UPDATE @ 10:45am
After the first event, Charleston-native Phil Pfister is in fourth place. He completed 14 stairs in the power stairs event. An athlete from Poland finished the course in 48 seconds.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The world's strongest men are set and ready to prove their strength.
The World's Strongest Man Competition kicked off around 10:00 Friday morning along the Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston.
The power stairs event is first, followed by the car walk. Then, at 3:30pm the athletes will compete in the fingal fingers event.
Charleston-native Phil Pfister is among the ten finalists. He tells WSAZ.com he can't make any mistakes if he wants to re-gain the title. He was named the "World's Strongest Man" in 2006.
The Kanawha Boulevard is closed from Clendenin Street to Capitol Street for the competition. The roadway won't re-open until late Friday evening.
Anyone heading downtown for the competition can park at the city meters and downtown parking garages.
Several vendors are along the boulevard serving food and drinks. The Chesapeake Energy Strong Families Festival is also set up near the competition area.
Friday's competition will end with a special "Live on the Levee" at Haddad Riverfront Park. The Davisson Brothers will perform around 6:00pm.
Saturday's competition will kick off at 9:00am with the car lift and overhead lift. Both events are at the skateboard park at Coonskin Park. Bleacher seating is available, but it will be limited.
If you can't find any parking at Coonskin, a shuttle will be available at Capital High School. The KRT shuttle is free and will operate from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
The last day of competition starts at 11:00am at Yeager Airport. The athletes will pull a Hercules C-130 aircraft near the 130th Airlift Wing's hanger.
The final atlas stones event is set for 7:30pm at Appalachian Power Park. A fireworks show will follow the presentation of the MET-Rx World's Strongest Man winner.