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Watch YouTuber Will Tennyson Take on pro Bodybuilder Valerie Ratelle in a Strength Challenge
Fitness YouTuber and bodybuilder Will Tennyson is no stranger to weird and wonderful challenges. In previous videos, the Canadian has worked out like an Ironman triathlete, taken on Andre Rush's 8000-calorie diet and even crushed a workout at 15,000 feet.
In his latest challenge, the 25-year-old links up with professional bodybuilder Valerie Ratelle — "[there's] more definition in her quads than a dictionary," says Tennyson — for a head-to-head workout that'll test his mettle in the context of aesthetic and endurance bodybuilding (Ratelle's specialty).
After a brief discussion, the pair decide to train legs in their head-to-head session. Pre-workout scooped, they head to their warm-up. "I usually do supersets for warm-ups," says Ratelle, before warming up on a glute machine and a Pitshark. Next up, their first working tri-set of leg extensions, barbell walking lunges and hack squats. "Holy shit," pants Tennyson. "It seems she works out until she faints, pukes or dies. I guess that's how you grow."
On the leg extensions, Ratelle shares how she keeps her bodybuilding-style workout efficient. Instead of counting reps, Ratelle works until failure — which sometimes comes early, and sometimes comes late. Not only that, but Ratelle and Tennyson use the walking lunges as the "rest" period between the leg extensions and the hack squats. To keep Tennyson working at maximum intensity, Ratelle uses drop sets — decreasing the weight on the leg extension when he reaches failure — to maximise muscle tear.
"I don't normally sweat; I sparkle," gasps Tennyson after finishing the first brutal tri-set with Ratelle. Next up: the swing squat, a plate-loaded leg machine for deep, full range squats. It uses a curved trajectory to avoid placing undue pressure on the knees. Paired with a vertical leg press, the duo start grinding hard through the second phase of their workouts. On each machine, they're aiming to hit as many reps as possible. Just as well, Tennyson laughs, because "bodybuilders can't count."
Pumping out the reps, Ratelle keeps Tennyson working hard with a few motivational tools straight from the bible of bodybuilding. "Don't stop, or I count again," warns the pro bodybuilder — out of frame, Tennyson is pouring with sweat (or "sparkle"?), his hands on his head.
Second superset wrapped, Tennyson gasps, "I'm not going to be able to walk for a week." His worst mistake? Hitting the workout fasted. Despite this, an impressed Ratelle says, Tennyson is "doing really well". Lastly, the pair decided on a wager — a giant cookie if Ratelle wins and enough cash for a dozen doughnuts if Tennyson is the victor — before their final, all-out set on the pendulum squat. Falling out of the machine, Tennyson manages a full 31 reps. However, Ratelle manages to secure victory with a hard-earned 36 reps, before calling time.
"That was an enjoyable and mentally agonising workout," says Tennyson to Ratelle after they've wrapped.
"You did well, I was impressed," Ratelle replies. "I thought you would have had a harder time...it's actually hard. [I'm] really proud."
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