Phil Pfister didn't lift a finger in the last event of the World's Strongest Man preliminaries on Tuesday.

But Charleston's own strongman will still contend for his second world title next weekend.

Pfister accumulated enough points to top the other six competitors in his group without having to lift the Atlas Stones on Tuesday afternoon. He will join nine other strongmen, the top two from each group, in the 2008 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man finals beginning Friday at Haddad Riverfront Park.

The audience on the University of Charleston lawn Tuesday watched with confusion as Pfister pantomimed lifting the five heavy stone balls onto pedestals. Though concerned for Pfister, they shouted encouragement to his competitor, Tobias Ide of Germany, as he struggled to place the final stone.

"I apologize for being a little old and lazy, but I'm trying to save it for the finals," Pfister told the crowd after helping halt a 353-pound stone that rolled away from Ide.

Brian Siders of Clendenin did not make the final 10, but he said he was pleased with the competition and the support he received from friends and spectators during all the events.

"I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but I didn't know if I could lift one [Atlas Stone] and I lifted three," Siders said after his heat on Tuesday.

Though Siders will be watching from the sidelines, spectators will have more Americans to cheer on in the finals.

Five Americans moved forward in the competition Tuesday, the most to compete in the finals in the last several decades, said Tim Kowalski, producer for IMG Sports Media.

In the finals, Pfister and reigning champion Mariusz Pudianowski of Poland will certainly bring tough competition. However, American newcomers Derek Poundstone and Travis Ortmayer are also competitors to watch, Kowalski said.

Pfister is in excellent shape to go for the title, but any of the closely matched competitors could win, Pfister's wife, Michelle, said Tuesday.

"I have confidence he's going to walk away with his second title this year in his hometown," she said. "He's totally calm. I'm the nervous one."

Michelle Pfister said being able to relax at home instead of living out of a hotel over the two-day break in competition would help give her husband an edge.

Phil Pfister didn't lift a finger in the last event of the World's Strongest Man preliminaries on Tuesday.

But Charleston's own strongman will still contend for his second world title next weekend.

Pfister accumulated enough points to top the other six competitors in his group without having to lift the Atlas Stones on Tuesday afternoon. He will join nine other strongmen, the top two from each group, in the 2008 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man finals beginning Friday at Haddad Riverfront Park.

The audience on the University of Charleston lawn Tuesday watched with confusion as Pfister pantomimed lifting the five heavy stone balls onto pedestals. Though concerned for Pfister, they shouted encouragement to his competitor, Tobias Ide of Germany, as he struggled to place the final stone.

"I apologize for being a little old and lazy, but I'm trying to save it for the finals," Pfister told the crowd after helping halt a 353-pound stone that rolled away from Ide.

Brian Siders of Clendenin did not make the final 10, but he said he was pleased with the competition and the support he received from friends and spectators during all the events.

"I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but I didn't know if I could lift one [Atlas Stone] and I lifted three," Siders said after his heat on Tuesday.

Though Siders will be watching from the sidelines, spectators will have more Americans to cheer on in the finals.

Five Americans moved forward in the competition Tuesday, the most to compete in the finals in the last several decades, said Tim Kowalski, producer for IMG Sports Media.

In the finals, Pfister and reigning champion Mariusz Pudianowski of Poland will certainly bring tough competition. However, American newcomers Derek Poundstone and Travis Ortmayer are also competitors to watch, Kowalski said.

Pfister is in excellent shape to go for the title, but any of the closely matched competitors could win, Pfister's wife, Michelle, said Tuesday.

"I have confidence he's going to walk away with his second title this year in his hometown," she said. "He's totally calm. I'm the nervous one."

Michelle Pfister said being able to relax at home instead of living out of a hotel over the two-day break in competition would help give her husband an edge.

"And sushi. We're going to eat a lot of sushi," she said after watching the final round with their son, Wyatt.

A few other finalists will spend today and Thursday nursing their injuries from the preliminaries.

Organizers thought four-time champion Pudianowski would be out of the competition after re-injuring his calf Sunday during the Fingal's Fingers event, but he recovered enough to lift his way to a spot in the finals.

Poundstone, a police officer from Connecticut, said he hoped the pain of an injured right foot sustained during the Atlas Stones wouldn't slow him down. Poundstone has competed widely in strength sports, but this is his first World's Strongest Man competition.

"I'm just going to try to relax and ice my foot," Ortmayer said. "It's going to be a tough battle."

Despite the threat of rain, Tuesday's Overhead Lift and Atlas Stones competitions happened on time, as spectators gathered to cheer from the UC lawn and the stairs of Riggleman Hall.

"We did a lot of praying for the weather today and it seemed to work," said Rod Blackstone, Charleston's assistant mayor.

Except for some possible rain on Saturday, everything seems to be running smoothly as the city prepares to host the finals this weekend, he said.

The finals will begin Friday with Power Stairs, Fingal's Fingers and the Car Walk at Haddad Riverfront Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

After that competition, the city will host a special Live on the Levee event featuring the Davisson Brothers Band.

On Saturday, the competition moves to Coonskin Park with the Car Dead Lift and Overhead Lift from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The competition concludes Sunday with the Plane Pull at Yeager Airport at 11 a.m. and the Atlas Stones and winner's ceremony following at 7:30 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park.

Reach Kellen Henry at khe...@wvgazette.com or 348-5179.