Strongman Loading Race: Stones, Kegs & How It Is Scored
What a loading race is, how implements are loaded against the clock, and how the event is scored in competition.
A loading race is a timed event in which the athlete loads a series of heavy implements onto a platform, sled or vehicle as fast as possible. The classic version is a stone-loading series, but kegs, sandbags and other objects are often used or mixed together.
The event combines lifting strength with speed and conditioning. The implements usually get heavier as the run goes on, so the athlete who can keep a fast, clean rhythm while fatiguing wins. Loading races are a staple of strongman because they pack several lifts into one breathless, spectator-friendly run.
Loading Race World Records & Top Performances
7 recorded| Event | Athlete | Country | Record | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Carry (300-319 kg) | Martin Wildauer |
Austria
|
2.68 m/s(300 kg, 40 m, 14.91 s) | 2014 SCL Hungary | Aug 29, 2014 |
| Frame Carry (320-339 kg) | Aivars Šmaukstelis |
Latvia
|
3.22 m/s(320 kg, 30 m, 9.31 s) | 2019 SCL Russia | Jul 20, 2019 |
| Frame Carry (340-359 kg) | Terry Hollands |
United Kingdom
|
2.20 m/s(340 kg, 40 m, 18.21 s) | 2013 SCL Portugal | Jul 27, 2013 |
| Frame Carry (360-379 kg) | Jerry Pritchett |
United States
|
2.00 m/s(365 kg, 30 m, 15.02 s) | 2016 Giants Live North American Open | Jun 26, 2016 |
| Frame Carry (400-419 kg) | Oleksii Novikov |
Ukraine
|
2.45 m/s(400 kg, 18 m, 7.35 s) | 2021 Arnold UK | Oct 3, 2021 |
| Keg for Height (15 kg) | Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson |
Iceland
|
7.77 m | 2024 Strongest Man on Earth | Aug 17, 2024 |
How a loading race works
The athlete starts at one end of a course with a row of implements and a loading point. On the signal, they carry or drag each implement to the platform and load it, then return for the next. The clock stops when the last implement is loaded; if the run is not finished, the score is the number of implements loaded.
What it tests
Loading races reward explosive lifting, efficient movement between implements and the conditioning to keep going as the load climbs. Smart athletes plan their pace and their grip so they do not burn out before the heaviest implement, where the event is usually won or lost.
Every Loading Race Event in Competition
Every contest instance that has featured a loading race event, sorted by date. Filter by year or division to study how the event has been programmed over time.
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