Monday, April 24, 2006

2006 Emerald Cup - Candy Canary Wins! - Final Results From GeneX


Gene X Hwang's got a report on the outcome of the 2006 Emerald Cup, where Candy Canary was the overall winner. The full report's at www.ftvideo.com but you can see the summary here, below.

Women's Bodybuilding

Overall: Candy Canary

Lightweights:
1) Jennifer Valadez
2) Gina Parise
3) Roseanne Blackburn-Desmarais
4) Cindy Goodrich
5) Julie Fielding
6) Teddy Breeze
7) Mary Burke
8) Lisa Schlachter
9) Adriana Medina

Middleweights:
1) Karin Kimura
2) Kimberly Agnew
3) Shari Cole
4) Janice Gaines-Ehlen
5) Shawna Davenport

Heavyweights:
1) Candy Canary
2) Audra Kimsey
3) Mary Hallman
4) Lorilee Sweeney

Masters

Overall: Kay Friend

Over 35:
1) Kim Olsen
2) Liann White
3) Teresa Mason

Over 50:
1) Kay Friend
2) Janet Guenther
3) E.Q. Pruitt
4) Stephanie Meece
5) Ann Gannon
6) Ita Pantilat

Friday, April 21, 2006

Kristi Hawkins Video and 2006 Bodybuilding Schedule


When she's not working on her PhD at CalTech, well-known bodybuilder Kristi Hawkins is getting ready for the following guest shows this year:

California State BB Championships
May 26-27, 2006
Culver City, CA

Junior California BB Championships
June 3, 2006
Pasadena, CA

Los Angeles BB Championships
July 22, 2006
Culver City, CA

NPC USA Championships
July 28-29, 2006
Las Vegas, NV

She will not be officially competing in contexts until this fall, as of this writing.

Her website's at www.kristyhawkins.com

You can see Kristi in action in this You Tube video take by TomNine



Here's another video of Kristi; this one from www.femflex.com. Thiis clip shows her amazing combination of Super Woman arms and beauty.

Introducing Candy Canary Via "You Tube" Video!



This is Candy Canary, who Gene Hwang reports is one of the favorites to win the 2006 Emerald Cup this weekend in Bellevue Washington! This video is from "You Tube"

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Kelly Ryan and Craig Titus Denied Bail


Looks like there's no leaving Las Vegas for these two. At least not before the justice system has its way with them.

I must admit, this is a difficult news item to report as a person in support of the positive framing of the amazing sport of bodybuilding. I hate it when sports that are rarely allowed page space or air time only make the front page when the news concerning them is negative and sensational. But it's news nonetheless, so for now, here's the latest.


Bodybuilding Couple Denied Bail Before Trial in Las Vegas Slaying

LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas judge denies bail for husband-and-wife professional bodybuilders accused in the murder of their live-in assistant.

Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan were arrested last December in Stoughton after an initial interview with police in Las Vegas shortly after Melissa James' death.

The judge ruled that Titus and Ryan pose a "significant" flight risk in refusing bail.

Lawyers for the two argued that prosecutors haven't shown how they think James died before her body was found in the trunk of Ryan's burned-out and abandoned Jaguar last year.

Titus is a 1996 bodybuilding champion and Mr. Olympia competitor. Ryan is a past Fitness America and Fitness International winner.

An alleged accomplice - 23-year-old Anthony Gross - is accused of helping torch James' body. He's posted 13-thousand dollars bail and is under house arrest.

From: 2006 Associated Press

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Happy Birthday, GeneX!

We take time to celebrate the recent brithday of the king of Women's Bodybuilding photographers, Gene X Hwang.

Happy Birthday!

Monday, April 17, 2006

Lisa Aukland - Missundaztood - What it Means to be a Female Bodybuilder


We had to have this classic work on the site. Worth reading!

By Dr. Lisa Aukland, IFBB Professional Bodybuilder (link to orginal in the title of this post)

Just as the artist "Pink" declares on her new CD- "It's not that complicated, I was misunderstood", I feel similarly misunderstood as a professional female bodybuilder. It really is not that complicated to figure out why. We are judged by our appearance, thought to be rollin' in the dough, and sorely underrepresented in our sport. Hopefully this writing will further your understanding of our sport and why we carry on.

Are we really all that different from other members of our gender? Certainly not! I understand the fact that it is second nature to judge a person by their appearance. You know how it goes -- fat people are lazy and blondes are dumb. Likewise, female bodybuilders are judged by their physical shell. We are considered odd by many who judge us only by the body we possess

However, outside of the competitive world we have the same goals in life as regular people. We are still mothers, wives, sisters, and professionals in other fields. We enjoy time with family, we spend time socializing, and we go on an occasional vacation that does not revolve around a competition. We even take pleasure in a variety of hobbies and attend the same movies. Maybe we don’t include the popcorn and Goobers, but you get the idea. Female bodybuilders are more alike than different from other members of our gender.

Furthermore, popular belief holds that once you are an IFBB Pro, you've got it made in the shade financially. Yes, the money just rolls in and you can start your new collection of sports cars -- NOT! At least not for the women involved in this sport. Male bodybuilders have a whole different story to tell. I can't begin to count how many people thought that I would actually quit my day job after I turned "Pro."

The truth is my job is what pays for this bodybuilding pastime of mine. Supplement companies do NOT come knocking at your door with a wad of cash, magazines do NOT hound you for pictures and personal data, and there IS no legitimate money for women in this sport.

We put thousands into preparing for a competition. The receipts add up quickly: posing suits, hair, makeup, music compilation, tanning products, six meals a day, supplements, airfare, hotel, time out of work, and kennels for the dogs. All of this with only the possibility of winning a very small pot of prize money. Outside of the top winners, everybody else goes home with empty (or emptier) pockets. I am one of the fortunate few that have a sponsor to help bear some of the expenses. Not all Pros are as fortunate. In a nutshell, this is not a financially rewarding sport. My whole goal here is not to retire in wealth, but to merely break even. Any amount over that would be considered as icing on the cake.

To make matters worse, female bodybuilders are not fairly represented in the sport's many publications. I can hardly blame the public for misunderstanding us when our own sport fails to properly recognize our value as athletes and as people. We cannot expect the public to support us when our own organization chooses to ignore us.

I understand the economics of muscle touting publications. Their readership is primarily male so obviously they cater to men. However, they certainly do not give women any reason to support their magazines. A page count in several prominent muscle magazines revealed female bodybuilders on a mere 5 to 9 pages out of 300 to 400 pages of magazine. I am not talking about female "profiles" -- just a tiny picture, and I included advertisements.

The whole reason I even started to exercise was because I saw bodybuilders such as Cory Everson and Rachel McLish in magazines and loved the way they looked. After seeing they lifted weights to look that way, I was drawn into the gym. That was many years ago. At the time, magazines portrayed female bodybuilders in a positive light, seducing many women desiring a firm physique into the gym. We are no longer supported in the sport's premier publications and that is such a shame to miss out on an opportunity to be role models for other women.

Why continue in a sport that is so unrewarding professionally and financially? My heartfelt response is for the love of it. You'll get that same reply from most IFBB Pro women and amateurs alike. We love the sport even without the professional, financial, and public support. While it gets tiring to be judged by appearance alone, we love the look and feel of having muscle. The self confidence and empowerment of feeling strong is immeasurable. It may be financially draining at times, but we put together other resources to continue on.

The media may choose to ignore us, but we are slowly realizing other ways to promote ourselves. If given the chance, we have much to contribute to society, even if it is just inspiration to look strong and feel healthy. It really is not that complicated -- with a little understanding.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Gina Davis's First Pro Show Will Be The Europa August 25th and 26th


Gina Davis -- who has a cut set of legs as the photo shows -- reports on her blog that her first show as a professional bodybuilder will be the Europa on August 25th and 26th in Arlington, Texas at the Arlington Convention Center.

"I am so ready to get the show on the road...after sending Andy my update I was looking over the pics and videos and kept thinking "cannot wait to see what's under all that!" I am still weighing around 191lbs and it will be interesting to see how much muscle I have gained in two years.



I weighed in at 156 in 2004(after a week of being very sick and losing some size) so I think I should at least be around 160 for the Europa. 20 weeks out this weekend and have 4 weeks to get to 185lbs to start my prep...it's a done deal. Exciting stuff and it only gets better as this contest journey begins. I will have a "Countdown to the Europa" section where you will see THE MOST phenomenal contest progression pics ever. People could not get over my "Road To Victory" section in '04...oh yea...it begins again very soon. Gosh! Just so much swirling through my head right now-can't wait! yippeee!!!"

Liz Kinsella - UK's Fitness Champion's Going Pro


Liz Kinsella -- the current British fitness champion -- informs GeneX that she's in the process of applying for her pro card this year.

Her website is at http://www.lizkinsella.co.uk

Collette Nelson On AXE Body Wash TV Commercial Campaign


Pro Bodybuilder Collette Nelson's making a big splash on TV -- litterally! She's the featured woman in a provacative commercial which sees her working out and then working on a rather meek but willing male charge.

It's a great platform for female bodybuilders in that the commercial is unforgettable, and thus you won't forget the product. Plus, Collette looks good.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Hey everyone! Kate Troescher here!

Hi everyone!

So glad to be here. I look forward to writing on, for, and about the amazing sport of women's body building. I'll be posting for the first time in the next few days, so stay tuned.

Until then, have a great weekend!

- Kate

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Kate Troescher's Taking Over This Blog!


Kate Troescher, a 2005 Cal grad, athlete, yell leader, and writer for "The Bear Insider" and Scout.com - california.scout.com - is taking over my blog! Kate's energy and interest will provide you with a great online experience.

She's not only getting this blog, but the Women's Sports and Women's Tennis Blogs, as well as one of her own. But I'll still be around to help her make posts and maintain things.

Welcome Kate!

Monday, April 10, 2006

Steroids and Women's Bodybuilding - 46 Percent Believe Steriods Are Necessary To Be Competitive in Fitness and Figure - Terry Goodlad


The photo of Jennifer Caprati is not used to imply that she's taken steriods. The photo is the best example of raw female athletic power available. If a woman can use steroids to gain this kind of ability, she can alter the outcome of a contest, and her own body's evolution in the process.

April 5/06
Just Say No
By Terry Goodlad

In our most recent Bodysport poll we asked our readers if they thought the use of anabolic steroids or growth hormone was necessary to be competitive at the amateur level in fitness and figure. Not surprisingly 46% said yes and 54% said no.

Steroids are a not a problem in our society but people that have no patience are, and that is why drugs like steroids are so popular. There was a time when craftsmanship and quality was something people happily waited for. The wait simply increased the value of what was gained in that time.

The infatuation with convenience and not-so coincidental death of persistence, pride and work ethic began a few years back with the birth of fast food. About then people started burying themselves in more credit card debt than they could possibly afford to have what they wanted now, and having a big hat became far more important than having the cattle to back it up. Today that same "I have to have everything instantly" mentality is rampant in the fitness industry as well and absolutely no one is apologetic about it, it's expected. Everyone wants the fastest way, not the way that builds pride in ownership.

For example let's take a look at theoretical Thelma. After munching down whatever tastes good and staring at a computer screen all day for a lifetime, her ass expands to epic proportions and one day while trying on clothes in a department store change room, an evil mirror jumps out and tells her the truth. In a whirlwind of discarded plus sized panties and control top hose she runs bawling from the store, wedges herself into a mini-van and tears off to a gym. Once inside some buff dude named Chip or Lance sits her down and fills her head full of useless information about machines she could care less about until she is hypnotized into signing up as a member.

The next day she shows up in the baggiest stuff she could find, with the obligatory sweatshirt tied around her waist that hangs down over her prodigious backside. She has her introductory "training session" with some young chickie named Barbie that looks like she was born about the same year Thelma's training clothes were in style. She doesn't do much other than stand there counting reps but today just having someone beside her in this unforgiving place is more than enough.

Jet forward a couple months after she has been training consistently and eating what her body needs and all of a sudden its time to go shopping for a new wardrobe and people that used to knock her over on their way to the water fountain suddenly find anything she has to say very interesting and have an urge to be her "friend". It's happening and she likes it.

Sooner or later she finds out about competing and she decides to enter a contest. Usually there is a guru someplace that knows everything about everything and after hooking up with the guy and telling him about her dreams of being on the Olympia stage, she is informed that all those girls take drugs and you will have to take them to if you want to be like them.

The story goes on with all sorts of middles and endings but the point is very clear without even knowing what happened. Drugs will get you there faster and that fact is certainly true. But you can get there without them, it will just take a little bit longer and you will have to learn more about feeding and training your body. Beyond that its just character building work and once you learn how to shape your body you won't need anyone or any substance to make it look the way you want it to.

You will have to work for it, its not going to be free as most things worth having are not. But neither is steroid use, there is a price. If you can find an athlete that will admit to anabolic steroid use and they have been doing it for a year or two to compete, ask to see a face shot of them before they started the drugs and ask them if they have had to have anything done to their faces besides the obvious need to shave those thick dark chin hairs every other day or so. Clitoral enlargement is also a side effect and if you think it's not noticeable or perhaps something you can live with then you really need to pick up an issue of Muscle Elegance Magazine and peruse the nudie shots of some athletes published there before you decide.

Not only do the drugs have unwanted side effects, they are most likely black market drugs and who knows where they were made or what conditions they were made in. In a disease and bacteria phobic society we panic when a can is dented on a store shelf but have no problems jamming a needle in our asses and pumping in a couple cc's of God knows what because some dufus in the gym gave his seal of approval that this stuff was "good".

If you still don't think it's a problem, ask yourself if you would recommend the same drugs to your daughter or little sister.

The first lesson is to examine your motives for what you are doing. Is it about feeling better about yourself or feeling better about yourself when you use drugs? Maybe, just maybe, feeling better about yourself comes in time when you face a challenge in life and with your own resources and character, you muster what you need to face and succeed at that challenge. If you use something to get you there then you will always know it wasn't just you…you may never know what you are truly capable of. But you will know it took drugs to get you where you are.

Fitness whether recreational or competitive should be a lifestyle of healthy eating, exercise, and finding balance in life. The result is having a body and a life you are proud of whether you put it on stage or not.

If you think you need drugs to compete in fitness or figure you are probably selling yourself short or maybe needing a different sport or place to set goals and achieve them. If you think it's a good idea to take drugs to compete in fitness or figure, then ask yourself if you would recommend the same to your own daughter or your younger sister. If it's a good idea for you but not for them, then maybe you need to work on feeling better about yourself, drugs won't help you there.

If you have to put your body, your face, and your self esteem at risk to get something or be a part of something then chances are it's not worth it. You are better than that.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Craig Titus Strangled Melissa James, Kelly Ryan Injected Her With Morphine - Grand Jury Transcripts


What this reveals are the actions of two very sick people.

GRAND JURY TRANSCRIPTS: Friend: Pair told of violence

Bodybuilders described confrontation, woman testified

By GLENN PUIT
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Kelly Ryan participated in the brutality that culminated in the death of her personal assistant by using a Taser gun on the victim, beating her and helping to inject the woman with a massive dose of morphine, Ryan's self-described best friend told a grand jury.

In her testimony to the grand jury that indicted Ryan and Ryan's husband, Craig Titus, on murder charges, Megan Pierson, 25, also said Titus demonstrated how he strangled 28-year-old Melissa James, according to the grand jury transcripts.

Pierson told the grand jury that she and her husband, Jeremy Foley, were at Ryan and Titus' southwest valley home on Dec. 13, the same day authorities suspect Titus and Ryan's live-in assistant was slain.

Pierson testified that Ryan told her that a confrontation had occurred between her and James at the home because she and Titus suspected James was stealing from them and was planning to steal their identities.

Ryan is a 33-year-old past Ms. Fitness America and Ms. Olympia runner-up, and Titus is a 40-year-old past place-winner of international Mr. Olympia competitions.

"They had gone into Melissa's room and found, opened up, a lock box that had credit cards, copies of credit cards, a (home equity line of credit) statement ... and copies of IDs," Pierson said.

She said Titus was especially angry at the discovery.

"Very, very pissed," Pierson said, adding that Titus said, "There is three things that you don't mess with. That's friends, family and his money."

Pierson said Ryan told her that during a confrontation with James, she had taken a Taser gun away from James, then used it on James.

"It, I guess, stunned her in the back of her neck, but she (Ryan) didn't have it up high enough, so it just kind of got her attention," Pierson told the grand jury.

"And Kelly tried to do it again, and she, I guess she didn't have the voltage up high enough, so she yelled for Craig, and Craig came upstairs, picked Melissa up, brought her downstairs into the living room and supposedly body slammed her (James) and started beating her up," Pierson testified.

Ryan told Pierson that after the beating, James "took a Xanax" and went to bed, Pierson said.

"While she was sleeping, Kelly went into her room and punched her in the face," Pierson said.

"She (Ryan) said that she punched her a couple of times, she showed me the marks on her knuckles from it, and she said that ... Craig was holding her down and told Kelly to get the morphine and she shot a whole needle of morphine into her leg," Pierson said. "She said she was very resilient because it didn't do anything to her."

Later that evening, Titus demonstrated to Pierson "how you can strangle somebody," and then he demonstrated a chokehold for Pierson.

"He did it on me, and you instantly stop breathing," Pierson said. "It scared me the way that he motioned, the way that he showed it on me.

"Craig just walked in and started talking about it and, that's how, he started talking more about how he said that he killed Melissa," Pierson said.

"He said that he was joking around, but that is how he had killed Melissa, by strangling her," Pierson said.

"I mean, he was laughing, so I really did not believe he was serious," she said.

Pierson said that Titus then mentioned James' body was in his wife's car and that Titus said he was going to drive the vehicle to Red Rock, "scatter clothes around the car and set it on fire and make it look like a rape."

Pierson's testified before the grand jury earlier this month, and the grand jury wound up indicting Ryan and Titus on charges of murder and arson in the death of James.

Twenty-three-year-old Anthony Gross is charged with being an accessory to the killing and with arson.

Authorities allege Titus and Ryan killed James, then burned her body in Ryan's Jaguar off state Route 160 in the desert outside of Las Vegas. The burning car was discovered Dec. 14.

Pierson said when she and her husband left the home of Titus and Ryan the night of Dec. 13, Titus gave the couple a gym bag.

"We said our goodbyes, and there was a gym bag next to my purse," Pierson said. "I grabbed my purse, walked out and Craig said, 'Hey, wait, you forgot this,' and I said 'What is this?'"

"He said, 'Oh, don't worry about it, I talked to Jeremy about it; he said it was OK to have it at your house for a couple of weeks,' " Pierson said.

"He said that he knew the police were going to be coming to his house the next day, and he acted like he just didn't want whatever was in the bag in the house while the police were there," Pierson said.

The following day, she said, she looked in the gym bag and saw "a Taser gun, a stun gun, a gym rope, and something else for one of the Taser guns or stun gun," Pierson said.

Pierson said she turned the items over to police, and according to grand jury transcripts, authorities found other physical evidence that corroborated Pierson's account.

An analysis of the Taser gun indicated it had been fired multiple times on the day James was slain, and Las Vegas police crime scene analysts found remnants from the discharge of a Taser gun inside Titus and Ryan's home.

Also, a medical examiner told the grand jury that James had a high level of morphine in her body at the time of her death.

When questioned by a prosecutor in front of the grand jury, Pierson admitted she did not tell police what she knew when first questioned by police because "at first I was protecting Kelly."

It was all "very upsetting," Pierson said. "It's very depressing. ... I thought I knew her better than this."

Pierson said she was frightened by Titus. Nevertheless, she agreed to meet with Titus and Ryan a few days after Dec. 13 at an acquaintance's house.

"Kelly was playing dumb, saying that 'they (police) think we did it,' and Craig said that they were going to go to Greece," Pierson said. "He said, 'It's no big deal. Kelly is going to continue to compete there, everything will be fine,' and he said he only needed two witnesses to say that she (James) was overdosed in the front seat of the car and that they'd get off."

Ryan's attorney, Tom Pitaro, declined to comment on the grand jury transcripts Tuesday because he had not read them yet.

Titus' defense attorney, Richard Schonfeld, declined to comment on the specifics of the transcripts, but he said the veracity of the evidence is expected to be challenged in District Court. He previously said that Titus' accusers have significant credibility problems.

Authorities allege that Titus and Ryan first told police they did not know what happened to James. They later said they found her dead of a drug overdose, then panicked and burned her body.
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