Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great summer in spite of all the rain? I guess on the positive side it offered more opportunities to be in the gym. With fall just around the corner things are beginning to heat up, as all thoughts turn to this falls New Brunswick Championships.

Considering the huge success of last years show, I am very excited as to what this year’s championships might bring?

There are lot of people who support the NBPFA including the dedicated athletes, sponsors, and those individuals who purchase tickets to our shows.  However there are a special group of individuals who seldom get the recognition they deserve. I am talking about the personal trainers out there, who devote a tremendous amount of time, effort, and emotional energy in coaching those who are willing to go through all the necessary sacrifices that are necessary in competing. I think these individuals are greatly responsible for the tremendous interest we are now experiencing at our competitions. It is only through knowledge gained from those with the necessary experience and expertise that you can learn to be the best you can be! In fact, I am of the opinion that you can never learn too much regarding training, dieting, and contest preparation. The more knowledge you are armed with, the better prepared you will be. There is no worse feeling to be standing on stage knowing you are not ready or looking your best.

On the other hand if you are confident that you have done everything you can to be at your best, then the rest is up to the judges. With all the expertise available, there is no excuse for anyone not reaching the competition stage unprepared.

As President of the NBPFA it is my goal to promote the sport of Bodybuilding & Figure in New Brunswick by putting as many competitors on stage as possible. This can only be accomplished by offering opportunities and encouraging those interested parties to seek out the most knowledgeable resources available. Along with supporting personal trainers I also feel that fitness workshops and seminars are invaluable in obtaining information. I don’t think that an athlete can ever possess too much knowledge that is why the NBPFA helped sponsor Cory Arsenault’s “Weekend With IFBB Pro Ava Cowan” this past summer in PEI. Not only did those who attend gain valuable information and inspiration from one of the fasted rising IFBB Pros, but it also provided the opportunity for everyone to get together and have some fun socially in a very relaxed atmosphere. We often get so pre occupied with our personal appearance and training that we forget the most important thing of all, to make new friends and share our mutual passion for health and fitness with some good old fashioned fun. When I think back over the 35 years I have been involved in the industry it is not the wins I rememberthe most, but the fond memories I experienced with the many friends I had made.

Twice a year Dieppe’s Heather LeBlanc goes to great lengths to host a very popular Figure workshop that is usually timed around the time of our competitions. I don’t thank anyone in the Atlantic region has as much passion or works harder in promoting our figure athletes than Heather. Along with former Canadian Bodybuilding Champion Ti-Jean Leblanc, Heather has promoted the Atlantic Championships with the show growing and getting better each year. On Oct. 1st Heather will be hosting our 8th Fitness seminar and workshop. I am usually on hand to help out and assist with the necessary information that the participants receive to enable them to prepare for competition. We leave nothing uncovered and address each and every participants needs. One of the most popular features of the workshop is our mock contest where we put each and every attendee through actual contest procedures. This is a very valuable exercise for those first time competitors who learn what it would be like to experience competition conditions. I strongly recommend anyone planning on competing in this fall’s NB Championships or next spring’s Atlantics to attend. I really feel those who don’t attend are at a disadvantage. Like I said earlier, you can’t possess too much knowledge! The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be on stage. It is as simple as that! Just getting together with individuals who share the same passion also creates a feeling of comradeship and shared encouragement to push through those tough last weeks before the competition.

I only wished that 36 years ago I could have had the opportunity to attend seminars or work with a personal trainer, before competing in my first New Brunswick Championships! Maybe, if I had, I might have beaten Ti-Jean!

Of course all the training, dieting, attending seminars and working with personal trainers all lead to preparing for this fall’s NB Championships November 12th at the Fredericton Playhouse. With just two months to go, I am sure everyone is getting excited? Based on the success of last year, I expect it is going to be another showstopper! Tickets are currently on sale and can be ordered online or by phone through the Playhouse Box Office in Fredericton. I recommend that everyone get your tickets early, as I expect a sellout. Last year we sold out two weeks before the show. I look forward to seeing you all on November the 12th!