THANK YOU GARY AND DON!!!!!!!!!!

[Brandy Stark]

Just wanted to give a great big shout out to Gary and Don for putting on a great tournament......the venue was awesome, competition was deep as I have ever seen....the format was awesome, took a minute to figure out but the pull offs and the super matches for finals.....FANTASTIC IDEA! It's great for all those time you wish you could have had a re-do....LOL Plus it really tests your endurance....Love it!

Thanks for all your hard work, dedication and willingness to think outside the box, take a risk and shake things up........and Don thanks for supporting Gary's vision and making it a reality and thanks for the hospitality and opening your home to a bunch of crazy armwrestlers for the after party

All I have to say to anyone that missed this weekend is....well....I'm sorry And you better put it on your calendar for 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rob Vigeant Jr.]

100% what Brandy said, thank you Don and Gary.

[Tim Lewis]

Thanks Gary and Don...

Only 3 criticisms I had about the event as far as feedback:

1)I don't have an estimate as to how many spectators paid the $10 door fee for the finals, but I think that cover charge hurt spectator attendance and also business for the bar that they would have had otherwise.
Maybe next year as an alternative allocate $10 from each one of the entry fees to cover what that was supposed to go towards.

2)I feel as though the medal classes were a little too rushed. Many of the pullers here did multiple classes and were not offered any rest at al sometimes between matches. Many pullers literally had to pull consecutive matches. The medal classes started at 12:30 should have started at noon as originally planned and the classes jumped around a bit to give some of those multiple class pullers a break.

3)I feel some of the 176 crowd might have been lost due to the weight jump form 65 to 98.

Other than that everything was great, the production, the bracketing, the venue was awesome, good officials, great competition and a great after party.

[Gary Roberts]

Great feedback. thank you.

It was a guestimate on how long it might take to set up the event, we couldn't get in any earlier than 8 am and the bands stuff threw a twist in there. Having now been through this, we should get a better grasp in improving next year with the time line. (if location stays the same...not sure yet/ details will follow.)

we ran the classes straight down to the final matches (which was my decision) I will get with bob on what we can do for next year.

weight class/ when you are trying to run an event like this with limited classes/ we know we are losing some people/ unfortunately I am not sure how to fix that one. next year will probably be only three classes right and left/ keeping woman the same...Margie/ Emma confirmed the need. Paying down to 8th might give some guys a reason to come out even though it may not be their ideal class. At the end of the day, the reason for limited classes is to keep the payout higher per class and create a more competitive environment by combining the standard classes.

door fee/ Pbr was actually not open till 9 pm so this was billed as a private function, the $ was used to offset some of the production costs. there is a trade off I realize. Ultimately, as the popularity of the event grows I feel that the audience will grow with it.

I am glad your okay and we will see you soon.

[Gary Roberts]

Thanks Brandy!! Get healed up as soon as you can!!

RVJ...it was a rough night for you but...it all paid off in the end. You gave a stellar performance. one for the record books.

[Josh Handeland]

I thought it was awesome, Gary! But next year maybe start medal classes an hour earlier and then start cash classes an hour earlier, too. It sucked that us minors got kicked out at 8 (right when Ron Bath and John Brzenk were setting up for their first match in the finals).

[John Shaw]

Gary next year just 1 class and pay the top 50. ;D
It was an excellent tourney and thanks to everyone.
I had a blast.

[Tamara Mitts]

Thanks Gary and Don. As usual it was great. Thanks to both of you for all of your hard work and dedication. Gary I think I swore a couple of times when i was on the stage...quietly.. but if I did.. I am sorry..
Just a little frustrated.. not like me.

[Josh Handeland]

If you're going to just do 3 mens classes I would say make is 0-176, 177-220, 221+. jmo.

[Russell Stark]

I just would like to say I had a great time!!! & THANK YOU for all your hard work.... Gary & Don you are the best LOVE YA!

[Justin Kaufman]

Oct 13, 2008 16:40:35 GMT -5 Josh Handeland said:

If you're going to just do 3 mens classes I would say make is 0-176, 177-220, 221+. jmo.

That's NUTS!!!! (this coming from someone that would be in "LIMBO" with those classes you suggested, like the 76'sthis year). Hopefully by next year it won't matter as much for me to give up some weight!! ;D

Sorry I missed it.

[Jake Smith]

gary and don thank you for putting on this venue. Even if i wasnt able to go and compete this year it is nice to see your visions coming together to benefit the pullers. Looking forward to competing next year

[Josh Handeland]

Oct 13, 2008 17:29:36 GMT -5 Justin Kaufman said:

That's NUTS!!!! (this coming from someone that would be in "LIMBO" with those classes you suggested, like the 76'sthis year). Hopefully by next year it won't matter as much for me to give up some weight!! ;D

Sorry I missed it.

I know it is but Gary is thinking seriously about only having 3 classes and if it has to be 3 that seems best in my opinion. If he is going to give out money to the top 8 I definitely see his need to cut one weight class out, and with less weight classes and money given out to 8th place, more people will be in each class.

Oh and 176 would probably be perfect for me next year, too, but that's not why I picked it, I mean in 2 years I will probably be heavier, like 190 and will maybe not be able to get that low, and definitely not in 3 years.

[Leonard Harkless]

Oct 13, 2008 18:33:31 GMT -5 Josh Handeland said:

Oct 13, 2008 17:29:36 GMT -5 Justin Kaufman said:

That's NUTS!!!! (this coming from someone that would be in "LIMBO" with those classes you suggested, like the 76'sthis year). Hopefully by next year it won't matter as much for me to give up some weight!! ;D

Sorry I missed it.

I know it is but Gary is thinking seriously about only having 3 classes and if it has to be 3 that seems best in my opinion. If he is going to give out money to the top 8 I definitely see his need to cut one weight class out, and with less weight classes and money given out to 8th place, more people will be in each class.

Oh and 176 would probably be perfect for me next year, too, but that's not why I picked it, I mean in 2 years I will probably be heavier, like 190 and will maybe not be able to get that low, and definitely not in 3 years.

The idea behind the 165 class is this.
#1 if you are 154 then you are giving up only 11 lbs and are probably walking around at 160 anyway.
#2 if you are 176 then you only have to lose 11 lbs to make weight.
#3 if you are walking around at 185 then you are only giving up 13-15 lbs for the 198 division.
So the 165, 198 199+ for 3 divisions makes the most sense.
If you start out at 176 then the 154 guys are just giving up too much weight and if you then go to 220 then your most popular class, the 198's then have to give up 20lbs all to make it easier for the smallest class, the 242 division.
Nope the best is 165,198,199+ IMNTBHO

[Leonard Harkless]

Now back to the thread's intent.
Thanks to both Gary and Don, had a great time. Thanks