Strongman coming to Sandusky's shoreline

SANDUSKY — The Strongman Champions League, the strongest league in the world, is making its long-awaited debut in the U.S. with a massive two-day strength event taking place Sept. 19-20 in Toledo and Sandusky, respectively. The weekend will bring together the strongest athletes on the planet with entertainment, food vendors, family-friendly activities and a full lineup of competition and surprises. It will showcase "jaw-dropping feats of strength and crowd-favorite challenges, like the truck pull, atlas stones and a few surprises with a unique twist that have yet to be revealed," according to an event statement. The strongman contests will be the main attraction of the event, featuring elite international athletes battling it out across both days. Taking place Sept. 19 in Toledo and Sept. 20 in Sandusky, this free-to-attend event will feature elite athletes from around the globe. Entry is free for both days. Friday, Sept. 19 — Toledo kickoff event The weekend kicks off with a high-energy preview event from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 19 in downtown Toledo, occurring near Maumee Bay Brewing Co. This evening showcase will feature a never-before-seen medley of strength events along with booths, favorite local food trucks and entertainment. Fans will have a rare opportunity to experience the intensity up close and meet the athletes ahead of the main competition. Saturday, Sept. 20 — Sandusky main stage competition The main day of the event takes place on Sept. 20 along Shoreline Drive in downtown Sandusky. This all-day event will include a limited beverage reveal, family-friendly attractions, fun entertainment and exciting feats of strength performed. The Strongman Champions League USA competition, scheduled from 1-6 p.m., will be the centerpiece of the day. Visitors will witness top-tier strongman events, including: • The truck pull • A dramatic keg toss into the bay • Other exciting challenges that have yet to be revealed "With an unforgettable lakefront atmosphere and free entry for all, this is a day no one should miss," according to an event statement. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed with full coverage of the main day in Sandusky and highlights from Friday's kickoff in Toledo. More details about the schedule and broadcast information, including how to watch, will be announced soon. Bio blast The Strongman Champions League is a global leader in strength sports, hosting 16 stages across the world each year. Now in its 17th season, the league is known for "blending elite athleticism with iconic locations, cultural storytelling and jaw-dropping challenges," the statement read. Its episodes are available on Amazon Prime and other major platforms, reaching millions of viewers around the world. The debut of Strongman Champions League USA is made possible through the support of regional partners, including Shores & Islands Ohio, the Greater Sandusky Partnership, Destination Toledo as well as many other event partners and sponsors. People can learn more by visiting strongmancl.com and/or shoresandislands.com. They can also email: • Ilya Khazov, the Strongman Champions League organizer and a competitor, at organizer+ohio@strongmancl.com • Jon Limber, sports tourism coordinator for Shores & Islands Ohio, at jon@shoresandislands.com Time to talk T-shirts In conjunction with the Strongman Champions League coming to Sandusky, The Emporium at West Market Street — 314 W. Market St., Sandusky — will serve as the event's official customer merchandise authorized seller. Additionally, there will be a T-shirt contest, which launched earlier this week. "Designers and artists from across the region are invited to submit original artwork that will be featured on official event merchandise during the highly anticipated U.S. debut competition weekend in northwest Ohio," according to a statement from the emporium. Then, on Sept. 2, a winner will be announced and celebrated across the platforms of Shores & Islands Ohio, the Greater Sandusky Partnership and The Emporium at West Market Street. This person's winning design will be placed on official merchandise, available no later than Sept. 20, coinciding with event activities occurring in Sandusky. Plus the winning designer will receive 5% royalties from net proceeds of all T-shirt sales featuring this particular design on the day of the event; "Net proceeds are defined as the sale price minus production costs," the statement read. Here are the creative guidelines: • Designs should blend strongman themes with iconic or recognizable elements from Sandusky or northwest Ohio. • Possible inspirations include regional landmarks, references to Ohio or nods to the history of strength sports. • Designers are encouraged to explore Strongman Champions League's Instagram, @scl.usa, and consider highlights, like the recent ferry pull event, for inspiration. • Athlete photos and reference materials are available upon request. • Designers may include the official Strongman Champions League logo, though it is not required. It can be added later if needed. "Entrants retain their editable source files but waive rights to the artwork upon submission," the statement read. "The event team reserves the right to adjust the winning design to meet production requirements while honoring the integrity of the original concept." All artwork must be submitted by Aug. 31 through the official contest form: forms.gle/wuogzjSiaapH9wZx5. It's there where people can see the submission requirements, such as file formats, sizes and more. People can visit strongmancl.com or emporiumwestmarket.com for more information.