| 2008 Arnold Classic
It was another crazy year at the Arnold Classic this year. With attendance reaching record numbers, the Expo was filled with fitness fans all weekend long. It was estimated that nearly 200,000 people walked through the Arnold Classic Expo this year.
I was working the Optimum Nutrition/ American Body Building booth for the first time at the Arnold Classic. I couldn’t believe the amount of people who attended the Expo on Friday, February 29th, the first day of the event. Usually, Friday is not as crazy as Saturday but this year that was not the case.
Saturday was even busier than Friday and it was a full day of events at the Expo. At the booth, we had to hold off giving away our free samples and Arnold Classic T-shirts because of the overwhelming crowd. At the rate people were coming in, we would have run out of everything in a couple hours. The Optimum booth turned out to be one of the biggest and most popular booths in the entire expo!
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Me with some of the beautiful Optimum girls
at the Optimum/ABB Booth |
Meeting Jon Jon Park, the son of the
legendary Reg Park at the Banquet Dinner
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Shaking the hand of the ageless Bill Grant
at the Expo |
On Saturday night, I attended the 20th Anniversary of the Arnold Classic at the Veteran’s Memorial Theater. It was a great show, probably the best bodybuilding show of the year. As this was the 20th Anniversary, they brought out all the past winners of the Arnold Classic including Rich Gaspari, Mike Ashley, Shawn Ray, Vince Taylor, Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, Mike Francois, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Victor Martinez and this year’s winner, Dexter Jackson. (To read John’s full report of the Arnold Classic, click here)
I also attended the Banquet Dinner after the contest and, thanks to the influence of IFBB Pro and fellow Optimum representative George Farah, I had the opportunity to sit in the VIP section. This was pretty cool, I have to confess. At the table next to me, Sergio Oliva and Mike Katz were eating dinner. At the table next to them, Jay Cutler and his wife Kerrie were relaxing. Jon Jon Park and his mother Marion were also in attendance for the tribute of the legendary Reg Park, who passed away last November. (For pictures of the Arnold Classic, click here)
All in all, it was a very exciting and busy weekend at the 2008 Arnold Classic. I was happy to work for a great company like Optimum Nutrition at the Expo and meet so many fans of the bodybuilding world who were having as much fun as I was. I can’t wait to go again next year!
Fitness Hall of Fame Awards
On Sunday, March 16th, I attended the National Fitness Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. The event took place at the Oak Meadows Golf Club in Addison, Illinois. This was my second year attending this event and I was looking forward to it after the good time I had last year.
Some of the 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees included chiropractor Dr. James Stoxen, 1966 Mr. America and Mr. Universe winner Bob Gajda, “Buns of Steel” fitness instructor Tamilee Webb and 6 Time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson.
I was on hand to help present the new Rising Star Award to Angel Pyle, author of the new book “Miss Junk Food”. The Rising Star Award is an award that is presented to those who have been involved in the fitness community for less than 5 years and are making an impact with their work.
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Bob Gajda also was inducted in the
Fitness Hall of Fame |
With Cory Everson, winner of the
2008 Fitness Hall of Fame
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Posing with fitness model Gina Lara |
Presenting the Rising Star Award to Angel Pyle |
Also on hand presenting awards were former Hall of Fame Inductees Dr. Robert Goldman (2006 Hall of Fame Inductee) and popular TV fitness personality Gilad Janklowicz (2007 Hall of Fame Inductee).
Thanks to the founders of the National Fitness Hall of Fame Don Figarelli and his son John Figarelli for inviting me to be a part of the ceremony this year. It was a fun event as always as I was able to catch up so some of the legends in the fitness industry. I’m looking forward to the event again next year!
2008 ABA Natural Illinois Championships
After promoting my first bodybuilding and fitness contest last July, I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to do it all again. That day arrived on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008, when I promoted the 2008 ABA Natural Illinois Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships.
This was the first annual Natural Illinois and I plan on making it a yearly event every March. We had a smaller turn-out than expected (only 22 total competitors) but every competitor worked hard and came ready to compete.
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John presents the overall award to Jeff Lindo |
The show ran very smoothly, thanks to the efforts of my expediters and backstage helpers. I couldn’t have put on a successful show without their tireless help and attention to detail. I was also lucky to have Lorenzo Gaspar, the president of the ABA, back as my head judge and the emcee for the event.
Despite the holiday weekend, we still had a very big crowd for the evening show. At least three quarters of the auditorium was full and the audience stayed until the very end, which was gratifying to see. I want to present an entertaining event for both the audience and the competitors. My goal is to make each succeeding contest more entertaining and enjoyable for everyone who attends.
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Figure Overall Winner
Crystal Smith |
John and Cara Kokenes with overall
Fitness Champ Crystal Juarez
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I expect this contest to grow and grow each year until it is one of the biggest natural bodybuilding events in the Midwest. My next event, the 2008 ABA Natural North America, will be held on Saturday, August 9th at Romeoville High School in Romeoville, Illinois. Keep checking this website for more information on that competition.
Capital Nutrition Store Opening
On Saturday, March 28th, 2008, I represented Optimum Nutrition at the opening of the brand new Capital Nutrition store in Naperville. The store is located at the corner of 95th street and Route 59 in Naperville, Illinois. This is the fourth store for Capital Nutrition with their other stores located in Oak Forest, Illinois, Schererville, Indiana and Mokena, Illinois.
I handed out samples of Optimum Nutrition’s Whey Gold, Pro Complex, Vassive CE and Vassive NO in addition to free Optimum Shaker bottles. The Grand Opening brought in a lot of people from the Naperville area to check out the deals on supplements. I was happy to see that most of the customers were big Optimum Nutrition fans as they were purchasing big bags of ON’s Whey Gold and Pro Complex.
Monica Brant and Dennis James were also making an appearance at the store, which helped to bring in lots of customers. Monica is very popular with both men and women and she is probably the most recognized competitor among the pro figure athletes. Dennis James is one of the biggest and thickest pro bodybuilders on the circuit and he will be competing later this year at the Mr. Olympia again.
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With my friend Ray McGury at the
Optimum Demo table |
My training partner and friend Matt made
it to the Grand Opening
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Massive Dennis James was at the Grand Opening |
With Pro Figure competitor Monica Brant |
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