.
  • IsotopeIsotope Posts: 579
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    I really enjoy this show. But I have to admit that it lacks something when we haven't got a Brit in there who has a chance of a podium place. Or at least to do very well and place quite high.

    That's one way to look at it... another is that that each event is interesting no matter who is taking part, to see who is the best and who can push themselves to their limits to get the win. It's also interesting to try and work out before the event who is going to do well, based on past performance, or based on what you know about how that sort of event/equipment normally favours different physiques/fitness types.

    I find it such an interesting sport and all the competitors are such nice guys, I find it hard to know who to support!

    I always have a soft spot for the English and Finnish competitors (my dual nationalities) but it's not the be all and end all for me to see thoe nationalities represented :)
  • IsotopeIsotope Posts: 579
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    Oh.. and just found out Terry Hollands is in Heat 5 tomorrow :)
  • Cherry-chocCherry-choc Posts: 4,865
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    Vuelta95 wrote: »
    Marku doesn't compete anymore. Sadler picked up an injury in a qualifier. Felix was injured for a lot of the year, but also picked up another injury in the same qualifier as Sadler. Both were biceps injuries, which they have had issues with in the past.
    Hicks used to compete at under 105-kgs and did well at BSM this year with the 'heavyweights.'
    Cheers. It must've been the Polish leg of Giants Live that did for Felix and Sadler.
    Isotope wrote: »
    I like the 5 coverage, it's fine. The commentators talk rubbish a lot of the time, but that's often the case. Anyway, I'm most interested in watching the events and some awesome competition. I like that 5 are showing at least some of the qualifying rounds in the run up to showing the finals.

    What gets my goat a bit is not showing the competition as it takes place, I can't look up *anything* on the net for fear of finding the winner early (happened one year :mad:)

    I'm fancying Savickas to regain the title, he's looking strong this year... I thought Shaw looked a little shaky at times. Still a few heats to go so it will be interesting to see who comes through those.

    It's not looking a good year for the Brits! But I know nothing of Hicks, so we'll see. Shame about Shahlei and Felix not competing. Shahlei especially seems to have been getting stronger and stronger. Who knows, maybe next year.
    BIB - same here, spoilt it for myself a couple of years ago. Have been extra careful since...

    Shaw obviously doesn't want a recurrence of the bicep injury. It's hard enough to beat Savickas when 100% fit, wonder what his gameplan will be.
    Vuelta95 wrote: »
    Terry Hollands has been on the podium twice, and was third last year, so he's always a contender when fully fit.
    He is. Very strong in most events but there tends to be one or two that don't suit him.
  • IsotopeIsotope Posts: 579
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    I thought Hicks did well for a first competition. Looks quite promising. But many a promising competitor has quietly disappeared or got injured.
  • DomestiquesDomestiques Posts: 1,720
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    Hicks is definitely a name for the future, I recall when Felix first burst on to the scene, he had the strength but his technique let him down. On a world stage unfortunately he never combined the two when they were at their peaks. Hicks needs a good training partner with lots of experience, Lawrence or Mark F spring to mind, or even Jimmy Marku (is he out yet?) If he gets that, based on his heat in worlds and what I have seen in other strength contests, he could be the future of the sport in the UK. Well its time for Terry tonight.
  • spaniel-loverspaniel-lover Posts: 4,188
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    Whenever there's a Canadian contestant, they're always from Quebec, I wonder why.
  • Cherry-chocCherry-choc Posts: 4,865
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    Hicks is definitely a name for the future, I recall when Felix first burst on to the scene, he had the strength but his technique let him down. On a world stage unfortunately he never combined the two when they were at their peaks. Hicks needs a good training partner with lots of experience, Lawrence or Mark F spring to mind, or even Jimmy Marku (is he out yet?) If he gets that, based on his heat in worlds and what I have seen in other strength contests, he could be the future of the sport in the UK. Well its time for Terry tonight.
    Felix seems a natural fit, they both live in the northwest so travel shouldn't be a big issue. I remember how bad Felix's technique could be on stuff like Fingal's Fingers - he never seemed to refine it. He makes a terrific deadlift specialist though.
    Whenever there's a Canadian contestant, they're always from Quebec, I wonder why.
    I can't think of a Canadian strongman that isn't from Quebec. Caron, Girard, Filiou, Paulin, LPJ...odd. Even odder because France hasn't had many notable strongmen. You have to go back to 1988 to find one who made the WSM final.
  • AlrightmateAlrightmate Posts: 73,120
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    French Canadian strongmen.

    I may be wrong but I have an image in my mind of it being lumberjack country with lots of heavy tree logs.
    Could this be part of the reason why French Canadians seem to naturally find their way through into strongmen competition?

    But Iceland and Poland.
    Why do a lot of strongmen competitors come from those countries?

    I think the question is probably why some countries and not others?
  • spaniel-loverspaniel-lover Posts: 4,188
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    French Canadian strongmen.

    I may be wrong but I have an image in my mind of it being lumberjack country with lots of heavy tree logs.
    Could this be part of the reason why French Canadians seem to naturally find their way through into strongmen competition?

    But Iceland and Poland.
    Why do a lot of strongmen competitors come from those countries?

    I think the question is probably why some countries and not others?
    I would've thought that British Columbia was very much logging country too. The strong men nearly always come from countries with cold climates.
  • AlrightmateAlrightmate Posts: 73,120
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    Terry Hollands in the qualifier on Channel 5 right now.

    I'm thinking though that he's been put in the easiest group.
    Not sure if that will be a good thing for him or a bad thing?
    Maybe you need strong competition in the run-up to the final so that you're at the top of your game when you reach the final?
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