Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on Instagram that he’s bringing his Strongman competition series to the Santa Monica Pier next month for the second year in a row. Rising star Martins Licis won the inaugural event earlier this year.
The winner will earn a spot at the 2020 Arnold Pro Strongman Classic at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio next March.
“I’m very excited,” Arnold says in the video, which you can see here.
After originally being left off the list, four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shawannounced in a YouTube video that he would join the thirteen other competitors at the show. Shaw had a rough 2019, placing fifth at WSM and eighth at the Arnold Classic. As of late December, he’s failed to qualify for the 2020 Arnold Classic, so if he doesn’t do well in Santa Monica, he could be in jeopardy of not appearing at the event for the first time since 2009.
Hafthor “The Mountain” Bjornsson will appear at the show as a special guest, but will not compete (he earned qualification for the 2020 Arnold Sports Festival by winning the 2019 competition).
It’s guaranteed to be a great show, with five feats of strength announced: a log clean & press for reps (380 pounds); a 400-pound Farmer’s walk; a sandbag throw over a 15-foot bar; deadlift for reps (775 pounds); and a Strongman sandbag load.
It won’t just be Licis and other strongmen competing at the show, though, as Arnold also announced there will be a World’s Strongest Firefighter Competition there as well. A portion of the competition’s revenue will also support the Ventura County Fire Widows & Orphans Fund, the Santa Monica Firefighters Relief Fund, and the CalFire Benevolent Foundation.
California, the state Arnold previously led as governor, has been ravaged by wildfires in recent years and firefighters have struggled to contain many of them. The Strongman show is not only a great way to entertain the masses, but also support our first responders.
To purchase tickets or find out more about the show, click here.
