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Bartlett's Bodybuilding Chronicles

February 2011

Bartlett's Bodybuilding Chronicles

CBBF UPS ITS GAME FOR 2011 by GARRY BARTLETT

First of all I want to wish everyone all the best for 2011! It is going to be an interesting and fun year as the CBBF have made some changes, that I think are very positive for athletes and fans. At last summers congress it was decided that the CBBF needed a new direction and as a result a reorganization of the executive was completed with former President Mark Smishek assigned the position of Chairperson, John MacLellan as Vice-Chairman, Finance and Administration and Debbie Karpenko Vice-Chairperson Judging. It was felt that this new format would best meet the challenges and future agenda of the CBBF.

To address the challenges that face the CBBF for 2011 Smishek immediately sought counsel from NPC Chairperson and Vice-President of IFBB North America Jim Manion and President of the IFBB Dr. Rafael Santonja. In the past we have stuck very closely to IFBB International rules and procedures in running our National events. This often didn’t follow the way they did things at the US competitions, leaving our athletes at a disadvantage when they competed across the border. Following these discussions, Smishek was convinced that changes in how the CBBF conducted our National competitions should follow the same format as the IFBB sanctioned U.S. events. This makes a lot of sense, as 99% of Canadian athletes who compete internationally, do it in the U.S. Already there are over thirty-five Canadians planning on competing at the Arnold Amateur in March. With these new regulations in place, Canadian athletes will be much better prepared to step across the border to compete at the Arnold and North American Championships. This will also provide our future Pos a favorable advantage when they begin their Pro careers.

CBBF Figure Pro Rachel Vienneau-LeBlanc

CBBF Fitness Pro Tanis Tzaavaras

I have never been a big fan of eliminating competitors from the prejudging. Many athletes spend a lot of money and effort to get to the national stage, and to be eliminated from the competition is devastating. It also did little good for the CBBF to have friends and families travel ling long distances at great expense to support these athletes, only to see them eliminated! At previous National events only the top fifteen were judged with the excess being eliminated from the category. The new rules now allow all competitors to be judged, with only the top fifteen being placed. With this new policy, every competitor will be part of the judging process, and it is hoped that in spite of not making the top fifteen, they will come away more satisfied and determined to improve for future CBBF competitions!

Perhaps the biggest change in our Figure National competitions is the elimination of the one piece and two piece black suit rounds. For 2011 all CBBF National Figure competitions will only include the two-piece suit round. I have always been a big fan of the one piece round and have mixed feelings about eliminating it. Unfortunately, figure competitors will now only have one opportunity to showcase all their hard work and sacrifice. With the two rounds many competitors looked better in a one piece and had the opportunity to gain back points lost in the two-piece round. This new rule has been incorporated across the board throughout all competitions including the Pros. With the increased participation of competitors along with the recent addition of Bikini categories, time has become a major factor. On a positive note, with the elimination of the two-piece black suit and one-piece rounds, the shows will run much faster. Fortunately, little has changed in the procedures in Men’s & Women’s Bodybuilding.

CBBF Bikini Pro Genevieve Brodeur

The first National competition that will be testing the revised contest procedures is the 2011 CBBF Natural Physique Championships hosted by my good friend Joe Spinello in Laval, Quebec on April 23rd. Last year’s show seen a record number of athletes and I expect even more this year. New Brunswick’s Rachel Vienneau-LeBlanc surprised everyone by winning the Overall Figure Championship title and her Pro card along with Alberta’s Tanis Tzavaras in Fitness and Quebec’s Genevieve Brodeur in Bikini. The addition of a Pro card for the Fitness, Bikini, and Figure winners has really increased the popularity of this event.

On July 23rd we will be returning back to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the CBBF Canadian National Figure/Fitness/Bikini and Men’s under and over 202 pound Championships promoted by Harvey Viteychuk . Harvey promoted a great Nationals last year that saw Nova Scotia’s Tank like Santana Anderson and Ontario’s Melody Spetko take the Overall Championship titles. This year’s event will see the newly created 202 pound competition set up to encourage more participation from those top Canadians wanting to qualify for the Pro 202 pound events in the States. There will be two divisions, over 202 lbs and less than 202 lbs with a Pro card going to the overall winner. I am very excited to see how these two new divisions will play out.

It will be a very busy year for Quebec promoter Joe Spinello, as he will be promoting his second national event in Quebec with the CBBF Canadian Bodybuilding Championships back in Laval on October 9th. He had originally scheduled the championships for early Sept, but had to change the date because of the IFBB North American Championships. I don’t have to tell bodybuilding fans about the popularity of this competition, as it is the Super bowl of Canadian Bodybuilding. You can read more about Joe’s National events by going to his website. I expect some serious competition in every category including the men’s masters, which has been added back to these championships. We saw and incredible lineup of Master competitors at last summers Canadian Figure/Fitness/Bikini and Masters Nationals promoted by Ontario’s Melanie Horton, Laura Binetti and Julia Schatz. Ronnie Coleman look a like Christopher White walked away with his Pro card along with Alberta’s Jody Wald, Ontario’s Jodi Boam Fitness, Justine Munro Bikini and B.C.’s Maria Morrone in Figure.

CBBF Masters Pro Chris White

CBBF Figure Pro Maria Morrone

CBBF Bikini Pro JustineMunro

Quebec has a history of high caliber competitors coming out of hiding to compete nationally, especially when the Nationals are in their backyard! This will be Joe’s third Canadian Bodybuilding Championships. He promoted the 2005 and 2008 events with local favorite Simon Voyer winning in 2005 and top Canadian Pro Big Ben Pakulski winning in 2008. Who will join these two great Canadian Pros in 2011? We all definitely want to see that one, and I expect this will be one of the most fiercely competitive Canadian National Championships to date!

I also want to encourage everyone to come out and support this summers Toronto Pro Super show promoted by OPA President Ron Hache, Jamor Promotions, and Trent Hinde. These guys have really laid it on the line to bring a mini Arnold Classic to downtown Toronto the weekend of June 17 & 18. This is Canada’s largest fitness expo ever, and will be at the Metro Convention Centre with over 170 booths. The two-day event will feature a strongman competition, weightlifting, mixed martial arts, arm wrestling, cheerleading, bikini modeling and much more. Of course the flagship of the weekend and of interest to Canadian bodybuilding fans are the IFBB Pro Men’s and Women’s Bodybuilding Championships. I expect that many of Canada’s top IFBB Pros will be front and center on stage all together for the first time in many years. It will be interesting to see who is Canada’s best Pro? There will also be an IFBB 202-pound Men’s Pro competition, Pro Figure, Fitness and Bikini competition along with the OPA Provincial Championships. I would encourage everyone to support this event as Canada needs a Pro competition and I can’t think of a better location than downtown Toronto. To find out more on the show go to www.torontoprosupershow.com Wow, this is going to be one heck of a year for the Canadian Bodybuilding and fitness scene! With all our promoters putting their reputation and finances on the line it is up to you the athletes, fans and sponsors to get out there and support them. Without your continued support we can’t expect them to continue offering these high quality and very exciting events.

CBBF Pro Jody Wald

CBBF Fitness Pro Jodi Boam

The Canadian Bodybuilding Federation sanctions all the above events. I have played a big role in the development of the CBBF and have supported and covered their competitions since 1976. It is the only viable Federation out there, and regardless of all the propaganda, glitter, glamour, and promises of those other federations, it is only through the CBBF that a Canadian athlete can compete at the IFBB World Championships or earn Pro status that allows them to compete in IFBB Pro competitions such as the Arnold Classic or Mr. Olympia contest. Only through winning the 2008 Canadian Nationals did Ontario’s Big Ben Pakulski become and IFBB Pro and the opportunity to compete at this springs Arnold Classic. Many of these other Federations award Pro status to the winners of their competitions, but is worth very little outside their particular Federation. I suggest anyone reading this to compete in your CBBF affiliated provincial contests and earn a qualification to the nationals. It will be much cheaper and provide you with the necessary experience to step on a national stage someday. Then, if you are good enough, the sky is the limit, and just maybe you could be representing Canada at the IFBB World Championships or standing on the Olympia stage in Las Vegas someday. Can any other Federation promise you that?

In closing I want to take this opportunity to thank Terry Frendo of “Inside Fitness” Magazine and Scott Welch of “Muscle Insider”. Both of these publishers are huge fans of the Canadian Bodybuilding and Fitness scene supporting our shows with great coverage in their magazines.

Frendo has done a fantastic job building his magazine from humble beginnings that began five years ago into Canada’s number one and most popular fitness publication. He has covered all CBBF competitions including all CBBF Provincial and National Championships throughout Canada offering our athletes with unprecedented exposure.

Welch’s magazine is new on the scene and with his long involvement in the supplement industry and huge passion for bodybuilding brings a hardcore approach to covering and sponsoring all CBBF events in Canada. They also have a great website, with up to date new posts and CBBF contest coverage. www.muscle-insider.com

CBBF Pros Santana Anderson & Melody Spetko

I appeal to everyone reading this to support both these magazines by buying each and every edition that hits the newsstands. To be successful, they need you to purchase the magazine. So, don’t just read it and place back on the Newsstand, as this helps no one!

I welcome your comments!
grbartlett@yahoo.com

Garry Bartlett is a leading authority on Canadian bodybuilding, figure and fitness.

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