International Weight Pull Society Launches in Scandinavia

Scandinavian weight pull is entering a period of change.

For many years, the European Weight Pull League – EWPL – has been the main international weight pull organisation represented in Norway and Sweden. More recently, EWPO has also started expanding into Scandinavia, including an upcoming event in Sweden.

At the same time, another organisation has now appeared from within the Scandinavian weight pull community itself: International Weight Pull Society, or IWPS.

IWPS has been started by a group with a background in the Norwegian Weight Pull Club environment and is currently represented in Vestfold and Østfold in Norway, as well as Värmland in Sweden.

Despite its international name, the organisation is still in an early phase, with its first established groups concentrated in Norway and Sweden.

A new Scandinavian alternative

IWPS is not simply a new local club.

The organisation has created its own competition structure, with its own weight classes, qualification system, cup, championship and titles.

The IWPS weight classes are divided into Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions, ranging from dogs below 5 kg up to the +45 kg class.

To qualify for the IWPS Championship, a dog needs three qualifying results. Lightweight and middleweight dogs must achieve at least 40 P4P, while heavyweight dogs require 30 P4P.

The IWPS Cup

IWPS is also introducing a season-long IWPS Cup.

Dogs collect points throughout the season, and the five competition days with the highest scores count towards the final standings. If a dog has competed on fewer than five days, the available results are used.

First, second and third place will be awarded in each division.

This gives competitors something to work towards over an entire season rather than focusing only on individual competition results.

Rookie competition for younger dogs

Another part of the IWPS structure is the Rookie category.

Dogs may compete as Rookies from 12 months of age, while regular IWPS competition requires dogs to be at least 18 months old. Rookie dogs have limits on both the maximum P4P they are allowed to pull and the number of pulls they can make.

The Rookie system gives younger dogs and less experienced teams a way to enter the competition environment before moving into full competition.

Champion and Grand Champion titles

IWPS has also introduced a title system where dogs can collect points over multiple seasons.

A dog can earn championship titles by collecting points within the organisation’s different competition categories, while the IWPS Grand Champion title requires a total of 600 points and points across all of the required categories.

This creates another long-term goal for competitors beyond individual wins and championship qualification.

Already present in three regions

For a new organisation, IWPS already has activity on both sides of the Norwegian-Swedish border.

The organisation is currently represented in:

Vestfold, Norway
Østfold, Norway
Värmland, Sweden

This gives IWPS a Scandinavian base from the beginning and creates opportunities for Norwegian and Swedish competitors to meet within the same system.

More options for Scandinavian Weight Pull

The arrival of IWPS comes at an interesting time.

EWPL has been established in Scandinavia for many years, EWPO is now moving into Sweden, and IWPS is developing as another alternative with its own competition structure.

How large IWPS will become remains to be seen, but the organisation has already taken its first steps in both Norway and Sweden.

With groups in Vestfold, Østfold and Värmland, International Weight Pull Society has now officially become part of the Scandinavian weight pull scene.