ASF 2013 in curtovision!

[Curt James]

Attended the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in 1989 and every year while I was in college. The VIP package that first year was just $100. Somewhere there are Polaroids of me (with hair) and Arnold. T-shirts, an Arnold Classic mug (saw those on sale at a retro booth), and a number of programs with autographs from Charles Gaines, Gregory Hines, John C. Grimek, Brian Moss, Ron Love, and more. Grimek gave me hell because my Sharpie was running out. :-)

The Arnold Classic has evolved into the Arnold Sports Festival and I couldn't miss the 25th anniversary of this event!

ebfitness and Co. made my weekend a lot of fun. We enjoyed people-watching at the Hyatt lounge. A target rich environment with everyone from the reigning Mr. Olympia to a guy wearing UGG boots. =8^O What a great time.

Here are some of the pics.


L-R: Chuck, Jennifer, me, Ivana, and ebfitness!

Taken at the expo by a random and cooperative fan.


Fred Smalls' family. Carllean and Fred were sitting a few rows behind me. The older child screamed "There's Daddy!" You can see the little one's t-shirt reads TEAM FRED "BIGGIE" SMALLS.

I asked how much Fred weighed when he was born and then asked who got Fred involved in weight training.

Nine pounds and his mother exclaimed, "That was me!" Fred was a heavy child and was interested in building muscle and getting in shape. When his mother found out the local training center accepted 13-year-old members she signed him up right away.


Louis "The Big Sexy" Uridel invited me behind the Species booth for this photo taken by Mikaila Soto!


Mikaila!

If you haven't read "Dying to Breath — Fighting for My Life" please click that title or visit http://www.sotocpt.com/ to learn about Soto's indomitable spirit!


L-R: Jennifer and Ivana!

You won't find two women with more energy, beauty, and humor!


Jose Raymond

He said something like, "I thought you were shorter." And also that I was entertaining. Good word from a true champion. :-D


Shot from the night show on Saturday



Stalking the Species booth. Believe I overheard that woman with the scarf mutter distastefully, "Oh, dear. A creeper."

Videos are on their way. I have to figure out how to separate that info from the Sony Handycam I picked up right before the show.

[guruhonza]

Love the pic with TBS.

Jose's looking huge. He did helluva job last year with Chris.

[Curt James]

More mugging from The Big Sexy and, no, I never stop talking. :-|

TBS never stops... cleaning?



YEAH, BUDDY!


ebfitness might be thinking, "Take your hand off me or I will kill you in 3... 2... 1..."


Tosca Reno

Reno is the powerhouse behind the best-selling Eat-Clean Diet book series. I expressed my condolences over the loss of her husband Robert Kennedy, publisher of MuscleMag International, Oxygen, and other magazines as well as many, many fitness books.

Kennedy or one of his editors sent me a check for $10 for a letter to the editor I had written expressing my delight at attending the first Arnold Classic. I called it a bodybuilding nirvana then and it certainly delivered 25 years later. I wish Kennedy would have been around to see the anniversary show.

For more on Tosca Reno and Robert Kennedy Publishing visit http://www.toscareno.com/.


Flex and Hudichky



She was patient and coordinated as she balanced drinks while taking this snapshot of Flex and a fan.


L-R: Jennifer and Amanda

Amanda could be seen working on her laptop at the Hyatt. What a sweetheart.



How much of a goofball do I look like? :-D


Robin Chang

This shot was taken during the finals for the Arnold Classic, Bikini International and Arnold Strongman Classic.

[Curt James]

^^^^ Chang joked, "Were my eyes open?"

Guess he's never seen Big Barry's pics.



Arnold approved!

[Curt James]

^^^^ Related:

Stopped at a McDonald's in Zanesville on the way home.

[Curt James]

Sorry I didn't run into John Hansen.

And I regret not getting to meet AnglicanBeachParty and Christian Duque (texted both, talked with nor saw either).

Plus though I got to meet lksurf2 and his father, I failed to get the snapshot! :-/

We sat near each other, but I moved to the rear of the auditorium to shoot some video of the predjudging. Lost track of them both after that. :-(

[Big Barry]

Look at all those lucky guys getting to meet Curt!

[Curt James]

The truly lucky ones were those who didn't meet me. Believe there might be some retina damage from being exposed to my total lack of tan. Gets pretty bright! =8^O

[sassy69]

The truly lucky ones were those who didn't meet me. Believe there might be some retina damage from being exposed to my total lack of tan. Gets pretty bright! =8^O

I think it was at the 2003 Arnold - some friends from all over the country met up, and my one friend from Los Angeles was nowhere to be seen when we were getting together for breakfast on Sunday morning. He kept muttering "I think the sun is broken" all weekend - it was one of those cold, cloudy, no-color weekends in Columbus. He couldn't take it and caught a very early early flight out on Sunday back to Cali.

[ManimalPatB]

Awesome Curt!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!!

[JohnnyStyles]

Curt never takes pics with the Styles! lol

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Great stuff Curt. I would have loved to visit with Tosca. Her husband was a gem. I miss Bob.


Baldie

[mdvsony]

Shit....didn't picture Robin Chang to actually be Asian lol

[Curt James]

Curt never takes pics with the Styles! lol

Karenne was behind the booth when I passed by the first time and you, mi hermano, are always working, head set on, and 100% "Let's do this!"

But I will make it a point to get a picture with you and Karenne next time I see you both. :-D

[Curt James]

Great stuff Curt. I would have loved to visit with Tosca. Her husband was a gem. I miss Bob.


Baldie

I said maybe ten or twenty words to Kennedy at the one Arnold banquet. He was there with friends and I praised him complete fanboy style for all he'd done for the sport. He said something like, "If you really want to be impressed then..." and introduced me to one of the well known female fitness models at the time who was standing with his group. Very humble man with a sense of humor is what I took from that brief encounter.