Good Afternoon Titans,
This will be the second in a 5-part series to assist athletes prepping for the Swamp Monster Classic this April in Lafayette LA. If this is the first one you’ve seen and want to check out the last article on the Axle Clean and Press, then you can
follow this link here.
The Husafell Carry is a popular event in strongman competitions. Based on one of the legendary lifting stones in Iceland, the implement is picked up and front carried either in a melody or as a stand-alone event. While the original stone weighed 186kg (409 lbs.) and was used to hold open the gate to a sheep’s pen. The stone we will use will most likely be a metal replica and weighted with iron plates or sand. Also, instead of walking around the perimeter of a sheep pen we will walk for a straight (or run) for a straight shot of 100 feet.
Picking the implement.
The easiest way I have found to pick this implement is to lean it forward slightly and squeeze it to your chest. From here you hinge at the hips (similar to a deadlift) and forcefully pop the implement higher so you can get it tight to the chest. You want to make sure it’s high or else the implement will get in the way of your legs while moving.
Breathing and Bracing
Just like with everything else in strongman you’re going to want a strong brace before you pick this thing up or else it will just break you down faster. That being said, you’re not going to want to completely hold your breath either so what you’re going to want to do is breath “behind the shield”. Once you start moving while keeping your brace tight (as if you were about to be punched in the gut) take short choppy breaths.
DO NOT LET ALL OF YOUR AIR OUT!!! If you let all your air out, then your torso will lose its structural integrity and you won’t last much longer.
Moving and Turning
The biggest thing to remember is quick feet. Don’t try to take big steps and before you start make sure you know that nothing is going to be in your way. When you pop the stone high on your chest there is a good chance that you might not be able to see where you’re going so know your route and trust that the ground is going to be there. For this competition there won’t be a turn but if there is one try to take it as tight as possible. It will be easier to control than farmer carries if you can hold onto it.
That’s all there is to it. If you want to find out more about the competition, then you can find the Facebook event page here or you can check it out on the Strongman Corporation website. Please don’t forget to follow our
Facebook here and our
Instagram here. If you have any questions for me, you can email me at
cameron@atlasstrengthshop.com
Release the Titan in You,
Cameron Ray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcErKszUNtM
