Many folks know the Arnold Sports Festival for the Arnold Classic and the expo that captures the eye of followers and companies alike. One of the occasions that’s shortly rising as a crowd favourite is the World’s Strongest Firefighter (WSFF) contest.
The 2023 version was held within the Arnold Expo on the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH, and the champion can be Andrew Burton, an novice strongman {and professional} firefighter from Rock Wall, TX. This was Burton’s first time competing within the occasion, and he completed his debut by receiving the trophy from Arnold Schwarzenegger himself.
“It was a great feeling, man,” mentioned Burton. His group and his spouse could also be prouder of it than he’s.
“She gained’t let me neglect that I’m the World’s Strongest Firefighter. She’s mentioned it extra occasions than I’ve.
Burton was one in every of 18 finalists that superior from the preliminary rounds, and so they had been set to compete in 4 completely different occasions – all with firefighting themes. Burton had 5 weeks to arrange for this competitors after signing up. Contest organizer Noah Justin performed a giant position within the formation of this contest in addition to its development to be a giant attraction for the Arnold weekend.
“Arnold wanted to create events that showed off the incredible strength of these men and women in uniform,” he defined. These occasions paid homage to each the game of strongman and strongwoman whereas being distinctive to this competitors.
Burton had entry to some tools at his fireplace station, and he skilled at residence as properly. Scheduling the time to coach can be his biggest problem.
“I all the time tried to verify I used to be doing one thing substantial whereas I used to be at work as a result of I had a lot time there, even once we had been operating calls. With the sleeping schedule we now have, some days I used to be simply obliterated, and I’d make these straight cardio days.
Ambulance Tire Deadlift
The Arnold Strongman Classic used to have a Hummer Tire Deadlift, which was visually spectacular to the followers and difficult for the opponents due to how the burden was distributed. The organizers of the WSFF opted to do their very own model of this.
“We took tires from an ambulance for the deadlift instead.”
Counting the bar and tires, the boys’s open opponents, which Burton was one in every of, needed to elevate 600 kilos for as many reps as potential inside one minute. Burton is 6’3”, which meant he needed to pull the bar an extended distance to lockout. Nonetheless, he tied for second place with 16 reps. Burton mentioned that this was a difficult occasion for him due to the setup.
“I trained with a deadlift bar because I knew their bar was going to be so long and have more give,” he shared. Fortunately for him, he had been coaching with an axle barbell, which is extra stable and has a thicker grip, so the work he did earlier than transferred to this occasion. Working with the 2 bars served as the mixture he wanted to succeed. He simply had to enhance endurance and knock out reps and extra reps.
“I had multiple weeks of training of pulling from that position with partly a very straight bar and the deadlift bar at the end helped me get a feel for the implement.”
Sandbag Carry
Next, the athletes needed to carry three completely different sandbags 40 toes as shortly as potential. Some fireplace departments use a drill much like this throughout coaching. The luggage Burton needed to work with had been 220, 250, and 300 kilos, respectively. He completed this occasion in fifth place with a time of 43.33 seconds. In his protection, the highest 5 finishers had been lower than three seconds aside, and Burton misplaced his steadiness carrying the ultimate bag, which held him up. Since Burton competes in strongman, and this can be a frequent occasion, he already had sandbags he may work with. This one was a matter of mastering approach, and he used a barely smaller bag to assist put together as properly.
“I have a 300-pound bag at my house. That one is just at that threshold where it gets taxing on the body,” mentioned Burton. “I could train with a 271-pound bag, and it was in that nice area where I could train but not be trashed.”
Axe Hold
The third occasion of the afternoon was much like a conventional crucifix maintain, besides the firefighters had to make use of axes with weights on the underside. Your again is towards a wall or board, your arms needed to be parallel to the ground and your job was to carry the axes in that place for so long as potential. Burton managed to maintain two 25-pound axes within the air for just below one minute. He positioned third within the occasion. Aside from preventing gravity, your shoulders, arms, and core are all working arduous on this occasion.
“I knew that was going to be one of my worst events,” he admitted. “I don’t know anybody that does lateral raises and then holds them at the end.”
What Burton opted to do was begin by holding 20-pound dumbbells and work for a time of 75 seconds. After he reached that objective, he labored as much as heavier dumbbells. He may final one minute plus with the 25’s.
“Typically, it would be internal rotation in one of my shoulders that would cause me to drop. I just had to do more static holds.”
Fire Hydrant Load
The final occasion was the Fire Hydrant Load. Competitors needed to elevate 4 hydrants that had been progressively heavier than the final up onto podiums and stand them up. The hydrants that Burton had to make use of weighed in a variety of 175 to 250 kilos. It’s arduous to search out hydrants on the whole, a lot much less people who can be that heavy. So, Justin and his staff compromised.
“So naturally, we had fire hydrants detached, gutted and plate loaded for the load. The plates were on the bottom.”
Burton gained this occasion by lifting all 4 hydrants up onto their platforms in 17.17 seconds, and it clinched him the championship. Leave it to an expert firefighter to search out the most effective answer to arrange for this one. Nothing beats coaching for an occasion with an odd object like having one in every of your personal.
“I was lucky enough that we had a fire hydrant that we didn’t use for our station. It was just laying around collecting dust. So, I cleaned it off, and that sucker weighed 225 pounds. I couldn’t have gotten any luckier. Mine was much larger than theirs, and it had all the steamer heads on.”
Even although Burton has this title underneath his belt, he’s not finished competing in 2023. He continues to be making ready for the United States Strongman National championships in June, and the Strongman Corporation Nationals in October in Pennsylvania. To sustain with him and see extra from the 2023 contest, you may comply with him on Instagram @aburton428 and the World’s Strongest Firefighter group @asfworldsstrongestfirefighter.