Strongman Čáslav 2023 | Results and reportage

This is to announce to all readers that the Czech professional season has started. On Saturday, May 13th, 2023, the first competition of the Czech Professional Strongman League, Strongman Čáslav 2023, took place. Jiří Žaloudek, a man of many professions, but also a professional strongman, and his team organized a competition with one of the longest traditions in our country. Despite the fact that in the past the Čáslav competition was synonymous with the Central European Cup or very attractive duels like Čáslav versus Europe and the like, this year the best Czech strongmen, i.e. professionals, got their chance.

Whether it was because of the timing of the date a week before the big competition in Aš, or if there were other reasons, I don't know, but there were not many professional strongmen in Čáslav. There was an ideal number of 9 fighters, but not all Czech top fighters were there from far away. Even so, I think that from the spectator's point of view there was a lot to watch. Jirka Žaloudek knows how to prepare the competitions in such a way that they are attractive for spectators and strongmen, including the background and everything around.

The disciplines, which were six in total, definitely belonged to the Čáslav standard, it is not possible to invent so much on the square, which is covered with "cat heads" and still slightly inclined. Anyway, their diverse composition certainly tested the complexity of individual fighters. The following disciplines were competed in Čáslav:

• Barbell (120 kg, 140 kg, 160 kg)
• Tire rotation (2x + 2x, 450 kg)
• Trunks (135 kg max distance)
• Cardeadlift (Citroën + 100 kg in the trunk)
• Carrying barrels
• Atlas stones

Log

A very popular Loglift ladder in the world, where competitors had three logs in front of them, 120 kg, 140 kg and 160 kg. The challenge was only one, to get all the logs overhead in succession in the shortest time. It could be said that the task was simple, the weight of each log was not so much for ordinary mortals. Although the current official Czech record is 206 kg by Ondra Fojtů and Lukáš Pepř broke the 212 kg training limit, even the 160 kg is definitely not too little. The best pusher of the day was deservedly Jarda Št'astný, who managed all three logs in the best time, the second and the last one who managed all three is the matador of strongman sport Pavel Zadražil, but because of the slower time he took the second place. The third place was shared by Zdenda Teplárek and Venca Miláček, who managed two logs, i.e. 140 kg.

Tire rotation

Truck tyres are great, they test the overall strength of the competitor. Even so, individual tyres can vary. The more tricky ones are the arrow-patterned ones from combines or big tractors. They don't grip well, or they're too hard on the chest with their tread pattern. From my point of view, easier but definitely not lighter are the tyres from mining trucks, they have a regular and mirror pattern, so they don't press and also grip well, on the other hand they tend to be tighter or lower. The Chaslav tyre was 450 kg, which is the standard for professionals to give. The time for four spins was counted, with the fact that in the middle, after two, the competitor had to go around the tire and spin back. There was a guy in the field who I would dare to say is a specialist in turning tyres, he also took gold in the discipline and therefore full points, that specialist is Pavel Zadražil, he did four turns in 23.1 seconds. Vít Rozlivka took the silver with a time of 41.04 and Jarda Št'astný took the bronze with a time of 43.81.

Suitcases

Here I dare to say with certainty that the suitcases from Čáslav, weighing 135 kg each, decorated with a beautiful silhouette of a map of the Czech Republic, are the most beautiful suitcases far and wide. Unfortunately, the weight is always the same on them, they cannot be loaded in any way. In fact, at first glance they don't even look as heavy as they might seem, until you pick them up and try to lift and carry them. Moreover, Jirka Žaloudek and his team prepared a little gem that these suitcases were carried for the maximum distance. Strongmen had a 20-meter runway and carried the suitcases to the first position, then the total distance was counted. Pavel Zadražil took full points, who managed a fantastic 44.92 metres. Vit Rozlivka confirmed that he has the strength and carried the suitcases 40.45 meters and took the silver. The bronze went to Zdeněk Teplárek, who carried the weights for a beautifully round 40 metres.

Cardeadlift

I have described several times what all variations of deadlifts can be found at strongman competitions. This time the choice fell on the cardeadlift, i.e. lifting a car on a platform with a lever. I don't even dare to estimate the exact weight, but since the Citroën C3 is not a very big or heavy car, the organizers threw in 100 kg of weights in the trunk to make it not so easy. Even so, counting the number of repetitions 17 times, which Jara Št'astný did, it seemed that it was not so hard, Jarda took the first place. The second place was taken by Pavel Zadražil, who managed 13 repetitions. Third place for 12 repetitions got points Zdeněk Teplárek.

Barrels

Lift, catch, run and unload on the platform, then repeat this a total of three times. Again very simple task. Of course, it should be added that each barrel weighed 60 kg and was run 10 meters. Could you do it? I'm sure some of you would, but again the question is, in what time? One of those classic running events that tests your grip, which is properly loaded after the trunks and cardeadlift, and also the speed in your legs. Although not very tall in stature, he was the fastest, we are talking about Jard Stastny who took full points for a time of 19.23 seconds. Pavel Zadražil ran as hard as he could and it was enough for silver, with a time of 21.25 seconds. Vít Rozlivka took the third place in the discipline with a time of 22.68.

Atlas Stones

In Čáslav, the finish is the same as at the world competitions, i.e. the Atlases. The competitors had a total of two stones, or balls if you prefer. One weighed 140 kg and the other 170 kg, and the strongman could choose one and then throw it over the bar over and over again in the time limit. There was also a rule that one repetition with the heavier atlas would beat all repetitions with the lighter atlas. Even so, the majority chose the heavier one, after all, it was for valuable points in the competition and also for overall points in the professional league. Jarda Št'astný managed 3 repetitions with 170 kg stone, who failed only one discipline, followed closely by Pavel Zadražil with 2 repetitions, the third place was shared by 3 fighters Vít Rozlivka, Jarda Svoboda and Vaclav Miláček.

So the competition is over, another year of Strongman Čáslav has just finished. A very precisely prepared race with great facilities and excellent spectators. Despite the bad weather, which did not work out exactly as expected, it was still a great show. I just hope that Jirka Žaloudek and his team will prepare another great race next year. Not to stretch it too much, I can say that the first winner of the first race of this year's Czech Professional Strongman League was Pavel Zadražil, closely followed by the well prepared Jara Št'astný, who only faltered once. The third place was won by Vít Rozlivka with his solid performance. Congratulations to everyone who finished on the box, but also to those who did not place, it was a great fight until the last moment, just don't give up. Fortunately there were no injuries and both competitors and spectators enjoyed the whole race, that's how it should be.