Two events from the 2022 Rogue Strongman Invitational are back in the fold.
With 10 of the best athletes in the world scheduled to face off at Dell Diamond Stadium on October 27-28, 2023, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational. A stacked roster headlined by reigning champion Oleksii Novikov will get the chance not to. not only to impress the crowd in Round Rock, Texas, but also to secure a record prize of $133,785.83, at the time of this publication.
To emerge victorious, contestants like Novikov and 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper must overcome a grueling six-challenge challenge over the course of the two-day contest. And with the competition date getting closer, Rogue Invitational officially launched the full strongman event schedule on October 10, 2023.
Day one (Friday, October 27, 2023)
The first day of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational will feature three events, all of which will test athletes’ strength, power and conditioning. Here’s a breakdown of each event, starting with an ultra-demanding deadlift challenge that made its debut in 2022.
Event 1: Tower of Power – Deadlift for reps
Rogue stepped up its annual strongman competition a year ago by hosting the Tower of Power event. Former Ukrainian weightlifter Pavlo Nakonechnyy proved to be the most competent at the newly inaugurated event by completing 12 repetitions of 18-inch barbell deadlifts during an allotted time of 60 seconds.
As if lifting 900 pounds (408 kilograms) as many times as possible in one minute wasn’t enough of a challenge, the competitors had to deal with very different levers due to the height of the tower platform. Returning for the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational, this event should bring out the best in Nakonechnyy and 2023 North America’s Strongest Man, Trey Mitchell, who completed 10 reps in his first encounter with the Tower of Power. Starting the day with a deadlift competition for reps will certainly set the tone for event No. 2.
Event 2: The Iron Bull Sled Pull
No details were provided about this event. However, pulling the sled is undoubtedly one of the most popular feats of strength that fans enjoy watching, especially when vehicles are involved.
Event 3: Final Log Merge
Although we don’t know exactly what the Ultimate Log Medley will entail, the Rogue Strongman Invitational 2022 included an event called “Yoke carry, overhead log lifting combination” which involved carrying a 1,000-pound (453.5-kilogram) yoke for 50 feet, followed by performing three repetitions of overhead pressing with a 360-pound (163-kilogram) trunk. Mitchell Hooper easily beat the rest of the field by completing the course in just 32.69 seconds.
Meanwhile, Canada’s 2022 Strongest Man, Maxime Boudreault, took another 14.1 seconds to take second place. If the final event of the first day of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational features the log press again, that could be an opportunity for 2022 America’s Strongest Man Bobby Thompson to earn some valuable points. After consecutive third-place finishes at the Arnold Strongman Classic, Thompson demonstrated his upper-body strength at the 2023 event by performing three repetitions of a 430-pound (195-kilogram) log press at the Austrian Oak Challenge. , which tied for second place. with Hooper.
Day two (Saturday, October 28, 2023)
Day two of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational will kick off with another event that wowed last year’s audience and conclude with one that might have some CrossFit inspiration behind its name.
Event 4: Rogue-A-Coaster
Like the competitors, the Round Rock crowd will be locked in for 90 seconds during the dynamic Rogue-A-Coaster event. Particularly taxing on the lats and rear delts, it takes your pulling day to another level, and then some. Athletes will begin their Saturday morning by sitting at the bottom of a section of a roller coaster and attempting to pull 600 pounds (272 kilograms) of sandbags loaded on a cart to the top and throw them within the 90-second limit.
This 54-inch bent-over rope pull didn’t pose much trouble for Nakonechnyy (38.51 seconds) or Novikov (39.04 seconds) in 2022. However, neither could overcome 2021 Rogue Strongman Invitational champion Martins Licis (33: 83 seconds), who No be at this year’s event.
Event 5: Wheels of Apollon
No details were provided about this event. However, it’s safe to say that all participants should have an idea of what’s to come.
Apollon’s wheels, made famous by French strongman Louis “Apollon the Mighty” Uni, were his 366-pound (166-kilogram) bar loaded with a pair of railroad car wheels. With a thick diameter of almost two inches, it requires excellent grip strength just to handle the bar. It takes incredible coordination to clear him off the floor and into a forward position. And it takes a lot of strength to press that weight on your head.
The fifth event (also called Apollon’s Wheels) at the 2018 Arnold Classic Strongman Classic used a replica reproduced by the Ivanko Barbell Company that weighed 400 pounds (181 kilograms). Hafþór Björnsson, who won the World’s Strongest Man title that same year, took home first place by performing four full reps of the clean and press in a two-minute span. Rogue certainly appears to be paying homage to the famous bar in 2023 based on the name of the penultimate event.
Event 6: The Duel
“The Duel II” was a multi-round elimination-style event at the 2022 CrossFit Rogue Invitational that consisted of a legless rope climb, 10 overhead squats, and a sandbag carry. Although CrossFit and Strongman competitors may not cross paths often, the final event of the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational could have a similar feel to “The Duel II,” but with a different variety of exercises and much heavier loads.
Full Rogue Strongman Invitational 2023 Roster
- Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
- Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
- Trey Mitchell (USA)
- Lucas Stoltman (UNITED KINGDOM)
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
- Pavlo Nakonechny (Ukraine)
- Bobby Thompson (USA)
- Tom Stoltman (UNITED KINGDOM)
- Evan Singleton (USA)
- Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
Novikov’s campaign to become back-to-back Rogue Strongman Invitational champion will come down to his ability to dominate new and repeat events. It remains to be seen if he can hold his own against the likes of Hooper and Mitchell when the world’s strongest men gather at Red Rock.
Featured Image: @rogueinvitational / Instagram
