Global Gossip

Today at Golds Venice I saw my good friend Silvio who is still looking unreal.  He had just finished training so we sat down and talked for awhile.  He said he has missed some training as he’s in the process of buying a house here in Cali.  Looking at Silvio you could never tell that he missed a single training session.  He said he wasn’t training with The Master Charles Glass right now as he is using this time to rest but he will be back hitting it with Charles soon.

In the past I wrote about Thai Fighter John De Beer from Holland and fitness model Dave of Austria who both now make LA their home.  These two guys along with a lot of other ex bodybuilders and fitness models are in the new show called Superbodies that if picked up by Sony or MGM or any of the other companies then you’ll see very soon.  I was at a few of the series as they filmed and this was a great time with all the crew.  Well next week these guys will be going to Mexico to judge the Superbodies contest along with meeting the President of Mexico.  If the show get’s picked up then you’ll see the live interview I did last month on location with bodybuilding.com.

I was have a workout today at Gold’s talking to Hidea when a rather thick bodybuilder came in who I thought I had seen in the magazines before.  The guy was rather reserve but not stuck up.  After a while when he was in a tank top with Gaspari Logo on it I went to talk to him asking if he was with Gaspari like my friend Shavis Higga.  I was surprised to find out this guy was a friend of mine on my myspace list, it was Mark Alvis.  Mark said he was 3 weeks out from the Nationals and he was here in LA for a few photo shoots.

After talking to Mark not only was I impressed by his massive size but also his shape and his down to earth attitude.  Mark will be in the Heavyweight class where if he comes in alittle harder it might be his this year.  See you on stage in 3 weeks Mark!

While  at the Mr. O expo I was at the Genr8 booth, which has the original Vitargo product from Sweden I had the chance to meet Jessie Godderz who you might have seen on the tv show Big Brother. Jessie is the youngest natural Pro Bodybuilder.  Jessie was covered up at the expo so I didn’t think too much about it but a few weeks later I had Jessie come to Golds Venice to shoot for my new web business and I have to say I was very impressed this guy is very professional and in great shape.  If he sticks with it then Im sure you’ll see alot more of him around.  Good luck Jessie!

If you ever happen to train here at Gold’s gym in Venice then you know there isn’t ever really a dull monement.  Just the other day Robert Reiff was shooting for Muscle Mag.  Along with Robert, Peter Mikhail and myself where shooting for a new web site that should be up and running towards the end of Dec called Instructionalfitness.com.  This new site will allow anyone for free to look up any exercise and also download it into Ipod.  The site has top fitness stars along with pro bodybuilders showing the audience how to do the exercises properly.  There will also be interviews with atheletes from different sports and last of all it will have both a gym and personal trainer locator.

While filming  for my new website business Instructionalfitness.com at Golds Venice last week I saw a massive guy training that I wasn’t sure who he was.  After walking over to him I was surprised to find it was none other than Omar Decker. Omar, who has been Pro now for a few years isn’t seen much at Golds even though he lives about 15 minutes away.  Omar is what you might call the working man pro.  After turning Pro Omar didn’t get a lot of sponshor’s so he has always done the sport on his own without help.  Anyone who has competed knows how hard that is, and even more so on a Pro level.

Omar is such a down to earth guy always polite and very giving of his time.  Omar told he how lucky he was to have the support of his wife and two daughters.  Never once did he speak of having to work a full time job, being a husband and father and the hardship of training twice a day for show’s without and financial help or support.  So keep your eyes open and you’ll see Omar up on stage again come 2009.

Living and training in Cali you see all the pros and last year was my first time to meet Mo who cracked the top 10 this year at the Olympia.  Along with Mo last week the new crowned Mr. O Dexter was here training.  This was my first time meeting Dexter and what a great guiy he is being very humble and down to earth.  Standing next to Dexter I was shocked to see he’s much bigger in person than on stage.  The question is can he keep the title now that he earned it?

This Nov 22 on Sat Promoter Guy Leong will host the 25 annual Paradise Cup bodybuilding contest.  This show is in Oahu Hawaii and is the biggest contest of the year.  They always fly in some gret guest poser’s and this year they will have IFBB Pros Branch Warren, Quincy Taylor and local Cliff Torres.  So if your in the Islands be sure to check this great show out.

This 2008 Mr. Hawaiian Islands contest had a new promotor this year, none other than the massive German IFBB Pro Gunter.  This seems just as Arnold himself has always sponshore the shold along with local promotor Mits.  This should being a National qualifer always has some great bodybuilders.  One I wanted to mention is Fran Sur who is from Hawaii but lives in Los Angeles and works as LAX Police Officer.  Fran contacted me about 6 weeks out so me and my training partner Armin Scholz could take a look at him.  Fran has great shape and good size so in time your bound to see alot more of him to come.

Last week I had the chance to do a photo shoot with Danny Hester for Ironman magazine and I was very impressed with how Danny is looking.  Danny has been around for a long time and is know for his great shape but he always needed more size.

Danny competed last year here in Venice Beach and won so now he seems like he’s taking things more serious in an effort to add some size.  He told me that he’ll step on stag at the 2008 Nationals.

When I called home to Hawaii the other day I heard that Shavis would not be doing the Nationals this year.  Shavis won the LA Championships overall along with (1999 USA Bantam wt. champ) (2007 USA Light wt. champ) (2008 USA Welter wt. champ)  When I talked to confirm Shavis said he wants to move up to middleweight and take that class also at the USA.  Watch out for a new pro soon from Hawaii!

It seems like Phil has a place he loves to visit every time he’s here in LA.  I spoke with my friend Dave of JS Nitro and it’s a regular event that Dave ,Phil and Everett all go out for a little eating contest.  Check out the picture of Phil as he won eating 24 of these donuts.

If you ever have seen a BSN ad then I’m sure you know who Julien the ripped Muay Thai fighter that is under contract with BSN is.  I stop by the gym to see Julien today after his workout which last 45 minutes and was 200 reps of chins.  Julien said he got bored with weights so the last 4 months he has been doing all different types of workouts and the guy is still in unreal condition.

Julien signed a martial arts move deal so now he’s busy 3 days a week in acting class and then with what little free time he has it’s with his wife and their beautiful daughter Gianna who is now 11 months old.

Outside Golds today I had some time to talk with Chris Comier who is looking like his old self as thick as a house.  I have seen Chris ever day the last few months at Golds but we didn’t get a chance to catch up.  When I ask him today what his next show is he stated he first is going to secure a good contract then you’ll see him back on stage.  Boy I guess he changed from the past as he sure seems alot more responable now.  Can’t wait to see ya back Chris!

Gold’s venice has been very busy latley with some new filming going on.  It seems my two good friends Dave a club promotor/fitness model and John fitness model who just married Noy Alexandier have just started a super bodies reality show.  They started filming this week and will be at the Mr. O in Vegas then off to Cabio.  The show has alot of people most in the fitness field will know so stay tuned.