2026 Strongest Stone Lifter
2026 World's Strongest Stone Lifter Championship
Worlds Strongest Stone Lifter Women's Masters 40+, America's Strongest Stone Lifter Men's Masters 40+ & Florida's Strongest Stone Lifter series
Unleash Your Inner Highlander at the Tallahassee Highland Games
Register NowAbout the Competition
The Strongest Stone Lifter series is an official International Highland Games Federation (IHGF) competition and a signature event of the Tallahassee Highland Games festival. With no weigh-ins and a single open class, competitors from every background can test raw strength, grit, and Highland spirit.
Your registration includes festival entry for you and a guest, VIP parking next to the action, and athlete lunch at noon. A kilt is required to compete.
Scholarship language: All listed amounts are structured as scholarship stipends intended to support athlete expenses (such as hotel, fuel, and food), helping protect eligibility for athletes with Olympic or amateur status considerations while still rewarding performance.
Get My Spot
Dates & Schedule
February 7–8, 2026 – Apalachee Regional Park, Tallahassee, FL
The schedule is coordinated with the IHGF Heavy Athletics All-American Series and the IHGF National Caber Championship, allowing experienced athletes to compete in both Strongest Stone Lifter and Heavy Athletics.
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Saturday, February 7 – 9:00 AM
Women’s Strongest Stone Lifter (Open & World's Strongest 40+) • Men’s Novice Stones • Men’s & Women’s A/B/C Heavy Athletics -
Sunday, February 8 – 9:00 AM
Men’s Strongest Stone Lifter (Open & America's Strongest 40+) • Masters & Adaptive Heavy Athletics
Events
Five stone-lifting challenges test strength, endurance, and technique:
- Stone Press – Max reps in 90 seconds.
- Fefor Stone Carry – Max distance with turns every 50 ft.
- Stone Put – Distance throw from the trig.
- Stone Medley – Carry progression for time.
- Stone Load – Load stones onto a 40" barrel.
Want more throws, hammers, and cabers? Explore Highland Games Heavy Athletics and cross-register to compete in both.
How to Compete in BothPrize & Scholarship Payouts
| Division | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Total Prize & Scholarship Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHGF Women’s Masters World’s Strongest Stone Lifter – 40+ (World Championship) | $1,000 | $750 | $500 | $2,250 |
| IHGF Men’s Masters America’s Strongest Stone Lifter – 40+ (Hungary) | $750 | $500 | $250 | $1,500 |
| Florida’s Strongest Stone Lifter – Men’s Open | $500 | $250 | $150 | $900 |
| Florida’s Strongest Stone Lifter – Women’s Open | $500 | $250 | $150 | $900 |
| Highland Games A/B/C Divisions – Men’s & Women’s (IHGF Heavy Athletics Qualifiers) | $150 | — | — | $150 per division |
| IHGF National Caber Champion – A/B/C & Masters (Men & Women) | $200 | — | — | $200 per champion |
The current combined prize and scholarship pool is set at at least $7,500 across Strongest Stone Lifter, IHGF Heavy Athletics divisional champions, and the IHGF National Caber Championship.
Compete for the Prize PoolQualification Pathways
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IHGF Women’s Masters World’s Strongest Stone Lifter – 40+
This event in Tallahassee is the official World Championship for the Women’s Masters 40+ division. The winner is crowned IHGF Women’s Masters World’s Strongest Stone Lifter. -
IHGF Men’s Masters America’s Strongest Stone Lifter – 40+
Top Masters men advance to compete in Hungary for the IHGF America’s Strongest Stone Lifter title. -
Florida’s Strongest Stone Lifter – Men’s & Women’s Open
Division champions earn the Florida’s Strongest Stone Lifter title. Top 2 in each Open division qualify for the Visa California Viking Fest (Sept 2026). Viking Fest winners receive airfare assistance and accommodations for the World’s Strongest Stone Lifter in Fefor, Norway (July 2027). -
IHGF Heavy Athletics A/B/C & Masters + National Caber Championship
Heavy Athletics is an official IHGF national qualifier, and the caber event is the IHGF National Caber Championship, feeding athletes into higher-level IHGF championships.
Try Both: Heavy Athletics + Strongest Stone Lifter
For athletes who want the full Highland experience, our schedule allows you to enter both IHGF Heavy Athletics and Strongest Stone Lifter. Throw stones, hammers, and cabers by day – then lift, carry, press, and load the stones.
Old-school Highland grit meets modern championship pathways. If your training can handle it, this is the weekend to prove it.
Register for Heavy Athletics Register for Strongest Stone LifterOn-Site Services & Sponsors
COSPT will be on the main field providing athlete-only chiropractic adjustments and sports recovery massage throughout the weekend, keeping lifters and throwers battle-ready.
Additional partners include Visit Tallahassee, the International Highland Games Federation, and regional strength organizations who help us grow the sport and support the athletes who carry it.
Ready to Compete?
Your registration includes festival entry, VIP parking, and lunch for you and a guest. Divisions will cap — secure your spot early.
Register for Strongest Stone Lifter Register for Heavy AthleticsTally Highland Games Sponsors
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