Novice and Open classes

[Chris Roy]

If i'm armwrestling novice in the 176 class and place first, can I still armwrestle novice in the 198 class?

[Bill Cox]

Hi Chris. Any 1st place in the novice and you will have to pull Open.

[Chris Roy]

Thanks Bill, I've been wondering that for awhile now.

[Kurt Howgate]

Steven said:

I was always told that you can pull up a weight class in novice if you win a class.

I think that would be fair. I also think Novice Pullers should be allowed at least three First Place finishes before being forced into the Open Class. I think the current rule (one first-place and you must pull open class) is really limiting the number of returning new pullers.

[Andy Souliere]

Chris, you don't want the 198's.

[Andy Souliere]

But I agree with everybody, I am in my first year of armwrestling. Though I love the sport, I am slowly getting better. I took 3rd at Loon Mtn, so that pumps me up to train harder and learn more. But, if I go to my next tournament and there are only 3 of us and the other 2 have never been in a competition and I take 1st, does that make me ready for the open and have to compete against Rob Vincent and the other 198's here in New England? That would be very discouraging on my part and I guarantee you that I will not be so excited about traveling here from Maine to other states, spend the money for a hotel and all the other expenses to pull twice and watch for the rest of the day. I really enjoy learning from the tournaments and meeting new people, but I am much older than the other novices just starting out, so I am in this for different reasons, but, these young people who want a chance at glory, well they might just be disappointed and stop competing.
Chris you still don't want the 198's, because I am waiting for you. ;D

[Joe Lagasse]

imo, the only thing you're going to learn in the novice classes is confidence. Thats it. whether you win one tourny or 3 tournys, it doesnt matter. You wont understand how to beat the open guys until u grip them, and feel the different pressures from their hands and figure out how to counter them. Feeling that mans hand and knowing his direction is the most important thing, and that only comes with experience and time. Granted there are some extremely strong people out there that hammer through the novice and start kicking but in the open right away, just out of pure strength. But good armwrestlers figure them out as well. I dont believe you truly learn until u lose. That is the only thing that makes u think beyond what has been working for you. So pull the opens!!!

[Scott Latella]

[quote author=Joe Lagasse I dont believe you truly learn until u lose.


No wonder I'm getting smarter. lol . Joe you are right , but we ( pro's) must the time to teach so that we keep many of the new guys in the sport to make our sport deeper with talent . This will make all of us better.

P.S. Any left handed novice for me out there?

[Mike West]

Chris, why not go into amatuer class after winning novice, I was told that the novice classes were for people how have never pulled before, amatuer would be the next step up.

[Jim Bryan]

Actually, the novice vs pro class is up to the tournament director. Some of my past tournaments had 12- 15 good competitors in the 198's and 198+ novice classes. If you won that class, then you need to step up and pull pro. On the other hand, if only a few competitors enter and the skill level is not that high. The director has the discretion to allow you to continue pulling novice. Usually, the tournament director can differentiate between the "skilled novice" training with open pullers vs the newbie trying it out for the first or second time. If in doubt, I will let them compete in the novice class rather than making them jump up to the open where they can get hurt.
Just my two cents.
Jim

[Jean chicken wing Daigle]

I agree with Kurt and Jim.
I started armwrestling at the age of 61.
I won my first tourny at Cape Cod with 3 other poeple
2 of them never armwrestled before.
I know that I am not ready to be in the pros line.
So I cannot compete except in the masters.
And I cannot jump up a class because there isn't any for me. I hope that the directors gather together and change this ruling.
Just my opinion

[Josh Shotgun Stark]

I have no problem with letting people pull 3 novice 1st places providing they need the experience. However, if you have been pulling for 2 or more years as a novice, then you really should consider pulling the Open classes. I understand Jean's point as I watch him pull most tourney's, but if you pull 2 novice classes & try to pull an Open class in the same day but lose in ALL the classes you pull, meaning not winning 1st in any of the classes, then you are only kidding yourself. There are people out there that have been labeled Lifetime Novice Pullers. They either do not feel comfortable pulling Open, or they just do nothing to better themselves.

Bottom Line...
Tournament Directors ONLY should make that choice. I would have to get an ok from Bill Cox, but it would be my discretion solely.
Add your comments please as this will not get resolved until we have enough input.

Also thanks for bringing this up as I have been asked many times before but was unable to answer.

[Chris Roy]

Thanks for all the input guys, I also agree with Kurt and Jim you should have two or three wins to start pulling open. This is my first year and I know im not ready to pull with guys like Ron Klemba yet, he would take me down in .5 seconds flat if I lose every match i'm not going to learn anything but if I pull with somone of my skill the matches will last longer going back and fourth and i will learn.

Andy your in big trouble, next time we pull your not going to win one match i have a surprise for you ;D. I'm also getting bigger and stronger at loon i had to lose weight but at the maine event the classes are different so im puting on some pounds.