Crowds gathered at the Santa Monica Pier early Thursday morning to witness an incredible feat of human strength. Strongman Martins Licis successfully pulled a 34,680-pound battery electric Big Blue Bus 30 feet across a parking lot, launching a weekend of family-friendly festivities for the city.
Licis, a Santa Monica local and the 2019 “World’s Strongest Man” pulled the bus in a parking lot near the iconic pier. With KTLA cameras rolling live, Licis pushed forward with the zero-emission bus trailing behind him – with only a driver onboard.
“I train by lifting cars, logs, rocks—anything heavy,” he told affiliate KTLA’s Gene Kang. “And yeah, I eat around 7,000 calories on show days. Definitely a lot of breakfast burritos.”
The bus pull was the official kickoff event for the “Pier 360” Beach Festival, a two-day celebration of Southern California beach culture happening June 28–29, 2025. The free event offers ocean sports, beachside games, roller skating, skateboarding, a strongman competition with more than 80 athletes, and live music – plus food trucks, a beer garden, and exhibits highlighting 90 years of paddleboard racing history.
City leaders also highlighted Santa Monica’s push for sustainability and active transportation. The electric bus Licis pulled is part of Santa Monica’s zero-emissions fleet.
“The strongman challenge was the perfect blend of power, fun, and local pride,” said Romark Weis, coach and co-organizer of the Santa Monica Strongman Classic.
Festival organizers are encouraging visitors to take sustainable transit to the pier. Big Blue Bus fares start at $1.10. More info on the event and travel options is available at santamonicapier.org and bigbluebus.com.
