Arnold Classic Adventures!
A docu-series chronicling our trip to Arnold Classic 2024
So, this is a little different, but it’s something I set out to do when planning another trip to The Arnold Sports Festival, aka Arnold Classic. Last year, I went with my son, Dash, who is an aspiring bodybuilder, mostly to get a feel for this world he’s venturing into. It was an eye-opening experience and a fun one at that, but as someone who has chronicled many of his adventures throughout life, it felt a shame not to have this experience on camera for others to see.
With that in mind, I bought the trip for Dash (again) for Christmas, and eventually got a nice camera and mic to boot, so that I could capture these events going forward. I went in with a plan to make a kind of reality show-style piece, one that would emulate the kind of videos people are watching on YouTube, but also something that would capture what I felt was the most interesting, cool, or hilarious aspects of the event.
More than anything, I guess I wanted to capture it for posterity’s sake. I have begun placing more value in experiences than goods when it comes to gift-giving for my son, as these things are far more memorable than some arbitrary item that goes in a closet, on a shelf, or in the trash after a short while. It’s something I’d encourage all parents to consider investing in, as these types of memories last a whole hell of a lot longer and leave a much greater impact than some clothes, cologne, toys, or any other assortment of disposable items.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands on such memories. Hell a day hike, trip to the zoo, or even a bike ride in the park can have just as much of an impact on your parent-child bond. In the end, you’ll never buy their love or respect, as that means you’re always paying for it. Turn off the spigot and the love goes away. That’s my philosophy, anyway. And yes, my kid is still spoiled. I get the contradiction.
At any rate, this 3-part video series is a labor of love and I hope that you’ll sit down and spend some time with Dashiell and me as we venture to Columbus, Ohio and spend some bonding time over energy drinks, overpriced workout apparel, and half-naked muscle men posing onstage. It was a lot of fun capturing the footage and experience, and a lot of work was put into the editing and presentation. While I always hope that the views will take off on YouTube, it’s been a weird experience over there as the strangest videos take off, while the ones I work hardest on seem to languish.
However, if these languish on views, they’ll still forever remain a living document of time spent bonding with my kid, and nothing can extinguish that.
Take a look at the full series below and if you enjoy it, feel free to share with friends and family (or strangers). I hope it serves as inspiration for you and your own adventures with your offspring, be it at a fitness festival, Disneyland, or a walk around the neighborhood.
