The Arnold is Coming!!!

I can't believe it's here again! Last year at this time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I agreed to go on a trip with my friend Sherri to see my trainer, Ange compete in the Arnold Classic. She would be travelling with her friend Tammy, whom I had never even met before. Not to mention, I had only ever been to a figure show once in my life and it was when I was 15, here in the Sault to watch my friend Christina compete... I can now tell you, this was not at all the same.

I had been training with Ange for a few months when she told me she wouldn't be able to train me for a week in March because she would be competing in the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. I thought this was great. Go to Columbus and win a show. That's how it works. I just thought Ange's physique was above and beyond anything anyone else could do.... the thought never even crossed my mind that she ever lost. The only knowledge I had of her experience was that she won the WBFF World Championships, which to me, logically meant she was voted best body in the world, and that she was a kick ass personal trainer. When Ange nonchalantly told me she was going to compete in this show, my thought was, ROAD TRIP maybe I should go watch.

After a short conference with Sherri, we were in. She was super excited and couldn't believe that I would choose such a phenomenal event to be my first real show watching experience. All I knew was that I was going to go watch my friend win the Arnold. What more did I need to know? How crazy could this be?

People kept telling me how amazing it was that I would be going to the Arnold and getting to see a real Pro Show. The whole time I thought to  myself, "We probably won't even go. Why would I want  to go see some other girls compete. We'll watch Ange, then head out for drinks and dinner. Solid trip."

Boy was I wrong. This is the mecca of sporting events! Over 16000 athletes compete in events from Stongman to table tennis, to armwrestling and crossfit, fitness, figure and bodybuilding, kids boxing.... You name it, it's in this massive complex of athleticism! It's amazing. Over 130000 people attend the Arnold each year!

I went to the prejudging for the amateur fitness, figure and bikini on Thursday night to watch Ange. We had to walk for about 10 minutes just to get there AFTER we parked the vehicle. It was insane. When Ange came out, I remember Sherri making comments on her symmetry and muscle composition. I just knew she looked awesome, but I also knew how hard she worked in the gym and with her diet. I wasn't at all shocked by the idea that she looked the best up there out of any of the girls in her class. Those girls looked great too, but I knew she would win. I just thought it was an obvious fact to everyone, Ange, Tammy and Sherri included. What was to be nervous about.?Hard work and having the world's best bod wins shows... Seemed pretty straight forward to me, so when she was first call out, I wasn't surprised (not that that meant anything to me at the time).

When she was done, Ange and Tammy came down to sit with us. I was in awe at how a person looked with that colour on and that the human body could be controlled so well to make someone look so amazing.Guys and girls with this dark colour and defined muscle were everywhere!  I think it was the first time it ever dawned on me that getting this far was a true feat!   After listening in on Ange and Tammy's show talk and picture review, I began to realize that she didn't win every show and was not the shoe in that I thought. All of these girls had competed in big shows and were winners from different shows. Having qualified to compete in this show was a pretty big deal. Winning would be huge! 

Friday was even more of a shocker day for me. Sherri and I were on or own as Ange was prepping for Saturday's final with Tammy's help. I had no idea what an ordeal this was either, but that's a whole other story! Sherri and I walked in to the Arnold Expo and it was a SEA OF PEOPLE! There were booths from every major nutrition and supplement company on the planet. They were huge displays with music, free samples and fitness industry celebs. The first person we see is Jay Cutler. I was wildly nudging Sherri with a very puzzled look on my face asking the question, "Who the heck is THAT?"

The answer was Mr. Olympia. This guy was maybe 5'9 and had to be 300 lbs! I had never seen such a thing. I was in for a show alright. As we made our way through the expo, we got to see Ronnie Coleman, Flex Wheeler, Jamie Eason, Ava Cowan, Tosca Reno, Robert Kennedy, Ray Lewis, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture, Lou Ferrigno and many of the world's greatest fitness superstars. It was nuts. We had a million protein samples, tanning lotion, magazines, books, protein powders, shakers, and keychains. I talked to absolutely everyone. By the time we got back to the hotel, we were beat. We went to show the girls our free swag and hit the sheets because we had an early morning. We were going to take our little figure friend to the convention center because it was supposed to rain, and rain and ProTan, don't mix! 

The story of Ange's final is an excellent one, and one I promise to share very soon, but I don't want to make this one too long. I just think that if you ever get the chance to make it for the Arnold, you should go. It's so awesome and Columbus has amazing shopping and restaurants. Th experience is like nothing you will ever find anywhere else, and it's a really cool place for me because it's where some of m 

I gave a little teaser for Ange's part in the 2011 Arnold Classic, but I will save the rest of the story for an entry coming soon. I just thought that I should give a little prelude to the excellence that is the Arnold. I'm sad that I won't be going to the expo this year, but we will be watching the show from bodybuilding.com on our TV. We invited the crew over, and we will reunite to watch. Sherri, Tammy, Ange and I will be drinking wine and watching the competition from the living room, cheering on Erin Stern for figure and Oksana Grishina for fitness crowns.

If you ever get the chance to experience this, you have to go. It's insane to see all of the fitness industry in one room. If you're not sure that you would like it, take it from a person who had never really witnessed a real show before. I have since been to Montreal and Cleveland to help with show prep and cheer on my friend and am planning to make the trips again this year to where ever the shows take us.

The really awesome part is that this show was where some true friendships began... Fitness brings people together! Ange, Sherri, Tammy and I  had some times I'm sure none of us will ever forget! I hope that everyone who is making the show this year has a wicked time. Can't wait to hear all of your stories, but you will have a hard time beating our trip to the 2011 Arnold! We'll be looking for you in the audience!