A very interesting Strongman line-up from Europe and USA arrived during Friday 3^rd to Bucharest, Romania for the first competition in the WSM Super Series 2009. A mix of well established athletes and young challengers.

There was a warm up early on Saturday for Tarmo Mitt and Nick Best who had a friendly challenge in truck pulling for Romanian media.

It was hot in Bucharest in the afternoon when the athletes starting to prepare themselves for the competition starting at 5 PM in the garden of Centre Ville Complex and Radisson SAS Hotel in the central of Bucharest. A perfect venue for a great Strongman event was built up.

Winner in the first event, Apollons Axle, last man standing, was the biggest man in the competition, Brian Shaw who lifted 186 kg. Second was the Swede Johannes Årsjö and the smallest competitor and only 18 year old Romanian, Paul Parjol. Both lifted 181 kg.

To carry a Husafeld Stone is not only a Scandinavian habit. In this second event Marshall White, USA, carried the 180 kg stone 83,8 meters. Second was another American, Nick Best, with 77,1 meter and third the first Viking Johannes Arsjo who by that took the overalll lead.

Then the rain arrived to Bucharest, which makes it difficult to find a good grip when you are going to carry 160 kg in each hand in the third event, Farmer Walk. Best of all was Bulgarian Stojan Todorchev who carried all the 20 meters in 12 seconds followed by Nick Best a half second later. On third place Brian Shaw. Nick best is now in the lead.

The rain continued falling over Bucharest. Not only grip are a problem. The Super Yoke means to carry 410 kilos on the shoulder and is more difficult on this wet ground. Nick Best was fastest and made the 20 meters in 8,88 sec followed by Stojan Todorchev and Brian Shaw. Nick is still in the lead, three points before Brian.

In the last two events the participants only six athletes remains. The points recalculated wich means the differences is halved and we got a real exciting end of the competition.

Next event, The Crucifix Hold, holding two Viking Swords in straight arms was won by Janne Virtanen, 38,84 sec, second Marshall White, 38,34 sec and third Johannes Arsjö. Before the Atlas Stones the overall standings is extremely close, everybody can win. Johannes Arsjö leads with 22,75 and four athletes is less than 2 point after him. Really breathtaking!!

Last event was the Atlas Stones and four of the competitors managed to put all stones them in place, the heaviest weighing more than 200 kg in this competition. Marshall was the fastest and made it in 26,8 sec and Nick Best needed 35,78 sec. On third place Johannes Arsjo, the young Swede needed another two seconds. The Atlas Stones became really decisive and these three ended up on the podium in the same order.

A magnificent finish by Marshall White