OKALOOSA ISLAND —Buddy Stone locked eyes and hands with his opponent.
The spectators’ hoots and cheers became deafening as the pair stood with their hands clasped. The only sign of a struggle was Stone’s face, which had contorted into a snarl.
A few seconds later, Stone smashed his opponents hand down and took a gulp of air.
Arm-wrestling vied with bodybuilding, bench pressing, grappling and wrestling Saturday during the Emerald Coast Power Expo at the Emerald Coast Convention Center.
Stone has been arm-wrestling professionally for about two years.
“It’s just a challenge,” he said. “You get up there and try to do the best you can.”
The Georgia native practices every other weekend for about three hours.
“I hope I wake up one day and be a champion,” Stone said.
About 500 athletes competed in front of 1,500 spectators at the Power Expo, said Russ Mesey, one of the event’s organizers.
“The whole goal was to bring awareness to other sports,” Mesey said.
The organizers want to promote the idea that a person can get fit any time in his or her life, Mesey added.
For Valerie Beach of New Hampshire, arm-wrestling is a way to inspire others, particularly young girls.
“I want to make it so women get that you can be feminine, beautiful and strong,” Beach said. “You don’t have to look like a man to do it.”
The adrenaline rush was one of the many reasons Beach began competing.
“It’s just sheer power for power,” she said.
Young children and teenagers alike were able to test out their skills in wrestling and grappling.
Austin Salmi wants to be a mixed martial arts fighter when he gets older. The 16-year-old already participates in wrestling and jujitsu.
He has a simple strategy on the mat.
“Win,” he said with a grin.