Organizer Ray Zich demonstrates one of the events that will be taking place during the Clash in the Coulee Strongman/woman competition on Sat, May 4. (Bob Schneider/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat’s first Clash in the Coulees Strongman competition this weekend

May 1, 2024 | 5:12 PM

Athletic strength will be on full display this Saturday in Medicine Hat during the first Clash in the Coulees Strongman/woman competition.

Both men and women are included among the 37 competitors ranging from those in their teens to the masters 40-plus category.

Athletes from Medicine Hat, across Western Canada and even one competitor from Nova Scotia will participate in the competition.

The event is taking place in the parking lot in front of the old Medicine Hat Arena on Ash Ave S.E. behind Temple Fitness who will supply equipment for the competition.

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Several different events are taking place, including the log clean and press, where the weight is picked up off the ground and pushed over the head.

A yoke event, where a metal frame is used by a person to carry weight on their shoulders and runs with it.

The farmer’s walk will feature athletes holding the weight in their hands and running.

There is also deadlift, the log clean and press where competitors will pick the weight up off the ground and push it above their head.

A loading medley includes stones, sandbags, and a couple other things that people load up and run with and put onto a platform or put over a bar.

Ray Zich, event organizer, has been competing in the sport for about seven years, he trains at Temple Fitness where owner Bruce Foerster initially gave Zich the idea to put on the event.

“When I started, he said, so when are you going to put one of these things on here,” Zich said.

“That kind of got the wheels turning, and after four or five years, coming towards the end of my kind of competitive part of the sport, I figured, you know, now it’s time to give back, give others coming up behind me the opportunity to compete, qualify for provincials, and make their dent on the sport,” he added.

“Around the province, it’s actually becoming pretty popular, but it tends to be kind of hubs around Edmonton and Calgary. There’s some shows further up north in northern Alberta. We need to build something here in the southern part of the province, so hopefully that’s what we’re starting here.”

Thirty three per cent of the athletes competing this weekend are newer to the sport.

Something Zich is happy to see as he hope to continue to grow the interest in strongman competitions in Medicine Hat.

The event kicks off Saturday at 11 a.m. and is expected to run approximately four or five hours.

“I’m just hoping lots of people come out from town and a bunch of people get bit by the bug and come train Strongman with us and help grow the sport around here,” Zich said.