Atlas Stone
Loading
Think your strong?
Then test your strength on an almost
perfectly round stone that weighs up
to 400lbs. Lift it and load it on to
a platform 4ft and higher. Do this
and you just loaded your first Atlas
Stone.
Atlas stones have been in the
strength business for hundreds of
years and in the beginning they were
referred to as McGlashan stones. Our
European ancestors tested their
strength on these stones long before
iron was shaped into plates. As many
others in modern times may have
tested their strength on similar
stones just lifting them out of
gardens and preparing crop fields for
tilling. These stones of course were
nowhere near the girth or weight but
none the less awkward and heavy. The
big ones were left for the oxen and
horses. Today, the animals have been
replaced by men who prefer to be
called ‘strongmen’. In
today’s time, Atlas stones have
become not only a test of strength
for strongmen, but have been coveted
by these athletes as a true test of
grit and determination.
Most these stones today have been
cast out of concrete and re-enforced
internally with steel and iron to add
weight and durability. Perfectly
round or close to it, from 18"
to 22" in diameter, Atlas stones
provide an almost grip-less and
slippery obstacle to lift and load.
As with most feats of strength,
training and technique provide the
needed tools for lifting success.
Loading these stones are a staple of
every strongman's training and just
like lifting weights these stones
require the same regiment in
training. Not only is strength
required, but in most cases, the
ability to overcome the pain and
agony that is often associated with
lifting these behemoth boulders time
and time again. In most contests this
loading requires an athlete to load
five stones consecutively in
ascending weights to a minimum of
48" and sometimes from
descending heights from 72''. In any
case these feats must also be
accomplished in a designated time of
60 to 75 seconds. These varying
heights, weights and time, test the
unique combination of speed and
strength. One wrong move could mean
the difference of seconds and
it’s those seconds that separate
being good from being the best.
How do you load an Atlas stone? There
are a couple techniques but the most
popular choice is the "Lap and
Load". You start by standing
almost directly over the stone with
your feat spread slightly beyond the
width of the stone. Squat down and
hook the stones center with your
arms, using your forearms to grasp
the stone. Your arms will act as
hooks and your hands grasp the bottom
of the stone tightly to prevent the
stone from spinning. It's important
to use your legs as much as possible
and don't lift the stone with all
with your lower back. As you begin to
pick the stone off the ground begin
to roll the stone towards your body
and use your lower legs as guide
rails. This will allow the stone to
contour up your legs and fall into
your lap. Still in the squatting
position and the stone in your lap,
your arms should have slightly rolled
up on the stone. Now, one at a time,
place your arms and hands on the
upper 1/3 of the stone, the palms of
your hands should almost be facing
towards the ground. Grip tight with
your forearms. Begin to stand from
the squatting position while pulling
the stone hard to your body and
leaning back. This will force the
stone to begin to roll up your chest.
Remember to pull hard and squat up
simultaneously with force. This will
allow your momentum to assist in the
lift. Any hesitation will result in
the stone dropping from your forearm
grip and most efforts from this point
will be futile. As the stone quickly
rolls up, snap your hips forward,
while continuing to pull the stone
towards you and pop out your chest.
If done correctly the stone should
explode away from you with your own
force of its momentum to the
platform. Congratulations you just
loaded your first stone!
Varied heights require more explosive
speed and strength with the stone
rolling up higher on your chest,
almost to your chin. For shorter
athletes this will also require you
to carry the movement on your toes
for added height. When training Atlas
stones you can use a variety of
routines. Most common routines mimic
the same type of training you would
do with weights. Start with a lighter
stone for a couple warm up sets. You
should always practice a couple lap
loads and a few top "pops"
to ensure proper warm up. Once your
warm up is complete choose a stone
that will challenge you to 6 - 10
reps at varied heights. You should
always practice to different heights
to prepare for any event circumstance
and different techniques may be
required. Load the stone, drop and
repeat until you desired rep range or
time is complete. After, grab a
heavier stone, one that would
challenge you to 3 - 5 reps and load
to a shorter platform to improve on
your strength. A good training
session should consist of several
sets, weights, heights and rep
ranges.
The best part of training stones is
your own PR (personal record). As you
begin to perfect your technique
challenge yourself to load heavier
stones higher. Every strongman can
tell you his PR with the coveted
stone. Good luck! ** Having
difficulty hanging on? Try
"Tacky". This sticky pine
tar type substance is in every
strongman's bag of tricks and is
allowed in competition. Lather a thin
coat on your forearms and palms. This
will give you that 'Spiderman' grip
to hold the stones. You may notice
the "Tacky" to begin to
give way. Always place a small glob
on the back side of your hand in
competition for a quick reload. You
will be glad you did. That time spent
is a lot shorter than trying to
wrestle a slippery stone.
*** Are you forearms bleeding? Get
used to it! It's strongman not
bodybuilding and it requires some
grit. Have chaffed forearms comes
with the territory of stone loading
and eventually this gets
better....not much, but any strongman
will tell you this is a right to
passage. Once you have proved your
grit, then go out and get some
neoprene sleeves. You may go through
a few pairs but it could save you
some skin.
****Remember always train Atlas
Stones with a partner. Injuries
although rare can happen and if a
400lb. stone comes crashing down on
you, you'll be glad to have someone
there to pick it off and pick you up.
Train hard and train safe! Important
Tip- No matter how strong you think
you are you can't curl a stone, so
leave your biceps out of it. If your
biceps hurt, it's a warning sign you
are doing it wrong and they are
getting ready to blow. You can't do a
300lb. curl so don't try and curl an
Atlas Stone!
