For all those who think they are real tough guys or gals, The Rock Ranch is hosting the perfect competition. As part of Fall Family Days’ Rural Round-Up, The Rock Ranch will hold a 3 to 6 p.m. arm wrestling competition on Sept. 26 for all those who dare to take the challenge. The competition is free and will consist of different weight classes. Contestants can pre-register by e-mail to adampugh@therockranch.com or register the day of the event by 2 p.m. The best part of the competition is that it comes with its own built-in champion. Milner resident Rick Viars had been beating everyone who came across his path, but it was not until the 1970s that he made it to the national and international scene as a champion arm wrestler. ’I was a pretty good little arm wrestler and everybody kept telling me I should go to the championship on ABC’s Wild World of Sports,’ said Viars, who will officiate The Rock Ranch’s competition. ‘I didn’t want to do it. I was afraid to go out there to Las Vegas. Those guys participating looked like the Terminator or something.’ But, after a couple of years coaxing and, with two of his friends providing him with a plane ticket, Viars had no excuse. Viars made it to the eighth round in the single-elimination competition. ’I would have made it further,’ he said, ‘but I didn’t understand the rules.’ It wasn’t long, however, before Viars did understand the rules. He and about 20 other area arm wrestlers then created the Atlanta Arm and Wrist Wrestling Association (AAWA). It was also about that time that Viars created the ‘top roll’ technique for arm wrestling and went to Petaluma, Ca. for the world arm wrestling championship. This time, he did not walk away empty-handed. Viars brought the world championship trophy back to Georgia. There are currently five different arm wrestling championships and Viars has won them all. In addition, he has trained more than 5,000 arm wrestlers, with 14 of them being world champions. For years, AAWA was the team to beat. According to Viars, they still are. I’ve been out if it almost 20 years, but we’re still the dominant team in arm wrestling,’ the 60-year-old said. ‘We’re the dog that can hunt.’ Admission to The Rock Ranch is $14 per person and $2-off coupons are available at participating Chick-fil-A restaurants. Children 3 and under are admitted free. Fall Family Fun Days hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday from Sept. 26 to Nov. 14. The Rock Ranch is located at 5020 Barnesville Highway, The Rock, Ga. For reservations or directions, contact The Rock Ranch at 706-647-6374 or visit www.TheRockRanch.com.
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