What started out as a “just for fun” Riverboat Days arm-wrestling competition may now turn into a world title for Yankton’s Krysta Prior.
Prior took part in her first competition last August at Riverboat Days when she and her roller derby teammates decided to try it for fun to see how they would do. When Prior was put in the pro division and won against the lady in charge of the competition, who has also won world titles, she began participating competitively. Prior began competing in Omaha, Neb. two weeks later and walked away with three first-place titles.
Most recently Prior competed in Wisconsin and Vegas, placing first place in right hand and second place in left hand in Wisconson and first in Vegas where she won $1,000. Prior has also competed in Tennessee, Idaho and Ontario, Canada.
Because the Wisconsin competition was a national competition, that means Prior qualifies her to compete at the world competition in Poland this September.
“Obviously a world title would be awesome, but I definitely need to put some more time and energy behind it if I think I’m going to walk away with a world title,” Prior said. “I am kind of gearing up for it a little bit and planning to do a little more by working out.”
Prior would like to go to Poland especially so she can prepare for the world championship that will be held in the United States in two years, she said. She is currently looking for sponsors to help make the trip happen.
“It would be a lot easier to go to the one in Poland, but everyone has told me I should try to get in on a world tournament to get a feel for how things are run and what the competition is like. There are a lot of tips from other arm wrestlers who I know who can teach and train me. If I’m able to go to Poland I have until September to practice and get up to speed.”
But ordinarily, Prior said she doesn’t practice.
“There are a lot of people who put a lot of time into it and they’re dedicated to weekly practices to hit up every tournament,” she said.
“I don’t do that - I just happen to be good at arm wrestling. I kind of feel like I don’t deserve it, but since I am so good I’m interested to see how far I can actually go to challenge myself.”
To prepare for the world competition though, Prior said she does intend on practicing more and going to more competitions, but one problem she has faced during her time arm wrestling has been finding competitions to compete in.
“There just aren’t that many lady pullers,” she said. “Table time is the best way to get better - the more time you can spend at one of the arm wrestling tables going against somebody is the best thing you can do because you learn how to counter other people’s moves. Some people are going to pull different ways.”
The most important thing Prior has taken away from the competition is sportsmanship.
“I look forward to getting beat because it gives me a challenge and it gives me an opportunity to give somebody else a high-five,” she said.
“Losing doesn’t mean you lose - it means you have more opportunities. I really try to push that.”
