ECWC Strongmen Sweep The Heavyweight Podium and Add 2 More Pro's at California's Strongest Man 2026

Huntington Beach, CA-(PRESS RELEASE)- If you were in Huntington Beach this weekend for the “No Kings” political demonstration you would have been merely 3 blocks away from 5 athletes being crowned California’s Strongest Man & Woman (CSM). This was a special year for the event, as 3 of the athletes earned their Strongman Pro Cards by winning their respective divisions. Two of the new Pro Strongman Champions belong to East Coast West Coast Strength (ECWC) Strongman Team. Blake Hoffman became the 10th Professional Strongman at ECWC, winning the Middleweight (105 kg) division and his second CSM title. In the Heavyweight (Open) Men’s Division, newcomer Christian Davis in only his second strongman competition captured his Pro Card and his first California’s Strongest Man title. Christian began training at ECWC just after the 2025 CSM and quickly developed his skills through the most elite strongman program in the country under his team lead by Pro Strongman - Scott Brengel.

The ECWC Strongman Team has now produced 11 Pro Strongman and Strongwoman competitors, The World’s Strongest Man, 4 World's Strongest Man/Woman finalists, the Arnold Pro Women’s World Champion, 3 Strongman Corporation National champions in 3 different divisions, America's Strongest Man x 4, America’s Strongest Woman x 3, seven top 5-ranked pro strongmen at America’s Strongest Man/Woman, and dozens of strongman, highland games and powerlifting titles.

Not only did the ECWC Strongman team claim 2 new Pro’s, they took the entire Heavyweight men’s podium with a stacked 20 man roster. This is quite possibly the first time in history that the entire podium was swept by one team in a Strongman Pro-Am event. Christian Davis took the top slot with 85 points, Grant Bigley at 82.5 and Greg Richardson rounding out the top 3 with 81.5 pts. The next closest competitor was Nicholas Gentile with 73.5 pts. Grant took the Car Deadlift event with 10 reps, Greg won the Army Truck Pull finishing in a blistering 28 seconds, with Grant right behind him in 29 seconds. In the Viking Press, Gabe Meza smashed the competition with a mind-blowing 18 reps with 330 lbs. Christian and Nicholas tied for 2nd with 15 reps. Both the Keg Toss and the Atlas Stone event wins were claimed by CSM 2025 - David “Sasquatch” Self with blistering times of 11.8 and 20.8 secs, respectively. Christian managed to pull off the overall win by placing top 5 in every single event and top 2 in 2 events. His consistency and technical prowess in every event proved to be the factor that earned him the title.

In the men’s Middleweight (105kg) division, there wasn’t much to say other than that ECWC Strongman - Blake Hoffman went in and completely dominated every event. He hoisted 4 reps on the 300 lb log, he was 1 of only 2 men to finish all 5 kegs in the Keg Toss, Blake doing it 5 seconds faster in 13 secs. He was 1 of only 3 men to complete the Farmer’s Walk Medley in only 25 seconds, the next closest in 54 seconds was Nick Biebel. Blake finished the Army Truck Pull in 34 seconds, with the next closest time Dane Kelley in 56 secs. And finally, he loaded 4 stones in 29 seconds, with Jaime Maciel the next best time in 36 secs. Blake, Shawn and Jaime will move on to compete in America’s Strongest Man and The Arnold Amateur in 2027.

In the Women’s Lightweight Division, there was an amazing comeback story with a very exciting finish. The story began with an amazing performance on the Viking Press by Melissa Valdez with 22 reps. There was a 2-way tie for second place with 18 reps by Sarah Harrelson and Mary Clark-Kuebler. In the second event, the Farmer’s Medley, Edna Ferrer (California’s Strongest Woman 2024) showed off her turn and burn with a 19 second finish that narrowly edged Mary Clark-Kuebler with a 20 second run. After 2 events, Mary lead the way with 11.5 pts, followed by Sarah with 10.5, Melissa with 10 pts and Edna now in 4th place with 9 pts.

The Keg Toss was next up with Jenna Kean (the reigning champ) flinging all 5 kegs in 24 secs. Edna right behind her in 25 secs. After 3 events, Mary and Sarah were tied for the lead with 15.5 pts with both former champs breathing down their necks with 15 pts each. In the Truck Pull, Edna showed off her fast feet and put the pedal to the metal with a time of 22 seconds with Amy Liew right on her heels at 24 seconds. Going into the final event, Edna had a 2 pt lead and would need at least a second place finish to secure her second California’s Strongest Woman title and her Pro Card and that’s exactly what she did. Mary came out strong in attempt to regain the lead and edged out Edna by 1/10th of a second. They were the only 2 women to hoist the 240 lb stone and as a result finished 1st & 2nd, with Jenna Kean rounding out the podium. All 3 Women have qualified for America’s Strongest Woman and the 2027 Arnold Amateur Competition in Columbus, Ohio.

The Men’s Lightweight division resulted in a back and forth battle between Kenny Callinan and 4 x California’s Strongest Man - Dr. Andrew Mock. But in the end, Dr. Mock was the only man to finish all 5 stones to secure a record 5th title and another giant trophy sword.

In the final division, the Women’s Open was almost dominated by 3 x California’s Strongest Woman Jennie Roberts. But 2019, California’s Strongest Woman - Daphne Zhang showed off her overhead prowess, taking the Log Press with 6 reps. Jennie was the only other woman to record a rep on the log. After the Log Press, Jennie went on to win the other 4 events to claim her 4th title.

Next year in 2027 will be the 25th anniversary of California’s Strongest Man & Woman. Mark your calendars for next March as the longest running Strongman Competition on the west coast returns with its amazing cast of competitors, the best venue in the entire country and the most legendary staff of decorated Pro Strongman Competitors to make the show the most exciting and efficiently facilitated contest in the World.