Firefighter to face Auckland’s strongest

Rob Quinlivan has three weeks to brush off any nerves he has about competing in the strongest competition in Auckland.

The 23-year-old Onehunga resident is attempting the Auckland Strongman Series for the first time, in its final round on November 26.

The competition is definitely not for the faint hearted.

While it involves a lot of power, Strongman requires strategy and technique, attracting only the strongest athletes who battle it out in four gruelling events.

Two months ago, Quinlivan, a firefighter at the Otara Station in East Tamaki, had not even heard about the Strongman Series.

After being approached to compete by a former competitor, Quinlivan dove straight in.

He put in more hours in the gym and gave up his favourite fast foods to learn how to cook healthier and more nutritious meals.

‘‘I’ve only ever just been powerlifting and I’ve watched the World’s Strongest Man competition but I was always too small for that,’’ he says.

‘‘The Strongman Series is far more realistic for me, in terms of my weight and strength capabilities.’’

Quinlivan is an avid power lifter. His best squat is 250kg, dead lift of 270kg and a bench press of 150kg.

He has much more to prove against his other Strongman competitors who have passed the test themselves in the earlier two rounds.

Quinlivan will compete in the under 105kg, in four events - the keg toss, squat for reps, Max Monster dumbbells and atlas stones (which involves concrete balls).

The keg toss, Quinlivan says, is his hardest event.

It requires picking up six 25kg kegs, and throwing them over a 4.2 metre high mark in 60 seconds.

‘‘From the outside, looking in, you think it’s simple but it’s a whole lot more than just power.

‘‘There is so much more technique involved.

‘‘It’s going to be interesting, I’m just looking to having fun while I compete and if I do well than that’s great.’’

Quinlivan is already eyeing next year’s competition.

However, he first needs to prove that he truly belongs in the same league as Auckland’s strongest men this month.

The Auckland Strongman Series takes place on November 26 at the Suburbs Rugby Football Club in New Lynn.