During Elfack – the Nordic region’s largest meeting place for the electrical and energy industry – we arranged a different and appreciated competition: The Hunt for Sweden’s Best Traditional Cable Puller. Over 1,500 people took up the challenge during the fair days, where strength, technique and endurance were put to the test. The task? To pull a power cable that was connected via a cable sock to a finely calibrated dynamometer – the same type of measuring equipment used by the Swedish Dragkampsförbundet.

The competition attracted – literally – a large audience and the commitment exceeded all expectations.

“It looks like a long stick, but I usually do better than larger people when it comes to workforce”

The mix of participants was as touching as it was broad and after four days of competition we had a winner in the form of Jakob Andersson who was noted for a pulling force of 170 kg! Considering that many participants were twice as tall as Jakob, the result was even more impressive and the winning move was met with great cheers and applause in both the Sahlins booth and the exhibition hall.

– I have never been a sports or gym guy, and no tug-of-war merits. But I grew up on a farm and now run my own farm, so I think I am just a normal “farmer” in the body. Looks like a long stick but I usually cope better than larger people when it comes to labor. It is probably the eternal nagging from my dad about always working day and night that made it, said Jakob Andersson when we asked him how this was possible.

Then he adds.

– Our apprentice had pulled well – he was in third place when I got to the booth, so I had to show where the cupboard should be. A really fun competition indeed, looking forward to the next time in 2027.

RESULT CABLE PULLING ELFACK 2025