Strongman Classic

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Strongman Classic was back this year on June 17th @ Spirit of the Rockies festival!

For full results and breakdown per event please email info@fitnessinccranbrook.com


  On August 1 athletes interested in next year’s show must email a copy of their competition history to info@fitnessinccranbrook.com by midnight on the second Saturday in October. Please state the following: name/s of the competition/s, location/s of each competition/s, the date/s they occurred, the weight class you were in, total number of athletes that were in your weight class, where you placed in said competition/s or that you have no competition history. This will determine your eligibility for the 2024 Strongman Classic. 

When the competition histories are received the nine Board of Directors, which is comprised of the head organizer, course administrator, judges, past athletes (both title and non-title holders), head scorekeeper and an external non-vested interest party, will begin to review them.  

The Board of Directors will do it’s best to let the interested athlete know within a week of receiving their competition history if they get a yay or nay vote for being eligible to receive an official registration email at 9 am MST on the third Saturday of October. As a courtesy, a reminder email will go out to all the athletes who received a yay vote one week before the official registration day. 

There are 16 spots available for male athletes. The top 5 male athletes from the previous year’s show are guaranteed a spot for the next year’s show, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. The remaining 11 spots are filled by order of interest.

There are 16 spots available for female athletes. The top 5 female athletes from the previous year’s show are guaranteed a spot for the next year’s show, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. The remaining 11 spots are filled by order of interest.

If any of the top five athletes from the male or female divisions do not meet eligibility requirements for next year’s show, or for any reason they decline competing, their position will be added to the spots that are filled by order of interest. 

Official registration, which is based on a first come first serve basis, then occurs annually at 9 am MST on the third Saturday of October. Eligible athletes will receive an email at that time stating that the official registration is now open. Due to the popularity of the Strongman Classic, a deposit system is used, which when paid, will register you and reserve your spot. The $60.00 deposit must be paid via e-Transfer and is non-refundable; refunded ONLY if an athlete becomes injured.  A doctor’s note must be provided for the money to be refunded. In October 2022, after the official email invitation was sent, both divisions were full in 2 minutes!

For any overflow of athletes, we have two reserve lists.

 Reserve List A: For athletes who submitted their list of previous competitions on time and were eligible to receive an official registration email. These athletes either did not e-Transfer their $60.00 deposit quick enough to register for one of the available positions or expressed interest in still competing after the official registration was completed. Athletes will be placed on Reserve List A in order of interest.  

Reserve List B: For athletes who express interest in competing after the competition history submission deadline. These athletes will be required to submit, in full, a detailed list of their previous competition/s to info@fitnessinccranbrook.com. Please state the following: name/s of the competition/s, location/s of each competition/s, the date/s they occurred, the weight class you were in, total number of athletes that were in your weight class, where you placed in said competition/s or that you have no competition history. This will determine your eligibility for the 2024 Strongman Classic. The same entry rules will apply to Reserve List B athletes with their competition history being reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will do its best to let the interested athlete know within a week of receiving their competition history if they get a yay or nay vote for being eligible to be place on Reserve List B. 

If a position becomes available on the official competition list, the athletes on Reserve List A will be emailed and offered the position first. They will have to pay the $60.00 deposit before being added to the official competition list. Once Reserve List A is empty, we will move onto Reserve List B. 

The 2024 Strongman Classic registration process starts on August 1 annually. With the popularity of the Strongman Classic and the sport of Strongman continuing to grow we are thriving to make our entry rules grow along with them.

Please note that the Board of Directors of the Strongman Classic reviews each athlete’s competition resume on a case-by-case basis.  Decisions rendered on eligibility to compete range from non-issues and no discussion (athlete has no competitive experience) to in-depth review and discussion regarding eligibility because of competition history (active competitive athletes).  The current format of the sport of Strongman in Canada affords individuals greater access to competition than in previous eras of the sport.  With the increase in opportunities to compete and competitions having multiple weight classes and age categories, placing is not always a true reflection of an athlete’s overall experience or ability level.  As such, an athlete’s placing at higher level competitions may mean less and is not always a true reflection of ability level and/or experience.  As a result, the Board of Directors must carefully review each and every applicant to ensure we maintain the integrity of the Strongman Classic, yet still afford novice Strongman the opportunity to compete and continue to grow the sport.  We strive to be an inclusive but exclusive competition and want to ensure that the fairness and integrity of our show shines through for everyone. 

Below are the entry rules. Have a read and as usual if you have any questions, please let us know. 

Rule #1: Any athlete that is interested in competing in the 2024 Strongman Classic must submit, in full, a detailed list of their previous competition/s to info@fitnessinccranbrook.com. Submissions start on August 1 with the deadline being midnight on the second Saturday in October. Please state the following: name/s of the competition/s, location/s of each competition/s, the date/s they occurred, the weight class you were in, total number of athletes that were in your weight class, and where you placed in said competition/s or that you have no competition history. This will determine your eligibility for the 2024 Strongman Classic. 

The detailed list of every athletes’ previous competitions will be reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Strongman Classic. The Board of Directors is comprised of nine members: the head organizer, course administrator, judges, past athletes (both title and non-title holders), head scorekeeper and an external non-vested interest party.

The Board of Directors will do it’s best to let the interested athlete know within a week of receiving their competition history if they get a yay or nay vote for being eligible to receive an official registration email at 9 am MST on the third Saturday of October. As a courtesy, a reminder email will go out to all the athletes who received a yay vote one week before the official registration day. 

Rule #2: We are a BEGINNER/NOVICE show.

If within the last three years an athlete has:

  • Placed first at an amateur regional show. 
  • Placed in the top three at a provincial qualifier.
  • Placed in the top three at a provincial show. 
  • Competed in a national or international show.

Then they will be ineligible to register for the Strongman Classic. 

Please note that due to the order of Strongman shows in a year, an athlete may be deemed eligible for the Strongman Classic before the competition resume deadline and potentially ineligible after the deadline based on the above criteria. Athletes who choose to compete in higher level shows, as listed above, after the Strongman Classic registration deadline and prior to the Strongman Classic may be deemed ineligible to compete in the Strongman Classic based on placings in those shows. If an athlete does participate in any show/s that are listed above between the registration deadline and the commencement of the Strongman Classic, it is the athlete’s responsibility to inform the Strongman Classic Board of Directors of their participation/placings in said show/s so that a proper review of their case can be made.  This does not mean that an athlete has become ineligible but that they are now subject to the process of review for participation in the Strongman Classic. The Board of Directors will then review the eligibility of the athlete to compete in the upcoming Strongman Classic on a case-by-case basis. Failure to disclose participation and placings in the above type of events may result in removal from the Strongman Classic without review. 

Rule #3: The winner of the Strongman Classic, in the ladies and men’s divisions, is eligible to compete in all future years. Unless they no longer meet the eligibility requirements listed in this document.

Rule #4: If any athlete has gone to the professional level, they must be absent from professional competition for five years to be eligible to compete in the Strongman Classic.

Notes of Interest

If after registration the Strongman Classic becomes aware that there has been failure to disclose any/all competitions and placings in said competitions the athlete will not be allowed to register for the Strongman Classic for another five years. Athletes will be sent an official email saying they have been removed from the registration list or reserve list and the reason why they have been removed. If they have made the registration list the deposit/current entry fee will not be refunded. 

Once the registration process starts there will be two reserve lists, A and B.

Reserve List A: For athletes who submitted their list of previous competitions on time and were eligible to receive an official registration. These athletes either did not e-Transfer their $60.00 deposit quick enough to register for one of the available positions or expressed interest in still competing after the official registration is completed. Athletes will be placed on Reserve List A in order of interest.  

Reserve List B: For athletes who express interest in competing after the competition history submission deadline. These athletes will be required to submit, in full, a detailed list of their previous competition/s to info@fitnessinccranbrook.com. Please state the following: name/s of the competition/s, location/s of each competition/s, the date/s they occurred, the weight class you were in, total number of athletes that were in your weight class, and where you placed in said competition/s or that you have no competition history. This will determine your eligibility for the 2024 Strongman Classic. The same entry rules will apply to Reserve List B athletes with their competition history being reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will do its best to let the interested athlete know within a week of receiving their competition history if they get a yay or nay vote for being eligible to be place on Reserve List B. 

If a position becomes available on the official competition list, the athletes on Reserve List A will be emailed and offered the position first. Once Reserve List A is empty, we will move onto Reserve List B. 

If the date of the position becoming available is before the third Saturday in March, the date the official registration package is sent out, they will have to pay the $60.00 deposit before being added to the official competition list. 

If the date of the position becoming available is after the third Saturday in March, the date the official registration package is sent out, they will have to pay the current registration fee before being added to the official competition list.

History of Strongman:

As with many things, what began as a small idea has grown into a big deal.

Fitness Inc.’s Strongman Classic, held annually during Sam Steele Days every June, started in 2004 with a fleeting idea and a lot of heart… then in 2005 came the help of two strong men.

Grant McReynolds and Cory Gillespie were competitors in other Strongman events across the country and internationally. They responded to the need for official judges for Cranbrook’s event and in doing so, shared their knowledge.

Today, the Strongman Classic is a cornerstone of Sam Steele Days, with competitors and spectators alike enjoying the day while taking part in an exciting show. The Strongman Classic is also a fundraiser, always in support of Cranbrook’s chapter of the BCSPCA; major sponsors like Trickle Creek Golf Resort, Mountain Spirit Resort, St. Eugene, Bridge Interiors, Lawn Barbers and Canyon Raft Company are huge contributors to the event, donating the raffle prizes. Between the support of these local businesses and the community, Fitness Inc. has been overjoyed to donate more than $32,000 to the BCSPCA in the last nine years.

Fitness Inc. extends gratitude and thanks to all the people involved in the event, from the sponsors to the competitors, from the volunteers to the spectators. Such an endevour is only possible through the support and hard work of those committed to putting on and improving the Strongman Classic!