Hulking strongmen showcase their power and might in the first qualifier event at Mohegan Sun
 Many of the world’s strongest men, including defending champion and local favorite Derek Poundstone, will return to southeastern Connecticut for the World’s Strongest Man Qualifier.  These mountains of muscle and brawn will attempt to press, lift and carry thousands of pounds at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, April 25th starting at 4:00pm.  This event is part of the 2010 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competition, the qualifier to the World’s Strongest Man championship event.
Tickets are $30.00 and go on sale Friday, January 29th at 10:00am through Ticketmaster.    Ticketmaster customers may log onto ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.  Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning on Saturday, January 30th, subject to availability.
Athletes from around the world will battle in such feats of strength as the Giant Timber Frame Carry, the Car Dead Lift and the Atlas Stones competition.  The American contingency features Derek Poundstone (Waterbury, Connecticut), 2009’s America’s Strongest Man, 2009 Arnold’s Strongman Classic Champion and 2nd place at 2008’s WSM; Brian Shaw (Denver, Colorado), 2009 World Strongman Super Series World Champion; Nick Best (Las Vegas, NV), 2010 All-American Champion; Josh Thigpen (Houston, TX), 4th place 2010 All-American Strongman Challenge and Jason Bergmann (Appleton, WI), World’s Strongest Man competitor.
Meanwhile, the roster of international competitors includes: Mark Felix (Grenada), 2nd place at 2010 All-American Strongman Challenge; Stoyan Todorchev (Bulgaria), 2nd place at 2009 World Strongman Super Series Overall Championship; Terry Hollands (United Kingdom), WSM finalist and 3rd place at the 2008 Mohegan Sun Grand Prix; Louis-Philippe Jean (Canada), Canada’s Strongest Man and 2009 World’s Strongest Man finalist and Johannes Arsjo (Sweden) Sweden’s Strongest Man. 
In the Giant Timber Frame Carry, the athletes will each attempt to lift and carry a 750-pound timber frame and carry it for 30 meters/100 feet.  Furthest or fastest time to complete course wins. The athlete will have a 60-second time limit to complete the course.
In the Car Dead Lift, the athletes will attempt to lift the rear end of a compact car with their bare hands for as many repetitions as possible in a 60-second time limit.
During the Atlas Stones portion, the athletes will attempt to lift, carry and load six stones weighing 285 – 420 pounds onto platforms. Fastest time to load all six stones (or the most stones) wins.  The athlete will have a 60-second time limit to complete all six stones. 
Mohegan Sun Arena is ranked the 4th best venue by Billboard Magazine and was the 2008 recipient of a Country Music Award for “Casino of The Year.” For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com.  For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.