Mr. Olympia Weekend

LittleArm · #1 September 5th, 2006, 09:29 PM

September 28 - October 1 is the Mr. Olympia event in Las Vegas. I think I can make it; this will be my 7th or 8th time.

Even if you don't go the actual competition (which is expensive) you can still go to the fantastic bodybuilding expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

If you are a fan of the sport of bodybuilding I highly recommend coming out to Vegas. If you've never been to a contest or an event like this before, I promise it will be a weekend you will never forget.

http://www.mrolympia.com/

brent · #2 September 6th, 2006, 12:01 AM

I wish I'd known a couple weeks ago to request more time off, but I intend to try and get there!

kirby_freak15 · #3 September 6th, 2006, 04:59 AM

mehh, I wish I could go but I live tres far awayyyy :'(...I've never seen a bodybuilder in real life before so haha yea, if i got it will definitely be unforgettable...

Unfortunately I can't go...

Max Mann · #4 September 6th, 2006, 05:21 AM

I've set up my last week of vacation time specifically for this. I'll be arriving Thursday, staying at Blue Moon over the weekend (the rates there will be about the same as any good Strip hotel at that time), then staying a couple more days at Mandalay Bay before leaving. I plan on going to the Thursday night meet-and-greet and the Saturday night finale (not the prelims; I'm not interested in seeing the women's competitions).

Would there be a gym set up at the Orleans Arena for the competitors? I'd love to see one or two at Gold's (since I'm a member), but since it's not a sponsor I'm doubting it.

This will be my first time attending any BB event, so I figured I might as well start at the top, with Ronnie possibly setting a new record. And I plan on taking quite a few pics to share with a friend of mine who won't be there. Hope to see a few of you there.

LittleArm · #5 September 23rd, 2006, 12:53 AM

I'm going the cheap (!) route this year. Normally it's a $1000 weekend for me, between the hotel, travel, and the tickets. This time I decided I'm just going to drive out Friday afternoon and see the men's judging in the evening, spend one night at Orleans, hit the expo the next day and head back. I usually do enjoy the excitement of the finals, but I'm better off saving some money this time.

LittleArm · #6 September 29th, 2006, 09:54 PM

I'm in Vegas, just got back from the Olympia prejudging. It looks like it will be another win for Ronnie, with Cutler coming in 2nd and Victor Martinez third. Gunter was a little disappointing; he didn't get called out until the 3rd round, which meand he probably won't be in top 8. Cheap photos on their way, if any of them came out.

Call outs:
Round 1 - Victor Martinez, Dexter Jackson, Jay Cutler, Ronnie Coleman
Round 2 - Melvin Anthony, Gustavo Badell, Tony Freeman, Branch Warren
Round 3 - Markus Ruhl, Gunter Schierkamp, Vince Taylor, Dennis James

I was sitting pretty far back and my camera isn't great, but here's a shot of Coleman & Cutler:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...man-cutler.jpg

LittleArm · #7 September 29th, 2006, 10:22 PM

Oh, and if anyone else went to the show I'd love to hear your comments. You can look for me on Yahoo Messenger, ID littlearm13, or AIM, [email protected]

kirby_freak15 · #8 September 30th, 2006, 07:37 AM

will Jay ever be first? =P

glammaman2000 · #9 September 30th, 2006, 08:47 PM

...pick up the TV rights this year? The last few years, it's been live on PPV; but this year, nada! Any info?

LittleArm · #10 October 1st, 2006, 10:20 AM

I'm very mad at myself. I go to the Olympia every year, and I can't believe that THIS is the year I decided to skip the Finals. I've always felt Ronnie Coleman was overrated as a bodybuilder (some years he deserved to win, some he did not) and it must have been amazing to see Jay Cutler take the title from him. Bodybuilding history was made last night, and I missed it.

muscleboy82000 · #11 October 1st, 2006, 11:07 AM

Glad to hear that Jay final won. From the photo's on-line, he looked totally awesome

Here are some pics from http://www.graphicmuscle.com/ of Jay

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Olympica-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Olympica-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Olympica-1.jpg

brent · #12 October 1st, 2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleArm

I'm very mad at myself. I go to the Olympia every year, and I can't believe that THIS is the year I decided to skip the Finals. I've always felt Ronnie Coleman was overrated as a bodybuilder (some years he deserved to win, some he did not) and it must have been amazing to see Jay Cutler take the title from him. Bodybuilding history was made last night, and I missed it.

Well if you think you're mad at yourself, think about how mad I am for having to work when I live here...

hulkmuscle · #13 October 1st, 2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleArm

I've always felt Ronnie Coleman was overrated as a bodybuilder (some years he deserved to win, some he did not)

I couldn't agree with you more. I'm also happy that our local boy, Vic Martinez, came in 3rd.

LittleArm · #14 October 1st, 2006, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brent

Well if you think you're mad at yourself, think about how mad I am for having to work when I live here...

That is really unfortunate. They moved the Olympia a couple weeks early this year so it did seem to come up on us suddenly.

Did you at least get to see any of the shuttle buses driving around town? It looks like the best way to travel: larger-than life bodybuilders plastered on the street. It was difficult to concentrate when driving.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...lympia-bus.jpg

brent · #15 October 1st, 2006, 09:48 PM

It is unfortunate. All I saw were a few hot beefy guys jogging around the strip. I didn't even see those busses.

Let's get group together next year, and everyone plan a month or two BEFORE it happens... We can even have before & after parties at my house!

Max Mann · #16 October 4th, 2006, 02:46 PM

Just back in town today after a red-eye and a nap, and I enjoyed every moment of the Olympia experience I took part in, but I feel I missed out on more. I didn't get to the meet-and-greet on Thursday evening until 9pm, and by that time most of the competitors had packed up, but I did manage to get an autograph and pic from Troy Alves for a friend of mine who is a huge fan of his. Next time I'll be there ON time.

Paco Bautista sat a couple of seats away from me during the finals. I had an upper central seat, and his entourage sat in two rows. I thought they were just fans of his, until I turn around halfway during the posing routines and there he is with a girl on his lap. He was clothed, but even his forearms made my eyes bulge. And I had my first gay porn actor encounter when Rob Sager (aka Brett Mycles) sat across from me at a blackjack table. Cute and built, yum!

The Orleans casino floor literally teemed with musclemen strutting and gambling. After the event, one guy in his 50's with a huge mustache was showing off his body to people who were admiring him. If only they knew how much synthol he'd injected into his shoulders and triceps they wouldn't be so impressed (I could see the telltale bulges from 30 feet away). Deetrakt would've had a field day with all the tight shirts on display. Even though I wore one myself, I looked miniscule in comparison.

All told, I can't wait to do it again. As the song goes: so many men, so little time.