Dare to Jump on Stage at the 2010 NPC Ancient City Classic

by Lisa White

When it comes to fitness there are vast reasons people use for not exercising. Their joints ache, too tired, not enough time in the day and a hundred others. Many never think exercise may be the fountain of youth, but in the case of Gene Schlossberg he's proving them wrong. He's truly a testament that exercise is the fountain of youth since he's been in the bodybuilding circuit since 1949. Gene has reveled in his roles as bodybuilder, owner of two World Gym's and promoter of NPC Ancient City Classic for the eleventh year, as well as, co-promoter of the NPC All South. As a gym owner in St. Augustine, Florida, Gene has seen the evolution of the standard gym and has stayed current with the times. His World Gym on US Hwy 1 is 25,000 feet while the beach side express gym also offers 24 hour service for those who don't keep regular hours.

With all of this under his belt you'd think Gene would slow down but not a chance. For months Gene has been planning it and over the coming weeks he and his team of staff and volunteers will put the finishing touches on the setup of his Level II NPC Ancient City Classic bodybuilding show. This show is open to surrounding counties for bodybuilding and statewide for figure and bikini and Schlossberg likes it that way. He and his team have maintained this level show because he believes it's important to have them to build confidence especially for beginners and first timers. NPC competitor Mike Ives can attest to this as one of his fondest memories in bodybuilding came from the 2004 Ancient City Classic.

The venue is the Pedro Menendez High School Performing Arts Center and holds 540 spectators and regularly sells out. He also stated Alisa Hostettler and her crew from Hot Spot will be there providing spray tanning for competitors on Friday and Saturday. He gives "big props" to Alisa for her professionalism and great job she does for the athletes. For those wanting to compete in the event weigh-ins are on May 14, 2010 from 6-8pm and May 15, 2010 from 8-10am with prejudging beginning at 10:00am. The evening show is on May 15, 2010 at 7:00pm and usually ends around 10:00pm. Beacher's Lodge is the host hotel and is very accommodating for family and friends. The hotel is serving generosity up as it's giving discounts for those participating in the event. Family and friends who have come to support the athletes will have more than enough to do in the oldest and most mystical city in the nation. Ancient City competitors also are invited to take advantage of complimentary use of Gene’s World Gym while in town so that they don’t have to break their routine, but still enjoy everything this weekend has to offer.

With his 80th birthday last November he has seen many new athletes begin their careers; including promoter John Mier when he was an aspiring rock star. Now, John is not only a promoter for the NPC Jax Physique but is "one of the best trainers in Northeast Florida" states Schlossburg. He also admits promoting this show is a way for him to work with the new athletes and to enjoy the camaraderie of the judges and competitors. Enjoyment comes in all forms and Gene is hoping the NPC Ancient City Classic is nothing but. As for Gene answering the question is he competing again? Not at this time, but he admits if he can find a show with an "over-the-hill" division he'll be the first in line. And, why shouldn't he? His long history of talking the talk and walking the walk has paved a solid road for athletes to follow. For those who don't believe he practices what he preaches he can be found training five days a week for an hour or hour and a half at one of his gyms. If you still don't believe him; he'd love for you to come by and test him. As a matter of fact, he dares you to.

BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank Gene Schlossberg and Michael Ives for this year’s interview. We also extend our best wishes to Gene, his team and the competitors in the upcoming event. For more information on the NPC Ancient City Classic please contact Gene at www.ancientcityclassic.com or at 904-829-3443.

The Re-Birth of NPC Jax Physique with Co-Promoters John Mier and Dexter Jackson

By Lisa White

A resurrection has been taking place in the Jacksonville area and not of the biblical sorts. For years the sport of bodybuilding in this area had become a dying breed leaving athletes with few, if any venues to compete. There has been a change in the times though and the JAX PHYSIQUE BODYBUILDING, FITNESS, FIGURE & BIKINI NPC COMPETITION is the reason. Bringing these changes about are co-promoter John Mier of the Jax Physique alongside co-promoter IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Dexter Jackson. This duo has invested time and created strategies to bring bodybuilding to new heights in the Jacksonville area. Owner of Space Coast Barbell and promoter of the NPC Atlantic Coast Classic Joe DeGiovine digs in on the history of John Mier's own training philosophy and hard work which has led to the culmination of a dynamic show.

John Mier's background in the bodybuilding industry began fourteen years ago when he was working the front desk of Body Club; which was owned by Gene Schlossburg. Under Gene's tutelage he learned to do the basic walk-through with new clients and absorbed information from every book and magazine he could get his hands on. From the Arnold Encyclopedia to Flex magazine, John studied and learned something from every form of material. He not only learned his way around the gym but he learned how to sculpt his body to compete in numerous bodybuilding shows. From competing and earning his certification as a Personal Trainer he was able to build his client base and over time become the training partner of IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Dexter Jackson.

John explains nearly two and a half years ago Dexter was six weeks out from the Arnold Classic and his training partner Gabe Lopez could no longer train with him. John was asked if he could help spot Dexter during a squat exercise and became training partners soon after. This simple move of helping spot a fellow competitor led to a partnership not only in the gym but for the Jax Physique competitive stages. Over lunch John and Dexter both agreed they should "bring it back" since both had competed in the show years before. They didn't talk about it for a while and then decided to do it. They received permission from NPC Central Florida District Chairman Pete Fancher to promote the show. It was a level two show which was open to the six surrounding counties. This year the Jax Physique is a level three show and will be open to competitors in the entire Central Florida District.
John and Dexter have plans to create a better show every year which this year included moving to a new venue. The Jax Physique had been held at the Times Union Theater, and although it was a good venue the parking was a problematic and competitors often got lost downtown. John and Dexter decided to move the competition and both promoters could not be more pleased.
At one week out there are 37 pre-registered athletes for the April 3, 2010 event and the hopes are to reach 50 or 60. Throughout all the changes John has been grateful for the support the show has been receiving. He also lays much of the credit to Gail Elie, Dexter's girlfriend, and states she is the "backbone" in their successes due to her help with organizing the show. His wife Jana has also been of great help and plans to sing the National Anthem for the upcoming show. Besides these two ladies aiding in this event, Tricky Jackson will be the guest poser. For his fans, this is an opportunity to see Tricky in the flesh.

For anyone who would like to compete or would like to support the athletes; more information can be found at www.JaxPhysique.com and www.PremierPhysiques.com. Ticket prices will be $15 for pre-judging, $35 for the night show and VIP tickets are available for $45 which includes both shows with seats in the first six rows during the evening.

We would like to thank Joe DeGiovine and John Mier for taking time out of their busy schedules to do this interview and would like to wish the athletes, judges and volunteers the best at the Jax Physique. Check in after the show for photo and video samples at www.BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com

IFBB Pro's Tracy Mason and Beverly DiRenzo: 

Beverly DiRenzo is Taking care of Business

by Lisa White

Spring is here and NPC competitions are in high gear. Competitors wait with anticipation for their planned event to come knocking, but it's not just the competitor gearing up for a great season. Promoters are working whole hearted to create the backdrops for great shows and give athletes memories that will follow them forever. IFBB Pro Beverly DiRenzo is one such promoter. The recent interview between IFBB Pro's Beverly DiRenzo and Tracy Mason reveals a side of Beverly some may not know about and what it's like to be a mother, wife, business owner, role model and bodybuilder. Did I say bodybuilder? That's right, professional bodybuilder. Along with the everyday demands; Beverly steps away from her 102-125 student a week schedule to diet, train and do cardio all for the love of the sport.

IFBB Pro Beverly DiRenzo earned her pro card in 2007 and competed in the 2008 Tampa Pro, 2009 New York Pro and again in the 2009 Tampa Pro.  This is where she won $500 for the best poser which was sponsored by Pro Lean. Besides competing in these shows Beverly competed in the 2009 Atlantic City and placed tenth but it was the most competitive by far, she says. Until then, Beverly is very busy handling the ongoings for the NPC Gulf Coast Championships set for May 22 at Cape Coral, FL. Beverly and her husband Matt DiRenzo have promoted NPC Gulf Coast for the past seven years and offer divisions in masters bikini, masters figure, novice teen, bikini, mens open, womens open and more. The DiRenzo's also promote a junior/teen fitness at the end of prejudging with three of her gymnasts participating.

The Ft. Myers neighboring community of Cape Coral has been "fueling" the growth of bodybuilding with the promotion of the NPC Gulf Coast Championships, even when the show had to moved up due to concerns of hurricanes. Another change the DiRenzos have made is in the women's bodybuilding division to increase the number of participants. In an interview in 2007 Matt stated "Some of us (promoters) we are actually just having an open women's division and not worrying with weight classes. This is for two reasons: One maybe it will give some the incentive not to be that nervous to come out and compete. And from a promoters point of view, we usually go out an purchase a bunch of trophies and unfortunately we have to sometimes take them back."

Although the NPC Gulf Coast is a family affair; Matt is Beverly 's greatest supporter. Matt trains Beverly , marks out how much food to eat and when she should be eating.  Beverly admits to Tracy she has had great successes with him by her side. With three children, work and training; life can be difficult but Beverly does her best to keep sight of what is important. She may be shredded for shows; but through and through Beverly is still a mom who supports her children through education and in both competitive gymnastics and cheer leading. The days have a finite amount of hours so Beverly is up early to prepare her children for school. Then she trains during the day and if she has to do extra cardio she will do it later in the evening or in the early hours of the morning if necessary. During the 2007 Nationals she was doing cardio at 1:30am, knowing she had to be back up at 4:30am for cardio and to prep for the school day, as well as, take care of her students.

Besides promoting Beverly makes herself available to her fans, students and co-competitors. She can be contacted at www.GulfCoastChampionships.com and www.BeverlyDiRenzo.net and clearly states if someone has taken the time to contact her, she gives the mutual respect to reach out to them; an attribute that makes her loved in her community and to her fans.  The Gulf Coast Championships will be held on May 22. This is a terrific show to participate in as a competitor, fan, volunteer and vendor. We encourage you to make it to Ft. Myers a lovely community with amazing landscapes, seashores and more. Make it a terrific weekend!

So what's next for Beverly ? As for competing in 2010, she has plans to defend her title as the best poser at the Tampa Pro and would love to get invited to the Arnold Classic or qualify for the Olympia . She would also love to be a guest poser and is contest ready so there would be no illusions for what she would look like on the stage.

BodyBuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank IFBB Pro's Beverly DiRenzo and Tracy Mason for a great interview. We wish both ladies the best for the 2010 season.

IFBB Pro Beverly DiRenzo can also be contacted at www.BeverlyDiRenzo.net. For services with Matt DiRenzo please contact him through www.rippedandshredded@yahoo.com or gymfit@aol.com.

Although BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com houses some very renowned professional athletes it's also home to many competitors who are learning, growing and doing well within the bodybuilding community. Competitors look up to these seasoned athletes for guidance and as role models in their everyday lives but these same competitors are role models in our communities. The beauty of bodybuilding is it's so much more than fancy prancing on the stage in a bikini. It's a sense of comaraderie and growth within the athlete; as we learn from the recent interview between our very own NPC competitors Carmen Larreal and Tammy Ulander.

Tammy Ulander is a master's champion in bodybuilding and didn't start this endeavor just for the show aspect, although she admits she isn't shy and loves being center stage. Although she was athletic all of her life Tammy actually began lifting when she learned she was osteopenic. Tammy was told she could take medication or increase her calcium and start doing weight bearing exercises to increase her bone density. With this news Tammy decided to take the latter route and hired a trainer to show her the ropes besides walking on the treadmill. One year later her bone scan was normal and this was the first of her journey for bodybuilding.

As for motivation, Tammy's comes from within and is only exemplified with the great support system behind her; her husband and three kids. Although she says her kids don't say much to her about her bodybuilding they tell their friends about it, admonishing their proud of their mom and what she's doing is cool. Her husband is more than vocal about her bodybuilding and is her head cheerleader, videographer, photographer and right-hand-man when it comes to travelling to shows.

Although Carmen and Tammy have competed in the same shows Carmen was curious to know what Tammy's most memorable moment has been so far. Tammy admits her bodybuilding career has had many highlights but her first show is the one she remembers the most. She had told her trainer Brian Garcia she wanted to do at least one show. Once the show arrived she stepped on the stage only to learn her music was not working properly and she had to do a posing routine to skipping music. Skipping music or not; it didn't deter Tammy from doing a good posing routine, nor did it stop her from winning the Masters class.

When asked what she would like for her future in bodybuilding to be her answer is honest. Her motivation comes from the women and men who are in their sixties and seventies and staying fit. Tammy has hopes to be in just as good of shape when she gets to that age. As for her near future goals she would like to be able to walk on the stage in the over 50's Masters division within the next two years and be in great shape. As Tammy explains to Carmen she would like people to see her and realize there is always room for improvement and things that can be done for you to meet your goals. Tammy understands that not everyone is designed to be a fitness, figure, or bodybuilding competitor but training can improve self-esteem and confidence; making the difference in how you feel about yourself from the inside out.
Carmen and Tammy both agree the year is looking amazing so far and thanked their team members, as well as, the family. Both ladies agree and are thankful for sites such as BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com which has become a resource center for athletes and sponsors and for those who are new comers to the sport.
BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank Carmen Larreal and Tammy Ulander for this interview. We are wishing them the best of luck in 2010.
Tammy can be contacted at tammy.ulander@hotmail.com or on our forum.

Pete Fancher Interview: NPC Central Florida District 2010

By Lisa White

2010 will be starting off in high gear with new shows and changes in the NPC Central Florida District calendar. Pete Fancher, District Chairman, judge, promoter and bodybuilder gives the details of the upcoming year to John Hawley in a recent audio interview on www.bodybuildingfitnessfigure.com. This year is going to be full of exciting competitions, an increase in shows, NPC rule changes and the introduction of new promoters. To begin, each year averages fifteen to sixteen shows but this year there will be twenty shows in the Central District.
Although there will be the signature shows that have been doing well in the past there will be new shows making names for themselves. One of the new competitions happens to be Amy and Joe DeGiovine's Atlantic Coast Conference. This was once called the NPC Space Coast show but it had a long history with some of it being negative. Pete Fancher made it clear it's not the name of the show that will make a difference but Amy and Joe. Not only does he know a great show is based off the promoter's planning and actions but he knows they are going to do a fantastic job with the details. Amy and Joe are hard workers and will go the extra mile to create a "premier show."
Signature NPC shows such as the Europa Show of Champions, The Dexter Jackson, NPC Gateway Classic and more will be "anchors" in this years calendar of events. Although these shows are staples in the calendar there have been other changes that are being made. For example, promoter of the NPC Gateway Classic Tony Curtis has not only built a strong foundation for the show but created the Monsta Clothing line with his partner Chris. The clothing is reasonably priced but good quality and has a line for men, women and children. Pete Fancher believes with the strong show and the clothing line Tony Curtis will be a big mover in the bodybuilding industry within the next two or three years.
Another change in this year's schedule will be the last qualifier for the NPC Nationals. The nationals have been moved to October this year due to venue issues. This change will only be for 2010, though. Another change that has occurred in the NPC is the rule change for the bikini competitors. During the competitions bikini competitors were wearing very scant bottoms or hiking the bottoms up causing many complaints. As for monitoring the suits; this will come with time and good judgement. Pete Fancher is not sure if there will be someone who will check the suits at registration but it will be regulated in some fashion.
As with the changes that have been made with the promoters and competitors, there are other changes that have come along with bodybuilding for 2010. John Hawley asks the very important question of will advances in the Internet cause people to stay at home or cause people to become short sighted in their ways of promoting and marketing shows. What about pay-per-view for home entertainment; as in the case of the recent Phoenix Pro show? Although both John and Pete agree the Internet is a great way of promoting and communication; it's also a job. Creating a website doesn't mean the information will be found immediately; which is sometimes the mindset of both the amateur and veteran. Pete Fancher also says the same about athletes who are attempting to get sponsorships. Selling yourself not only involves applying for the sponsorship but doing call backs, as well.
Over the next year there will be great venues and shows for every competitor and the District Chairman is pleased and looking forward to the new year.
You can hear the show in its entirety at the following link HERE.
And for those interested in competing in Pete Fancher and Gene Schlossberg’s show late in the year visit www.allsouthchampionships.com, which was updated with 2010 show information for competitors back in January. Visit our calendar of events HERE.
*** BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank Peter Fancher and John Hawley for the interview and information.

Arnold Bound IFBB Pro Andrea Watson Sets Her Sights High

By Lisa White
The Arnold Classic is here with much to be prepped and planned for as the competitors are making their way from all over the world to partake in one of the greatest expos held in the sport of bodybuilding. Anyone who is anyone knows this is where the best of the best come to compete and in some cases present themselves for their pro debut such as of IFBB Pro Andrea Watson. In her recent interview on Sports after Dark with radio hosts NPC Competitor's & RxMuscle.com member Allison Moyer and Erin Strickland; Andrea delivers a candid and honest approach to balancing her career, family and competing.

For starters, IFBB Pro Andrea Watson has a perfect record with 4 wins and earned her pro card with that last win. As she explains to Alli and Eryn this journey started due to a nudge by her husband. This little nudge took her to the Panhandle Showdown twice before trying her hand at competing. With these four competitions behind her Andrea has learned a lot about herself and has set high goals when it comes to competition, but in the mean time she will be focused on competiting against an amazing group of competitors at The Arnold.

When asked by Eryn what her training was like for her upcoming debut Andrea admitted she trained with weights in November and took the next eight weeks off of weight training but increased her cardio to three hours a day during this period of time. It has only been in the last two weeks that she has re-introduced weights into her contest prep; mainly focusing on her shoulders and glutes.

As for Andrea's life off stage she is truly low-key and family oriented. She explained to Alli and Eryn that the hardest contest for her was her first due to the pressure she placed on herself and because she felt she was neglecting her family. Besides the feelings of guilt Andrea was faced with an appendectomy just before her first pro debut and found she had a rare form of cancer. The news of having this rare cancer hit Andrea hard and she became very depressed by it. She didn't know if she was going to live or die so she turned to her faith and her unwaivering support group; her family. Although the cancer was caught in good timing it put a new perspective on life. With her parents living right down the road she made a new commitment to see them whenever possible and to balance her time between her husband, parents and competing. Since competing is her hobby and not her career Andrea has decided to prioritize her life in that manner.

Besides making some personal changes Eryn and Alli asked about her joining Team Bombshell, which is directed by IFBB Pro Shannon Dey and her husband Robert Rosetti. Andrea said she attended the Team Bombshell Camp last February and it made a difference in her style of training. She explained she had been training like a bodybuilder and this camp teaches women to train like figure competitors, how to pose properly and about healthy dieting. In this camp the camaraderie is high and the positive energy from the group can really push you through the tough times.
For the moment she is taking The Arnold seriously and hopes to take home a win. When asked by Eryn and Alli what her long term goals happened to be Andrea was honest in saying she wants to win the Arnold and the Olympia but she won't do it anymore if it stops being fun. Although she is in a serious mind frame for the competition she also expressed her lighter side with hopes of a Hardee's sponsorship.

25 Hours of Awareness, The Longest Workout Ever! 

Donations STILL BEING ACCEPTED LINK HERE!

Will be held from 4:00 p.m. February 26th to 5:00 p.m. February 27th, Tampa, Florida!

The event is a public awareness campaign and fundraiser for Red Cross-Haiti Relief Florida Blood Services, LifeLink Foundation, and Orphanage Relief

Five elite athletes (four elite NPC athletes and one IFFB Professional) will attempt to break the world record for the longest weight training workout ever by training continually for over 25 hours. The current world record is held by a group of athletes from the Netherlands who on May 6th through May 7th, 2006 weight trained for 24 hours and 55 minutes.

The five athletes are: Brandie Gardner, International Federation of Bodybuilding Professional Figure champion and model. Dominic D’Agostino, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Assistant Professor, and Mr. Team Universe competitor, Elaine Feldman, Certified Personal Trainer, multi-title bodybuilding/figure champion and Guinness Book of World Record Holder for the longest jump rope workout ever, Andrea Irick, Certified Personal Trainer, Ms. Tampa Bay Figure Champion, and Tom Toy, National Physique Committee State Judge and former Mr. Florida.

Contact: Tom Toy ttoy@jud6.org, Tim Gardner tgflex@aol.com

NPC Gold Coast; A Walk In the Park?

The 2nd Annual NPC Gold Coast Classic has established a venue, Goodlet Park, 4200 W. 8th Avenue, Hialeah, Fl according to co-promoter Mari Redondo, today Monday, January 25th. The flyer will be available soon along with more details. Then maybe we will know if this show is going to be a walk in the park or as this writer considers all trips to Miami, in fact a party in paradise!

Check out www.NPCGoldCoastClassic.com

IFBB Pro Tracy Mason and Steve Wennertrom Interview
The Stuggle Behind Feminine Muscle
by Lisa White

Within minutes of the interview between IFBB Pro Tracy Mason and Steve Wennerstrom, the official IFBB Historian for Women's Bodybuilding, everyone listening knows this is "the man." Much like the famous historians who study Shakespeare or Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Steve Wennerstrom has studied and compiled one of the largest libraries on women's bodybuilding. During the interview with IFBB Pro Tracy Mason it's apparent this historian has forgotten more than most people will ever know about the women who paved the road for new competitors. Names, years, and contests are spouted off as if the information is sitting before him in Cliffs Notes. To help him on this adventure is Tracy Mason. Tracy is a mother, wife, bodybuilding competitor and an historian in her own rite. She has been competing in the sport of bodybuilding for over twenty-three years; a number that is older than many of the athletes who are just beginning to grace the competitive stages.
Over the years Steve and Tracy have seen competitors come and go; both actively watching and participating in the evolution of the modern female bodybuilder. Yet, with three steps forward there is always five steps back in the case of progression. Unlike any other sport, bodybuilding not only made headway for women because it was a unique way to express themselves but it also offered a pro division right off the bat. This simple action would open women's bodybuilding for the mainstream, but as any female bodybuilder knows it will never be considered mainstream in the public eye.
Tracy and Steve have heard all types of hurtful statements from male competitors and non-competitors causing friction between the sexes. Why would an athlete not support another athlete? As Tracy admits, there must be some intimidation when looking at a woman with developed muscle but why all the negativity? Even if it's not completely negative why is everyone abuzz when they see a muscular woman walking in the mall. Oddly, there are non-competitors that are polar opposites such as the ultra-thin or the morbidly obese but they point out the female bodybuilder as "strange" or "unhealthy." These statements are made without a clue of how hard the bodybuilding lifestyle can be.
What many don't realize is it takes years of training for female bodybuilders to develop their bodies for the professional stage. The training and diet can be grueling but women are still doing it; getting harder, leaner and better with every year. Due to the length of time it takes for this type of muscular development Steve and Tracy both point out the ages of the competitors for the Phoenix Pro. Nearly every woman on the list is over 35, proving bodies as beautiful as these take years to create.
There is much to remember about female bodybuilders and one thing Steve Wennerstrom finds to be most unfortunate is there are 1000's of competitors people will never know about. Even a competitor such as IFBB Pro Tracy Mason's dossier can be lost in the transition from the show to the webmaster's page. Steve recounted the numerous shows Tracy has participated in and even she laughs because there are so many. Steve recommends that Tracy make a list of every show she has done as a time line of the great things she has accomplished. And, why shouldn't she? Not many people can say they have made it in a sport for as long as she has.
As for earning respect; this is one fight female bodybuilders will have to continue. Women's bodybuilding is only thirty years old, so it's still a baby. As with many other things women will have to take the good with the bad. But, as long as the stages are being rocked by female bodybuilders in this industry things can only get better. Female bodybuilders such as Tracy Mason who have the "sickness" as Tracy would say, will lead the way for the up and coming. Each time she and other female bodybuilders perform on the stage it's keeping the doors open and inviting competitors to create their own legacy in the world of this sport.
***www.BodybuildingFitnessFigure.com would like to thank IFBB Pro Tracy Mason and Steve Wennerstrom for a great interview and for reminding us how far women have come in the sport of bodybuilding. We would also like to thank Need To Build Muscle for sponsoring and supporting Tracy Mason in her endeavors.