Lifting stone
Lifting stones are heavy natural stones which people are challenged to lift, proving their strength. They are common throughout Northern Europe, particularly Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Basque Country in northern Spain, Faroe Islands, Wales, north west England centered on Cumbria, Switzerland, southern Germany centered around Bavaria, Austria, Scandinavia, Greece and also in the United States and parts of Asia such as Japan.
Recently, lifting stones have been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man and other similar strongman competitions, using various cast, found, or established challenge stones such as the Húsafell Stone, Dinnie Stones, Inver Stones and Odd Haugen Tombstone. They also do modernized versions of events derived from ancient contests, in which athletes load heavy circular stones onto a platform, known as [|Atlas stones].
Famous lifting stones from around the world and the greatest stone lifters in strongman are listed below.
Iceland
Icelandic stonelifting roots have an ancient history going back to – 1056, with sagas about Orm Storolfsson, Finnbogi and Grettir Ásmundarson. Chronicles around 16th century state that lifting stones were traditionally used to qualify men for work on Icelandic fishing boats. Centuries ago, when approximately sixty fishing boats were operating, it required a practical way to quickly test whether someone was capable of working as a crew member. The stones not only became the formal interview but also sorted them to ranks. The ultimate objective was to reach "fullsterkur" status, by lifting the heaviest stone, proving the man is 'fully strong'. Some famous Icelandic lifting stones are described below.Icelandic lifting stones
Húsafell Stone
The most famous legendary lifting stone in the world is the Húsafell Stone, named after the west country farming estate where it is located, about 132 km north east from Reykjavík. The iconic triangular-shaped stone which weighs is said to have been crafted from a large rock, back in 1756, by a local pastor named Snorri Björnsson. Nicknamed the 'Kviahellan' by Snorri, he used it as the gate to his sheep and goat pen, ensuring the animals remain in the pen without escaping. The stone has since been used by strongmen as a test of strength.According to Icelandic folklore, there are three levels to which your physical strength is measured by the stone. In ascending capacity they are amlóði, hálfsterkur and fullsterkur. Someone who could break the floor with the stone which is already a substantial feat of strength, is called lazybones '', while anyone who could squat down, lap and lift it up to their waist level would be considered half-strong ''. However, for the iconic Icelandic full-strong status '', a person should lift it up to their chest, stand with it and walk it around the approximately 34 metre perimeter for a full 360° revolution around the sheep and goat pen. This final level can only be achieved by someone with extreme physical strength, stamina and endurance as hoisting the massive stone on to the chest while standing compresses the thorax and decreases lung capacity significantly.
Dritvík Stones
At the tip of the west coast, on Djúpalónssandur beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, at the western end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, lies four legendary stones called Dritvík stones which dates back to the 14th century. Historically, the sailors who rowed out from this port were asked to lift each stone onto a natural plinth called 'Stallurinn', to prove their worth to be a ship's crew member and also to decide their ranks and share of the catch. For example, to qualify as an oarsman a man would have to lift the hálfdrættingur onto the plinth, hoisting the hálfsterkur would make you a 'steersman' and the fullsterkur would make you 'skipari'. The plinth had been around waist height, but throughout centuries almost all of it is now buried beneath the dark sand. Today, lifters prefer to lift the stones up to chest level and stand tall with them for a good lift.The four stones are classified as:
- Amlóði at
- Hálfdrættingur at
- Hálfsterkur at
- Fullsterkur at
Judas Stone
Latra Stones
Also located in the Westfjords region between Tálknafjörður and Bíldudalur in the famous seabird cliffs are four stones called Latra Stones. For many generations, local fishermen used them to stay fit and to gain bragging rights in their little time on dry land. They have been used in Icelandic strongman competitions where competitors had to load them on top of oil barrels. Like in Dritvík Stones, there is a hierarchy based on their size:- Amlóði at
- Hálfsterkur at
- Fullsterkur at
- Alsterkur at
Brynjólfstak
The heaviest of Iceland's natural lifting stones is the Brynjólfstak, which is a 1.5 meter long basalt located near Tálknafjörður in the Westfjords region. Legend says that the stone was first pulled from the sea in 1845, when a mighty farmer named Brynjólfur Eggertsson asked four of the strongest men in the area to lift the giant slab on to his shoulders. From there, Brynjólfur is said to have attached the stone to him with straps and carried it uphill, to the nearby ridge where it is currently located. The stone has since been named in his honor as Brynjólfstak due to the elongated shape of the stone.Leggstein (Tombstone)
This smooth and pillar-like stone is said to mark the spot where an unfortunate farmer made a pact with the devil. As the story goes, the lazy farmer wanted a fast track to an easier, more prosperous life, so the devil offered him his dream if he could simply complete one task: lifting the Leggstein. It is located in the middle of the Westfjords region in Heydalur near Reykjanes. The legend says the farmer is buried under the massive plinth near the stone, to be carried around the plinth for several revolutions for his salvation.Petursstein
In front of the Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords lies a black slate stone known as the Petursstein weighing. It is to be lapped and hoisted on to a large plinth. The stone was named after Pètur Gudmundsson and was at least heavier back in the day before a piece of it broke off.Arbaer Stones
Located at Árbæjarsafn open-air museum in Reykjavík, are two sets of stones collectively known as the Arbaer Stones. First set is a collection of eight natural stones which are to be either lapped or lifted to chest height. The lightest weighs and the heaviest two weigh and. Second set contains two very heavy rectangularly carved man made stones with iron handles fixed to them. The lighter of the two weighs, and heavier one weighs.Fludir Stones
At 'Mountain Villa' cabin at Flúðir are six natural stones whose formation dates back to the Pleistocene epoch. The stones originated as Magma which hurled red hot from Snæfellsjökull volcanic crater 4,800 ft above sea level. Throughout centuries, gravity pulled them down to the shore where North Atlantic waves continued to shape and polish them. Despite the sixth and final stone weighs, the first three of them are light and are meant for children to start their stone-lifting. They are to be lifted onto a hexagonal basalt column.Horse Stone
Near Akureyri in northern Iceland lies a pentagonal stone with an iron handle drilled to it from its top. According to a local legend, it is said to have been swung around by a farmer. Jón Páll Sigmarsson managed to lift the stone for 10 repetitions.Others
- Bessasteinn - 4 stones weighing up to
- Brúarásskóli stone -
- Engjasteinar - 3 stones
- Haukadalur
- Hestastein at Laufas turf house
- Myrdalssandur - 3 stones
- Pakgil stones - 3 stones
- Porsteinshaf sea stone/ Hero stone
- Sjómannagarðurinn
- Vegatorfustein
Scotland
Scottish lifting stones
Dinnie Stones
The most famous among Scotland's legendary lifting stones are the Dinnie Stones. They are a pair of stones with metal rings fixed to each, located in Potarch, Aberdeenshire and made famous by strongman Donald Dinnie. Weighing combined, the heavier stone weighs and the lighter stone weighs. They were selected in the 1830s as counterweights for use in maintaining the Potarch Bridge. Lost following World War I, they were rediscovered in 1953 by David P. Webster. Strongmen lift the stones off the ground and also carry them or hold them for time as measures to check strength in different ways. The ultimate challenge is to replicate the 1860 performance of Donald Dinnie, by walking the original stones over the historical Potarch Bridge distance of. Another contemporary feat of strength is to pick up the stones from the sides and walk them in a farmers walk style carry. Lifting and holding the stones up unassisted without the use of lifting straps is widely regarded as a world class feat of grip strength.There's also 'Nicol Stones' which are meant to be a stepping stone towards the Dinnies, weighing and for a combined.