The fact is, Dougie Edmunds fell out with the WSM TV show guys and decided to put on his IFSA world championships from 2005 to 2007. IFSA had been putting on the superseries all over the world for years and run the WSM with TWI for years. The IFSA world championships were much heavier events while WSM became more like heavy crossfit for the 2005-2007 years. There is not a single static event in 2006. Mark Felix won the deadlift with 16 reps!
It was all fingles fingers and light car walk and other aerobic stuff. In 2006 Marius would have won if he hadn't missed the hole on top of the last stones lift platform and Phil managed to place his before Marius could retrieve his. Marius was so pissed off he just left the 5th stone and ended up with just 4.
Neither Phil or Marius would have stood a chance against the top guys at IFSA 2005-2007. Indeed Phil actually competed in the 2005 IFSA and placed 6th.
Shame Marius never competed.
If Pfister competed at the IFSA events, why didn't the other guys compete at the WSM show?
Flexacon indicated that Pudzianowski beat Savickas, Virastyuk, and Koklyaev during his 2002 and 2003 WSM wins. It sounds to me as if WSM is the more established and prestigious of the shows, based on seniority.
Per the video, Pudzianowski got to his 5th stone first. But, he had to squat down a second time to hold it, giving Pfister the split second he needed to catch him. Pfister got his stone up first and steadied it in the hole. Pudzianowski hoisted his stone up but it rolled out of the hole. This was a HUGE upset, considering the Atlas Stones event is said to be Pudz's specialty.
Ironically, Pudzianowski got another WSM title in similar fashion in 2008. Derek Poundstone was ahead of him and was about to place the last Atlas stone up for the win, when it slipped out his hands. That delay allowed Pudz to catch up, placed his final stone, and win the event and the title.
Edit - That would make Pudz a 5-time WSM winner.
Did Phil deserve his 2006 win? YES
Was Phil the best Strong man competitor on the planet in 2006? Only Phils boyfriend believes that answer to be YES.
Again, it begs the question: Which event is THE premiere one to determine the World's Strongest Man?
IFSA World Championship? MET-Rx World's Strongest Man? Arnold Classic Strongman Show? Or another competition?