Published: September 07, 2008 02:34 am      

Ex-champ home in strong man contest

CHARLESTON — Phil Pfister’s outdoor playground behind a grocery store consists of spare tires, rust-tinged barbells, a car with busted windows and other weighty objects.

A barbed-wire fence protects what looks like a miniature junkyard, where the 2006 world’s strongest man spends much of his time keeping toned. Planes roar overhead coming in and out of the airport where the 375-pound Pfister recently used a rope to pull a 727 aircraft for charity.

He’s gone around the world in 10 years of competing at small sports festivals and international venues.

Starting this weekend, Pfister won’t have to go much farther than his own front steps.

The hometown Hercules will have the entire city behind him as this year’s strongest man contest comes to Charleston.

“It’s really cool for all the folks who have supported me over the last decade to have an opportunity to come out and see not just a Strongman contest but the most prestigious one in the world,” Pfister said. “I hope I do my hometown some justice.”

It’s no accident that the world’s strongest picked West Virginia’s capital. Pfister introduced Gov. Joe Manchin to competition creator Barry Frank last year when Pfister finished third in Anaheim, Calif.

“Ten minutes after I introduced the two of them, Barry Frank came up to me and said ’Hey, we’re coming to West Virginia in ’09,”’ Pfister said.

Plans to return the competition this year to 2006 host China fell through, as did backup plans to bring it to Egypt. Charleston officials gladly embraced the chance to move up the spotlight one year.

The World’s Strongest Man competition was held in the United States in its first six years of existence, from 1977 through 1982, with Americans winning each time. It’s been held mostly overseas since then, and European competitors have dominated over the past two decades. Poland’s Mariusz Pudzianowski has won four of the last six titles, including last year’s.

Pfister opened some eyes as the first American winner in 24 years.

The former firefighter is now a communications specialist with natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy. He’s spoken at dozens of schools and businesses and appeared on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” and Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”

Manchin mentioned him in a State of the State address and the U.S. Postal Service recently issued a commemorative envelope of Pfister. The only other West Virginians honored like that were NFL star Randy Moss, NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West and Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton.

Eight fellow Strongman competitors showed up at the Postal Service ceremony for Pfister — some even snapped photos of him.

“He’s setting a great example for guys like me that are just getting started in the sport,” said Brian Shaw, a Fort Lupton, Colo., resident entered in his first world strongman competition.

Through it all, Pfister has valued the time spent with his wife, Michelle, and 7-year-old son, Wyatt.

“He’s been at it a long time. It’s a lot of family sacrifice, but he’s always managed to put us first,” said Michelle Pfister, a nurse. “He says he’s going to retire after this. I will believe it when I see it.”

If this is his last competition, Pfister’s hometown would be the perfect setting for him to go out a winner.