Flabby
New Member
*Warning Long Post*
Went to the Arnold Classic on Friday and Saturday.. Didn't get to go to finals Saturday night unfortunately.
Next year, we will be going all 3 days, going to the after party again, and going to finals... Just didn't want to pawn the kid off on my parents for too long.
Anyway, here's my review of the weekend.
After a short 3 hour drive to get to Columbus, we got to our hotel (The Sheraton) but couldn't check in because check in times only after 3? Oh well. No big deal. Left our stuff in my car and headed to the convention center. Friday wasn't too bad but it was still a bit overwhelming. We got to the convention center and the first person I see as I walk inside? Rich Gaspari.. I kinda fan girled but didn't say anything to him.
We got to the will call line and the wait was 3 FUCKING HOURS LONG.. The wait to purchase tickets? .. No line. So we purchased tickets again and called ticketmaster and told them to fuck off and I got my money back.
We got inside and immediately we felt at home but also so fucking small it wasn't even funny. Think you're making gains? Go to the Arnold... Lol.. We walked around for a bit but didn't stand in any of the long lines on Friday because we didn't have that much time so we wanted to make sure we saw everything. I met Artemus Dolgin and got a picture of Rich Piana.. Friday was kind of a bust but a great day nonetheless. Watched the 212 Prejudging and damn did those guys come in looking good (notably John Meadows.. Old man came in fucking DRY. Never seen anything like it). Got some LVFT clothes but we were like 2 peoples away in line to get a picture with Jeremy Buendia.. Oh well.
We were pretty exhausted after a few hours so we headed back to the hotel. Apparently we picked the only hotel in downtown Columbus that didn't have a fridge or microwave in the room.. Definitely not staying there next year. We just relaxed and lifted in the hotel the rest of the night. There were some beastly figure and physique chicks in my hotel but no one famous. We did go to a bar and get some food and I'm pretty sure my dumbass ordered a 1 LB burger because when I ordered it the lady had a shocked look on her face and when it came out it was as big as my head. They had a show prep menu for people in show prep too which was pretty cool except it was like $25 for a meal..
So on to Saturday, the good day..
I must say after walking in Saturday...... Fucking wait in line on Friday for things or make sure you go on Sunday because holy shit you cannot move it's insane. We ended up standing in line at Evogen and GAT.. About all the lines we could stand in.. Optimum was such a shit show you couldn't find the line without cutting people (I don't give a shit about that but my girlfriend apparently has morals) and BSN was wrapped out the door. But we met Jose Raymond, John Meadows, Big Ramy, Rich Gaspari (again and got a picture.. I ended up seeing him like 6 times), Sadik Hadzovic, Camcamedic (badass military chick from instagram), Oksana Grishina, Robert Oberst, Bradley Martin, Seth Feroce, and Parker Edgerton (Parkerphysique). We talked to Jose Raymond for a while. He's followed my girlfriend on Instagram for 2 years for no reason and he recognized her face so that was kind of cool. Saturday was AWESOME. Arnold walked right in front of us but we had a crowd of people in front so we didn't get to too close to him. The prices were cool too. Everything was way marked down compared to normal. I got a tank and a snapback from LVFT for 30 bucks.
All in all, this trip is so fucking worth it. I didn't have to spend much just because we drove and it's not too far of a drive. I gotta say, if you go, stay at the Hyatt. It's attached to the convention center and that's where most of the famous people stay. Definitely staying all 3 days next year because Sunday is so far less busy, you get a shit load of samples.. and you'll get to meet more people. And the after party is even cooler. Taking shots with famous bodybuilders? Sign me up.
Went to the Arnold Classic on Friday and Saturday.. Didn't get to go to finals Saturday night unfortunately.
Next year, we will be going all 3 days, going to the after party again, and going to finals... Just didn't want to pawn the kid off on my parents for too long.
Anyway, here's my review of the weekend.
After a short 3 hour drive to get to Columbus, we got to our hotel (The Sheraton) but couldn't check in because check in times only after 3? Oh well. No big deal. Left our stuff in my car and headed to the convention center. Friday wasn't too bad but it was still a bit overwhelming. We got to the convention center and the first person I see as I walk inside? Rich Gaspari.. I kinda fan girled but didn't say anything to him.
We got to the will call line and the wait was 3 FUCKING HOURS LONG.. The wait to purchase tickets? .. No line. So we purchased tickets again and called ticketmaster and told them to fuck off and I got my money back.
We got inside and immediately we felt at home but also so fucking small it wasn't even funny. Think you're making gains? Go to the Arnold... Lol.. We walked around for a bit but didn't stand in any of the long lines on Friday because we didn't have that much time so we wanted to make sure we saw everything. I met Artemus Dolgin and got a picture of Rich Piana.. Friday was kind of a bust but a great day nonetheless. Watched the 212 Prejudging and damn did those guys come in looking good (notably John Meadows.. Old man came in fucking DRY. Never seen anything like it). Got some LVFT clothes but we were like 2 peoples away in line to get a picture with Jeremy Buendia.. Oh well.
We were pretty exhausted after a few hours so we headed back to the hotel. Apparently we picked the only hotel in downtown Columbus that didn't have a fridge or microwave in the room.. Definitely not staying there next year. We just relaxed and lifted in the hotel the rest of the night. There were some beastly figure and physique chicks in my hotel but no one famous. We did go to a bar and get some food and I'm pretty sure my dumbass ordered a 1 LB burger because when I ordered it the lady had a shocked look on her face and when it came out it was as big as my head. They had a show prep menu for people in show prep too which was pretty cool except it was like $25 for a meal..
So on to Saturday, the good day..
I must say after walking in Saturday...... Fucking wait in line on Friday for things or make sure you go on Sunday because holy shit you cannot move it's insane. We ended up standing in line at Evogen and GAT.. About all the lines we could stand in.. Optimum was such a shit show you couldn't find the line without cutting people (I don't give a shit about that but my girlfriend apparently has morals) and BSN was wrapped out the door. But we met Jose Raymond, John Meadows, Big Ramy, Rich Gaspari (again and got a picture.. I ended up seeing him like 6 times), Sadik Hadzovic, Camcamedic (badass military chick from instagram), Oksana Grishina, Robert Oberst, Bradley Martin, Seth Feroce, and Parker Edgerton (Parkerphysique). We talked to Jose Raymond for a while. He's followed my girlfriend on Instagram for 2 years for no reason and he recognized her face so that was kind of cool. Saturday was AWESOME. Arnold walked right in front of us but we had a crowd of people in front so we didn't get to too close to him. The prices were cool too. Everything was way marked down compared to normal. I got a tank and a snapback from LVFT for 30 bucks.
All in all, this trip is so fucking worth it. I didn't have to spend much just because we drove and it's not too far of a drive. I gotta say, if you go, stay at the Hyatt. It's attached to the convention center and that's where most of the famous people stay. Definitely staying all 3 days next year because Sunday is so far less busy, you get a shit load of samples.. and you'll get to meet more people. And the after party is even cooler. Taking shots with famous bodybuilders? Sign me up.
