Santa Monica, CA — June 26, 2025 — Crowds gathered at the Santa Monica Pier Thursday morning to witness an extraordinary feat of strength as 2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis pulled a 34,680-pound battery electric Big Blue Bus—with a driver onboard—across 30 feet of pavement in the beach parking lot.
The event served as the official kickoff to the upcoming Pier 360 Beach Festival, a two-day celebration of Southern California beach culture set to take place June 28–29. With Santa Monica’s newly branded fleet of zero-emission buses in the spotlight, the pull combined physical might with a message of sustainability.
City leaders including Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, Santa Monica Pier Historian Jim Harris, and Transportation Director Anuj Gupta delivered remarks before the dramatic pull, adding civic pride to the high-energy spectacle. The event also featured appearances from Romark Weis, coach and co-organizer of the Santa Monica Strongman Classic.
The Big Blue Bus pull was part of a broader morning program featuring music, refreshments, and photo opportunities with the new battery-electric fleet.
This weekend’s Pier 360 Beach Festival will host over 80 strongman competitors alongside paddleboard races, ocean sports, beach games, skating showcases, live music, and food vendors. The festival begins at 9 a.m. each day and is free to attend.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to ride the Big Blue Bus for just $1.10 to help reduce traffic and emissions.
For more information, visit santamonicapier.org.
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