Rain or shine, Rumble in the Valley powered through the weekend with record registration at the pull, a show and shine, and the first ever Western Canada’s Strongest Master event.
Pulling rain or shine
Brian Wiebe is a director with the Valley Agricultural Society, which puts on events like Rumble in the Valley in the area. He spent Saturday morning preparing the track for the evening’s pull, including laying down tarps to maintain the track’s moisture during the thunderstorm that rolled in Saturday afternoon.
“This year we have 53 registered pulling units, which is the highest number we’ve seen in a few years” Wiebe shared. “It’s a really exciting time for us and we’re going to see a great show with multiple different classes.”
The pull brought in competitors from all over North America, with the team behind the Rabid Rabbit Monster Ride Truck hailing from Medicine Hat, Alberta. Their truck, outfitted with seats in the back, offered event attendees a feel for what riding in a monster truck is like.
A family affair
That afternoon the Rumble also hosted a Show and Shine event, where truck enthusiast Jerry Dyck brought his 1984 GMC half ton. “I’ve had a lot of Chevy trucks through my past, and this one I’m hanging on to” shared Dyck.
Dyck enjoys show and shines as a way to connect with others in the community, and on Saturday, he brought his son, and grandson. In fact, Dyck’s love for trucks meshes with his love for his family— the truck’s license plate reads “DELILA”, named for his first granddaughter.
The first Western Canada’s Strongest Master event
On Saturday, the first ever Western Canada’s Strongest Master event was hosted at the Rumble, also with competitors across Canada. The open class and 40+ event was initially held outdoors but moved inside the beer gardens once the afternoon thunderstorm rolled through. “We keep throwing, even if it’s raining” shared longtime competitor Josée Morneau. “We’re lucky we had a place to move in”.
Morneau, a daycare worker by day, has participated in StrongManitoba events on and off for twenty years, and attributes her interest in strength events to her upbringing: “I grew up on a farm, so... lifting stuff and carrying stuff, it’s my thing.” As for the event’s 40+ qualifier, Morneau shared that competing “...keeps me young, it keeps me going.”
For Garret Werstiuk, one of the event’s competitors, strongman events like these have impacted his life deeply. “...four years ago, I had a back issue where it was hard for me even to walk around. I couldn’t teach my son how to skate”. Werstiuk shared. “After that, I started lifting weights...I’ve retaken my life back.”
While competitors at these events are seasoned, the world of strength events is not inaccessible. Competitor Denny Labreche put it simply: “It’s a great sport; strongman, power lifting, any strength sport can be super rewarding. Find a coach, find a gym, get involved.”
For more information about StrongManitoba, check out their Instagram.
For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Valley Agricultural Society, visit their website.
