North American Rankings

[enginterzi]

about rankings,my pics would be;
165:Vephkia Samkharadze
Chad Silvers
Craig Tullier
Allen Fischer
RJ Molinaire
198:Mike Selerais
Kevin Bongard
Jakob Abbott
Bill Sinks
Kenny Hughes
+198:John Brzenk
Matt Girdner
Ron Bath
Travis Bagent
David Randall

[CHRISTIAN BINNIE]

We ARE talking about North America, So Vern (165 ) and George( 198 ) SHOULD be on this list. Sorry, but Devon should NOT be on it,YET, Just my opinion. .

AND OF COURSE CHAD SHOULD BE ON THE LIST!!!!!!!!!!

[enginterzi]

no disrespect but i will never accept as legal the way that George armwrestles.
Christian,Vern is a great armwrestler.where would you place him at my pics?

[CHRISTIAN BINNIE]

Well Engin, I voted, and I went by what weight classes guys have been pulling lately. I also didn't include people who are living in North America BUT aren't citizens. So I didn't put Vepkia on my list ( if we are including them, then DEFINITELY Vepkia WOULD be on my list ). Also I put Chad and Craig in the 165-198 class. Marcio would be a close #6 in the 198+ over Devon. Yes, Devon beat him in Washinton. I thought Marcio beat him easily in their first pull, but for some reason it didn't count. Plus Marcio has wins over John, Ron, and Travis

Sorry, BUT to me George wrestles fair. Its like back in the 70s, when pullers started topping they were called cheaters!!!!!

Now look, George pulls WAY different, but legal, and ALOT of people complain.

[simon]

If I were going to add in people that could show up at a US event to pull at these weights, acknowledging that other than Engin not any or many foreign pullers would show:

165
Engin
Vepkia
George
Chad
James Smith

This is a bit tough only because George’s style makes it so difficult to beat him, Engin’s great hit should be more than George could handle, Vepkia’s hand control, endurance and patience should be enough to get George to foul out. I don’t know, Chad what do you think about matches between you and George? James pulled George very well at the Arnold but he admitted that he no idea how to beat the guy at that time.

198
Bongard
Selearis
Hutchings
Sinks
Luke Reimer

Open
Brzenk
Girdner
Bagent
Larratt
Bath

No question Barboza is right there.

I like George a great deal but there is a lot of concern over how he pulls, I am not sure, it may not be legal much longer, though any rule to stop him from doing it could just create another set of judgement calls.

Unless the rule is that either your elbow or your forearm must be in contact with the pad at all times, plus your elbow point must be within the square of the pad at all times.

[Travis Bagent]

George is a beast and should be at the top of both 165 & 198lb classes.... I don't think he can make 165 but let's just say he can...

[CHRISTIAN BINNIE]

Sorry Simon, BUT Dave Randall would be Devon. Devon will kill me for this one.

[simon]

That is a thought, and I am sure Dave is in the mix, but other than Travis and the GNC matches with Girdner he has not pulled any of the others in a while has he?

What about matches between him and Bath?

[Travis Bagent]

In there past 10 matches Randal 8 Bath 2

[simon]

Ok I willing to admit my Open class may need some work I am not that stubborn, so making the assumption that my boy Devon needs to come out and pull a bit more first what about?

Brzenk
Girdner
Bagent
Randall
Bath

Travis I know it is killing you every time I put anyone’s name above yours but hey you have a couple events coming up that can change that for sure, it is up to you big man. ;D

[Vern Martel]

Wow.....this ranking business really gets people going!

Its interesting reading all the comments and views that pullers have of each other. I think a ranking system like this was much needed and should be kept ongoing. I think this will definately bring some more pullers out to prove what they can do.

I agree with some you who say that the classes could be split up more.....this would help in some of the guessing of who would have to gain or lose weight to be a contender in these ranked classes.....but its a start in the right direction.

I know I could say that I do much better in the 154 pound class than the 165 pound class. Each weight class has different plateau of top competitors that are like the John Brzenk of that class. Trying to match competitors from different weight divisions into just "3" classes is always going to be very controversial and cause great debate.

Having the rankings updated every three months will certianly make sure that top pullers will attend the big events more offen. A few more of the larger Canadian events should be included but only ranked if you attend a couple of United States tournaments as well.

At any rate.....great discussion guys!

[Matt Girdner]

THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS IS THAT ,
" ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY " THIS LIST CAN AND WILL CHANGE .
THE LIST DOES NEED TO BE EXPANDED HOWEVER . SOME GREAT PULLERS ARE BEING OVERLOOKED BECAUSE THEY ARE PLACED AND RANKED IN A CLASS ABOVE THEM.
WHY NOT PUT UP A VOTING POLE ? LETS LET ALL OF THE ARMWRESTLING COMMUNITY VOTE .
TRAVIS YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR YOURSELF ONCE !! LOL !
MAYBE GETTING A POINT SYSTEM FOR PLACEMENT AT TOURNY'S . THE NUMBERS WONT LIE .
TRAVIS MY WIFE WOULD HAVE TO ARGUE WITH YOU BEING THE " MR. KNOW IT ALL " SHE ALWAYS SAYS THAT I AM !
I'M JUST GLAD THAT I AM EVEN CONCIDERD ONE OF THE BEST . THANKS TO ALL THAT VOTED FOR ME.

[Luke Eldridge]

I'd have to agree with Matt. Let all the armwrestlers vote on it. There are alot of armwrestlers overlooked. Like Marcio,My coach Jim Bryan, Eric Guevin, Kurt howlgate,Paul Walther, Christian Binnie..just to name a few. They are all good. I consider myself pretty good, but not as good as the bagents or girdners. Last time I pulled travis he told me i was in trouble...and man was he right! that was a year ago. Ive gotten better but that much better. A point system would be good. Get a certain amount of points for where you place in tournaments. Thou it would have to be big events like nationals. I wouldnt say worlds since not everyone can compete at them.

[brzenk]

I have to agree with your rankings the most Engin.
Except for a couple of changes in the 198 class. I think Kevin will beat Mike more often than not.
And you did mention why in your second post but, George should be included and may very well be the best of this class.

I agree with your heavyweight conclusion….there is no way Travis can be second to me.
I beat him way to easy for him to be second.
There is a huge monstrous gap there. And yes Matt and Ron fill it. ;D

As far as the light weights go. I have no idea how to gauge them.
The guys that pull that class would know best.
But those are all great names.

As far as your idea goes Matt….great idea.
The voting should be done by registered voters.
With over a hundred members it would be cool to be able to attach a program where every member could place their vote once a month and have it be automated.
This may create many more members and much more outside interest.

Lets get a programmer working on it.

[Travis Bagent]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!