The Vatna Stone

Sunnhordlandstunet is a regional museum located in Vidsten park in Leirvik, on the island of Stord. The lifting stone, weighing 106.5 kg, can be found inside the museum grounds, near the entrance to Eldhuset (An old kitchen). There is also a slightly smaller stone here, presumably as a warm-up for those who want to try lifting the main stone.

A lift is considered valid if the stone is lifted straight up, such that it is clearly above the ground, without any aids. The stone is round and can be quite slippery, making it difficult for most people to get a good grip on it.

The stone originally comes from Vatnadalen and is said to have been discovered in the Vatna River in 1913, by a work crew during the construction of a power plant. This year is also engraved on the top of the stone. At its original location, the stone was used as a test of strength until the 1960s when it was moved to the Vidsten park and the museum. Today, the stone is accessible to anyone who wants to try their hand at lifting it, and it continues to attract interest.

Strength legend and Strongman Torkel Ravndal from Figgjo is one of those who has lifted the stone. When he performed one of his famous strength shows in Leirvik in the summer of 1991, he lifted the stone and remarked:

Slike brukte me å kyla etter kverandre på gata heime i Stavanger - (We used to throw these at each other on the streets back home in Stavanger)