'Muscle' pumps up for another go

When Northwest Georgia Muscle returns to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center this weekend for its second edition, it will come back with a significant bump over last year’s participation numbers.

Al Gross, the event’s founder and operator, also hopes to see a rise in the number of people turning out to take a look at what’s essentially a five-ring circus of strength and fitness — part competition, part show, all celebration of a common love of athletics.

“I think it’s going to be really eye-opening,” Gross said. “Last year, I didn’t have that many people show up, but I didn’t advertise right and I did not have the billboards and the radio. It seems like everywhere I go now, people have heard about this.”

Northwest Georgia Muscle is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start Saturday and Sunday at the trade center, with activities lasting into the evening. Admission is $10, but competitors will be admitted free, as will children 12 and younger if accompanied by a guardian. The event returns this year with some lineup changes — including the absence of some of last year’s core competitions, like the strong man contest — but even more going on.

“I knocked on doors and did a lot of emails and a lot of searching on Google,” Gross said.

“And I just started connecting.”

One of the biggest coups for Northwest Georgia Muscle this year is USA Powerlifting’s Georgia and Southern States Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships. According to a release earlier this fall from USA Powerlifting, more than 100 competitors are expected to participate in the event that includes bench, squat and deadlift.

Gross is also proud of the addition of the competition for the Miss Georgia Pole Fitness title, because pole fitness hasn’t typically held its competitions at wider-ranging strength and fitness events like Northwest Georgia Muscle.

But that’s in line with Gross’ vision for the weekend — bringing in athletes and spectators who might have different interests yet still find common ground in their passion for competition and fitness.

“It’s blowing my mind how many phone calls I’ve been getting (from potential participants),” Gross said. “I want to help build some of the sports, some of the smaller stuff that shows you don’t have to be an elite athlete making $20 million. You can do other stuff and get the recognition.”

Gross, 60, knows about that firsthand. A 26-year veteran of the St. Petersburg, Fla., Police Department, he retired to Dalton a decade ago. During his time in law enforcement, he competed in the Police Olympics and did well as an arm wrestler, earning six gold medals in state competition as well as national and international titles.

From participating in other arm wrestling events, he knew the crowds would come in strength if a weekend offered other types of competition as well. So while arm wrestling will be a big part of this weekend, it won’t be the only thing, and many events will have world-level competitors, Gross said.

“I decided to invite everyone to come and play,” he said of his initial creation of Northwest Georgia Muscle.

This year that’s even more true — thanks to the addition of events like Grapplers Quest, what was a little more than 100 competitors at last year’s Northwest Georgia Muscle is expected to be around 1,200 this year. And more than $18,000 in prize money will be on the line across various events.

Beyond competition, spectators and participants will have the chance to take in several lectures — Gross is especially glad to have fitness expert Stacy Young on board — as well as watch demos (like those from kettle bell record holder Andrew Durniat) and see entertainment from dancers, clowns and magicians.

“While I was a police officer, I put a lot of people in jail, was very aggressive and had some high numbers,” Gross said. “But it gets to you after a while when you realize it’s kind of a revolving door for some people, with no way out. So it’s been a dream of mine to be able to run an event to offer to the community that gives kids something to do besides stand on the corner and sell drugs.”

Visit nwgamuscle.com to learn more.

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