Above: Basic bicep battle.

The USAF is coming to Eau Claire. No, not the Air Force. The United States Armwrestling Federation is bringing its Unified National Championships to the Chippewa Valley June 13-16. The USAF is comprised of 45 different armwrestling associations in the United States and hosts the national championships at various cities across the country. The weekend-long competition features a variety of classes, based on age, gender, and weight – everything from featherweight to heavyweight. While we’ve all armwrestled our brothers, cousins, and friends at various gatherings, the USAF takes such playful matches of strength to a new level, with intense competitions featuring some of the premiere armwrestlers in the United States and the world. A quick YouTube search brings up plenty of examples of hard-fought, epic matches and quick, decisive victories, with crowds surrounding to see the titans face off. Fancy yourself a limb fighter? There’s an open competition for anyone who wants to get in the melee themselves. If nothing else, it’s probably one of the most intense things you’ll see or do in a hotel ballroom. So whether you’re looking for something fun to watch or want some inspiration to jumpstart your own armwrestling career, Eau Claire is the place to be this weekend for bulging arm muscles and the sweet smell of victory.