Ripped

May 3, 2006

Ripped
Buff bods take it
to the limit at the
GT Body Building show


The ultimate fashion statement is the body. Strip style to the basics and all that remains is your body, its shape and grace... or lack thereof.
A handful of brave souls take that challenge to its ultimate extreme each year, posing in the bare essentials for the Grand Traverse Body Building and Fitness Competition.
This was the 26th annual event for the body building contest with a record 42 competitors. Organizer Vern Gauthier of the Fit For You Health Club in TC says competitors generally train for about 20 weeks (or five months) to prepare.
Those intense workouts are coupled with 20 weeks of strict nutrition involving a high-protein, low-carb diet.
“They practice good nutritional habits all year round and then get really strict to slim down to about six-percent body fat for the contest,” Gauthier adds.
Add a teeny bikini and practice your poses and... voila... you too could be in next year’s contest.




Overall Winners
Mark LaBardie
Debbie Perry

Master Women
1st Place - Debbie Perry
2nd Place - Penny Hutchinson
3rd Place - Kristee Mariage
4th Place - J. C. Bediker
5th Place - Buzz Neil

Short Women
1st Place - Penny Hutchinson
2nd Place - Kristee Mariage
3rd Place - Monica Schneider
4th Place - Buzz Neil

Tall Women
1st Place - Debbie Perry
2nd Place - Kristi Wolters
3rd Place - J.C. Bediker
4th Place - Kelli Thomas
5th Place - April Parsons

Women’s Figure
1st Place - Shoshana Schichtel
2nd Place - Heidi Heiges
3rd Place - Vanessa Brzezinski
4th Place - Kaira Kerr

Master Men
1st Place - Mark LaBardie
2nd Place - Dave Fox
3rd Place - Johnny Betts

Short Men
1st Place - Mark LaBardie
2nd Place - Dave Fox
3rd Place - Jon Nickels
4th Place - Mick Munford
5th Place - Aaron Rhoads

Tall Men
1st Place - Ivan Pylypchuk
2nd Place - John Rice
3rd Place - Eric Schmieder
4th Place - Ted Stiglich
5th Place - Ryan Gonda