Just over a month after strongman athletes from across the province travelled to Williams Lake for provincials, local athletes are now preparing to set off to nationals.
"I'm extremely excited," said local coach and athlete Tyson Delay. He and his training partner Stefan Hall will be travelling to Calgary to compete on Oct. 4 at the 2025 Strongman Corporation Canada nationals.
Delay will be vying for his second win at nationals, following his victory in the middle weight class at last year's nationals in Moncton, N.B.
"It's going to be a much bigger challenge," Delay said about this coming competition. This year, Delay will be competing in Men's U105, a level up from what he's used to. "The guys we have in Canada are truly top tier," he said. However, Delay can count himself among them, having won every competition he's done in this class so far, competing against B.C. and Alberta's strongest.
"It's a bit of a stretch, but at this point I've won every show I've done, might as well take a crack at it," Delay said about competing in this class. He's confident he'll make the podium, as for which spot on the podium, he'll have to wait and see.
After winning first in the provincials men's lightweight masters class, Hall, a local strongman will also be showing his muscles at nationals where over 200 athletes are set to compete.
Hall was the only local athlete to compete in the B.C. provincials which were organized by Delay.
"It went just about perfect," Delay said about the event. It wasn't his first time hosting a strongman competition, but it was the first strongman provincials to come to the town in the centre of the Cariboo.
Sixty-three athletes across 16 weight classes competed at the B.C. provincials, which included events for athletes over the ages of 50 as well as a teen class.
Athletes competed in five different tests in what was the heaviest amateur strongman show in B.C. that Delay can remember.
"We want to make it challenging," Delay said, though he did include some lighter events so athletes weren't completely burnt out come nationals. One test went up to 800 pounds for men, another up to 350 pounds.
"I tried to make it a really good mix of strength, cardio and speed," he added, stating that he wanted to make sure the athletes who won truly were the best overall. "It was really fun."
He hopes to see provincials come to Williams Lake again in the future, and said he was extremely grateful for the sponsors, volunteers and venue for helping make the event possible.
