The 2024 Warpath Strength Windy City's Strongest Man/Woman competition will take place on Saturday, May 4, at Chicago Barbell Compound/CrossFit Park Ridge, in Chicago, IL, and will feature five events:

1. Circus Dumbbell Press (for reps)
2. Deadlift (for reps)
3. Yoke Carry
4. Sandbag-to-Shoulder Carry and Load
5. Sandbag-Over-Bar

This contest is taking place one month before the United States Strongman (USS) National Championship in Denver. The events in this competition are almost identical to the events at that show in order to allow athletes an opportunity to use this as an opportunity to do a "dry run" for Nationals.

USS Membership

All athletes are required to have a current United States Strongman (USS) membership in order to compete. Please don't wait until the last minute to purchase or renew your membership. Also, if you are renewing an existing membership, PLEASE be sure to use the SAME e-mail as you did when you originally signed up for a membership. If you use a different e-mail address, it won't show up in Iron Podium when I check you in on the day of the contest.

EVENT RULES

There will be a rules meeting for all athletes at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the competition, which is why we require all competitors to weigh in/check in before 9 a.m. Complete rules for each event and the weight matrix will be posted by the end of April. Once posted, the weight matrix is subject to change at the discretion of the promoter.

EVENT 1: Circus Dumbbell Press (for reps)

• Once the judge gives to “Go” command, athletes will be required to clean and press a circus dumbbell for as many reps as possible in 60 seconds.
• Athletes will be allowed to clean the circus bell with two hands, but the supporting hand must be removed before the athlete begins the press.
• The judge will give a “Down” command when the athlete has pressed the circus bell overhead, the athlete’s shoulders and elbows are locked out and the athlete is clearly in control of the implement standing straight up with squared feet and looking at the judge.
• The athlete must wait for the “Down” command from the judge for the lift to be counted.
• Once the athlete receives a “Down” command, the circus bell MUST touch the floor or crash pad before the athlete begins the next press attempt.
• The circus bell CANNOT be dropped from the overhead position. It MUST be lowered with control and guided to the floor.
• Dropping the circus bell from the top will result in a ZERO for the event and potentially expulsion from the competition.  Please respect the equipment.
• If any athlete has an issue locking out their elbow, it is their responsibility to notify the judge BEFORE the event.
• If the athlete drops the bell before the “Down” command is given by the judge, no rep will be counted.
• We will use globe-style “Monster” circus dumbbells for all divisions and weight classes.
• Equipment allowed: One soft belt, one hard belt, knee and elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk, and gloves. BELTS MUST BE WORN WITH BUCKLES IN THE BACK. A grip shirt may be worn for this event, but absolutely no Strongman Corporation or Official Strongman Games grip shirts are allowed.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No gloves and absolutely no tacky of any kind (not from a jar, no spray, no towels, no tape).

EVENT 2: Deadlift (for reps)

• Athletes will start by standing behind the barbell on the platform. Athletes will NOT be allowed to strap in until the judge gives the "Lift" command.
• Once given the “Lift” command, athletes will be allowed to strap into the bar and begin pulling.
• Judges will give an “Up” and a “Down” command.  No “touch and go” reps will be allowed.
• A “Down” command will be given once the athletes have come to a full lockout position (the hips must come through, knees must be locked out).
• Athletes MUST wait for the “Down” command to be given a successful rep.
• If an athlete does not wait for the "Down" command and lowers the bar prematurely, he/she will be given a warning.
• If an athlete lifts the bar before the “Up” command, he/she will be given a warning.
• If the athlete ignores the "Down" or “Up” commands after being given the warning, any subsequent reps will not be counted by the judge.
• Athletes will be allowed to hitch.
• No sumo-pulling. Athletes' hands must be placed outside the knees.
• An athlete's palms MUST remain in contact with the bar. No one is allowed to ONLY use their straps to hang onto to bar. No “finger-tipping” the bar.
• Athletes are NOT allowed to drop the bar from the lockout position. Deliberately dropping the barbell from the top position will result in a ZERO for the event and may result in disqualification from the contest. Please respect the equipment.
• Equipment allowed: chalk, wrist straps, knee sleeves, one soft belt, one hard belt, deadlift suits (single-ply and dual-ply), and deadlift briefs.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No gloves and no tacky of any kind. If it wasn’t listed in the last bullet point as “equipment allowed,” then you should assume that it is NOT allowed.

EVENT 3: Yoke Carry

• Athletes will have one minute to carry a yoke down and back a 50-foot course.
• Athletes will have the opportunity to get set under the yoke and then begin as soon as the judge gives the "Go" command.
• Only the front part of the yoke (insert “just the tip” joke here) must cross the line at the end of the course before the judge will give the athlete a "Drop" command and allow the athlete to transition and return the yoke to the starting line.
• If an athlete fails to complete the entire course, their distance will be measured.
• Unlimited drops are allowed.
• NO SLIDES! A 5-second penalty will be assessed to any athlete who attempts to slide the yoke across the line at either end of the course.
• Equipment allowed: One soft belt, one hard belt, chalk, elbow sleeves, knee sleeves, knee wraps, wrist wraps.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No gloves, no tacky of any kind (not from a jar, no spray, no towels, no tape). Grip shirts are not allowed for this event.

EVENT 4: Sandbag-to-Shoulder Carry and Load

• Three sandbags will be positioned on the starting line 25 feet from the yoke. Athletes will start with hands off of the bags.
• When the judge gives the “Go” command, athletes will pick the first bag and bring it to their shoulders.  Once the bag is shouldered, athletes will carry the bag down to the yoke and load it over the crossbar.
• The crossbar will be set at 52” for women and 56” for men.
• Athlete will then return to the starting line for the second bag, which they will also shoulder and carry down to load over the yoke.  Same thing for the third sandbag.
• Athletes may drop any of the bags, if necessary, and re-pick them.
• Sandbags must be loaded from lightest to heaviest.
• The timer will stop when the third bag hits the ground.
• Equipment allowed: One soft belt, one hard belt, knee and elbow sleeves, knee wraps, chalk.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No gloves, no tape, and no tacky of any kind (not from a jar, no spray can, no tacky towels, no tape). No grip shirts are allowed for this event.

EVENT 5: Sandbag-Over-Bar

• Athletes will start with their hands on a bar (or axle) secured to a rack. The bar will be set at 48” for women and 52” for men, regardless of weight class or division.
• When the “Go” command is given, athletes will have 60 seconds to pick and load the sandbag over the bar for as many reps as possible.
• No one will return the sandbag. The athlete must move to the other side of the rig to reload the bag over the bar, back to the other side each time.
• Athletes may not use the bar to push the sandbag over it. In other words, no chest bumps. Only the athletes’ hands and arms are allowed to touch the sandbag.
• The rep will only be counted once the sandbag has been loaded over the bar and has hit the ground. If time expires and the sandbag is resting on the bar, or if the bag has not yet hit the ground when time expires, the rep will not be counted.
• Equipment allowed: One soft belt, one hard belt with the buckle in the back, knee and elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk. A grip shirt may be worn for this event, but absolutely no Strongman Corporation or Official Strongman Games grip shirts are allowed.
• Equipment NOT allowed: No gloves, no tape, and no Strongman Corporation or Official Strongman Games grip shirts. No knee or elbow wraps. No squat briefs. Absolutely no tacky of any kind (not from a jar, no spray tacky, no tacky towels). If you are caught using any type of sticky substance, you will be disqualified from the competition.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

There will be a $15 admission fee for all spectators ages 13 and older, and $5 for children ages 3-12 years old. Two-year-olds and infants will be admitted for free. There will NOT be any advanced ticket sales.

WEIGH-INS

All competitors MUST weigh in and complete their check-in before 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4. If you show up after 9 a.m., you will not be allowed to compete. Please be respectful of the promoter and staff and DO NOT show up at the last minute.

There will be weigh-ins on Friday, May 3, but the timing is TBD. They will likely happen sometime between 9 a.m. and noon, and then again later in the afternoon/evening (3-6 p.m.), but please check back on this page and/or follow the Warpath Strength Facebook and Instagram pages for regular updates.

There will also be weigh-ins from 8-9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 (the morning of the competition).

HOTEL INFORMATION

SpringHill Suites by Marriott (Chicago-O'Hare), 8101 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-867-0000

Holiday Inn-Chicago O'Hare, 5615 North Cumberland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-693-5800.

Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Suites, 8500 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60631. Phone: 773-380-9600.

PARKING INFORMATION

There is a decent sized parking lot at Chicago Barbell Compound, but there is also plenty of street parking and another large parking lot located about 100 feet south of the building where the gym is located that has about 75-80 additional parking spaces.

FOOD

My Mighty Meals will most likely be a sponsor of this contest and have delicious meal options available for sale to athletes, volunteers and spectators. I will confirm this closer to the date of the competition.