Personal Best: Reaping rewards of sport — local arm wrestlers heading to nationals
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On a lush, green evening in Sudbury, the Rock City Reapers have much on their minds.
First, there’s the desire to celebrate and develop their sport, to bring the 2024 provincial arm wrestling championships to Sudbury. They know what type of venue they need and the style of trophies they want.
They also know how a tournament like this would go a long way to building this particular athletic endeavour in the North.
But first, they have other awards and championships on their minds as the team prepares for the 2022 Canadian Arm Wrestling Championships, July 1-3 in Winnipeg.
Rock City is based in a dedicated training space in the lowlands en route to the LaCloche Mountains west of Sudbury. The club is a revamped version of a team founded in 2008. There are 21 members with 15 competitors.
Among the competitors heading to nationals are Brad Wade, John Therrien, Luc Millette, Jocelyn Brisson, Rachel Russell, Venessa Eldridge. The club also competed at the recent provincials with members Jeff Rochon, Scott and Emmit Deforge, Luc Pilon, Tom Palmer and Don Paquette.
“People think it’s an aggressive sport, but it all stays on the table,” Brad Ward says.
He likes being strong.
“I like the combat feeling. It feels like you’re going into battle, but you’re not getting hurt. I also like the adrenaline rush. It’s like going to Wonderland on a crazy ride.”
“I like the atmosphere, the people,” adds Luc Millette, who has been competing for four years.
“They’re all super nice. They’ll (even) show you how to beat them after you lose. Everyone wants you to get better.”
Also competing from Sudbury are Ashton and Brian Desormeaux.
“I’ve always been interested in it,” says Ashton, 16, who has been involved since he was four.
He has also competed in tournaments in the U.S.
“It’s a good sport. It’s good to travel the world.”
COVID-19 helped arm wrestling?
The club had barely relaunched in 2018 before the global pandemic emerged, actually legislating physical distancing of at least six feet of personal space.
Arm wrestling is obviously a close encounter. Pullers, as they’re called, compete in events where they use each arm, not just relying on one. They compete in classes according to their weight.
While COVID-19 kept people inside, many turned to surfing through YouTube, looking for things to watch. Eventually, people found arm wrestling, says Rachel Russell, a recreational puller and one of the club’s support crew members.
She has been competing since 2008 in part to have more women in the sport, but she loves the organizational and fundraising side of being with Rock City.
“I love it. I love the team feeling.”
“There’s something about arm wrestling. Everyone’s tried it in their lives,” Brad Ward adds. “I think everyone knows what arm wrestling is.”
Locally, the team held off on group training and complied with pandemic protocols and restrictions, they say.
“Now, it’s just full blown.”
Like everyone, the pandemic slowed them down a bit, Ward says.
“It’s like any sport, you have to do it. It’s in your blood.”
Jeff came over to arm wrestling after playing sports from javelin to football. He was always into competing, he says. He recalls watching Devon Larratte, a professional puller from Canada, on YouTube, and got caught up in Canadian pride.
“I went to a local tournament and I’ve been pulling ever since.”
Rock City’s newest member, 10-year-old Emmit Deforge, began arm wrestling about six weeks ago. He joined his father, Scott, who has been involved for the past 18 months. Emmit, who has played hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, helps makes the videos that add to Rock City’s social media presence.
“It gets me out of the house,” he adds.
Provincials 2024? Rock City?
While the club’s current focus is on Canadians and the drive west to Winnipeg, members are also organizing a bid on hosting provincials in Sudbury.
The event hasn’t been in the North for a long time, Wade says.
They have plenty of other clubs who would come, and they list off the teams in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sturgeon Falls, Hearst and Timmins.
“We have a dedicated team and we’re all willing to put in time. We all want to work as a team. Profits would be put back into (hosting) more Northern tournaments.”
“Traditionally Sudbury has been known for hosting good events,” Rachel Russell adds.
The club can be found on Facebook at Rock City Reapers AWC and on YouTube at Rock City Reapers Arm Wrestling Club.
Laura Young’s Personal Best column runs regularly in The Sudbury Star.
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