Strongman Contest

One of my coworkers is a strongman competitor. You may have seen this kind of competition on ESPN. Recently, there was a 'Record Breakers' under-105kg strongman event in Hamina, Finland, so I went to see it in person and to cheer on my coworker, Risto.

It was a 2-day competition, and I was there only on the first day. I saw four different events: the medley (sack carry + farmer's walk + tire flip), the log lift, the farmer's walk, and the truck pull. The tire flip and truck pull were certainly the most spectator-friendly events, as you could get a good feel for how heavy the object was. The other thing worth noting is that though the 'World's Strongest Man' events on TV always have very brightly colored weights and other visual aids, this was held in a sandy lot, with industrial-looking equipment. The shiny red truck was the only exception.

Anyway, I was witness to 3 new world records in the farmer's walk, which was cool. Here is Sergei (the overall winner) making his world record:


Here is Risto in the sack carry part of the medley:


I was sad to miss the Atlas Stones (my favorite event to watch), but here they are ready for Saturday's competition (plus the car for the dead lift on the right):

the living is easy

not much to report this week.  i'm working a lot, and training for the mini-triathlon next weekend.  the summer is pretty much over (i had to wear 2 layers + jacket + a light scarf last night) and helsinki's gray and rainy autumn has begun.  

small excitement: i had a drink at the best bar in the world on friday night, and we're cooking with kantarelli mushrooms tonight.

it's just a lazy cat-dangling afternoon

here are the kitties napping on the balcony table.  i had to take this through the blinds, as every time i come out there they get up to say hi.

cats!

we adopted a couple (literally a couple -- they were described as 'husband and wife') of cats from the local animal shelter. apparently they had been living in a house with 25 other cats. they're both very sweet-natured.

currently their names are kinkku (the finnish word for ham) and ruben (maybe the sandwich, but more likely just the name), but we want to change them. this is me petting the boy (who was advertised as the curious one, but has proved to be the most shy so far) on the balcony.

art

i saw this unmarked statue (sculpture?) in front of a building in
helsinki. what does it mean? does it commemorate waving at friends?
keeping the sun out of your eyes? protecting yourself from being hit
by a tall person?

metallica concert in pori

i was in pori a few weekends ago, on the same saturday night as the metallica concert. even though pori's population is about 75,000, there were about 60,000 people at the concert, since almost every finn under 50 loves metallica.

we were staying with kimmo's friend sami, lives in pori. his sister had tickets to the show, so we went over to the island where the venue is and met her for pre-show drinks.

here's the bridge to the island:

i think this guy here on the left is proof of metallica's widespread popularity in finland. i just don't think you could find a guy in a powder blue polo with a sweater knotted around his shoulders heading to a metallica concert in the u.s.:

here's sami's sister generous sharing her wine:

some interestingly dressed concert-goers:


and the entrance -- look how orderly and calm everyone is!

wood-burning car

i saw this car parked on a helsinki street.

it seems to be an audi, modified to be a wood-burning car!

i guess that this is where the magic happens, and then it's piped forward into the engine.


some extra fuel in the back seat:

tar-flavored ice cream

finns love tar. it's a traditional taste around here. i have tasted
tar-flavored vodka. i have seen tar-scented shampoo. i hear there is
tar-flavored licorice available. but this is a choice on the menu at
the little ice cream stands that pepper helsinki's landscape in the
summer: tar-flavored ice cream.