Last fall, I discovered Pole Spin magazine quite accidentally when someone left it behind in a bar where I was having a cocktail. Since I posted about the publication a couple of times, Tinu, the single-named lady behind the American Pole Fitness Association and Pole Spin magazine, invited me to the American Pole Fitness Championships, held in New York City on Friday. It was… interesting.
First of all, the event was held at the Manhattan Center, which was hosting two events that evening: The pole dancers were upstairs, but downstairs in the Hammerstein Ballroom, the Omega Institute was having a Dharma Talk. So there were ladies in super high heels heading upstairs and bald Buddhist monks in brown robes milling around downstairs. Very surreal.
The competition started with the men. Yes, there are male pole fitness enthusiasts. Many of the judges of the competition were men; one an acrobat with Cirque du Soleil. This is David C. Owen. His routine involved being tied up in a burlap sack and cutting himself out of it with a knife, then spinning on the pole with the knife in his teeth.
This is Ravan, he had really great makeup, but you can’t see it here.
This is Philip Deal, he toured with the Kirov Ballet of St. Petersburg Russia. He is also on faculty at The New School Of Erotic Touch, “teaching men stamina training and improving sexual performance.”
Derik Pierson seemed influenced by Lady Gaga. He won first place in the men’s division. Apparently when he was younger he was hit by a drunk driver and got two herniated discs in his neck.
Derik was incredibly fluid and comfortable on the pole.
Here’s an old video of Derik Pierson in action.Even though Derik won, Suwasit was my favorite. He was super theatrical and even included a chair in his routine.