Can You Tame the Kraken?
Trenton’s Currents Hosts Pirate Strongman Contest With Seafood, Steel, and Swagger
TRENTON—Are you the strongest pirate in Hancock County? Are you beastly like a Kraken but better looking? If you are and you want the world to know it, now is your chance! Currents, a new seafood-based restaurant, bar, and place to be entertained on the Bar Harbor Road in Trenton is hosting a fully sanctioned Strongman competition June 14.
Clash of the Krakens was conceptualized and organized by Currents owner Adam Woodfin and his friend, Bash Crowley. Crowley is a Strongman competitor and had previously asked Woodfin’s mobile bar company, Rum Runners, to sponsor him for an event.
Woodfin is a lover of Strongman competitions and after hearing Crowley talk about the lack of local venues, had the idea of hosting an event. Together they have created a pirate/kraken-themed Strongman event. Originally, the concept was to promote Rum Runners but as Woodfin moved forward with the idea of owning a restaurant, he realized that the event could not only be a promotional opportunity but the restaurant could serve as the venue.
Fully sanctioned by United States Strongman (USS), the event will start at 10 a.m., on June 14 and will have six women’s and six men’s divisions. Pirate-themed attire is strongly encouraged for this competition. Event details are at the bottom of the article.
Currents
If fresh seafood, craft cocktails, local beer, and music sounds like a good combination and a great time to you, then you should probably head over to Currents when it opens on June 1.
After running the bar last year at the previous restaurant where Currents is located, Woodfin was given the opportunity to take over the restaurant space and jumped on it. Since then, it has become a “passion project” for him as well as an all-consuming job to craft a restaurant and bar destination that he would want to patronize if he was visiting another locale and looking for a great place to hang out.
Woodfin and his contractor, Michael Fillmore of A Design, have completely renovated the entire building to include a brand-new kitchen with a newly poured concrete floor, new appliances, and new FRP paneling on the walls.
Boiled lobster and lobster rolls, while popular favorites, seemed very constricting as a menu base to Woodfin, so he and his executive chef, Tyler Roberts, have been developing an expanded menu of seafood offerings including chilled lobster salad with burrata, lobster poutine, scallop risotto, prosciutto wrapped scallops, and lobster mac and cheese. Of course, there are meat based options available as well like, short rib, Steak frites, and a smash burger.
The bar and restaurant will feature craft cocktails, locally brewed beers, and live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 – 8 p.m. every week.
“I'm extremely happy with the music lineup that we have for the season. As someone who is a member of the local musician pool, I can say that the amount of musical talent we have locally is absolutely incredible. All of our bands are local and many are lifelong friends that I can't wait to rock the stage,” Woodfin said.
Currents has a planned opening date of June 1 and while Woodfin admits there is a lot of work still to be done, he says that they are getting close.
Rum Runners
Woodfin’s first business venture, Rum Runners was built in a repurposed ambulance. It was conceptualized as a mobile bartending service that actually carries its own liquor license making it easier and less work for the event’s planner.
According to Woodfin, most mobile bartending services in the state simply rent a bar and bartenders to an event and serve alcohol that the event organizer purchased themselves. Rum Runners comes fully stocked with beer, wine and alcohol. Of course, non-alcoholic drinks arrive onboard as well.
“I knew when I started the company that I wanted to bring the full brick and mortar bar experience to any event,” Woodfin said.
To that end, Woodfin fashioned a full bar that sits behind the ambulance when set up. It is behind this bar that Woodfin and his “partner in business and life,” Sally Lockhart, perform the magic that helps make their customers events more memorable.
Lockhart and Woodfin are a two-person team, according to Woodfin, and not only operate every Rum Runners venue together but while “she would argue that I do all of the work, she's been instrumental in making the business happen and keeps our life in order when I'm busy trying to figure out things like how to make an ice maker work in the back of an ambulance.”
Not wanting to be cut off from their bar guests, Woodfin opted for the bar rather than a window cut into the side of the ambulance through which to pass drinks.
Woodfin believes “there's a romanticism of the bartender creating the perfect drink for the customer in front of them and sliding it across the bar whether that's a dive, a tiki bar, or a fancy cocktail joint.”
While it may seem that it’s coming down to the wire for Currents to be open by June 1, Woodfin seems to thrive operating on a tight timeline and has confidence that he will make it, even if there a few small loose ends left. He’s proven that with Rum Runners.
“I actually woke up at 4 the following morning to drive it (the still red-colored ambulance) down to Auburn for Mad Monkey to do the wrap on it” following Rum Runners first event, a benefit for Acadia Community Theater, said Woodfin.
“I could not be more excited for the world to see what we've been working on,” Woodfin said about Currents, his newest project, but this statement applies to all of his projects and productions.
Clash of the Krakens
Here are the details for the Clash of the Krakens.
Women’s divisions:
Novice women’s (single class)
Women’s lightweight (132 lb max)
Women’s middleweight (165 lb max)
Women’s heavyweight (198 lb max)
Women’s super heavyweight (242 lb max)
Masters women’s (single class)
Men’s divisions:
Novice men’s (single class)
Men’s lightweight (181 lb max)
Men’s middleweight (220 lb max)
Men’s heavyweight (275 lb max)
Men’s super heavyweight (+)
Masters Men’s
According to the event listing on United States Strongman, there are five pirate-themed events in the competition to determine who is “the beast of Frenchman's Bay” for each division.
“Max barrel deadlift rules:
This is a last man standing event. The height of the bar will be approximately 18 inches. Athlete will have 30 seconds to complete each lift. Weight will increase by 50 lbs for men and 30 for women. Belts (hard and soft), straps, chalk, and wrist wraps allowed. No sumo stance allowed. No deadlift suits. No tacky or any other sticky stuff. No dropping the weight. Dropping the weight from the top of the lift will result in a failed lift.“Keg clean and press rules:
Athlete will have 60 seconds to press a keg overhead as many times as possible. Athlete will be asked if they are ready and time will begin as soon as the go command is given. Athlete may have hands on the keg before time starts. Keg must be cleaned and pressed every rep. Staggered grip allowed. Athlete must control the keg all the way down. Dropping keg from overhead will result in a zero for the event. Wrist wraps, soft and hard belt, elbow sleeves, and chalk allowed. No straps or tacky allowed.“Anchor and chain hold rules:
Athlete will hold an anchor with a chain attached out in front of them while standing on a platform. Athlete will be asked if they are ready. When the athletes arms are locked out in front of them time will begin. One warning will be given if the athlete starts to drop or raise their arms. On the second warning, time stops. Chalk and wrist wraps allowed. No straps, tacky or other sticky stuff.“Mermaid boat pull rules:
Athlete will start in a standing or seated position with hands on the rope. On the go command, athlete must go to a seated position and pull the boat for a distance of 40 feet. Athlete will have 60 seconds to complete the pull. If athlete is unable to complete the pull, distance will be measured for scoring.“Cannonball throw rules:
This is a stationary shot-put style throw for distance. Each athlete will be given three attempts and the best distance will be used for score. Wrist wraps and chalk allowed.”
Registration for the event is open until June 13, the day prior to the event. You can register online at https://ironpodium.com/browse/event/clash-of-the-krakens. If you have any questions about the event, you can email the meet director, Bash Crowley at whoisbashcrowley@gmail.com.
Because this is a United States Strongman sanctioned event, participants in the competition must be a USS member. This event is a qualifier for the USS 2026 nationals.
Competition weigh in will be from 7-9 a.m., with a competition rules meeting at 9. Lifting starts at 10. Competitors will receive 20% off meals from Currents the day of the competition and there will be prizes for first, second, and third place for each division.
Currents is located at 1192 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, Maine.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Brochures of Maine.
Special Thanks
Adam wanted to express a shout out to all of those that have helped him with his ventures in addition to those mentioned in the article. That includes:
Adam Francis - Maine Digital Tech
Nick Eaton - Life in Focus Photography and Videography
Correction: Two photos that were originally credited to Sally Lockhart were actually taken by Nick Eaton.
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