New Brunswickers are heading to Winnipeg this weekend, to represent the province in the sport of Arm Wrestling.
They’ve qualified for the Canadian National Arm Wrestling Championships.
Jamie Leblanc of Memramcook, Chris Gallant and Luc Faubert of Moncton, and Dylan Courier of Beldune flew out on Thursday afternoon, headed for Manitoba.
Vice President of the NB Association Jamie Leblanc says last year around 600 competed, “It’s a mini martial art. There are different techniques, levels, and styles. Just because one individual can beat someone, doesn’t mean you can beat the other adversary. Really mind-opening once you get on a table with an experienced puller.”
Leblanc says many people think this is just a bar sport, but it is actually much more than that.
They have competitors who range in age from six years old to over 50, “The youth category goes from 6 to 17, After that, 18-year-olds can compete with the men’s league or the ladies, and plus 40 for the grand masters for our provincials,” Leblanc says.
This weekend’s competition gets underway on July 1st, with opening ceremonies. On Saturday, the youth, ladies, and Grand Master categories compete, and then on Sunday, it is the weighted categories for the men’s division.
When he’s not competing, Leblanc says he is always trying to find ways to promote the sport of Arm Wrestling.
“Every time I am able to go on the road for work, I try to bring an arm wrestling table with me. I look up people individually, on Facebook or on the app Armbet, and I connect with others. When we first re-established our association in 2018/2019, with COVID, obviously this is a contact sport so we had to follow all of the protocols. Now that things have eased up a little bit, I’m glad to get the wheels back in motion and try to promote this great sport, as loud and as strong as I can.”
