Arnold Classic 2008:

To all my strongman friends compeating at Arnold Classic Strongman this weekend:

My best wishes-and may somebody please "beat" Zydrunas for me  ???

To Jan / Terry Todd and Jim Lorimar: Good luck and thank you for all the good years !!!

The Viking

New link on www.viking-power.no

Log onto www.viking-power.no  first link is VIDEO

Went to SEFA today....

Toril at SEFA is helping me out making promo clothes for Viking Power Collection.
Toril has made fitness outfits for a decade in Norway-she is the best !!!
Have a look at: www.sefa.no

MILO TODAY:

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Strongman Champions League by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2007 IronMind Developed by Ilkka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert, ?a new episode in strongman? has been announced today: Strongman Champions League. The Strongman Champions League, which Ilkka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert describe as, ?a new episode in strongman,? was announced today. Logo courtesy of Marcel Mostert. ?This is what people want; this is what people understand; this is what the competitors want,? Mostert told IronMind today. Following is the official statement, as released by Marcel Mostert and Ilkka Kinnunen: ?A complete series of 10-12 competitions, that will take place all over the world, but most of the competitions will be held in Europe. The very best IFSA champions, referees and their organizers will be the guarantee of a great new, fresh excitement in Strongman sport. The competition venues are the best which each country can offer and it will include the country?s own traditional elements.? Champions League competitions ?will be televised and spread all over the world,? the statement continued. ?All competitions will be shown guaranteed in their organising countries, Asia and on Eurosport 1 and 2. More channels will follow. This means already a reach of 800 million viewers and weekly shown episodes! Main structure of the Strongman Champions League: 1) Each competition has a prize money total of 15 - 20,000 USD 2) A minimum of 12 athletes will compete in each contest 3) All points will be cumulated for a Champions League Winner at the end of the year! This will be done over best 8 out of 10 competition) 4) Rules will be done officially as usual in all IFSA competitions 5) The top 3 will be directly placed in the IFSA World Championships 6) The whole league will have high profile standard strongman events with the same graphics, ?film leader? and point system 7) Multiple broadcasting all over the world? Mostert?s statement also included the following competition calendar as confirmed: 1) 22-03 CL LATVIA* 2) 05-04 CL DUBAI 3) 10-05 CL SERBIA 4) 01-06 CL HOLLAND 5) 21-06 CL BULGARIA 6) 19-07 CL GERMANY (?) 7) 02-08 CL LITHUANIA 8) 09-08 CL HUNGARY 9) 16-08 CL ROMANIA 10) 29-08 CL FINLAND *Note that dates are in European format, day-month, and CL stands for Champions League. China, Ukraine and Russia are on the waiting list, Mostert said. Ilkka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert, the founders of the Strongman Champions League, are longtime strongman promoters, with major contests to their credit worldwide. Christian Fennell ?will work on further broadcasting for the Champions League in USA and Canada, and revising the World Championships,? the statement said. ?All together we think that this is a perfect platform of competitions that will lead to another great World Championship,? Mostert?s statement said. The first Strongman Champions League competition will be held in Riga, Latvia on March 22, with ?local hero and strongman Raimunds Bergmanis? working as an announcer.

Pro Gym Hokksund.....

Pro Gym Hokksund is where we train weights. This was once Svend's gym.
Today it's arms.....

Fully booked week with many meetings......

This week we are fully booked with many meetings and new projects.....
Can't tell you anything yet......
Norway Strongest Man is around the corner, and we work hard to get that good !
Svend is still in the hospital 3 times a week-but are in great shape due to the illness !
Next Monday he's scheduled for operation he did in the end of November 2007.
All in all we are all doing fine !!!

Still training.....

Hi everyone :)
I have got so many requests about Viking Power Clothing line for women......
I will try to post some pix the next upcoming days.....just to give you an idea !
But I'm very bussy these days......Norway strongest man is around the corner
and I'm not ripped yet......ha-ha !!!
Yes, I still train a lot and will try to answer the questions I get on email regarding that !
Have a good training week everybody !!!
Have to go to bed now-spinning at 06.00 tomorrow !!!

Stay strong !!!

Lene Alexandra

Kikki-My good tall friend that understands short me......

Finally I have found a girlfriend that understands my "love for big strongmen"......
Yet-not afraid I will " try to steal" her  husband , Egil since he's 20 kg. too light for me....... :)
It's so nice to have found a grown up-not 18 years old good friend that can support me
when I complain about getting old-er........
I really appreciate our friendship Kikki due to big difference when it comes to hight !!!

Love you !!!
Hug Lene Alexandra

Peppes Pizza Aker Brygge...

Sunday we met with our good friends, Kikki, Egil and Vilja at Peppes Aker Brygge.
It was kind of funny you know....next to our table we got visitors from USA !
I was sitting next to them, and I kind of understood that they were wondering;
"Is that really Svend Karlsen ????". Finally-when we started to talk about
World strongest man one of them kindly asked; Are you Svend Karlsen ???
I have seen you on TV many times back home !!!
The 3 men were, Kirk Parslay, Scott Shannon and Joe Bell.
They were all very polite and friendly !!! They are here in Norway with the
Deep Sub. Unit U.S. Navy.
Nice to meet you guys- you can report back home that The Viking has retired........
Is no longer compeating like it looks like on ESPN. In fact-he's eating more
pizzas these days than training....... :)
All our best to the 3 of you-it was a plesure meeting you all !
When you guys get back home, have a look at our blog or buy MILO Magazine
www.ironmind.com  to follow Svend and Viking Power Production world wide !!!

Kikki and Egil-thank you for great friends relaxing time.....!!!!

Svend Viking & Lene Alexandra

NEWS !!!!!!! Svend Karlsen Viking Power Stipend !!!

Vi har den store glede av å kunne meddele NSM 2008 deltakere sjansen til å vinne
Svend Karlsen Viking Power Stipend 2008.

Dette vil gi venneren som utnevnes på Storefjell 05.07.2008 følgende :

1 års sponsor pakke med tøy fra Viking Power By Svend Karlsen.
Samme tøy-pakke som Super Series utøvere får.
Navnet ditt brodert på diverse plagg.
Reisebag på hjul.
Etc,etc.

+

1 betalt opphold og reise for 1  ( deg ) person til et internasjonalt strongman stevner.
Land, tid og sted finner vi sammen ut av !. Det kan enten være å delta selv, eller bare se på !!!

Hva må du gjøre fra 24.02.2008:

* Fremme strongman sporten på en mest mulig positiv måte for felles nytte og glede !
* Velvillighet for dugnad rundt lokale stevner som arrangeres i Norge !
* Må vise fremgang resultatmessig-basert på resultater fra tidligere stevner !

Viking Power Production står som enerådig over utnevnelsen 05.07.2008 ! 

Svend Viking & Lene Alexandra
24.02.2008.

Viking Power By Svend Karlsen collection....

Today we recived the promo clothes for Viking Power Collection line !
Promo pictures will be avalible soon.......
Full line for big men are soon ready for sale !!!
Hang in there-hang in people !
There will be launched new items all year around.
We have got so many requests for woman clothes too-so there will
most prob. be coming a line for Viking Power femme to.......( I know there will.......)

We will add a link on www.viking-power.no for the full ine soon !

Neglemannen.no

I dag har jeg testet ut nye negler etter anbefaling fra min gode venninnen Helene Rask.
Roger la super fine negler-fullt sett fransk med pynt på 1 time !!!
Jeg har alltid måtte file og pusse litt selv når jeg har kommet fra andre-
men ikke denne gangen nei !!!
Håper og tror at dette er tingen !
Tusen takk for tipset snuppa-og Tusen takk til deg Roger for at du hadde tid på kort varsel !

Good going girl !!!

Merete-the gym owner at ta Pro Gym where we train.
Can you belive this woman wants to go on a diet???
You look great Merete !!!
Well-today we made a deal......you and me-starting on Monday !!!
See you Sunday for final prep. for our two weeks diet !!!
Svend can't find words for what he thinks about all this training, diet and food talk......

Welcome to my office......

Look at www.treningsforum.no Rep. Svend Part 1...

Photo Egil Berli-Johnsen

New personal sponsor today !!!

Today I got a new personal sponsor-Jippi !
Full sponsed by www.proteinfabrikken.no
Thank you Bjørn Kenneth and Team Proteinfabrikken !
It really helps me now that I'm training 12 hours a week.......!!!

Lene Alexandra xxx

Training with Marius Bjerke today !

It's quite obvious that Norway strongest man is around the corner.....
Strongmen after strongman is visiting us for training and strongman talk.....
Good to keep track on "my boys" !!!
Marius was not too happy with his training-i I will not tell you what he ended up on.... :)
Good to see you Marius !
Alexander is still in training as you can see-today he did 20 kg. benchpress !

Love to our friends world wide !!! See yah soon !!!

Anthony, Colin and Jesper 2007.

This is what I wish for my 8 years birthday says Svend Alexander..

Not so happy in the 35C California sun WSM 2007.
But looking back now Alexander keeps asking when we can go back ???
I think dad has a plan to bring the small Viking over again after the transplant.....
Just the boys this time-go swim in "Uncle Odd's" pool ....

Svend Alexander turns 8 on the 03.04.2008. His wish for the big day is not like
all other kids turning 8......

"I wish the Q and Final from WSM 2006 Dad" he said......I'd like to see Pfister....

Man-what have we created ???

Your wish little man is already airborn from London !!!

Morning spinning at the Karlsen's.......

He-he. It was a blast !!! Egil did great-but after two songs in the start he ALREADY hed pump
in his legs......11 more songs to go baby.......
I'm very proud of you Egil- 1 hour spinning + ABS at 08.30. Sunday morning is fantastic
for a strongman !!! Later today we go for weights again !

Lene in training-or at least pretending too......

I don't like myself in pictures-but I likes the last one here Egil shoot of me in chins !!!
www.hotandtrendy.no

Kikki-this is for you....

Your husband and the " famous" Oscar !!!

And "my men" need food as well......

Training with Berli-Johnsen......

God damn......today we all went training at Svend's old gym. The boys went for
shoulders, chest and legs. I pretended I trained shoulders.....
Egil says I have to train heavy !!!!! NOT !. I hate to lift weights !.
Tomorrow morning I think we will hear something else when Egil has
promised me to join in on my morning spinning at 08.30. 1 hour + ABS !!!
Man-it's noise here now-3 strongmen in the house- everybody playing guitar and singing.
And let me remind you people-there's NO alcohol what so ever......
But we have so much fun......talk so much shit about all of you guys....... :)

Tomorrow it's spinning and weights again......so stay tuned people-stay tuned.....

Reporting from Viking Power Strongman camp...

This is how my birthday party ended........

Happy Birthday to me !!!

Hello everobody :)

Thank you all ever so much for all the good wishes for my birthday today !!!
I hate to get old-but there's nothing we can do !
Svend is so happy today-now he gets an excuse to eat cake !!!

As you all know my last 9 years has been about strongman, strongman and strongman...
I will stil do Norway Strongest Man and Viking Power Challenge this year together with Svend.
But from August I will step aside-and let the man who made it all come true for all of us, Svend Karlsen,
do everything around strongman in Norway. I will still work for Super Series when ever they need me, and travel if I get the chance !. I have met so many good friends during my journey-and hope we still can keep in touch !.

Sometimes you have to stop in life and ask yourself if this is what you really want ???
But you know me so well by now-so don't think I will not speak up if something isn't right !!!

Again-Thank you all for your best wishes today !

Love Lene Alexandra 33 years old-damn....I'm getting old now...

Day 2: Mini Viking WSM Q:

People-see  and learn.....You take what you have of equipment....in Alexander's case
that will be  Oscar's cat house for loading kegg. Today it was duck walk and loading.
We are still on the WSM DVD modus as you can imagine !

And after you do well you get a prize !!!

STRONGMAN POLSKA !

Today I found some old pictures in a Polish webpage.
It's Janne, Odd and Svend compeating.
Also a pix of myself......all you find in internett..... :)

It was a good day Leiv !!!!

Log onto: www.strongman.tv

Please look at www.strongman.tv

This is the first ever LIVE strongman site. Costs like nothing !
Great site and inside info !

First LIVE contest was from Mohegan Sun 2008.
Spread the news people !!!

Dinner at the Karlsens

Egil liked my cooking so much that he will come back this weekend.......GREAT !
I think there will be a WSM DVD marathon in the cinema......?????
Looking forward to seeing you again Egil !!!

More training at GYM2000 !

It's so funny-yesterday I told you that we got WSM DVD in mail- all evening Svend Alexander
trained loading, log lift -inspired by the big boys running in the back on the TV !!!

News: Like a good tan ???

It looks like we may be abale to give the winner of Norway Strongest Man 2008
a brand new sunbed !!!!!. Nothing is final yet-but it looks good !

Now you can get same tan as Svend !!!
X-fingers !!! We will keep you posted ASAP !

Alexander testing equipmenet at GYM2000 stand !

Signing with POLARIS for Viking Power Challenge 2008 !

Yesterday we signed with POLARIS for Viking Power Challenge !
GREAT to have you onboard again this year Polaris !!!

This year we will use a small truck to lift or press.....

WSM 2007 in my mail today - Juhuuu !!!

Today we recived  the whole WSM 2007 + Britain Strongest Man 2007 from TWI and Lisa.
Thank you ever so much !

Svend did work on both productions-and hope he can do the same this year in
despite of the illness !!!

Svend Alexander got so inspired after looking at the strongmen-he dressed up
and went outdoor to do some heavy deadlift in -6C !!!
My lord-I don't hope this will last.....can't go through that again !!!

Maybe this means we will see Odd Haugen and Svend Karlsen team up again in
the next 10-15 years ???. Coz I don't think Odd Haugen will stop in the next 20 years....???

I was laughing looking at the tapes-Svend did look like Mark Felix regarding his tan !!!
Man you were black Svend......

Hugo and I in the food court in Mohegan Sun

That is a BIG man people.....even I look small compared to Hugo-Jippi !!!

( Thst's why I hang around the biggest men in the world-to look smaller myself... )

Magnus Samuelsson is coming to Storefjell again 05.07.2008 !!!

ELEIKO signs with Super Series 2008 !

Mariusz in ELEIKO shirt Mohegan Sun 2008.

Eleiko is the best equipment ever !!!

CONGRATS SUPER SERIES -WELL DONE !!!
Photo: Randy Strossen. IRONMIND

Magnus Samuelsson are you coming back to Storefjell ????

Richard, Espen, Magnus and Olaf at Storefjell 070707

Knut Ole testing Atlas Stones....

Svend and Helene ready for prize sermony ....

Mini strongmen

Rekruteringen er god ialle fall....Sander & Alexander i Larvik 2007

Rask Viking Power !!!!!

Richard "Monster" Skog winner of Fitnessmessen 2008 !

Congratulations Richard Skog !!!
"2nd Lars Rørbakken
3rd Espen Aune

Trophys from GYM2000.

Events NSM 2008 is here.....

The athletes at GYM2000 stand.

Marius Bjerke,Espen Lund,Raymond Lillemo,Lars Rørbakken,Richard Skog, Espen Aune, Haldor Berg.

Fitnessmessen Saturday 09.02. 2008:

Thank you so much - My DREAM TEAM !!!!!

We had a fantastic day today. Starting at 2 o'clock - people lined up already at 1 to get the best seats.
I guess 1000 people stood and watched the 8 strongmen compeating in 4 events that was run in 80 minutes-
prize sermony included !.

We like to thank our DREAM TEAM- Egil Berli-Johnsen, Kikki Berli-Johnsen, Vilja, Berli-Johnsen,
GYM2000-Knut Ole, Nils Jørgen, Kristian and Vidar, Helene Rask and Rask Models, Truls Nebell, Ola the data guy !. All other crew members, and of course all athletes !!! You did all GREAT !!!

1st place. Richard " Monster" Skog
2nd place Lars Rørbakken.
3rd place Espen "Kvadraten" Aune.

We all look forward to Norway strongest man Saturday 24.05.2008 at Pers Hotel in Gol.
Svend Karlsen Viking Power Challenge at Storefjell Hotel 05.07.2008.

Helene-do we have a plan ????? Thank you baby !!!

Well-if you think I can relax now-you have to think again........tomorrow I will make the Berli-Johnsens a steak.....
and Svend will tell stories from " back in the days "....... :)

Svend Alexander was very dissapointed he couldn't do an exh. today......he gets 1000,- Nkr every time he does that..... and he said yesterday; Now I just need 2000,- more and I have money enough to buy myself a laptop to have in my room........I guess his search for naked people isn't over yet.........

Thank you everybody for a GREAT weekend ! Love U all !!!!

Svend Viking & Lene Alexandra

And than we need food.....

Egil ble litt redd da jeg plutselig insisterte på MAT !!! Uansett hva.......
Peppez Pizza er bra karbing selv for oss som ikke skal delta....
Svend Alexander er mest sur fordi ha ikke får være med i morgen.....

Det testes markløft med bil- med og uten bil......

Dette kan dere vinne gutter.......Ja-ikke Helene da.....

GYM2000 har laget flotte medaljer til 1,2 og 3 plass !!!

FITNESSMESSEN ER I GANG !!!

Som dere ser er alle på plass. Alle har oppgaver, alle like store på sin måte !
Heleen Rask og jentene var også sammen med oss i dag-tusen takk jenter !
GYM2000, har stand på messen hvor vi alle er innom i morgen fra kl.12.00.
Egil vil helst være med, og tester mer enn villig alt fra 70 kg. hantel til markløft med bil.

Kom å se på strongman fra 14-16 på Norges Varemesser på Lillestrøm !!!

Goodnight.......

Crushing in bed in Mohegan Sun after 19 hours travel time....

Man-I'm struggeling now.......

Today it's the 5th day I been stearing into the computer....trying to write an report from
Mohegan Sun for MILO.......Sometimes I just can't get it right !!!
Look after the latest issue out now MILO Magazine. I have a report from WSM 2007.....

OSLO TV today !

Today we went to Oslo TV together with Helene Rask to promote Fitnessmessen
Strongman show Saturday 09.02. at 14-16.
Some of us will be at GYM2000 booth Friday from 16.00.17.00.
We will also  be at GYM2000 booth from 12-13 Saturday.

Mini Viking is bored.....eating candy !

Helene-Thank for doing this -Big hug 2 U !

See you all tomorrow !!!

Oslo TV tomorrow at 17.30.

Tomorrow Svend, Svend Alexander and Helene Rask wil be guest at OSLO TV.
Svend Alexander will demo farmers walk.
Svend and Helene will talk about upcoming strongman event at Fitnessmessen this
Saturday at 14-16.00. Norges Varemesser Lillestrøm.

Come see us all !!!

Espen, Richard together with the King....WSM 2007.

Me at the Mohegan lobby....

Well-I don't think you can see it in the picture.....but there's a bar and water fall
behind me. It's lovely !. This was my 2nd trip to Mohegan-and I LOVE to go back !!!

To answer a question we got; No Mariusz will NOT retire !!! And, NO, Svend will NOT do a comeback !!!

Svend Alexander and grandfather are skiing !!!

From Mohegan Sun 2008.

Terry, Derek and Mariusz.
Last year Dave Ostlund was the only man to beat Mariusz  in one competition.......
This year it happend in the first Super Series in Mohegan. I doubt it will happen again this year....
Mariusz told me he had almost not been training after WSM 2007. And who cares when you are
4 x World Strongest Man anyway !!!! Mariusz can win any day he wants too !!!
It was great fun in Mohegan-of course it's more fun for everybody when Mariusz don't train.......!

Is this how it's going down in 2008 as well ????

Arild and The Rask girls !!!
Norway strongest man 2007 !

Alle jenter; Sjekk ut www.hotandtrendy.no

Dette er supert treningstøy ! Fantastisk passform og super stretch ! Trekker opp svetten helt.
Hot and Trendy har masse flott og kult tøy til alle anledninger !
Anette heter damen som driver butikken. Hun er kjempe hyggelig, og hjelper deg garantert med
alle spørsmål du måtte ha i forhold til størrelse etc.
Helene Rask er også stor fan, og bruker dette hele tiden !!!
Kom å møt oss på Fitnessmessen fredag 08.02 kl.17.00 + Lørdag 09.02. Kl.14-16.
Helene Rask og og jeg er der begge dager.
Samt også til tider på stand til GYM2000. Lørdag ca. kl. 12.30.

Kom innom oss da !!!