It’s the 50th anniversary of the Olympia, folks. And that means that the sport that boasts the world’s biggest physiques just got bigger. The entire weekend is a spectacle of epic proportions but one of the most amazing displays of excess will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We are speaking, of course, of the Olympia Expo.
Upwards of 50,000 wide-eyed fitness enthusiasts will navigate through miles of exhibitor booths, bulging bags of freebies in tow. Again, the M&F booth – located near the expo entrance – will be home to some of the industry’s biggest names for our annual Olympia Expo Speaker Series.
Hosted by celebrity trainer and M&F advisory board member Eric “The Trainer” Fleishman, top names will stop by our booth for insightful Q&As and meet-and-greet time with fans. In this made-for-TV format, Eric the Trainer will sit down with the likes of Flex Wheeler, Billy Blanks, Dennis James and Greg Plitt to ask the questions that matter most to the physique-minded readers of M&F.
M&F’s booth will also be home to two educational seminars – one on supplementation and one on show prep – hosted by strength and conditioning expert David Sandler.
The Speaker Series is in addition to the booth’s usual barrage of giveaways and M&F models. We’ll plan on seeing you there.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
11:00 SEMINAR: SMART SUPPLEMENTATION WITH DAVID SANDLER, MS, CSCS
Learn how you can use supplementation to look like the hardbodies strutting through the expo hall at this exclusive seminar with longtime M&F contributor David Sandler, MS, CSCS.
Sandler is the President of StrengthPro, a training and nutrition consulting group. He has been the lead exercise and sports physiologist for more then 40 episodes of television for National Geographic’s series Fight Science, Super Strength and the Emmy Award winning Sport Science series on Fox Sports Network. In addition, Sandler was the Science Advisor and Sports Physiologist for Jesse James is a Dead Man on Spike TV and has filmed several episodes as the Science Expert for History Channel’s Stan Lee’s Superhumans.
Pro wrestler Shad Gaspard is a man of many talents but many of them fall back on the old struggle of man-versus-iron. He’s been a bodybuilder, a model, a bodyguard and an actor, each role requiring a different approach to his time in the gym and the kitchen. He had a feature role in the film Think Like a Man 2 and had a promient role on the show Exes on TV Land. Gaspard discusses how he has made a career out of muscle outside of the ring.
Last competing at the 2012 IFBB Masters Olympia, where he finished third, Dennis James is one of the sport’s most accomplished bodybuilders of the last decade-plus. He is now one of the sport’s best ambassadors and a highly sought-after contest prep consultant.
1:00 Q&A: MASTER TRAINER MATT ALLEN & IFBB FIGURE PRO Wendy Fortino
The term “power couple” takes on a whole new meaning when you see bodybuilder-turned-master trainer Matt Allen and Figure Olympia competitor Wendy Fortino. Their training biz, Cyber Body Shop, prides itself on “the synergy of nutrition, resistance training, cardiovascular endurance training, and flexibility training.” Alas, these are a few of our favorite things. The couple sits down to talk about their journey and what it takes to reach your personal health and fitness goals with this comprehensive approach.
Canadian sensation and creator of the best-selling MI40 training system, Ben Pakulski stops by to weigh in on what it takes to build a freaky physique. Pakulski has finished second (2013) and fourth (2012) at the Arnold Classic and is thought by many to have the best set of legs in the sport today. But he also has a degree in kinesiology and is one of the most cerebral, well-spoken athletes in the IFBB.
How do the guys in Hollywood get ready for that first take? Having served as a consultant to the likes of Ben Affleck and Sylvester Stallone, certified sports nutritionist Rehan Jalali knows a thing or two about using food and supplements to create the look you want. Rehan is a former natural bodybuilder, a member of the American Medical Writer’s Association and the author of The Six-Pack Diet Plan and The Sports Supplement Buyer’s Guide.
3:45 Q&A: JOE MAZZA, MHP ATHLETE AND WORLD RECORD BENCH PRESSER
If you want to learn how to press more weight, then who better to ask than a world record-holding bench presser? Standing just 5’6”, Joe Mazza is the only bench-presser in history to claim world records in the raw (487.5 pounds), single-ply (635) and multi-ply (705) divisions at the same time. Joe will chat training and proper supplementation for your own record-setting bench.
11:00 SEMINAR: GETTING CONTEST READY WITH DAVID SANDLER, MS, CSCS
If you’ve ever contemplated a move into physique competition, then don’t miss this informative seminar with strength and conditioning expert, David Sandler. Sandler is the founder of the International Physique Professionals Association, or IPPA, the only fitness organization dedicated to promoting the science and application of improving physical appearance by integrating scientific research and practical applications of exercise science and sports nutrition.
Sandler is also the President of StrengthPro, a training and nutrition consulting group. He has been the lead exercise and sports physiologist for more then 40 episodes of television for National Geographic’s series Fight Science, Super Strength and the Emmy Award winning Sport Science series on Fox Sports Network. In addition, Sandler was the Science Advisor and Sports Physiologist for Jesse James is a Dead Man on Spike TV and has filmed several episodes as the Science Expert for History Channel’s Stan Lee’s Superhumans.
Last competing at the 2012 IFBB Masters Olympia, where he finished third, Dennis James is one of the most accomplished bodybuilders of the last decade-plus. He is now one of the sport’s best ambassadors and a highly sought-after contest prep consultant.
12:30 Q&A: IFBB HALL OF FAMER FLEX WHEELER & WORLD’S STRONGEST BODYBUILDER STAN EFFERDING
Flex Wheeler was one of the most successful bodybuilders of his era, retiring his posing trunks in 2003 with four Arnold Classic wins and three runner-up placings at the Olympia. In 2009, he was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame. This year, Flex has partnered with “World’s Strongest Bodybuilder,” Stan Efferding to create Team Flex Wheeler, which provides expert training advice for athletes of all levels. Efferding, also known as “The White Rhino,” competes in bodybuilding and powerlifting, holding a record raw 2,303-pound class record in the latter pursuit (Squat: 865.2, Bench: 600.7, Deadlift: 837.5).
1:00 Q&A: FITNESS COVER MODEL GREG PLITT
From West Point to the cover of (insert fitness magazine here), former Army Ranger officer Greg Plitt is the owner of one of the most recognized physiques in the industry. With cover after cover to his credit, Greg keeps himself in top shape year round through a variety of training methods, all leaning toward the hardcore. Greg will discuss some of his best training and nutrition strategies for building a cover-worthy physique.
Having graced the covers of over 60 national magazines over the years, TJ Hoban is one of the most successful male models in the business. He has also enjoyed great commercial success, appearing in campaigns for Miller Lite, Structure Underwear, Oakley and Sunglass Hut. Also a trained actor, TJ is comfortable with adjusting his workouts to suit the needs of any creative director. Here, he passes on his experience in the industry and dishes on what it takes to succeed as a body-for-hire in Hollywood.
2:00 Q&A: STEVE HESS, MS, STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH FOR THE NBA’S DENVER NUGGETS
Keeping the Nuggets in top physical shape is the job of Steve Hess, who oversees the team’s weight training, conditioning, stretching and nutritional programs. He designed and arranged the Nuggets’ sparkling weight room in the Pepsi Center and also designed functional pieces unique to the Denver Nuggets. Steve spends the majority of the off-season working with the Nuggets players as well as other professional athletes, pushing them to reach their peak physical condition. Hess is one of 10 trainers worldwide who sits on the Under Armour training council.
2:30 Q&A: FITNESS PERSONALITY AND ACTOR BILLY BLANKS
Billy Blanks is the creator of Tae Bo® Fitness, the revolutionary total body fitness system that has helped millions of people around the world get in shape and feel great! He has also devoted a great deal of time toward helping people through his Foundation and by traveling around the world to train the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition, Billy’s extraordinary achievements as a world karate champion, actor, author, motivator, philanthropist and humanitarian continue to earn him acclaim.
Boasting some of the biggest pipes (and personality) that you’ll ever find in a kitchen, Chef Robert Irvine was named by Men’s Fitness as one of the “25 Fittest Guys in America.” He is the creator and host of the popular shows Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible and is now working on a new spin-off concept called Fitness: Impossible. The Chef, who owns his own line of protein bars – some of the tastiest on the market, according to the M&F editors – specializes in creating physique-friendly food that is also full of flavor. A hit at last year’s speaker series, Chef Irvine returns to the stage to take questions from M&F fans.
3:45 Q&A: JOE MAZZA, MHP ATHLETE AND WORLD RECORD BENCH PRESSER
If you want to learn how to press more weight, then who better to ask than a world record-holding bench presser? Standing just 5’6”, Joe Mazza is the only bench-presser in history to claim world records in the raw (487.5 pounds), single-ply (635) and multi-ply (705) divisions at the same time. Joe will chat training and proper supplementation for your own record-setting bench.
