Husafell Stone
Encyclopedia
Husafell Stone, is a legendary lifting stone
located in Husafell
, Iceland. The stone weighs roughly 418 lbs; and is kept near a goat pen built by pastor Snorri Bjornsson over two hundred years ago. The stone has been used as a test of strength by either simply lifting the stone, or by lifting and carrying the stone around the goat pen where it is located. The Husafell Stone is also named Kviahellan (pen slab) by pastor Snorri, who used the stone as a door to his sheep pen. The test to achieve "fullsterkur" status is to lift the stone up and carry it the 50 metres around the perimeter of the goat pen. Successfully walking the full distance around the pen is considered a widely recognized feat of strength in the field of stone carrying
, and is referred to as achieving "fullsterkur" (full-strong) status. Fullsterkur status refers to the weight of the actual stone, for this status the stone must weigh a minimum of 341 lbs., hálfsterkur ("half strength") stones weigh up to 228.8 lbs., hálfdrættingur ("weakling") stone up to 107.8 lbs. and amlóði ("useless") stone up to 50.6 lbs. Men have lifted the Husafell stone to different heights and attempted to carry the stone as a test of strength for hundreds of years. When the event was featured at the 1992 World's Strongest Man
competition held in Iceland and using the actual Husafell Stone, it proved to be a very popular and influential event in the sport of strongman
. Canadian strongman Gregg Ernst
set a world record at the 1992 WSM by carrying the Husafell Stone 70 metres. In recent years, replicas are created (of varying weights and sizes) and used in events at strongman competitions all over the world.
Lifting stone
Lifting stones are common throughout northern Europe, particularly Scotland, Iceland , Scandinavia and Northern England. They were usually heavy local stones, without any modification, with the challenge being to lift such a stone, proving your strength...
located in Husafell
Húsafell
Húsafell is a sprawling farm and church estate and the former site of a rectory. It is the innermost farm in Borgarfjörður in the west county of Iceland, not far from Reykholt and Reykholtsdalur. Húsafell farm now serves as a hub of service for various types of tourists visiting and residing in...
, Iceland. The stone weighs roughly 418 lbs; and is kept near a goat pen built by pastor Snorri Bjornsson over two hundred years ago. The stone has been used as a test of strength by either simply lifting the stone, or by lifting and carrying the stone around the goat pen where it is located. The Husafell Stone is also named Kviahellan (pen slab) by pastor Snorri, who used the stone as a door to his sheep pen. The test to achieve "fullsterkur" status is to lift the stone up and carry it the 50 metres around the perimeter of the goat pen. Successfully walking the full distance around the pen is considered a widely recognized feat of strength in the field of stone carrying
Lifting stone
Lifting stones are common throughout northern Europe, particularly Scotland, Iceland , Scandinavia and Northern England. They were usually heavy local stones, without any modification, with the challenge being to lift such a stone, proving your strength...
, and is referred to as achieving "fullsterkur" (full-strong) status. Fullsterkur status refers to the weight of the actual stone, for this status the stone must weigh a minimum of 341 lbs., hálfsterkur ("half strength") stones weigh up to 228.8 lbs., hálfdrættingur ("weakling") stone up to 107.8 lbs. and amlóði ("useless") stone up to 50.6 lbs. Men have lifted the Husafell stone to different heights and attempted to carry the stone as a test of strength for hundreds of years. When the event was featured at the 1992 World's Strongest Man
1992 World's Strongest Man
The 1992 World's Strongest Man was the 15th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Ted van der Parre from the Netherlands after finishing fourth the previous year. It was his first title. 1991 winner Magnus Ver Magnusson from Iceland finished second equal with 1989 winner Jamie Reeves from...
competition held in Iceland and using the actual Husafell Stone, it proved to be a very popular and influential event in the sport of strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
. Canadian strongman Gregg Ernst
Gregg Ernst
Gregg Ernst , is a former Strongman competitor and Powerlifter from Nova Scotia Canada.-Strongman career:...
set a world record at the 1992 WSM by carrying the Husafell Stone 70 metres. In recent years, replicas are created (of varying weights and sizes) and used in events at strongman competitions all over the world.