By Misty Cryer
Local athletes are encouraged to register now for King of the Cave, a Strongman competition, which will be held on March 1 at the Beach Bandshell. The event is limited to 50 athletes. At press time, 44% of the spots were filled, with 28 spots remaining. Registration closes on February 22.
“The Strongman competition is a USS Strongman-sanctioned show, so it is a qualifier for nationals,” said Jacob Knealing, Director of the King of the Cave event.
Knealing said the event will include pretty basic Strongman activities like overhead pressing, picking up heavy objects over a bar, running with the yoke, a Hercules hold, and a deadlift. “They’re basic Strongman events with little twists here and there,” he said.
Before Christmas, Knealing said, “Everyone that has signed up so far is from out of town. I’m really trying to get some locals in here. That’s what I’d like to do, even if just in the novice class.”
About the classes, he said, “It has so many classes ranging from novice women—lightweight women—all the way to super, heavyweight men. I think I have 12 to 14 classes, if I’m not mistaken.”
The King of the Cave event is thought to be the first USS Strongman-sanctioned event in Carlsbad. “They had a small, non-sanctioned show a long time ago, but nothing at this caliber. Like I said, this show is a national qualifier,” said Knealing.
As far as placements in the King of the Cave event, he said, “Each class will have a podium —first, second, third—they get trophies. For the last event, I had two special trophies made, so it will be all women fighting for this one trophy and men for this other trophy for the Hercules Hold.”
Knealing explained that he’s trying to make the Hercules Hold the center of the event. “Everyone that I’ve talked to about the event is very excited, they have never done it before, and they are real interested in trying it,” he said.
The Hercules Hold, as explained by Knealing, is a grip event. “Basically, there are two pillars falling away from you, and they are connected with chains and handles, so you are holding onto these handles trying to hold as long as you can to these pillars without them falling,” he said.
“It’s nice because it is so vast in the events that you do,” he said about Strongman. “Powerlifting is basically the three—bench press, squat, and deadlift—that’s all you do, but Strongman is all over the place. You can be doing anything. I have never competed in a competition where they have all had the same events; there is always something different.”
Built is a sponsor of the event so far. Knealing said he has some other tentative but not confirmed sponsors. He added that he is also interested in having vendors at the event.
M’s Custom Laser and Engraving created the trophies. “They took care of me so well. They’re fast; they’re really great people. When they say they can make anything from your imagination, they do not kid about it. They are great people to work with,” he said.
Born and raised in Carlsbad, Knealing became a veteran of Strongman competitions. “Just this year alone, I’ve done five or six shows,” he said about 2024. “I was really trying to get my name out there.” He said he works out mostly at American Muscle but has memberships at three gyms. He powerlifts in Roswell as well for NASA Powerlifting.
“My ultimate goal is to have an annual event in Carlsbad,” he said, adding he is taking what he learned from other events and improving it as much as he can. “I want people to come to Carlsbad and be like, ‘Man, that was a great show; I’m definitely coming back next year.’”
To register for the King of the Cave Strongman event, visit https://ironpodium.com/browse/event/king-of-the-cave-1 . Jacob Knealing’s contact information can also be found there if more information is needed. Participants have to have a 2025 membership for the federation, Knealing said. He explained that the membership is good from January 1 to December 31, so membership is a one-time expense for the year (less than $40), plus the registration fee for the event, which is $60.
