Arnold Fan Mike Gross from Elgin, IL just got back from Arnold's annual ARNOLD CLASSIC and wants you all to know this bodybuilding/ Schwarzenegger event should not be missed!


To all Arnold fans who were not able to make The Arnold Classic:

On Friday the Expo was busy, but not too busy. With over 500 exhibitors you could find any type of fitness supplement you could dream of from protein pancakes and pizza, to mega fatburners. But it didn't stop there, Frank Zane selling his squat machine, Lou Ferigno selling autographs, and tons of venders selling clothes. In almost every both you had a Male Body builder with a women wearing next to nothing. As my wife described, she has never seen so much skin that wasn't at a beach.



About 4pm on Friday the Expo had a visitor, Yes the man himself made his way through the crowd with his bodyguards stopping to see some of the vendors and shaking hands. He stopped at the Schwarzenegger.com booth and signed some memorabilia.



The Fitness International and Ms. International was that night. The stage was decorated in red, white and blue. It was quite a show, Susie Curry won the Fitness International, and Yaxeni Oriquen won the Ms. International.

Saturday morning at the expo, we were able to visit with Lee Labrada at his both and Shawn Ray at his. 10:30 am, we headed to Veterans Auditorium for our Photo with Arnold. The line was long but they opened the doors at 11:00 and started moving us through. We entered the room and there he was! Within minutes we had our polaroid taken. My wife said "Thank you Mr. Schwarzenegger" and he replied in his Austrian accent "My pleasure".



We were back at the Expo by noon. It was now wall to wall people, you could hardly move. We walked around and bought a few things and while signing my credit card slip at the Schwarzenegger.com both, my wife bumps into me and I turn around and ask her, what are you doing? Well some lady had bumped into her and knocked her into me. That lady, Maria Shriver. Maria went into the both to great her children (Very Cool).



After that we went back to our hotel to rest up for the night's show and the VIP Banquet. 7pm, the night show started and the line-up was great. Jay Cutler took 1st place followed by Chris Comier in second and Dexter Jackson in 3rd. The other big hit of the evening was 5 street performers for New York. The crowd loved them as they did tumbling and gymnastic type moves. They were really great.

After the show we headed to the banquet were we landed up sitting with Fitness International competitor Adelina Friedmansky. She was really nice and happy to eat. I had my picture taken with her as well as Ms. International winner Yaxeni Oriqen and Light weight competitor Fanny Barrios.

Arnold was there eating in the Sponsor section with wife Maria. He came out and addressed the audience, thanking us for our participation and said "let the party begin." At that point the DJ started playing and people began to dance.



Sunday was the Arnold training seminar, we arrived at 8:15 am to get a good seat. We were 5 rows back, dead center. At 9 am Arnold came out and spent about 20 minutes updating us on his life. Filming of T3 starts April 15th. He then spent the next hour answering questions, from how to train to how he handles his family life. As we all know Arnold is the man. We stayed for Jay Culter's Q&A and then had to leave to get back to the kids. For those of you have not been there you have to go, and for those of us who have, we'll be back!



Mike Gross
Elgin, IL

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René de Jong