Western Europe’s Strongest · Nijmegen · 6 February 2027
Natural Athlete Guide
2027 athlete information
Prepare for your competition: membership, weight options, five events and qualification for Europe’s Strongest and Worlds.
Confirmed: 6 February 2027, 09:00–17:00 CET, at Mister Panda in De Goffertboerderij, Nijmegen.
Final Natural Strongman Open specifications. The weights, loading distances and core event format follow the final update issued on 14 October 2026. Minimum-age eligibility, local log/deadlift weight-selection procedures, personal lifting kit and detailed judging instructions still await confirmation. Natural’s official 2027 information →
👕 Athlete T-shirt 🎁 Goodie bag 🏅 Participation medal
🥇🥈🥉 Premium medals for podium places.
Last updated: 17 October 2026.
Before you enter
Membership, categories & testing.
Natural Strongman membership
Every athlete at a sanctioned competition must hold a valid Natural Strongman membership. Event entry does not replace this requirement.
Without valid membership, Natural Strongman may remove an athlete’s result from the official results, leaderboards, records or qualification process.
Drug-tested competition
Drug / AAS testing takes place at sanctioned events under Natural Strongman procedures. Athletes may be selected for testing.
Check the current Natural Strongman eligibility and anti-doping requirements before entering. Contact Natural Strongman if you need clarification about eligibility or medication.
This guide does not replace the official anti-doping policy.
Confirmed Nijmegen 2027 categories
| Women | Men |
|---|---|
| U57kg | U72kg |
| U64kg | U80kg |
| U73kg | U90kg |
| U82kg | U105kg |
| Open | Open |
| Masters 40+ Open | Masters 40+ Open |
| Masters 40+ U73kg | Masters 40+ U90kg |
| Masters 50+ | Masters 50+ |
| Junior | Junior |
Junior: athletes must remain aged 23 or under for the full calendar year. For 2027, this means a date of birth on or after 1 January 2004.
Masters: athletes may compete from their 40th birthday. For Nijmegen 2027, you must be aged 40 or over on 6 February 2027 (born on or before 6 February 1987).
Masters 50+: athletes may compete from their 50th birthday. For Nijmegen 2027, this means born on or before 6 February 1977.
Categories and age eligibility checked against the final Natural Strongman Open 2027 information on 17 October 2026.
The final Natural Strongman Open structure includes all 18 categories listed above.
The final Natural Strongman Open 2027 format
Five events. One format.
All categories use the same events and equipment, with the published women’s and men’s loads. Athletes compete for their category podium and also appear on an overall leaderboard.
Every event has a 60-second time limit. Weight options are the same across age and weight categories within each sex.
01 / LOG PRESS FOR REPS
Every rep starts on the ground.
Each repetition is ground to overhead. Choose your trump weight: one rep at a heavier option beats any number of reps at a lighter option.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 50 | 85 |
| 60 | 100 |
| 70 | 115 |
| 80 | 130 |
Example: one rep at 60 kg ranks above any number of reps at 50 kg. You can only score on one weight. Depending on the available setup, athletes may have to pick and stick, or may be allowed to attempt a heavier log before moving to a lighter one. Nijmegen’s procedure will be announced.
02 / DEADLIFT FOR REPS
Choose your weight. Make your reps count.
The deadlift uses the same trump weight system as the log press.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 125 | 210 |
| 150 | 240 |
| 175 | 270 |
| 200 | 300 |
Local setup matters: the promoter will confirm how deadlift weight selection operates based on the available equipment. Nijmegen’s procedure will be announced; changing weight during an attempt is not guaranteed.
03 / SANDBAG LOAD MEDLEY OVER YOKE
Four bags. Four recorded splits.
Load the four bags over the yoke. The lighter bags start further away; the distance reduces as the load increases.
| Distance | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 60 kg | 100 kg |
| 8 m | 70 kg | 110 kg |
| 6 m | 80 kg | 120 kg |
| 4 m | 90 kg | 130 kg |
Loading height: women 44 inches (111.76 cm); men 48 inches (121.92 cm).
A split time is recorded for every successfully loaded bag. You do not need to complete all four bags to get a result: load as many as possible, as quickly as possible.
04 / FARMERS WITH A DECISION
Start light. Choose your next load.
Every athlete starts with the lighter farmers for 10 m out and 10 m back (20 m). Then choose to continue with the lighter implements or self-load the heavier weight and attempt another 10 m out and 10 m back.
| Women · kg per hand | Men · kg per hand |
|---|---|
| 70 kg → 90 kg | 110 kg → 130 kg |
Self-loading is included in the 60-second limit. A split time is recorded for each completed 10 m. After the initial 20 m light, completing 10 m with the heavier farmers beats any further time or distance with the lighter farmers. A drop outside the designated safe zone ends the run.
05 / MAX DISTANCE SANDBAG CARRY
Heavier counts only after 20 metres.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 70 | 110 |
| 90 | 130 |
Choose between the lighter and heavier bag and carry for maximum distance within 60 seconds.
You must complete at least 20 m (10 m out + 10 m back) with the heavier bag to beat any distance with the lighter bag. For example, 20 m with the women’s 90 kg bag beats any distance with 70 kg. A carry shorter than 20 m with the heavier bag does not meet the trump threshold.
Train for comparable equipment
Equipment specifications.
| Implement | Published specification |
|---|---|
| Log | Diameter: 12–13 inches (30.48–33.02 cm). |
| Deadlift bar | Standard 7-foot power / stiff bar. Deadlift bars are not permitted. Suitable weight plates may vary. |
| Farmers pickup | Maximum 18 inches (45.72 cm) to the top of the gripping handle, not to the top of the implement. |
| Farmers handles | Diameter 30–33 mm. Smooth handles; no knurling. |
| Sandbags | Cerberus Dual-Ply Sandbags, or bags with equivalent general construction, style and dimensions. |
These specifications are equipment standards for Natural Strongman Open competitions. They do not define the allowed personal lifting equipment. Rules for belts, straps, wraps and other athlete kit will be confirmed in the final event rules.
European pathway 2027
Your routes to Europe’s and Worlds.
The published European pathway covers Natural Strongman Open regional qualifiers in four European regions in February. Regional results feed both the European and Worldwide leaderboards.
| Route | Invitation |
|---|---|
| Win your category at a European regional qualifier | Europe’s Natural Strongest, regardless of final leaderboard position. |
| Top 10 in your category on the European Leaderboard | Europe’s Natural Strongest. |
| Top 10 in your category on the Worldwide Leaderboard | Direct invitation to Worlds. Competing at Europe’s is not required to secure this place. |
| Top 5 in your division at Europe’s Natural Strongest | Worlds qualification. |
A regional win is not automatically a direct Worlds place. For the direct route to Worlds shown above, you need a top-10 finish in your category on the Worldwide Leaderboard.
Europe’s Natural Strongest takes place on 22 May 2027 in Ybbs an der Donau, Austria. Rules for tied results and declined invitations have not been specified on the final Open page; clarification is still pending.
Archive image from 2025. The five Nijmegen 2027 events are listed above.
Your competition day
Arrive informed. Compete prepared.
Saturday 6 February 2027 · 09:00–17:00 CET
De Goffertboerderij · Mister Panda
Goffertweg 17, 6532 AA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
De Goffertboerderij is home to restaurant Mister Panda, our official venue and catering partner.
Schedule & weigh-ins
Confirmed weigh-in sessions
- Friday 5 February 2027: 09:00–10:00 CET
- Friday 5 February 2027: 17:00–18:00 CET
- Saturday 6 February 2027: 07:30–08:30 CET
All times are Netherlands local time (CET).
The detailed competition-day schedule, start times and athlete briefing details are due at least four weeks before the event: by 9 January 2027.
Running order
The 2027 format allows the log and deadlift to be grouped by chosen weight for efficient loading. After the static events, categories run from lightest to heaviest, with last place lifting first and the leader lifting last within each category. The final local running order will be provided with the event information.
Quick answers before you enter
Which category should I choose?
Choose the relevant women’s or men’s weight class, Open, Junior or Masters division. This event has no experience levels. Check the category and age requirements before entering.
What is trump weight?
For the log press and deadlift, one successful repetition at a heavier weight ranks above any number of repetitions at a lighter weight. For example, 1 valid deadlift at 240 kg beats 10 valid deadlifts at 210 kg. At the same weight, the athlete with more valid repetitions ranks higher. A failed heavier attempt does not count as a successful lift.
This is not a total-kilograms-lifted calculation. Whether you can change weight during your attempt depends on the confirmed local setup. Read Natural Strongman’s official explanation →
Do I need a membership number when registering?
A valid Natural Strongman membership is required. Natural will check membership at the event; no membership number is requested in the CC registration form.
Can a minor enter?
Minimum-age eligibility is awaiting confirmation from Natural Strongman. Please contact us before registering a minor.
Can I move my entry or get a refund if I withdraw?
The one-time move available for regular Strongman Battles does not apply to this Natural event. Participant withdrawals are non-refundable, subject to mandatory statutory rights. Read the terms and conditions and liability declaration.
Are the weights and competition-day details final?
The event weights, loading distances and core format are final, following Natural Strongman’s update of 14 October 2026. Local log/deadlift weight-selection procedures, personal kit rules and detailed judging instructions are still to be confirmed. Weigh-in sessions are confirmed for Friday 5 February (09:00–10:00 and 17:00–18:00 CET) and Saturday 6 February (07:30–08:30 CET). Spectator admission, parking and accessibility details are still to be announced. The detailed schedule and briefing information are due by 9 January 2027.
Photos & video
Photos and videos may be taken at the event and used by Strongman Battles and Natural Strongman for event and athlete promotion. Contact the organiser with questions before competition day.
Registration & entry fee
Registration is open. Enter now on Competition Corner.
Entry fee: EUR 125. Competition Corner platform fees are added at checkout.
Registration closes: 23 January 2027 at 09:00 CET.
Athlete package & podium awards
Every participant receives an athlete T-shirt, a goodie bag and a participation medal, included in the entry fee.
Podium finishers in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place also receive a premium medal.
Still to be announced
- Briefing, individual start times and local running order.
- Detailed judging commands, allowed personal kit and local equipment setup.
Event specifications and categories follow the final Natural Strongman Open 2027 page, the promoter email of 14 October 2026 and its Open Kit Specification Sheet. Previously confirmed local arrangements and athlete-facing promoter requirements remain listed separately. Updated 17 October 2026. Natural Strongman will publish further judging guidance.