Arnold 2016 - Pole Fitness Championship Series

Video/Photography:  Andrew Livelsberger

Written/Interviewer: Dani Livelsberger

Background:This is the 28th year of the Arnold Fitness Expo in Columbus, OH.  This year we covered the Pole Championship Series, which is in it's second year at this event.

Impression:
Let's face it, fitness trends come and go.  Some just transform into others through out the years.  When I first heard of pole fitness, I admit that I thought it was just a fad.  The Arnold Classic 2016 proved me wrong.  The routines I watched and the athletes I met made me realize this fad is a sport and pole fitness is here to stay.

The 3rd annual Pole Championship Series at this year's Arnold was spectacular.  My heart stopped a few times as I watched the athletes do amazing spins and calculated drops.  I watched both men and women show off their tremendous upper body strength  by working their bodies up and down the pole.   I learned from the athletes that pole fitness is  a full body workout and that  anyone can learn it.  Columbus has a handful of studios that offer classes for every level of student.  Everyone I spoke with added that for them, the pole was not only a physical workout but also helped them mentally and emotionally.

The athletes stated that these workouts helped them escape and find focus in their daily lives.  Each of them also beamed with pride as they described learning their level of expertise.

So, are you ready to try?  Google "Pole Fitness" and find a class near you!  Some of the athletes also told me their first class was due to a Groupon!!  One of hte sponsors was a company that makes poles for the home.  Check out X-Pole USA on Facebook or or at http://www.xpoleus.com

I am already looking forward to watching this competition next year.

Arnold Sports Expo 2015 - Part 1

Written: Danielle and Andrew Livelsberger

Photography/Video:  Andrew Livelsberger

Enjoy the slideshow which showcases images and video coverage of Bodybuilding events, Strongman competitions and the Induction of some great athletes into the International Sports Hall of Fame.  This is the first part of a 3 part series that will cover the various aspects of the 4 day expo. 

Background:

Most people's first impression of the Arnold Fitness Expo is that it is only an International Federation of Body Builders event.  While it is true that the IFBB competitions are a large part of the Expo, there is so much more to it than that.  There are actually 50+ sports spotlighted during the 4 days.  We at VisualOhio hope to share with you some of the other events and sports present during the long weekend that make this one of the premiere fitness events in the world!

This edition will cover our experiences at the Expo in general as well as highlighting the body building preliminaries, the first round of the Arnold Strongman competition on the Expo Stage and the ceremony to celebrate the 2015 inductees into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Impression:

Arnold Fitness Expo

The Convention Center was amassed with people and busy as it always has been.  All of the big players in the fitness, supplement, and gear industries are there as well as some relatively new vendors. There are lines everywhere, people looking for their next supplement or trying out some new and exciting gear or fitness method.

The Expo stage has some great events as well like the amateur bodybuilding, physique, and Strongman competitions as well as arm wrestling.

IFBB Amateurs

The IFBB amateurs were there and most are looking for their next big break into the professional ranks.  A win here could mean sponsorship and preparation to go pro. Whether amateur or pro, these athletes show the hard work and dedication of years of training. 

Strongman Competitions

With almost godly feets of strength, these powerful men from all over the world do things that most of us only dream about - lifting 1100 + pounds of timbers and running them up an incline in only seconds, or powering a 450 pound log from the floor to overhead not once, but multiple times!!  I find myself mesmerized by the sheer power these men are capable of harnessing and the explosive athleticism. Definitely a must see event!!

International Sports Hall of Fame

While a private ceremony, this is a very important place for athletes to not only be recognized for their achievement in sports but also for their success off their stage of fame and see them in a different light. These are the ones that go above and beyond the sport and give back to the community through charity and individual works. We as fans do not always get to know these people beyond what we see on TV or hear in the media. It was such a great experience to see them outside of that and for what they truly are - normal people that show how having a dream and working hard for it can pay off.   Each of the inductees were chosen not only based on their success and awards, but because each of them have used their success to give back and to inspire others.