On Jan. 11, 2023, Hooper posted a video to his YouTube channel where he gave a group of athletes a walkthrough on how to lift Atlas stones properly. The session isn’t necessarily new for Hooper, who occasionally shares similar technique training videos in between moments of refining his own strength.

Hooper wastes no time diving into his de facto lecture on Atlas stones.

Set Your Stance Mid-Stone

He first diagrams how one starts from a quality lifting stance, noting that the balls of an athlete’s feet should be even with the center of the stone when setting up. Another critical factor is ensuring that the feet have wide enough positioning.

“You want to be in a spot where you can see your feet [on either side of the stone]. See your feet on the sides of the stone.”

If a person’s feet are too close to the Atlas stone, Hooper maintains that it could negatively change the hands’ positioning as they grip the stone. In addition, with the stone in hand, the knees might rub up against an athlete’s elbows, making for a non-ideal setup while lifting.

Cup the Stone with Hands and Forearms

In regards to specific notes about an athlete’s hands while trying to lift an Atlas Stone, Hooper clarifies that the hands should never be directly under because that will force the relatively weaker biceps muscles to support the load.

“The name of the game is creating friction by creating as much surface contact as possible. You want your hand and as much of your forearm to be on the stone as possible.”

Instead, the aim should be about having as much of one’s arms touching the stone as possible, almost “cupping” the large trademark strongman implement by placing your hands slightly forward of the weight’s center.

“Straight arm, hands forward, arms locked in. That way, we’re using our chest and our lat to squeeze the stone. We’re not using our biceps to pick up the stone.”

Deadlift High and Lap the Stone

Hooper maintains that once an athlete is in a proper position, their goal should be to lift the stone to their lap by putting it as far above their knees as possible. Then, once ready, the hips can sink back, and the stone can naturally be rolled into the lap.

“What you should aim to do is deadlift the stone as high as possible. You don’t want to just get to your knee and immediately sit it in.” Hooper said. ” … Think about how muscles oppose force and where that force is going.”

A common technique principle for strongmen and strongwomen, lapping the stone helps the athlete seamlessly re-grip for improved leverage before standing.

“The first goal is to get the stone from the ground to your lap … Once the stone passes your knee, you can sit and roll. You replace your hands, and you can bring it up [to a standing position].”

Get Hips Under the Stone to Stand Up

Per Hooper, once someone is prepared to change their grip for the hip movement, the stone should “sit on the sternum” with the body as tight as possible to the stone. The stone should then move straight up as the athlete stands up.

Hooper clarifies that some make the mistake of actually trying to lift the stone higher when it’s against their sternum. To combat this overcorrection, the strongman advises making a stringent effort to keep the stone tight to the chest and simply extending the hips underneath for improved leverage and full extension.

“When it comes to extending [into a standing position], you should not think about bringing the stone up … Your thought should be to shoot your hips under the stone, and then it will roll up.”

Special Technique for High Platforms

If a strongman or strongwoman competitor has the task of lifting the stone onto a taller podium, Hooper said they should strive to ensure their hands aren’t directly around the center of the stone when repositioning grip. This sort of “hugging” leaves limited flexibility for strength maneuverability with the stone at a higher position and has a higher chance of a failed lift.

Instead, when an athlete is working for their re-grip, the arms should be placed at a 45-degree angle over the top of the stone, leaving more room to work the stone onto a higher platform.

Ultimately, Hooper offered a reminder that the balls of the feet indicate where the center of the stone is. As such, the arms should still be in lockstep with the balls of the feet on initial positioning. While reviewing several video participants’ sample performances, Hooper offered one final correction to a common mistake being made in the early phase of the lift.

“The motion off the ground is not a squat, it’s a stiff-legged deadlift. Hips really high.”

Already an established superstar, Hooper, the teacher, will soon seamlessly shift to Hooper, the strongman. The athlete is set to compete at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International (ASI) on Jan. 21, 2023, in Yapeen, Australia. If his exploits there go anywhere close to his success from 2022, Hooper just might start the new competitive year with a bang.

Featured image: Mitchell Hooper on YouTube

The post Mitchell Hooper Teaches Atlas Stone Technique appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Joining Boudreault on the podium were 2021 champion Gabriel Rhéaume and Wesley Derwinsky in second and third place, respectively. Rhéaume took second place by just a one-point margin over Derwinsky. Meanwhile, after a second-place result in 2021, Derwinsky remained on the podium for a second straight year. 

Here are the final standings from this year’s Canada’s Strongest Man:

2022 Canada’s Strongest Man Final Standings

1. Maxime Boudreault — 93 points
2. Gabriel Rhéaume — 81 points
3. Wesley Derwinsky — 80 points
4. Sean Hayes — 69 points
5. Frédérick Rhéaume — 69 points
6. Joey Lavallée — 68.5 points
7. Simon Pratte — 65 points
8. James Jeffers — 58.5 points
9. Kelly Branton — 51 points
10. Tyler Sigurdson — 43 points
11. Ben Court — 34 points
12. Keven Malenfant-Caron — 33 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Maxime Boudreault (@max.boudreault23)

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Here’s a quick event-by-event breakdown of every segment from the 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man:

Event One — Squat Lift

The Squat Lift opening event tasked the athletes to perform a squat for as many reps as possible with a 311-kilogram (685.5-pound) implement. Kelly Branton placed himself ahead of the rest of the field with 11 successful reps and notched the event victory. 

1. Kelly Branton — 11 reps
2. Simon Pratte — 10 reps
3. Wesley Derwinsky — Eight reps
4. Joey Lavallée — Seven reps
5. Maxime Boudreault — Six reps
6. Frédérick Rhéaume — Six reps
7. Keven Malenfant-Caron — Six reps
8. Gabriel Rhéaume — Three reps
9. Ben Court — Three reps
10. Sean Hayes — Zero reps
11. James Jeffers — Zero reps
12. Tyler Sigurdson — Zero reps

Event Two — Dumbbell Medley

The dumbbells in this medley for time had a weight range of 78 to 124 kilograms (172 to 273.5 pounds). None of the competitors successfully lifted all five dumbbells within the 90-second time limit, but strong performances from Simon Pratte and Boudreault gave them a tie for first place. 

1. Simon Pratte — Four in 29 seconds
2. Maxime Boudreault — Four in 29 seconds
3. Joey Lavallée — Four in 47 seconds
4. Gabriel Rhéaume — Three in 20 seconds
5. Frédérick Rhéaume — Three in 27 seconds
6. Wesley Derwinsky — Three in 32 seconds
7. James Jeffers — Two in 14 seconds
8. Sean Hayes — Two in 16 seconds
9. Keven Malenfant-Caron — Two in 17 seconds
10. Ben Court — Two in 28 seconds
11. Kelly Branton — Two in 42 seconds
12. Tyler Sigurdson — One in seven seconds

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Gabriel Rhéaume (@gabriel_rheaume)

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Event Three — Atlas Stones

The traditional Atlas Stones came a little earlier during the 2022 CSM in a change-up from the usual strongman format, where the stones are often the final event of a contest. The five stones ranged from 141 to 191 kilograms (311 to 421 pounds). Boudreault made easy work of the stones as the only competitor to lift all five for the event win. 

1. Maxime Boudreault — Five in 26 seconds
2. Gabriel Rhéaume — Four in 24 seconds
3. James Jeffers — Four in 25 seconds
4. Sean Hayes — Four in 32.24 seconds
5. Tyler Sigurdson — Four in 32.94 seconds
6. Joey Lavallée — Four in 35 seconds
7. Frédérick Rhéaume — Four in 35 seconds
8. Simon Pratte — Three in 27 seconds
9. Keven Malenfant-Caron — Three in 39 seconds
10. Wesley Derwinsky — Three in 41 seconds
11. Kelly Branton — One in 10 seconds
12. Ben Court — No successful lifts

Event Four — Max Deadlift

The Max Deadlift is another staple and self-explanatory event in strongman. Whoever could deadlift the most weight for one rep would be the victor. There was a four-way tie at the top with no definitive winner. 

1. Wesley Derwinsky — 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds)
2. Sean Hayes — 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds)
3. Frédérick Rhéaume — 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds)
4. Kelly Branton — 379 kilograms (835.5 pounds)
5. James Jeffers — 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds)
6. Gabriel Rhéaume — 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds)
7. Ben Court — 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds)
8. Keven Malenfant-Caron — 365 kilograms (804.7 pounds)
9. Maxime Boudreault — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
10. Tyler Sigurdson — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
11. Joey Lavallée — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
12. Simon Pratte — No attempt

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Wes Derwinsky (@strongman_moose)

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Event Five — Log Lift

The Log Lift of this contest progressed to whoever could press the most weight overhead in one rep. Boudreault won another event as the only athlete to successfully press 188 kilograms (414.5 pounds).

1. Maxime Boudreault — 188 kilograms (414.5 pounds)
2. Wesley Derwinsky — 181 kilograms (399 pounds)
3. Gabriel Rhéaume — 181 kilograms (399 pounds)
4. Sean Hayes — 170 kilograms (374.8 pounds)
5. Frédérick Rhéaume — 170 kilograms (374.8 pounds)
6. Joey Lavallée — 170 kilograms (374.8 pounds)
7. Kelly Branton — 170 kilograms (374.8 pounds)
8. Simon Pratte — 159 kilograms (350.5 pounds)
9. Keven Malenfant-Caron — 159 kilograms (350.5 pounds)
10. James Jeffers — No attempt
11. Tyler Sigurdson — No attempt
12. Ben Court — Withdrew

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Cerberus Strength Canada (@cerberus_strength_canada)

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Event Seven — Back Lift

In the Back Lift, the athletes had to position themselves under an implement with their back essentially parallel to the ground and the load supported above their hips. They then lift the implement from said position. Tyler Sigurdson was the winner with a staggering weight more than 43 kilograms (94.8 pounds) heavier than the next best competitor.

1. Tyler Sigurdson — 1,123 kilograms (2,475.8 pounds)
2. Maxime Boudreault — 1,080 kilograms (2,381 pounds)
3. Sean Hayes — 1,080 kilograms (2,381 pounds)
4. Ben Court — 1,080 kilograms (2,381 pounds)
5. Gabriel Rhéaume — 1,037 kilograms (2,286.2 pounds)
6. Simon Pratte — 1,037 kilograms (2,286 pounds)
7. Wesley Derwinsky — No lift
8. Frédérick Rhéaume — No lift
9. Joey Lavallée — No lift
10. James Jeffers — No lift
11. Kelly Branton — No lift
12. Keven Malenfant-Caron — No lift

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tyler Sigurdson (@chudlife)

[Related: How to Do the Zercher Squat for Lower Body Size and Power]

Event Eight — Bag Over Bar

The eight bags in the Bag Over Bar final event ranged from 20 to 32 kilograms (44 to 70.5 pounds). The bar the athletes had to toss the bags over was 4.57 meters (15 feet), and they had 75 seconds to finish. Derwinsky edged out Boudreault for first, but both were the only to toss all eight bags successfully.

1. Wesley Derwinsky — Eight bags in 23 seconds
2. Maxime Boudreault — Eight bags in 33.79 seconds
3. James Jeffers — Six bags in 17.62 seconds
4. Frédérick Rhéaume — Five bags in 18.52 seconds
5. Simon Pratte —Five bags in 31.85 seconds
6. Kelly Branton — Five bags in 37 seconds
7. Joey Lavallée — Five bags in 46.22 seconds
8. Gabriel Rhéaume — Four bags in 21.26 seconds
9. Tyler Sigurdson — Four bags in 34.92 seconds
10. Sean Hayes — Three bags in 9.53 seconds
11. Ben Court — Two bags in 15.43 seconds
12. Keven Malenfant-Caron — One bag in eight seconds

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Maxime Boudreault (@max.boudreault23)

Boudreault’s win at the 2022 CSM book-ends a solid spring and summer of results in 2022. The 31-year-old has finished in the top five at four straight contests. A first-time victory in his native Canada is likely the most satisfying for the top-tier competitor. 

Featured image: @max.boudreault23 on Instagram

The post 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man Results — Maxime Boudreault Conquers All appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On August 23, 2022, Lovelace shared an Instagram clip of herself completing a 120-kilogram (264-pound) Atlas Stone One Motion. According to Lovelace’s caption, the feat was just short of double her current (undisclosed) bodyweight. Though, with this footage taken into account, and if her recent competitions are any indication — Lovelace likely weighs somewhere in the range of 64 kilograms (141 pounds).

The athlete wore a lifting belt and knee sleeves while lifting the Atlas stone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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Merits of the One Motion

A staple event in many strongwoman/strongman contests, the Atlas stones present a unique challenge to respective competitors. The stones are a regular closing event, meaning they can also decide the eventual victor in many contests. However, stone-only world records also exist in strongman and strongwoman competitions.

To gain an edge over their peers in lifting the Atlas stones onto their corresponding podium, many professionals will practice the “One Motion” which saves time and can be more efficient when executed properly. 

To perform an Atlas Stone One Motion, an athlete will bend over and get their upper abdomen as close to the stone as possible. They do this to limit the distance that they have to row the stone onto their body. Then, they squeeze the stone as hard as they can and lift it in a fashion reminiscent of a stiff-leg deadlift. After the stone passes their knees, they extend their hips and back in one smooth motion before placing it down. 

This technique often puts athletes in a better position to thrive in a speed-focused Atlas stone event. When it comes to lifting the heaviest stone, a more segmented approach — where the athlete lifts it off the floor, positions it in their lap, and then hoists it to the podium or over a bar — is usually preferred. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

[Related: The Best Sled Workouts for Muscle, Strength, Fat Loss, and Recovery]

Lovelace’s Recent Path

As a competitor and in the gym, Lovelace has been on a relative tear of late.

In May 2022, the athlete broke the British raw deadlift World Record with a pull of 241 kilograms (530 pounds) at the 2022 British Powerlifting Union (BPU) Single Lift British Championships. Then, in late June, she completed an axle press that was 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds) more than the current lightweight world record. Her latest achievement was breaking the deadlift strongwoman World Record with a pull of 282.5 kilograms (623 pounds) at the 2022 Berkshire’s Strongest competition in mid-July. Notably, that deadlift was 4.5-times Lovelace’s body weight of 62.5 kilograms (137.8 pounds) for the contest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rhianon Lovelace (@rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength)

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At the time of this article’s publication, Lovelace is preparing to compete in the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival UK. That contest will take place on September 23-25, 2022, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Based on her usual high standards, the elite strongwoman might have a performance to remember.  

Featured image: @rhianon.lovelace.kaosstrength on Instagram

The post Strongwoman Rhianon Lovelace One-Motions an Atlas Stone That’s Almost Double Her Bodyweight appeared first on Breaking Muscle.