This is my first time to attend this competition and my primary reason for going was to view a an amateur contest where the contestants are, how shall I say it, more realistic in size, closer to relate to and a more achievable goal to set my sites on. However, much like last year's NPC USA competition in Las Vegas, I again felt like a shrimp and still a long way to go.
How do these guys get so muscular, ripped and big?
If you will allow me, I would like to digress for a moment. Bodybuilding success can be summarized by three key factors:
- Hard Training
- Proper Nutrition (eating right, and the right supplements and for some that includes steroids, HGH etc)
- Genetics
Seriously, I have never lacked the first two in the list above, but perhaps like you my Achilles' heal is genetics. That is not to say that God has not blessed me to some degree physically, but very obviously the guys at this competition got a "full house" while I got "2 pair". Some of you reading this may get feel you have been dealt yet a lesser hand. While others have that full house but have yet to tap in to it because they have not do not have the desire or dedication to implement the hard training and proper nutrition. For those of you with that lesser hand and feel you are ready to throw in the towel, go read my articles on genetics….it not over until you say so. And this article 2 on genetics.
Back to Contest
In some ways this event reminds of the Mr. Olympia contest of the late 70's and early 80's. There is no huge Expo with 200 booths of peddlers showing their wares of weights, supplements and magazines. Yes, there were a few booths….maybe a dozen…. but mostly supplements.
Secondly, the contestants are in plain site and everywhere, ready to be approached if you wanted too. No super stars at this event. Except for one name I did not recognize a single competitor. They may be on the road to stardom, but not in it this day.
Contestants at this level are ripped. The bantamweight look huge on stage, but when I see them in the audience, with the sweats on, it is hard to know they are bodybuilders at 130 lbs. Contestants in the Light Heavy class an up, stand out regardless with their mass and definition.
Kenny Milne- 5th Super Heavy Weight and heaviest competitor at 260 pounds
The heaviest competitor for the day was Kenny Milne at 260 lbs. While Kenny placed a respectable 5 th in the Super Heavy class, Kenny was not quite as defined as the others. Kenny happened to sit near me during the remainder of the contest and here is guy that will make you feel puny. Kenny is young at only maybe 26 years, so here is a good example of genetics taking this kid to the top fast.
Pro guest poser, Don Long guest and looked massive. Don has been open about his health problems. He had massive kidney failure at age 35 (2002) and was left with only dialysis to sustain his life. While later Don did receive a kidney transplant, he acknowledges his Pro days are over. Rarely does one in the sport of bodybuilding talk or want to connect drug use to their health problems. Don denies the connection at least in one article I read. But knowing what I know about steroids, insulin, diuretics and other drugs, the kidneys and liver are prime targets for abuse. How many 35 year old do you know have double kidney failures at age 35. In the 80's we had a saying about steroid users…."Bury me Massive". Please don't misunderstand me; I am not saying one time or even moderate intermittent usage is going to undermine your health. I know many people who have been periodic and mild users of steroids with no long term affects. But at this level drugs are intense and excessive to push them into the pro level.
News Flash of Yesterday-Chris Benoit
I really get miffed when I read about the recent death of pro wrestler Chris Benoit and the immediate and unsubstantiated claims the Chris was a victim of “Roid Rage” when he killed himself and his wife (not necessarily in that order ). I don't doubt that Chris was a steroid user but did the drugs cause his mental state to be roid rage? Literally hundreds of bodybuilders, football players, baseball players and yes high school athletes are doing steroids and frankly I know and have known many of them. They are not ticking time bombs. Some are about as easy going as they get. And the ones that are likely to be predisposed to act like a jerk are like that with or without steroids. Frankly I think Roid Rage is a myth. I would more likely believe a bodybuilder on his diet is crabbier that a steroid user.
Back to the Contest One More Time
Other guest poser, for the evening was Chicago’s own Chuck Sanow. Chuck is 45 year old and looked great. Frankly, I had never heard of Chuck, but I looked him up on the internet and he has a pretty long list of competitions dating back to 1984. He guest posed with a python or some sort of white snake. It was kind of weird. Bodybuilding has some freak show history and to this promotes that notion to the general public.
The winners are listed below.
Michael Lockett was the overall winner and was well deserved. He was mammoth and ripped. Muscle just hung all over this guy when he stood relaxed. When he flexed he broke like glass into sharp edges. Obviously he was dealt at least a “full house” genetics.
Michael Lockett- 1st Super Heavy and Overall Winner
I also really liked Brandon Rey in the Light Heavies. Brandon was sporting around the night before the tank top and looked amazing. He is short maybe, 5’6 and looked like 10 pounds of sand shoved in 5 pound bag. He was just busting at the seems with muscle. He was obviously well defined with the right amount of vascular definition. He also did not have any tattoos which I consider a detractor to the physique.
Brandon Rey-Light Heavyweight Winner
Brandon Rey at Weigh In
While Chad Count and looked great won the title in Heavy Weight division. This division was hotly contested for the top five. While Chad Ray Martin (4 th) was just bit less cut than the first three competitors, I personally preferred his genetic proportions of small waist and longer torso.
Chad Count- 1st Heavyweight
Once you get below, the 200 pound mark into the Middleweights and below, they just don’t have a fighting chance against the big boys for the overall title in the heavier classes. It is hard to tell how small some those competitors are when they stand on stage. But once you see the big guys, it like laying dime next to a microchip.
Chad Ray Martin-4th Heavyweight
Overall it was a great contest. I would highly recommend if you live in the Midwest to check out the NPC Jr Nationals.
Michael Lockett- Relaxed and huge
Super-Heavyweight
1 Michael Lockett (overall winner)
2 Eric Posejpal
3 Andrew Jemmott
4 Keith Williams
5 Kenny Milne
Heavyweight
1 Chad Count
2 Sean Harris
3 Vladimir Sizov
4 Chad Ray Martin
5 Gerald Williams
Light-heavyweight
1 Brandon Rey
2 Eric Blancaflor
3 Victor Dean
4 Armon Adibi
5 Herb Nordheimer
Roger Ferrer-First Middleweight
Middleweight
1 Roger Ferrer
2 John Durante
3 Gary Fuentes
4 Tim Rice
5 Santino Pusedu
Victor Prisk-1st Welterweight
Victor Prisk at Weigh In
Welterweight
1 Victor Prisk
2 John Dewey
3 Todd Bancroft
4 George Thibault
5 Jerry Serna
Jeff Olcsvary-First Lightweight
Lightweight
1 Jeff Olcsvary
2 Rafael Gonzalez
3 Michael Manibog
4 Shawn Boutwell
5 Jason Allinder
Bantamweight
1 Wayne Hugar
2 Christopher Juan
3 Craig Hall
4 Max Senecal
5 Chris Norton
Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott
This article is property of Bodybuilding Program Zone and may not be reproduced without written permission from Scott Jameson. Besides it wouldn't be right....Scott
