A man who was born and raised in Rosetown is making his mark in the gruelling world of Strongman competitions. Ryan Vance, 38, has competed in over 50 Strongman competitions since 2003 and recently placed 8th at the 2019 Western Canada’s Strongest Man Competition in Regina.
Vance started his Strongman career in 2003 and currently competes in the heavyweight division, weighing in at 270 pounds. After winning his first-ever competition, Vance said he took a few years off to focus on work.
“I started to drive truck when I was pretty young and the hours started to add up and I couldn’t really find a balance to fit training in, and the sport wasn’t as big as it is now and there weren’t a whole lot of competitions back then, so I just focused on work and in 2007 I got back into it and I’ve been doing it pretty consistently ever since and have done about 60 competitions to date”.
Strongman competitions aren’t just about being strong said Vance, he explained the events also require a degree of conditioning and mobility.
“The training isn’t just about getting big and strong, you also have to have endurance in order to be able to make it through some of the events, some will last 90 seconds, so you need to have that endurance to be able to not only lift the weight, but carry it et-cetera, for over a minute.”
Vance said over the years there has been many memorable moments and milestones and said some of the best memories didn’t always include a first place trophy.
“Recently I deadlifted 705 pounds which was a new personal-best for me and I was really happy about it and that’s what it’s about. Of course you always go out to win, but as long as you keep doing better and lifting more, or cut seconds off your time, you’re moving in the right direction”.
Vance also completed an 855 pound Yoke Walk. This event has athletes walking while carrying a bar across their upper back, loaded with weight, which instead of being on either end of the bar like you would for a conventional squat, the weight is loaded so it hangs below the bar.
Although the Yoke Walk and deadlift sit among his highest accomplishments, Vance said his recent placing at the 2019 Western Canada’s Strongest Man Competition, is his career highlight to date.
“To be competing along side those guys who were in that competition, it was steep and was probably the toughest I’ve ever gone up against. So even though I was 8th and kind of in the middle of the pack, I was extremely happy and proud to have placed where I did given the level of competition”.
It’s not just physical strength that makes an accomplished Strongman competitor, Vance shared there is a lot of mental strength that has to be present. Whether it is the dedication to the training and nutrition, or the mental tenacity to keep grinding to finish an event.
Vance said a lot of his mental strength goes back to the way he was raised, stating if he wanted to do something he would know what he had to do, and he would follow through and do the hard work to get there.
“If you’re mentally weak, it will show – I’ve seen it, to see a 300 pound guy breakdown and cry, not because he’s hurt physically, but because his brain and heart just let him down – that’s harder sometimes to watch than the physical break down”.
It is a sport that requires good decisions 24 hours a day said Vance, sharing in order to be his best - either training in the gym or at a competition, he manages his social life, work, training, nutrition and sleep on a daily basis, in order to elicit his best results.
In his pursuit to achieving pro status, Vance is preparing for a pro-qualifier event in Yorkton, SK, on August 17 and will also be competing at the National Finals in Regina on the Thanksgiving long weekend this October.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
