Pictures from the Arnold Classic 2006

[onearmedbandit]

I just posted some pictures on my site from the Arnold Classic this last weekend. They will give you an idea of what you would see there if you were to go. There is also a few pictures of our Team from Canada and pictures of us in action at the table.

This is where you can find the site...

www.spaces.msn.com/members/vernmartel

[Brian Kehler]

Geez Vern, when did you even find time to pull with that many girls hanging onto you? haha.

Good stuff.

Brzenk is looking big.

[onearmedbandit]

HaHa ... Believe me it was very hard! Actually when your up on the stage ... you got one thing on your mind ... and that is to do the best you can. You were very right about John ... he is a monster right now ... if someone wanted to beat him ... they should have tried before he was all healed up and not working out. John looks amazing and pulls like he used to 10 - 15 years ago. You will see this if you go to Mike Goulds tournament.

Make sure you try and qualify for the Arnolds next year ... its a blast!

[nlooker]

Great pictures Vern. Hopefully the wife will let you go next year to take more. lol

[Brian Kehler]

I don't think I'll be at goulds, unfortunately... although I'd like to be.

Even if i don't qualify for the Arnolds next year, I'm going anyway Looks like fun either way

[ogriffy]

Vern you horndog there weren't very many armwraslin' photos!! heh heh. Good pics i enjoyed them. How much do you wanna bet all of the sweetest girls in those photos are of skandinavian decent huh??

[onearmedbandit]

Not many armwrestling photo's? .... what do you mean ... I was wrestling with my arm every time ;D

No worries about my wife seeing the pictures ... we have a good marriage with 5 kids. Events like these are fun and the people you meet are equally interesting. Many of these girls are true athletes and taking the time to talk to them and understanding what it takes to become accomplished in their sport is very fascinating. It is also very exciting hearing about their interest in our sport as well ... you would be surprised at how many of them would love to try our sport out if they had someone to train with. Nothing wrong with trying to get more women in this sport .... then we wouldn't have the issue of worrying how many women were going to show up at an event.

These athletes were also asking to have pictures with us as well .... armwrestling made a huge impression at this years Arnold's. Talking with people and showing people what our sport is about can only increase the awareness in the public eye. Sure you might look at the beauty of these girls ... but that is only skin deep ... getting to know them takes more effort and then you truly understand how they too are only trying to show the athlete that is inside them.

There are some that think I am taking the sport back-wards with what I say and do .... (just read about the Canadian Championships in another post) Well I honestly do my best to be an ambassador of the sport where ever I go .... and I have done that for 28 years now. I try to support as many events as possible out of my own pockets with my families blessing and best wishes. I have never tried to bring anyones beliefs or lifestyle into suggesting what it will have as for as an effect on our sport. Sometimes having fun on this board and other boards is away of just trying to get others to communicate with each other .... and make us seem that much closer together. These boards are great .... and if we had more people talking on them ... rather then just reading ... it is another way of supporting our sport that we all love.

[Simon]

Everyone I have ever known to have met Vern Martel cannot help but be enthralled with the man, as far as ambassadors of this sport go, in my book Vern ranks right up there with Mr. Brzenk.

I think it is silly to deny human nature, people want to have fun and humans like to people watch, what I find disturbing is when individuals try to reject this reality in place of their own beliefs. These are great photos Vern, I will put them with the ones I have from previous Arnold’s, my wife really enjoyed them as well. ;D

[aydinhasasu]

Well done Vern... congratulation.................

[ogriffy]

Uh hey guys i was just joking with him??

Anyways, Vern i used to live in Prince George. College Heights to be exact. Was back when i was a kid. '85 we moved to the coast. Has it changed like crazy since them or??