THUNDER BAY - There’s nothing quite like enjoying a rack of ribs, and watching people lift heavy objects above their head.
That was the motto for Saturday’s edition of Rib Fest, which featured a strongman competition that will act as a qualifier tournament for a future national tournament.
A number of strongmen (and women) were centre-street on Cumberland as hundreds of rib fanatics observed the show.
“You can’t beat the ribs,” Dan Campbell, a regular at RibFest said. “But the strongman… that’s fun to watch. Some of these people, you don’t know how they do it.”
Stephanie Bisignano gets that reaction a lot.
“It shocks a lot of people when I tell them I can pull a truck, or lift 500 pounds over my shoulders,” she said. “It feels really good to get that look of shock.”
One of two female competitors, Bisignano started weight training as a means of losing weight. After losing 65 pounds, Bisignano became dedicated to the grind.
The results speak for themselves. Bisignano wowed spectators after completing a “yoke walk” - walking roughly half a block with 400 pounds on your shoulders - in under 16 seconds.
She says although it’s strange to lift weight in front of a large crowd, eventually the nerves go away.
“It’s definitely nerve wracking when you first step out. But when I start lifting, I block everything out.”
Bisignano has competed in strongman competitions on the national level, as well as winning the award of Thunder Bay’s strongest woman in 2017.
“Especially being a woman, I love the feeling I get from the crowd.”
Day two of Rib Fest also featured an excavator challenge that saw people volunteer to complete various challenges.
Melanie Hatzidemetriou said she has newfound respect for people who work with the machines.
“Major respect. It’s a lot of work to be able to maneuver that just a little bit.”
Sunday’s schedule at Rib Fest will include the Red River Rumble.
