Calling all tough guys

Contest organizer calls out tough guys

By KATHY BOCKUS
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca

ST. STEPHEN – So, you think you’re a tough guy, eh?
Well, here’s your chance to prove it – to yourself and the rest of the community.
The annual Tough Man Competition is ready to roll Sunday, Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. on the waterfront in downtown St. Stephen as part of the International Homecoming Festival
While organizer Rob Porter says he won’t reveal beforehand any of the tasks contestants must complete during this year’s event, he does say that the winner of the competition will be a well-rounded athletic individual who knows when to mentally kick it into high gear.
The winner gets $250 and bragging rights, said Porter, who took over organizing the event two years ago, after competing and placing second and third several times.
Porter said he and some friends are into power lifting and “really got a hoot” out of the competition.
But he admits he never won the event.
“I was always a bridesmaid,” he said with a laugh.
The first thing Porter did when he took over as organizer was to get rid of one of the events in the competition – the wood piling, the one task he claims “killed” him each year.
“I don’t pile wood,” Porter said. “I don’t have a wood furnace. My parents don’t have one. So, I’d get in there and the first part of the event was stacking half a cord of wood.
“I couldn’t pile. I did everything else great. I’d come to that and I was just like a bull in a china shop.”
Porter says the individual who typically wins the Tough Man Competition is usually an all-around athlete, contrary to the public perception of a monstrous, muscle bound guy.
“There’s a perception that you have to be monstrous and strong,” said Porter.
“You do have to have some good, solid strength, but you have to be able to mentally pace yourself. It’s always an older guy that wins. We’ve had guys in their early 20s in there in great shape, but they never finish well.
“The last year I did it, I had no business even being out there I was in such poor shape I’ll tell you, but I think I finished third.
“There was Joe Moses and Aaron James, who had both won it years prior, and then me. There was a young fellow, 26, he looked like something out of a magazine, but he actually didn’t finish as well as some of us older guys.”
Porter said besides strength, agility and the ability to pace themselves, competitors must have one more trait - “not wanting to lose.”
“Essentially about half way through, you are very winded,” said Porter. “Your brain’s telling ya, you know what? It’s not going to be a big deal if I drop these things and say to the crowd, oooh, that was too hard. But for most of us, the local pride factor kicks in and gives you a little shot of adrenalin and you finish.”
Porter recalled Peter McKnight winning the competition the first year it was held.
“Myself, Joey Moses, Bob Mealey, we were all considerably stronger, but he managed to get the best time. He was quicker. He didn’t have 250 pounds to haul around body weight.
“While we had maybe a little easier time with the weight portion of things, his balance was what carried him through.”
Porter says he has taken all those factors into account – strength, agility and drive – in designing the course for this year.
“It really should probably be called ‘Personal Push’ or ‘drive’,” said Porter of the annual competition. “It’s sucking it up. It’s getting through the course. It’s a great way to face adversity. There’s physical adversity in front of you and you have to overcome it. It’s competing against others.”
Porter said the crowd watching the annual competition is always supportive and believes a lot of onlookers think, “Geez, I could probably do that quicker.”
He thinks people are reluctant to enter however, because they think it’s just for big guys who work out.
“But they’re getting fooled,” said Porter. “There was a guy who worked in the woods one year, probably mid-40s, he was up there, maybe third or fourth place, but it was a solid time.”
Porter said that each year, there is only about a 15 second disparity between the men who place in the top three or four positions.
He suggests an individual who would do well in the competition is a regular worker, someone who works in a grocery store setting or moving freight every day.
Porter wants to encourage people to enter the competition.
“It’s a fun competition. At the end of it, you really do kind of feel accomplished.”
He said although the competition is seen as a simple little thing in St. Stephen that takes about five minutes to complete, it’s draining.
“I tell you, it’s one of those things in life that at the end of it, you are tapped out.”
Porter said he doesn’t want everyone to be able to finish the course he’s designed.
“You want it to be special. It’s all right not to be able to finish something, but don’t quit. The next year, come back and do it.
“Don’t think the winner is going to be someone with huge, bulging muscles. It’s going to be someone with solid strength, good cardio and the drive of not wanting to lose.”

ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?

Tough Man Competition organizer Rob Porter has issued a challenge and singled out some individuals he wants to see put their strength to the test in a course he designed.
Here are those Porter has challenged and why, in his own words:

ERIK DeJONG
Erik’s a little lighter, but hey, he’s supposed to be East Coast ACTION sports, let’s put it into action. Erik probably will do it.

DON FORSTER
An excellent all around athlete.

PAT ZWICKER
He pushed his wrestlers; wouldn’t it be nice for them to be able to see him out there? I know what his practices are like; I was a wrestling coach, too. He would do well.

ROSS DAVIS
An RCMP officer. Show us that he’s fit enough to keep us safe.

BOB MEALEY
Bob’s done it in the past. Probably one of the strongest guys in St. Stephen. He’s a big guy and he’s always done relatively well, but he’s finished in the middle of the pack. He should get out again. He’s skipped the last couple of years.

JOE BOUVIER
I don’t know how his knee is. I think the kids would like to see him out. He’s a teacher and plays for the Seahawks.

PETER McKNIGHT
He won the first year and then we didn’t see him again.
He’s resting on those laurels, so it’s time to put it back on the table.

AARON JAMES
He’s from Calais and he’s won once or twice. He’s a jeweller, but also runs a wrestling program in Calais. He’s very fit and he’s quite strong.

JOE MOSES
He’s won it three or four times. The Baileyville Banker, vice-president of the credit union over there. He actually holds New England records in power lifting and Olympic lifting. He’s strong but it’s his push that makes him win it.

MARK HUYS
St. Stephen High School football coach. I know he’s got a new baby at home, but I think he should be out there. He should be putting it to these younger guys.

JOSH CLONEY
A peace disturber on the ice for the Seahawks. He could get out and show us if he’s got the mustard.

BRETT ESTEY
He works at Livingston’s. He’s a guy who moves freight a lot, and a good friend.