Sons of Tun Competition 2025 at Fire for Effect Athletics

Join us at Fire for Effect Athletics for our 1st annual sanctioned event of lifting heavy things and eating excellent food—all while raising money for veteran’s charities.

There will be 2 novice and 4 open weight classes for both Men’s and Women’s divisions. We will be actively updating weights leading up to competition for all weight classes. All weights [competitor weight divisions and listed lifting weight(s)] are subject to change as FFE deems fit.

Women’s weight classes (in lbs):

Novice Lightweight: 165# and under
Novice Heavyweight: 166# and over
Lightweight: 132# and under
Middleweight: 133# to 165#
Heavyweight: 166# to 198#
Super-Heavyweight: 199# and over

Men’s weight classes (in lbs):

Novice Lightweight: 220# and under
Novice Heavyweight: 221# and over
Lightweight: 181# and under
Middleweight: 182# to 220#
Heavyweight: 221# to 275#
Super-Heavyweight: 276# and over

Important Notes:

Active USS Membership is required to participate in this event and this competition will be a qualifier for USS Nationals in 2026.

All competitors are required to have a current United States Strongman (USS) membership in order to compete. Please complete membership enrollment prior to weigh-ins and provide proof of active membership during either weigh-in period.

USS Member Sign-up: CLICK HERE

No competitor will be allowed to compete in a lighter weight class than what they qualify for during weigh-ins. Should any competitor want to compete in a heavier weight class (even though they qualify for a lower weight class), they may choose to transfer to compete within the desired heavier weight-class of their choosing. Once a competitor has weighed-in and has confirmed their decision with our staff to compete in a heavier weight class, they will not be allowed to transfer back to their original qualifying lighter weight class.

Weighing in with a judge will be required either the day prior or morning of competition. Weigh-ins and shirt pick-up for the competition can be done during either of the following timeframes:

Friday, Nov. 7th, at Fire for Effect Athletics, from 9:30am to 7:30pm
Saturday, Nov. 8th, at Fire for Effect Athletics, from 7:45am to 8:15am

Weigh-ins are mandatory for all athletes prior to competition.

Competitor Equipment Information:

Approved Items:

Lifting Belts and/or support belts, wrist wraps, non-grip aiding gloves, non-grip aiding arm sleeves, elbow sleeves, knee sleeves, chalk (non-tacky liquid chalk, chalk blocks, or powder chalk), KT tape, compression shorts, etc. are all approved for this competition.

Prohibited Items:

NO tacky of any kind (i.e.- tacky putty/paste, liquid tacky/tacky chalk, tacky towels, etc.), dedicated strength/lifting suits/shorts, grip shirts, grip aiding gloves (i.e.- football receiving gloves, etc.), grip aiding arm sleeves (i.e.- arm sleeves/bracers with tacky, double sided tape, etc.), and/or lifting straps are allowed during any event of this competition.

For further competition equipment guidelines, please reach out via email to james@fireforeffectath.com

COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

7:45 am - Athlete Check-in/Last Minute Weigh-ins
8:15 am - Athlete instruction/Event rules overview
8:45 am - Judge's meeting
9 am - Opening Ceremony
9:15 am - Events Begin
3:30-4 pm - Awards & Closing Comments (at latest, our comps usually end by 2pm)

**Each weight-class will be given their order of competition events during weigh-ins. For weight-class athlete starting orders, they're actively listed in the Iron Podium Scoreboard. The sooner you sign-up, the later in weight-class order you compete for any given event.**

EVENT DESCRIPTIONS:

Khe Sahn Yoke Carry (for distance and time): Competitors will have 60 seconds to pick up and back rack carry a weighted yoke 40ft. Competitors will be able to position themselves prior to the event start; starting position will be where competitors have the crossbar of the yoke in the back rack position. Upon the event judge's start command, the competitor will then pick the yoke up and carry it. The max distance within the allotted time cap will serve as the competitor's score (max distance being 40ft and the time in which they completed the carry in). See above for approved competitor equipment details.

Important Yoke Event Notes/FAQ: Yoke height settings will be set up and recorded during competitor weigh-ins. The yokes used for this event are the Rogue brand Y-1 yoke. For everyone's safety; there will be no sliding the yoke across the ground–a 3sec time penalty will be added for each offense. Competitors may dismount and/or reposition themselves from under the yoke as many times as they need for the duration of their event attempt.

Women's Weight Class Yoke Weights (lbs, including weight of yoke):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Men's Weight Class Yoke Weights (lbs, including weight of yoke):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Phantom Fury Medley (for reps and time): Competitors will have 90-seconds to conduct a 40ft farmer’s carry, a 40ft fireman’s carry (or drag), and complete as many barbell overhead presses within the allotted time. Competitors will be able to position themselves prior to the event start; competitors will be able to have their hands positioned on the farmer’s handles prior to event start. When given the start command by the event judge, the competitor will then pick up the farmers' carry handles and carry them 40ft. The competitor will then return to the starting line to pick up a Rescue Randy manikin and either fireman’s carry or drag the manikin 40ft. The competitor will then return to the starting line one last time to then pick up a weighted barbell from the ground to their shoulders, where they will then start their overhead presses from the front rack position. The barbell must be in the front rack position before it goes overhead–no snatches are allowed for this event! The competitor can use either strict press, push press, or push jerk techniques to lift the barbell overhead–for safety, no split jerks are allowed for this event. The barbell must touch the competitor's upper torso (i.e.- upper chest/shoulders) and come to a complete controlled stop overhead for each movement to be successfully completed. For an individual repetition to be considered successfully completed, the following must be conducted by each competitor: the competitor must be standing completely upright, arms fully extended in the overhead position, with the weight being directly over the midline of the competitor, and control demonstrated at the top of the lift before returning to the front rack position (i.e.- the competitor's upper torso); which a successfully completed repetition will be noted by the event judge giving the competitor the down command. Competitors are allowed to drop the barbell from any position of the lift, if possible in a controlled bail forward of the competitor's midline; the competitor may then ground-to-shoulder lift the barbell back into the front rack position to conduct additional reps within the remaining allotted time for the event (any variation of clean is approved). The max number of successfully completed reps within the allotted time cap will serve as the competitor's score. Successfully completing the farmers and fireman's carries count as one rep each respectively. See above for approved competitor equipment details.

**Women’s lightweight class may not drop barbells from overhead or front rack positions, but are allowed to drop from the hip.**

Women's Weight Class Farmers, Manikin, and Barbell Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Men's Weight Class Farmers, Manikin, and Barbell Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Hercules Hoist the Colors (for reps and time): Competitors will have 90secs to hoist a series of 3 weighted bags of increasing weight up 3 rope pulley systems of increasing height. Competitors will be able to position themselves prior to the event start; competitors will be able to have their hands positioned on the first rope prior to event start. Upon the event judge’s start command, the competitor will hoist the first weighted bag up the first rope pulley system. Once the weighted bag reaches the designated top of the hoist system, the competitor will then lower the weighted bag down in a controlled manner. Once the first weighted bag touches the ground, the competitor will be able to move to the second weighted bag and rope pulley system to repeat the same process. The same process will then be conducted for the third and final weighted bag. The competitor’s final time gets clocked once the third weight bag returns from the top of its pulley system and touches the ground. The successful amount of reps and event time will be recorded as the competitor’s score. See above for approved competitor equipment details.

Women's Weight Class Bag Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Men's Weight Class Bag Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Dinnie Stone Hold the Line (for time [as long as possible]): Competitors will hold a dinnie ringed loading pin in each hand for as long as possible. This is a traditional strongman style hold, with the arms to either side of the body and fully extended throughout the hold. Competitors will be able to position themselves and set up their grip on the dinnie rings prior to event start. Feet can be no further than the exterior of your shoulders. Time starts once both weights have been lifted off the ground and the competitor is in a fully upright position. Hands can be positioned in any direction on the implement handles. Weights may only be held with the hands. The competitor's body may or may not be fully locked out. The hold is over once the competitor lets go of one or both implements, as well as if either implement touches the ground. Bending or tucking of the elbows in order to gain an advantage will result in the termination of the hold. The competitor will get ONLY 1 warning to make corrective adjustments from the event judge; any additional infractions will result in the termination of the hold. See above for approved competitor equipment details.

Women's Weight Class Dinnie Stone Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Men's Weight Class Dinnie Stone Weights (lbs/ea hand):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Blood Stripes Wagon Wheel Deadlift (for reps): Competitors will have 60 seconds to deadlift a wagon wheeled axle as many times as possible. Competitors will be able to position themselves prior to the event start; competitors will be able to have their hands positioned on the axle prior to event start. The event judge will give start and down commands; competitors must control the bar down upon the down command. Competitors must be standing completely upright with hips through and legs straight for a rep to count. Overhand and alternating grips are approved. Conventional ONLY, NO Sumo or bouncing. The max number of successfully completed reps within the allotted time cap will serve as the competitor's overall score. See above for approved competitor equipment details.

Women's Weight Class Deadlift Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

Men's Weight Class Deadlift Weights (lbs):

Novice Lightweight:

Novice Heavyweight:

Lightweight:

Middleweight:

Heavyweight:

Super-Heavyweight:

**All weights (Athlete weight divisions and listed lifting weights) are subject to change as FFE deems fit. **

200 Participant cap: Waitlist options are available. No refunds 1-month prior to the event.

Volunteer registration is open y'all! Email james@fireforeffectath.com if you are interested in volunteering as a judge, setup/breakdown crew, or as an administration assistant.

We are accepting Vendors and Sponsors. Please email joe@fireforeffectath.com to claim your spot for hosting a table at the competition, to donate a prize, and/or get on to this year's competition shirt!

Questions? Email james@fireforeffectath.com

Name	Current Place	Total Points	Khe Sahn Yoke Carry		Phantom Fury Medley		Hercules Hoist the Colors		Dinnie Stone Hold the Line		Blood Stripes Wagon Wheel Deadlift
Name	Current Place	Total Points	Score (ft + mm:ss)	Points	Score (reps + mm:ss)	Points	Score (reps + mm:ss)	Points	Score (+mm:ss)	Points	Score (reps)	Points
Novice M LW (220-)
Dominick DiRienzo
Open M LW (181-)
Marc Dip
Open M MW (220-)
John Miller