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Europa Sports to Open Distribution Center in Las Vegas, NV

June 22, 2015 by

Europa Sports

New Operation Will Service Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Southern California Customers

LAS VEGAS, NV – Europa Sports Products is excited to announce the opening of its seventh warehouse and distribution center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The addition of the new strategically placed facility helps put Europa in a better position to support their Southwestern customers more efficiently, providing them with an even higher level of personal service.

With an integrated network of 7 distribution centers, Europa Sports now has a total combined inventory area of over 432,000 square feet. This national footprint allows Europa to develop multi-facility fulfillment solutions that deliver the hottest nutritional brands and products to most customers in 1-2 business days, using both standard shipping and route delivery.

“Helping our customers succeed is the hallmark of our business, and delivering the supplements they need in less time is just good business,” states Europa Sports Products CEO and Co-Founder, Eric Hillman.

The 46,000 square foot facility, located in Las Vegas, will allow Europa to improve delivery times to all customers in the gym, health food, and specialty supplement retailer markets. In addition to standard shipping services, Europa is also pleased to announce the addition of two new truck routes to its ever-growing fleet. These new routes will span from Las Vegas to Arizona as well as provide local same day service to Las Vegas.

For information and orders, contact Europa Sports Products at 1-800-447-4795, or on the web at EuropaSports.com.

About Europa Sports
Based in Charlotte, NC, Europa is recognized as the industry leader in the distribution of sports supplements, sports drinks and accessories to gyms, health food stores and specialty supplement retailers. Europa offers more than 7,000 unique items representing more than 300 of the industry’s leading brands. Now with seven locations strategically placed across the nation, Europa’s quick and complete deliveries allow businesses to keep “just in time” inventory. It’s just what businesses need to stay competitive and profitable. Europa is committed to excellence in service, product assortment and customer satisfaction.

Filed Under: Press Release

FDA Gives Food Manufacturers 3 Years to Remove Trans Fats

June 17, 2015 by

The FDA takes step to remove artificial trans fats in processed foods
Action expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year

Based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS for use in human food. Food manufacturers will have three years to remove PHOs from products.

“The FDA’s action on this major source of artificial trans fat demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the heart health of all Americans,” said FDA’s Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, M.D. “This action is expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.”

This determination will significantly reduce the use of PHOs, the major source of artificial trans fats, in the food supply. In 2013, the FDA made a tentative determination that PHOs could no longer be considered GRAS and is finalizing that determination after considering public comments.

Since 2006, manufacturers have been required to include trans fat content information on the Nutrition Facts label of foods. Between 2003 and 2012, the FDA estimates that consumer trans fat consumption decreased about 78 percent and that the labeling rule and industry reformulation of foods were key factors in informing healthier consumer choices and reducing trans fat in foods. While trans fat intake has significantly decreased, the current intake remains a public health concern. The Institute of Medicine recommends that consumption of trans fat be as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally-adequate diet.

“Studies show that diet and nutrition play a key role in preventing chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and today’s action goes hand in hand with other FDA initiatives to improve the health of Americans, including updating the nutrition facts label,” said Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “This determination is based on extensive research into the effects of PHOs, as well as input from all stakeholders received during the public comment period.”

The FDA has set a compliance period of three years. This will allow companies to either reformulate products without PHOs and/or petition the FDA to permit specific uses of PHOs. Following the compliance period, no PHOs can be added to human food unless they are otherwise approved by the FDA.

The FDA encourages consumers seeking to reduce trans fat intake to check a food’s ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oils to determine whether or not a product contains PHOs. Currently, foods are allowed to be labeled as having “0” grams trans fat if they contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, including PHOs, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods.

Many companies have already been working to remove PHOs from processed foods and the FDA anticipates that many may eliminate them ahead of the three-year compliance date.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Filed Under: Press Release

U.S. Senator Probing Supplement Retailers

June 17, 2015 by

WASHINGTON (AP) — A high-ranking Senate Democrat is probing retailers and online companies about sales of dubious dietary supplements, especially those promising seniors protection from memory loss, dementia and other age-related problems.

The pills, tablets and formulas targeted by Senator Claire McCaskill bear names like “Brain Awake,” ”Dementia Drops” and “Food for the Brain,” which claims to ease “forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.”

In letters sent this week to 15 companies — including Wal-Mart, Target Corp., Amazon, Google and Walgreen’s — McCaskill asks executives to explain how they vet dietary supplements and weed out products making false claims. The Missouri Democrat is the ranking member on the Senate Aging Committee, which frequently investigates health scams targeting older Americans.

“Frankly, I think there’s a special place in hell for someone who markets a product and says it will cure Alzheimer’s,” McCaskill told The Associated Press. “And that’s essentially what these scammers are doing and they’ve had assistance in that.”

This is the latest probe into the $30 billion dietary supplement industry, which encompasses thousands of products and has long been plagued by questionable advertising, marketing and manufacturing practices. Supplements have never been subject to the same Food and Drug Administration regulations as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, which must be reviewed as safe and effective before being sold in the U.S.

Earlier this year, 14 state attorneys general asked Congress to investigate the herbal supplement industry. They pointed to DNA-based test results apparently showing that some store-brand supplements have none of the ingredients listed on their labels.

McCaskill’s probe focuses on supplements targeting seniors who are concerned about dementia. More than 5 million people in the U.S. suffer from Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no cure and prescription drugs only temporarily ease symptoms.

But rather than focusing on the supplements themselves, McCaskill’s investigation is probing how they make their way into consumers’ shopping carts and medicine cabinets.

In a letter to Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon, McCaskill asks for a briefing with the company to “better understand Wal-Mart’s policies and practices related to dietary supplements.”

A spokesman for the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said in a statement: “We appreciate the opportunity to share information about our supplement business and look forward to cooperating with the committee as appropriate.”

A spokesman for the Kroger grocery chain said the company would respond to the senator. A spokeswoman for GNC said the company “has not had an opportunity to review Senator McCaskill’s inquiry but will respond directly in the appropriate form.”

McCaskill also requests meetings with Internet search engines, including Google Inc.

“As one of the leading search engines that now provides a retail function through Google Shopping, Google Inc. plays a pivotal role in determining what supplements are being used and trusted,” McCaskill writes in a letter to Google’s CEO, Larry Page. She requests details about how Google is compensated by supplement producers who advertise through the search engine and whether Google reviews customer complaints about such products.

Google declined to comment.

Companies are not legally required to comply with congressional requests, but they can be ordered to appear before Congress and turn over documents, when compelled by subpoena.

The new investigation shines light on how supplement makers skirt federal rules that are supposed to stop companies from marketing their products for specific diseases and conditions. A product called Eureka Intensified Focus, sold through Amazon, claims to “support and maintain memory, concentration and focus.” Another product available on Amazon, AloeMarine, is promoted to support “increased memory and brain function.”

A spokesman for Amazon Inc. declined to comment for this story.

Because the FDA does not review supplements, manufacturers are technically responsible for making sure their products are safe and truthfully advertised. Products making certain types of health claims are required to carry a disclaimer that “this statement has not been evaluated by the FDA,” though many supplements do not.

The FDA frequently sends warning letters to companies that appear to be violating federal rules, but the agency cannot withdraw a supplement from the market until it shows that it is unsafe. Attempts to pass new laws giving the FDA more authority over supplements have repeatedly been scuttled by industry lobbyists and their allies in Congress.

Despite the FDA’s limited powers, McCaskill suggests the agency could be doing more.

“They do have some authority here and we want to take a closer look at how they are using that authority,” she said.

For example, the FDA can penalize companies for failing to register their manufacturing facilities with the FDA, and for not notifying the FDA of side effects reported by customers.

In a letter to the FDA, McCaskill and Senate Aging Committee chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, ask the FDA to turn over a list of all FDA actions against companies violating those rules since December 2007. They also ask the FDA to turn over information about its review of new dietary supplement ingredients. The introduction of new ingredients is the one chance regulators have to evaluate supplements before they launch.

An FDA spokeswoman said in a statement the agency would respond directly to the Senators.

Filed Under: Press Release

Body-For-Life Author Bill Phillips Joins Muscle Pharm

June 16, 2015 by

Denver based supplement company, Muscle Pharm announced that Bill Phillips will be joining MusclePharm as Strategic Advisor and Chief Editor of Content. In a press release issued today Muscle Pharm stated, “As a part of his scope, Mr. Phillips will also develop with MusclePharm a direct selling model aimed at the over 40 demographic — a segment that the Company has not yet had a significant penetration in. This is expected to be launched by early 2016.”

Bill Phillips Joins Muscle Pharm

Author of Body-for-LIFE and Former CEO/Owner of EAS Performance Nutrition Bill Phillips Joins MusclePharm

Phillips Will Serve as Strategic Advisor to Executive Team and Chief Editor of Content

DENVER, CO–(Marketwired – Jun 16, 2015) – MusclePharm Corporation (OTCQB: MSLP), a scientifically-driven, performance-lifestyle sports nutrition company announces fitness and bodybuilding pioneer Bill Phillips joining MusclePharm as Strategic Advisor and Chief Editor of Content. Mr. Phillips is one of the most credible voices in the world on fitness and brings with him three decades of experience and knowledge in the nutritional and supplement field and a proven leader in science-based products. As a part of his scope, Mr. Phillips will also develop with MusclePharm a direct selling model aimed at the over 40 demographic — a segment that the Company has not yet had a significant penetration in. This is expected to be launched by early 2016.

MusclePharm has set the standard in the industry with its commitment to the science and quality of its products. With Mr. Phillips as chief editor of content, he will help position the Company as a thought leader through an educational and motivational platform making fitness more accessible to everyone. This will allow the Company to better empower the prospective customer and convert them into a customer, expanding our base. As a part of his educational platform, he will work closely with the Company and MP’s Sports Science Institute (MPSSI) providing educational content on all of its multi-media platforms.

“I am honored and excited to join the MusclePharm Team for two primary reasons; first, I believe in their vision, and next, because of my previous experience as the CEO of EAS, I am confident I can offer key insight that will help MusclePharm reach its incredible potential,” said Bill Phillips, author of New York Times best seller Body-for-LIFE which has sold over six million copies worldwide.

In addition, Mr. Phillips will be Strategic Advisor to the CEO and the Executive Team. With his proven experience, he will provide advice and counsel as the company continues on its growth trajectory and is now entering its next stage of growth.

“Bill Phillips is one of the most credible voices in fitness coupled with his expertise in the science-based nutritional products business, he will be an asset to the company as we move to our next stage of growth,” said Brad Pyatt, founder and CEO of MusclePharm. “When I first founded MusclePharm, I viewed Bill Phillips as a mentor on how to build a company committed to helping people live healthier lives through science-based, quality products. I am looking forward to working with Bill as we expand to new customers who are looking to transform their lives.”

“At MusclePharm, we believe that everyone is an athlete,” added Mr. Pyatt. “Working with Bill Phillips, we will broaden our base to many more consumers who want to get into shape. We will be there to help bring out their inner-athlete and be a partner in their journey to live happier and healthier lives.”

Bill Phillips’ background in the fitness and supplement business and his years spent as the CEO and owner of EAS give him insight and strategies that he will share with MusclePharm’s young and ambitious management team. He will help maximize the company’s growth and profitability as it continues to set the standard in quality and science-based products. Mr. Phillips sold EAS for $320 million in 2004 to pharmaceutical giant Abbot Labs.

“I feel at home here at MusclePharm because they share my same vision, which is to advance the science of sports supplements for the benefit of athletes and fitness enthusiasts everywhere,” added Mr. Phillips.

Bill Phillips speaks to a new market for MusclePharm with those seeking not only a better body, but a better quality of life, greater longevity, and increased energy. He will focus on motivating and inspiring people from all walks of life to get off the sidelines and back into the game. He believes that fitness is the best medicine, especially for men and women over 40 years old.

For more on Billl Phillips, please go to http://www.musclepharm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bill-Phillips-Fact-Sheet.pdf.

About Bill Phillips
Bill Phillips is one of the major pioneers of the bodybuilding and fitness industry and the true godfather of modern sports supplementation, as we know it today. Mr. Phillips is the author of Body-for-LIFE which has sold over 6 million copies worldwide, and spent more than five years on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Body-for-LIFE brought millions of people to strength training for the first time. Phillips also authored New York Times Best Selling Books: Eating for Life, Body for Life Success Journal, and Transformation. Mr. Phillips was the CEO and owner of EAS Performance Nutrition, which introduced the fitness world to breakthrough products including: creatine, HMB, CLA, Whey Protein Isolate, Myoplex, etc. In 2000, Phillips sold a portion of the company to North Castle Partners for $160 million and in 2004 sold the entire company to Abbot Labs for $320 million.

About MusclePharm Corporation (OTCQB: MSLP)
MusclePharm® is a scientifically driven, performance lifestyle company that currently develops, manufactures, markets and distributes branded nutritional supplements. The company offers a complete range of powders, capsules, tablets and gels. Its portfolio of recognized brands, including MusclePharm® Hybrid and Core Series, Arnold Schwarzenegger Series™ and FitMiss™, are marketed and sold in more than 120 countries and available in over 45,000 retail outlets globally. These clinically-proven and scientific nutritional supplements are developed through a six-stage research process utilizing the expertise of leading nutritional scientists, doctors and universities. MusclePharm is the innovator of the sports nutrition industry. For more information, visit www.musclepharm.com. Follow MusclePharm Corporation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo via Bill Phillips Facebook.

Filed Under: Press Release

NIKE Soccer – ‘American Woman’ features U.S. National Team

June 12, 2015 by

Nike Women Soccer NIKE Soccer – ‘American Woman’ features U.S. National Team. Strong alone. Unstoppable together.

Train like the #uswnt with the right Women’s soccer gear, training apps and inspiration for on and off the field. Find everything you need to own the game: http://Nike.com/WomensSoccer #NoMaybes

“AMERICAN WOMAN” FILM ILLUSTRATES THE #NOMAYBES ATTITUDE OF U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Individually, members of the U.S. Women’s National Team are blessed with speed, agility, strength, and power. Collectively they inspire millions.

“American Woman,” part of Nike Soccer’s #NoMaybes campaign, features Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe.

The film captures their journey from training to match day.

Before they ever step onto a pitch surrounded by thousands of screaming fans, U.S. Women’s National Team players go through hours of preparation, both alone and alongside their teammates. When training gets tough, they feed off motivation from each other and, in turn, motivate other players. Taking the field at the Women’s World Cup, they carry their own championship dreams and bear the hopes of fans across the country.

“You have to have a team mentality with the competitiveness of the individual,” said U.S. Women’s National Team captain, Abby Wambach. “You want to make sure that everyone around you has the same mentality and then enmesh those individualities. We are masters of controlling ourselves and bringing out the best in each other.”

The film launched on the Nike Soccer App (gonike.me/SoccerApp) and includes the song, “American Woman,” by The Guess Who.

Nike Women Soccer

Nike Soccer’s Women’s World Cup Footwear Pack – Hypervenoom II, Mercurial, Magista, and Tiempo (from left to right)

Additionally, athletes appearing in “American Woman” wear the new collection of Women’s-specific Nike cleats: the Hypervenom II, Mercurial, Magista, and Tiempo. The boots are available in the Nike Soccer App, Nike stores and on nike.com.

NIKE Soccer – ‘American Woman’ features U.S. National Team

Filed Under: Ad Watch

Dane Jackson Wins First Title of the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games

June 4, 2015 by

Kayaking Go Pro Mtn Games
Things kicked off today at the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Dane Jackson stepped up big by winning the first title of the Games. We’ll be in Vail this weekend for the GoPro Mountain Games and reporting live throughout the weekend.


Dane Jackson Takes Steep Creek Title in Day One of the GoPro Mountain Games

Jackson Wins First of Nine Whitewater Events

June 4, 2015 (Vail, Colo.) – Dane Jackson lived up to the high standards of his family name today, taking top honors at the first event of the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games: The Coors Light Steep Creek Championships. Jackson is among the many athletes to watch during the four-day festival, and will continue to compete in nine other Coors Light whitewater competitions this weekend, including the Kayak Freestyle, the Down River Kayak Sprint and the Tudor Ultimate River Challenge.

In the women’s Steep Creek Championships, Nouria Newman of France edged out 14-year-old Sage Donnelly for the win. All four female competitors ran impressively clean lines through the intimidating stretch of class V whitewater on Homestake Creek.

“Last year we had a lot of swimmers, but this year we saw a lot of really clean lines and great runs,” said Clay Wright, Coors Light Steep Creek Championships announcer. “The women had zero swimmers, and there were more fast men here than we’ve had in a long time. For the men, Nick Troutman’s early lead was knocked off by paddler after paddler. It was a really close finals.”

Gerd Serrasolses of Spain took home second place in the men’s competition followed by Cole Moore from Maryland. Newman’s win was followed by Adriene Levknecht from Nevada in second place and Hayley Stuart from Denver taking home third place.

The whitewater competition moved to Vail Village in the afternoon with Freestyle qualifiers on Gore Creek. The Jack Link’s International Slackline Invitational presented by Slackline Industries also kicked off at Solaris with the best of the best competing to take home a piece of the $10,000 price purse.

KIND Adventure Village at Golden Peak opened in the afternoon with DockDogs Outdoor Big Air practice and the first few waves of preliminary competition. Children also enjoyed complimentary climbing and kayaking provided by Avid4 Adventure in the KIND Kids Adventure Village. The afternoon wound down with free yoga by Vail Vitality Center at Mountain Plaza and a group run with nine-time USA National Mountain Running Champion Joseph Gray.

The first day ended with DJ Dojah entertaining during après activities, GoPro Outdoor Reels in Mountain Plaza and a free concert by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe presents Run DMC Remixed.

Day two of the GoPro Mountain Games starts with free yoga in Gear Town at Solaris. Other highlights include DockDogs, the men’s and women’s Bouldering World Cup qualifier, Coors Light Raft Cross qualifiers and finals, as well as the Rocky Dog Trail Run. Families can enjoy a number of great kid-friendly, free activities such as rock climbing and kayaking at KIND Kids Adventure Village in Golden Peak. The evening will wind up with a free concert by headliner Iration with opening act Natty Vibes, in the heart of Vail Village, and the GoPro Outdoor Reels kicking off at 8pm in Mountain Plaza.

# # #

About the GoPro Mountain Games/Vail Valley Foundation

The GoPro Mountain Games is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation. The Vail Valley Foundation is a Colorado 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to enriching the Vail Valley and sustaining its unique spirit through the delivery of unparalleled arts, world class athletics and inspiring education programs throughout the community. For additional information on the GoPro Mountain Games, please visit http://www.mountaingames.com. For the Vail Valley Foundation, please visit www.vvf.org.

Connect with the Mountain Games on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

About GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRO) 

GoPro, Inc. is transforming the way people capture and share their lives. What began as an idea to help athletes self-document themselves engaged in their sport has become a widely adopted solution for people to capture themselves engaged in their interests, whatever they may be. From extreme to mainstream, professional to consumer, GoPro enables the world to capture and share its passion. And in turn, the world has helped GoPro become one of the most exciting and aspirational companies of our time.

For more information, visit www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn.

GOPRO® and HERO® are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Photo Credit – Ben Markhart
Filed Under: Press Release, SPORTS

RESULTS: Big Ramy & Bethany Wagner Win at the 2015 Arnold Brazil

May 30, 2015 by

2015 Arnold Brazil Results
RESULTS: Big Ramy Wins 2015 Arnold Classic Brazil & Bethany Wagner Fitness International Brazil

Things played out like we thought they would for the most part in the 3rd annual Arnold Classic Brazil and Arnold Fitness International Brazil. In the Fitness competition it was all Bethany. She won the physique round and the routine round to successfully defend her title. She becomes the first two-time Arnold Fitness International Brazil champion. Regiane was a distant third and rounding out the top three was Tanji Johnson.

2015 ARNOLD FITNESS INTERNATIONAL BRAZIL RESULTS
Placing – Name – 2-Piece Swimsuit Score – Fitness Routine – Total Score
1. Bethany Wagner 6 12 18
2. Regiane Da Silva 7 18 42
3. Tanji Johnson 17 30 47
4. Marta Aguiar 21 38 59
5. Michelle Blank 24 36 60
6. Ryall Graber 31 40 71
7. Ashley Sebera 33 70 103

2015 ARNOLD BRAZIL PRIZE MONEY: Fitness ($16,000)
1st Place – $6,000
2nd Place – $3,500
3rd Place – $2,000
4th Place – $1,500
5th Place – $1,000
6th Place – $1,000
7th Place – $1,000

Big Ramy went home with his first Arnold Classic Cup and won in unanimous fashion. The win has ignited the chatter on can he stand toe to toe with Phil Heath in September at the Olympia? He’s gaining ground but I wouldn’t put him in that conversation just yet. He needs to show consistency in his ability to bring a conditioned physique in more than just one show a year. He has time and tremendous potential though. The win was well deserved as he was the biggest and best on stage today. Cedric McMillan brought arguably his best look and it paid off with a second place finish. Just a few points behind him was Juan Morel who finished second in 2014 at this show but had to settle for third this time around. Victor Martinez was in fourth and the placings for fifth and sixth are still up in the air. Brandon Curry was announced in fifth but on the score cards (which were not added correctly) Toney Freeman was in fifth and not sixth. It’s a four thousand dollar difference between fifth and sixth place. Toney should have 52 points and not 58 as the scoresheet reflects. *An updated scorecard on IFBBPro.com reflects the correct scores – May 31, 2015.

2015 ARNOLD CLASSIC BRAZIL MEN’S BODYBUILDING RESULTS
Placing – Name – Rnd 1 Score – Rnd 2 Score – Final Score
1. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay 5 5 10
2. Cedric McMillan 11 11 22
3. Juan Morel 13 13 26
4. Victor Martinez 24 24 48
5. Toney Freeman 26 26 52
6. Brandon Curry 27 27 54
7. Fred Smalls 38 38 76
8. Lionel Beyeke 39 39 78
9. Jose Luis Rodriguez 42 42 84
10. Marius Dohne 49 49 98

2015 ARNOLD CLASSIC BRAZIL MEN’S BODYBUILDING PRIZE MONEY: ($65,000) total
1st Place – $22,500
2nd Place – $15,000
3rd Place – $10,000
4th Place – $7,500
5th Place – $5,000
6th Place – $1,000
7th Place – $1,000
8th Place – $1,000
9th Place – $1,000
10th Place – $1,000

Read Predictions and more info.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results, News & Features

Watch the 2015 Arnold Classic Brazil

May 30, 2015 by

live webcast

The 2015 Arnold Classic Brazil has a live and free webcast for the first time. Most of it is in Portuguese but none-the-less it’s the first free webcast this event has had.

#UPDATE# watch the entire replay of the show below.

The show has conclude find results from the 2015 Arnold Brazil here.

Filed Under: News & Features

Nike Opens First Women’s Only Store in Europe

May 22, 2015 by

Nike Women Europe

NIKE KING’S ROAD OPENS, THE BRAND’S FIRST WOMEN’S ONLY STORE IN EUROPE
Nike opened its first women’s-only store in Europe today, Nike King’s Road. Located at 33 King’s Road on London’s iconic shopping street, Nike King’s Road is a 207 square metre consumer experience store that offers the best Nike’s performance products and services and is designed to inspire the women of London to reach their athletic potential. King’s Road is the third women’s only store for the brand; Nike opened locations in Shanghai, China and Newport Beach, California late last year.

Nike King’s Road offers consumers bespoke services such as pant hemming, gait analysis and bra fitting. Consumers can also get advice on the best products for individual running techniques and training programmes.

The store will create a fitness hub in the King’s Road community with free weekly Nike+ Training Club classes and a Nike+ Run Club. A booking system is housed on the digital community wall within the store allows visitors to reserve spots at all Nike running and training sessions held by Nike across London. Consumers can also access the full Nike+ Training Club and Nike+ Run club schedule at www.Nike.com/London, where they can book a space at any session. In addition to weekly Nike+ Training Club and Nike+ Run Club gatherings, special events will celebrate key sports and fashion moments.

“Our new King’s Road store is yet another example of our commitment to women to bring them the very best of Nike,” said Heidi O’Neill, VP & GM Nike Stores. “Our women’s business has never been stronger and our deep connections with women at retail are helping fuel this growth.”

The store’s digital services offer convenient ways to connect with the Nike community and purchase products. Consumers can buy latest Nike collections via a “click and collect” system at www.nike.com and pick up their purchases in the store. Consumers can also showcase their personal style via www.nikeid.com by designing bespoke shoes with a NIKEiD consultant who can provide guidance on fabrics, colour palettes and the correct footwear style for all needs, including training, running and everyday use.

Europe Nike WomenNike Women Europe – London

Style forms a central theme of the new space and is highlighted by unique, creative installations in the store. Isamaya French, a London-based illustrator and make-up artist, produced a piece of art that communicates the synergy of sport and style in the store’s basement level. A separate map of London also pays homage to the UK capital and features Nike heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and is incorporated into the store’s design. Consumer enjoy special dimmers in the changing rooms that show outfits in three different lighting scenarios –morning, afternoon and evening.

Nike’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in the reclaimed wood used for the flooring and that the store’s LEED Platinum certification, the highest level granted in the green building program.

Nike King’s Road is located at 33 King’s Road, London, SW3 4LX. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 6pm.

Filed Under: News & Features

Lauren Fisher’s New Nike Metcon Shoes

May 22, 2015 by

lauren fisher Nike Metcon
LAUREN FISHER LIFTS, SPRINTS AND CLIMBS IN HER NEW NIKE METCON SHOES
FISHER IS STRONG, AND GROWING STRONGER
At this time of year, most college students are busy studying for finals, hanging out with friends and looking forward to their long summer break. That’s all true for Lauren Fisher, though she has a few other things on her agenda as well. On May 22, she will compete in the Southern California Regionals, hoping to get one step closer to her dream of one day winning the World Championships in Carson, Ca. This year, she will debut the new fall 2015 Nike MetCon training shoe in her own exclusive colorway – a shoe specifically tailored for high-intensity competitive training.

The 21-year-old athlete, known for her 250-pound clean-and-jerks and her signature loose ponytail, is training hard for the upcoming competition just as she finishes her semester at San Diego State University. As she prepares to go up against some of the strongest and most explosive athletes in the region, she maintains her process and the importance of life balance. Her formula is simple: stay dedicated and work a little harder than everyone else.

“My dad instilled a work ethic in me since I was kid,” she says. “I learned that if you want something, you have to work at it. It can be tough to manage it all – eating well, training, homework, classes. My goal for each day is to stay relaxed, have fun, and just get it all done.”

GROWN STRONG
Fisher grew up with three older brothers who always played rough and picked on her. In her younger years she would run inside to cry to her mother who would tell her to be tough and send her back out with the boys. In later years, her brothers would play sports with her – and ultimately introduce her to the world of high intensity training when she was just 14.

“That’s what grown strong means,” says Fisher, referring to a tagline and hashtag the athlete uses on everything from T-shirts to her social media posts.

CrossFit Nike

“To me, strength is not only being strong in weight lifting and training, but also having that special willpower in your daily life. Pushing through obstacles and not listening to what others say.”

At 18 years old, Fisher finished 9th in the world championships and also represented the United States in the Junior World Weightlifting Championships. After graduating from high school, she moved to San Diego for college and joined the Invictus gym under coach C.J. Martin. Since her move, she has finished ninth overall at the 2014 Nationals and represented the United States in the Junior World Weightlifting Championships.

EMBRACING THE CULTURE
Although she grew up focused on playing basketball, Fisher found her passion when she discovered professional strength training. She uncovered a community that shared her interests of fun, fast-paced and challenging workouts that changed every day. She also found a group of people that embraced working hard and living a fit lifestyle outside of the gym.

“I love being a part of the high intensity training culture,” she says. “Whether you are the last person to finish the workout or the first, we are all there cheering on one another. We are all friends in the gym and we all want to live a healthy lifestyle. People think it’s very intimidating. But anyone can do it. It’s totally scalable.”

Nike Lauren Fisher

“I want people to know that they can work out without treadmills and machines. You can work out at home. In professional training, our bodies are the machines.”

STRENGTH & BEAUTY
Fisher is active on social media, where she shares her workouts, her daily challenges, and her drive to be better at what she does. In return, Fisher gets inspiration online, too. “There’s a big community out there with girls who are following each other and inspiring each other with workouts,” she explains. “It impacts my training because I have a huge support system behind me. It makes me put my best self out there and be who I am. I just try to be Lauren Fisher.”

“I want to show that being strong is beautiful,” she says. “That having toned arms and legs looks good on a girl.”

THE NIKE METCON: A SHOE TO FIT THE SPORT AND THE ATHLETE
Fisher will debut her exclusive colorway of the popular Nike MetCon training shoe at the Southern California Regionals. Rendered in a turquoise and black palette designed for Fisher herself, the shoe was developed with high intensity training specifically in mind.

The shoe is durable, versatile, and unlike any other in the Nike catalogue. Designed with the extensive demands of cross-training in mind, the shoe pairs a stable heel that can withstand weightlifting with a flexible, sticky forefoot that is ideal for movements like push-ups and burpees. The tough, sturdy outsole protects the shoe during intense activities like rope climbing, while abrasion-resistant mesh and Flywire cable technology on the upper offer lockdown and long-term resilience.

The exlusive Lauren Fisher colorway of the Nike MetCon will launch on Nike.com on July 9. The broader Fa15 Nike MetCon collection in three colorways will launch at select Nike retail destinations in mid July.

“What’s great about the MetCon is that it’s super comfortable as well as versatile,” says Fisher. I can wear it when I lift, rope climb, and even during running, all without having to switch out my shoes. It’s lightweight but stable enough that I can lift heavier weights too.”

Fisher helped test the shoe and chose the turquoise color scheme. “I love how it looks,” she says. “It’s sleek and clean and looks good with everything. I have routine going into competition to make sure my hair looks good and that my outfit and nails are coordinated.”

“If you feel good about how you look, you perform better.”

SOCAL REGIONALS – AND BEYOND
Fisher’s immediate goal is to place well enough at Regionals to make the cut for the 2015 World Championships. But looking ahead, she is aiming to win her sport’s biggest prize, participate in the World Weightlifting Championships, and ultimately qualify for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. “There are some people who get nervous under pressure, But I love competing,” Fisher says. “When I’m on the competition floor, I’m going to bring it.”

via Nike

Filed Under: News & Features

NBC Sports Group Presents the 2015 AVP Tour

May 22, 2015 by

NBC SPORTS GROUP TO SERVE UP FIRST TELECAST OF 2015 AVP TOUR WEDNESDAY AT 12 AM ET ON NBCSN
Stamford, Conn. – May 22, 2015 – NBC Sports Group and The AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) Pro Beach Volleyball Tour will present the AVP New Orleans Open, the first AVP Tour telecast of the 2015 season, this Wednesday at 12 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

NBCSN’s telecast will kick off the AVP’s 2015 season, as beach volleyball’s biggest stars take to the sand in Laketown in Kenner, La. for three days of main draw play, May 22-24. Players scheduled to compete include three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner, silver medalist April Ross; two-time Olympian Jake Gibb and his partner, Casey Patterson; Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and his partner, two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal; and rising stars Theo Brunner, Tri Bourne, Summer Ross, Emily Day, Lane Carico.

Coverage of the AVP New Orleans Open will mark the first two hours of more than 17 hours of AVP Tour coverage airing on NBC and NBCSN in 2015, and the first event as part of the AVP’s and NBC Sports Group’s new multi-year media rights agreement.

Veteran broadcaster Paul Sunderland (play-by-play), Olympic gold medalist Dain Blanton (analyst), and beach volleyball Olympian and three-time All-American Kevin Wong (analyst) will be onsite to call the action from New Orleans. Blanton, Wong and Chris Marlowe (play-by-play) will manage duties for all other AVP telecasts on NBC and NBCSN this season.

NBC Sports Group’s schedule for the 2015 AVP Tour (all times ET, subject to change):

Date Time Network Event
Wednesday, May 27* 12 – 2 a.m. NBCSN AVP New Orleans Open
Saturday, June 20 4 – 6 p.m. NBC FIVB St. Petersburg Grand Slam
Sunday, June 21 2 – 4 p.m. NBCSN FIVB St. Petersburg Grand Slam
Sunday, June 21 4 – 6 p.m. NBC FIVB St. Petersburg Grand Slam
Sunday, July 19 1:30 – 3 p.m. NBC AVP New York City Open
Sunday, August 9 4:30 – 6 p.m. NBC AVP Seattle Open
Sunday, August 16 4:30 – 6 p.m. NBC AVP Manhattan Beach Open
Sunday, August 30 4:30 – 6 p.m. NBC AVP Chicago Open
Sunday, September 6 7 – 9 p.m. NBCSN AVP Cincinnati Open
Sunday, September 13 3 – 4:30 p.m. NBCSN AVP Huntington Beach Open

* – Coverage will air at 7 pm ET if NHL Playoffs coverage is not necessary.

As announced in April, the AVP and NBC Sports Group’s new partnership is the most comprehensive media partnership in Tour history. It returns the country’s premier professional beach volleyball tour, entering its 33rd year, to the network that first televised the AVP 25 years ago, and calls for 17.5 hours of coverage in 2015, 10 on NBC and 7.5 on NBCSN, plus live streaming on NBC Sports Live Extra.

Coverage will include the men’s and women’s finals of all seven regular-season tournaments. In addition, NBC and NBCSN will feature the finals and early-round coverage of an AVP-run tournament on the international FIVB (Federation International de Volleyball) World Tour within the United States. Encore presentations of select telecasts will air on Universal Sports Network.

Marlowe, a veteran of four consecutive Olympic telecasts on NBC, called play-by-play for NBC’s coverage of beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and at every major volleyball event since 1981 – including the AVP Tour when it was last televised on NBC. A talented indoor and beach player, Marlowe won eight tournaments on the sand, including two prestigious AVP Manhattan Beach Opens, and captained the gold medal-winning United States Olympic Volleyball team in 1984.

Two-time Olympian Blanton won beach volleyball gold at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with partner Eric Fonoimoana and is one of the most decorated players in AVP Tour history.

Wong made his pro beach volleyball debut on the AVP Tour in 1995. He represented the U.S. at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and notched seven career victories on the AVP before retiring from competition in 2009. In 2012, he served as NBC’s beach volleyball analyst, alongside Marlowe, at the Summer Games in London.

Filed Under: Press Release, SPORTS

Lindsey Valenzuela Inks New Partnership

May 21, 2015 by

CytoSport Monster Series made their presence known at the 2015 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio with a new look and a “rebirth” of their speciality brand. Until this year there was never a clear identity to the brand but rather a series of products ranging from Monster Amino, Monster Mass and the popular Monster Milk. It was obvious at the Arnold Expo that the CytoSport had regrouped and reinvested in becoming a serious player in the specialty category.

A look at the #CytoMonster Series. Look for them in stores soon. #monsterisreborn

A photo posted by CytoSport Monster (@cytomonster) on

This week the California based supplement brand reinforced their commitment to being a serious player by signing top CrossFit athlete Lindsey Valenzuela. While the terms of the sponsorship weren’t disclosed it appears she will play an active role in the brand’s marketing and advertising.

Lindsey went from being a spectator to a CrossFit Games participant in a few short years. In 2013, she solidified her position as an elite CrossFit athlete with a second place finish at the Reebok CrossFit Games. This year, she’s ranked as one of the top California Regional competitors and considered the favorite to win the Regional competition. A strong showing this weekend will put her in CrossFit Games title contention.

Lindsey Valenzuela CytosportPhoto Via Lindsey Valenzuela/Cytosport Monster Series

Lindsey shared, “I’m extremely happy to be a CytoSport Monster athlete. One of the things I paid more attention to this year was my nutrition and supplementation. It’s important to properly fuel your body and take the time to recover if you want to be an elite athlete. CytoSport Monster Series is a supplement brand I can trust and I couldn’t be happier with this partnership. I’m excited for the Regionals and thankful for their belief in me.”

You can follow Lindsey on Facebook (LiftLikeLindsey), Instagram and Twitter, or her website on www.wodshop.com. For more information on the new CytoSport Monster Series check out their Facebook, Instagram @cytomonster, Twitter, and cytosportmonster.com. The newly released products are currently available on VitaminShoppe.com and in a variety of stores.

The California Regional will begin on Friday May 22nd with the finals concluding on May 24th. The women with the top five points qualify for a trip to Carson City, CA for the 2015 CrossFit Games. For more information visit games.crossfit.com.

Filed Under: Crossfit, News & Features

Inergetics and Muscle Maker Grill Launch New Product Line of Booster Supplements

May 19, 2015 by

Inergetics and Muscle Maker Grill Launch New Product Line of Booster Supplements
NEWARK, N.J., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Inergetics, Inc. (OTCBB: NRTI), a world-class developer of nutritional and consumer health products, today announced the launch of a new product line of booster supplements at Muscle Maker Grill locations across the U.S.

The Muscle Maker Grill booster supplements are intended to meet the growing consumer demand for customized smoothies and protein shakes as well as help Muscle Maker Grill franchisees expand their drink menu and profitability.

“We are excited to grow our partnership with Muscle Maker Grill, the leading fast casual chain that shares our company’s focus on promoting health and fitness,” said Jim Kras, CMO of Inergetics. “This new product line will allow Muscle Maker Grill to sell its branded booster products as a retail item direct to consumers opening a whole new sales channel for the franchisees.”

Inergetics will continue to support the new product offerings with free in-store promotional materials.

About Inergetics, Inc.
Inergetics’ portfolio of brands includes: Martha Stewartâ„¢ Essentials, a complete line of NSF® Certified, whole-food-based supplements created specifically for women; Surgex® Sports Nutrition, the preferred nutritional supplement of Army Sports; Bikini Ready®, a leader in active lifestyle solutions; SlimTrim, the affordable, premium value diet brand; OmEssentials®, a line of scientifically advanced nutritional supplements designed to further the health and wellness of yoga practitioners and active individuals; and Nuliefâ„¢, a line of Cannabidiol (CBD)-based nutritional supplements. Inergetics’ brands are available domestically and internationally at thousands of premier locations including Akins, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bi-Lo, Cardinal Health, Discount Drug Mart, Drug Emporium, Fruth Pharmacy, H-E-B, Harmon, Harris Teeter, Harveys, Ingles, Lewis Drugs, Meijer, Navarro Pharmacies, Price Chopper, PriceSmart, Schnucks Markets, ShopRite, Walgreens, Weis Markets, Whole Foods and Winn-Dixie as well as leading e-tailers such as Amazon, Bodybuilding.com, Bulu Box, CVS.com, Drugstore.com, iHerb, LuckyVitamin.com, Swanson, Vitacost and Zulily.

To learn more about Inergetics, visit www.inergetics.com, and the Inergetics brands’ websites at: www.marthastewartessentials.com, www.surgexsports.com, www.surgexsportsblitz.com, www.slimtrim1.com, www.bikinireadylifestyle.com, www.kahunasands.com, www.omessentials.com, and www.nuliefcbd.com.

About Muscle Maker Grill
Muscle Maker Grill is one of the country’s fastest-growing franchises with 57 units in New Jersey, New York and Florida. Muscle Maker Grill has sold 200 units nationwide to date. It enjoys food service sales from its large menu of low-calorie, protein-packed healthful fare, as well as retail sales of protein supplements and packaged foods from retail sections within each restaurant. The chain’s management seeks our restaurant sites inside or near to health clubs and fitness centers, which puts Muscle Maker in proximity to its target customer base-consumers committed to healthy lifestyles. To learn more about Muscle Maker Grill, visit www.musclemakergrill.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those with respect to the objectives, plans and strategies of Inergetics set forth herein and those preceded by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “given,” “targets,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “projects,” “forecasts,” or similar expressions, are “forward-looking statements.” Although Inergetics’ management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause Inergetics’ future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Inergetics assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.

SOURCE Inergetics, Inc.

Filed Under: Press Release, Supplements

Ronda Rousey on HBO Real Sports

May 19, 2015 by

Ronda Rousey HBO Real Sports
“It makes me feel way better than is someone told me I was pretty.” That was Ronda Rousey’s response to HBO Real Sports correspondent Jon Frankel when he mentions that Sports Illustrated named her the best pound for pound fighter (man or woman) in the UFC. HBO Real Sports tackles gender stereo types and how Ronda Rousey is changing the conversation.

Real Sports premieres tonight (May 19) 10pm ET on HBO.

This wasn’t the first time Rousey was on HBO Real Sports. She appeared on the show in 2013 before

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features

Reebok CrossFit Nano 5.0 Tough as Nails

May 17, 2015 by

Reebok CrossFit Nano 5
The Reebok CrossFit Nano 5.0 will be available to the public in June but those watching the CrossFit Regionals got a sneak peek at the new shoe. Reebok has been teasing the new shoe on their Instagram account and I’ve noticed it appearing in my twitter feed as a promoted tweet. If you’re going off from looks alone, it’s a pretty sweet looking shoe. Two 15-second videos on Instagram hint at the Nano’s toughness through exaggeration. One video shows sledge hammers smashing into the show and another fires nails at the shoe. The shoe utilizes DuPont Kevlar fiber which is known for its strength and durability.

Reebok Nano 5.0

You won’t be able to purchase the Reebok CrossFit Nano 5.0 until June 18th (online) and a week later in stores. Visit Reebok.com for all your Reebok CrossFit apparel and other Reebok shoes.

Reebok Nano 5.0



Jen Labaw shared her experience on Instagram regarding the new CrossFit Nano 5.0.


Images via Reebok Instagram

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Filed Under: News & Features

Camille Leblanc-Bazinet Leads CrossFit South Regional – Day 2 Results

May 16, 2015 by

Day 2 CrossFit South
The 2014 CrossFit Games Women’s champ, Camille Leblanc-Bazinet finished Day 2 of the CrossFit South Regional in the number spot. She started day two with a fifth place finish but regained championship form in event number four. She finished the day with a second place finish in event number five. Camille heads into the third and final day with a 33 point lead over Margaux Alvarez. Margo lost some ground in event number four coming in 14th in the event. Rounding out the top three is Jenn Jones who finished the day off with an impressive 190 lbs snatch in event five, which earned her the in in the event. She is 23 points behind Margaux and 56 points behind Camille heading into the final two events.

2015 Overall Points CrossFit South Regional Women Overall Results
1. Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet (455 Points)
2. Margauex Alvarez (422 Points)
3. Jenn Jones (399 Points)
4. Amanda Goodman (372 Points)
5. Tennil Reed (334 Points)
6. Whitney Cappellucci (328 Points)
7. Brista Mayfield (325 Points)
8. Maddy Myers (315 Points)
9. Alexis Johnson (311 Points)
10. Andrea Ager (296 Points)

2015 South Regional – Women’s Event 3

Heat 1 – 0:01:40
Heat 2 – 0:31:40
Heat 3 – 1:01:45
Heat 4 – 1:30:00
Heat 5 – 2:00:00

CrossFit South Regionals 2015 – Event 3
1. Natalie Newhart
2. Marguex Alvarez
3. Tiffany Hendrickson
4. Whitney Cappellucci
5. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
6. Alexis Johnson
7. Jenn Jones
8. Chely Galvan
9. Tennil Reed
10. Rachel Garibay

CrossFit South Regionals 2015 – Event 4
1. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
2. Tiffany Hendrickson
3. Tennil Reed
4. Brista Mayfield
5. Jenn Jones
6. Amanda Goodman
7. Alexandra LaChance
8. Arielle Armstrong
9. Alexis Johnson
10. Tylinn Rashan

CrossFit South Regionals 2015 – Event 5
1. Jenn Jones
2. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet
3. Amanda Goodman
4. Alexandra LaChance
5. Whitney Cappellucci
6. Andi Turner
7. Margaux Alvarez
8. Maddy Myers
9. Beth Spearman
10. Tennil Reed

Filed Under: Crossfit, NEWS

Reebok and DuPont Partner on New CrossFit® Collection

May 13, 2015 by

Reebok and DuPont Partner to create new Reebok CrossFit Collection with Kevlar®

dupont reebok

DuPont and Reebok Collaborate on New Reebok CrossFit® Collection
The science and engineering behind this advanced material enables athletes to Dare Biggerâ„¢ and push the limits of their sport.

Wilmington, Del. – DuPont Protection Technologies (DuPont) and Reebok International (Reebok) announced the signing of a multi-year trademark license agreement for the use of the DuPontâ„¢ Kevlar® and Dare Biggerâ„¢ trademarks. Launching this upcoming June, the new Spring-Summer 2015 Reebok CrossFit® collection will incorporate the DuPont advanced material and feature the DuPont trademarks.

DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber is known for its extreme strength and durability. It is used in a variety of high-performance sporting apparel, accessories and equipment. As CrossFit® workouts continue to evolve and become more challenging and the limits of fitness are pushed, the CrossFit® athlete requires apparel that can withstand the rigors of functional movements performed at high intensity. This collection was designed with distinct emphasis on the specific needs of the CrossFit® athlete.

“The science and engineering behind this advanced material enables athletes to Dare Bigger™ and push the limits of their sport,” said Marc Doyle, president of DuPont Protection Technologies. “The collaboration is a great fit between our companies and capitalizes on the synergy between our brands, allowing us to innovate and help make strong, light and durable athletic apparel and gear.”

Best known for its use in ballistic and stab-resistant body armor, Kevlar® has helped to save the lives of thousands of people around the world. The use of Kevlar® has been extended to everything from fire fighter and industrial protective clothing to vehicles, fiber optic cables, mining belts and commercial aircraft. The Kevlar® brand and science also is used in many consumer products such as mobile phones, tires, workwear and high-performance sporting apparel, shoes and equipment. This year, DuPont is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discoveries that led to Kevlar® and this new line of Reebok CrossFit® apparel and footwear is an example of advancing the innovation legacy of Kevlar® forward.

To celebrate the collaboration of this new line of Reebok CrossFit® apparel, Reebok has created a short video that emphasizes the unique partnership of these two powerful brands. The video truly highlights the story of how Reebok and DuPont are coming together to reach new heights. Many products are featured in the video, including the Reebok CrossFit® Board Shorts built with patches made with Kevlar® fiber. This product line also will be presented at the 2015 Reebok CrossFit® Games.

“My CrossFit training regimen is constantly testing my limits. I work out multiple times a day so I need consistent, durable gear that withstands the toughest workout,” said Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, professional CrossFit® athlete and female winner of the 2014 Reebok CrossFit® Games. “Reebok CrossFit® apparel and footwear made with DuPont™ Kevlar® are an ideal combination resulting in high-performance gear that allows me to do even more than I think is possible.”

“Reebok has strategically engineered Kevlar® into key abrasion zones within its apparel and footwear so they are durable enough to withstand even the toughest workouts,” said Corinna Werkle, senior vice president, Training at Reebok. “We value our relationship with DuPont for the science behind these world-class products and for the power of the DuPont™ Kevlar® brand.”

The Reebok CrossFit® apparel collection will be available on June 1, 2015, ranging from $100 MSRP – $250 MSRP at Reebok.com, store.crossfit.com and select retailers worldwide.

 

Dupont & Reebok

 

Reebok International, headquartered in Canton, Mass., USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of fitness and lifestyle footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied fitness heritage. Reebok develops products, technologies and programming which enable movement and is committed to accompanying people on their journey to fulfill their potential. Reebok connects with the fitness consumer wherever they are and however they choose to stay fit – whether it’s training, running, walking, dance, yoga or aerobics. Reebok Classics leverages the brand’s fitness heritage and represents the roots of the brand in the sports lifestyle market. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division. Reebok is the exclusive outfitter of CrossFit and the CrossFit Games, the official title sponsor of the Reebok Spartan Race; the exclusive authentic global outfitter of UFC, and exclusive apparel provider for Les Mills. For more information, visit Reebok at http://www.reebok.com.

CrossFit Inc. is the developer and provider of the CrossFit® strength and conditioning program and a recognized worldwide leader in functional fitness. Founded by Greg Glassman and built on the foundations of constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements, education and collaborative competition, CrossFit-brand workouts develop strength and fitness while cultivating community and camaraderie in each of the more than 10,000 affiliated gyms in its global network. CrossFit Inc. is a leading accredited certificate issuer for physical-training professionals worldwide and offers specialty certificate programs in addition to its core curriculum. CrossFit Inc. publishes the CrossFit Journal, promotes physical fitness and cognitive health through the CrossFit Kids Foundation, and created and operates the CrossFit Games, an annual competition where elite athletes compete to be named the Fittest on Earth™. To learn more, visit crossfit.com, games.crossfit.com, facebook.com/crossfit or youtube.com/CrossFitHQ.

DuPont Protection Technologies is a leader in technologies and products that protect people, the environment and critical assets worldwide. For additional information, please visit DuPont Protection Technologies. For media information on the Kevlar 50th anniversary, please visit the DuPont™ Kevlar® Media Center.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

# # #

CrossFit, Forging Elite Fitness, The Sport of Fitness and Fittest on Earth are registered trademarks or trademarks of CrossFit Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, Kevlar® and Dare Bigger™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

Filed Under: Crossfit, News & Features

Fifth Annual Toronto SuperShow Info

May 12, 2015 by

2015 Toronto SuperShow

THE TORONTO PRO SUPERSHOW IS BACK – BIGGER AND BETTER.  

TORONTO, ON  – Sport fans and fitness enthusiasts alike love the Toronto Pro SuperShow. The 5th annual Toronto Pro SuperShow will be taking place on June 6th and June 7th, 2015 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Boasting an annual attendance exceeding 10,000, the Toronto Pro SuperShow EXPO is Canada’s largest health and fitness exposition and sport festival of its kind held in one location. It showcases leading businesses, sports and organizations with the latest trends in the health and fitness industry.

The Toronto Pro SuperShow EXPO will also be hosting over 900 athletes across its various sporting events including Sweat for SickKids Toronto Fitness Challenge, Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Pro Wrestling, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Arm-wrestling, Strongman, RushClub Crossfit, Inside Fitness Magazine Model Searches and IFBB Pro Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini and Physique Competitions.

The Toronto Pro SuperShow EXPO is a must see attraction at $20.00 per day is a great value for the level of sport entertainment.

Tickets are on sale now on the Toronto Pro SuperShow website www.torontoprosupershow.com.

IFBB Bodybuilding

The Toronto Pro SuperShow IFBB Championships is one of two professional IFBB sanctioned events in Canada. Check out the largest Men and Women Bodybuilders and the most fit and beautiful Fitness, Figure, Bikini and Physique athletes in the world. The Toronto Pro SuperShow will also be featuring all classes and divisions at the Pro level, as well for the first time on the Toronto stage, IFBB Pro Wheelchair Bodybuilding.

This year the prize purse for the professional level bodybuilding has been increased to over $80,000 US. The prize purse will be distributed to the winners of each bodybuilding division with the winner of IFBB Pro Men’s Open Bodybuilding receiving $30,000, IFBB Pro Men’s 212 Bodybuilding receiving $12,000, and the remaining evenly distributed to the other bodybuilding divisions – IFBB Pro Men’s Wheelchair, IFBB Pro Men’s Physique, IFBB Pro Women’s Bodybuilding, IFBB Pro Women’s Figure, IFBB Pro Women’s Physique, IFBB Pro Women’s Bikini and IFBB Pro Women’s Fitness.

Meet IFBB Legends

Meet some of the most recognizable professional bodybuilders in the industry. Ronnie Coleman, Kai Greene, Big Ramy and Nicole Wilkins will be on-site in the Toronto Pro SuperShow EXPO.

Ronnie Coleman: Former football player and police officer, 8 x Mr. Olympia and record holder for the most IFBB Professional Titles (26). Ronnie Coleman, also known as “Big Ron”, turned PRO in 1991 at the World Amateur Championships and competed until 2007. Ronnie Coleman to this day, remains one of the most recognized bodybuilders in the sport.

Kai Greene: Over the years, Kai has gained vast notoriety beyond what he could have imagined in his youth. Within the bodybuilding arena, Kai has been held as one of the most inspirational athletes of his time. With a seemingly unique, yet well -developed vocabulary, Kai has made a seemingly unconscious effort to create a revolutionary approach to bodybuilding. He has changed bodybuilding’s fans, competitors and the overall perception of a once thought of as, “pick things up and put them down” bodybuilder.

Mamdouh Elssbiay (Big Ramy): Born and raised into a family of fishermen, where “Big Ramy” worked that trade until he and his brothers arrived in Kuwait and he became a trainer at Oxygen Gym. In between his work at the fish market, “Big Ramy” would also train at the gym to stay in shape and it was there where he was first discovered. With only one IFBB Pro win, all eyes were on Ramy and this allowed for him to have a huge fan following leading up to the 2013 Olympia, where he placed in the Top 10.

Nicole Wilkins: 4 time Ms. Figure Olympia; Nicole lives and breathes this sport and lifestyle, not only with her professional career, but personal. She has gone through many ups and downs as a competitor, but has always made an effort to see the positive in everything she does. Nicole travels the world and shares her talents and knowledge with everyone she meets.

Combative Sports at the Toronto Pro SuperShow

Boxing, Muay Thai and Kickboxing; the Toronto Pro SuperShow combative area is a non-stop combative excitement on the EXPO floor. Over 200 combative athletes will be competing for Canadian and North American titles.

Model Searches

Toronto Pro SuperShow will be once again hosting the Inside Fitness Women’s Fitness Model Search, Women’s Bikini Model Search and Men’s Fitness Model Search. Over 100 fitness and bikini models will be competing for the ultimate prize of a photo feature in Inside Fitness magazine.

About the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB)

The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness was founded in 1946 in Montreal by brothers Joe and Ben Weider, whose dream was to bring the sport to international prominence. The IFBB currently has 182 affiliated National Federations as members, and organizes more than 2,500 competitions from regional to world levels each year. The organization is recognized by many world sporting organizations including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and more than 90 National Olympic Committees. Competitors participate for medals in the Pan American Games, the European Games and the IOC Regional Games, among others. The IFBB is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, and promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

About the Toronto Pro SuperShow

The Toronto Pro SuperShow is an annual event held in Toronto, Ontario. Its main goal is to increase exposure to a variety of sports in an environment that encourages others to get active and involved. It showcases leading businesses and organizations with the latest trends in the health and fitness industry.

Website: www.torontoprosupershow.com
Twitter: @TOProSuperShow
Instagram: @TOProSuperShow
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TorontoProSuperShow
To subscribe to the online newsletter: http://www.torontoprosupershow.com/newsletter/subscriptions

Toronto Pro SuperShow Media Contact:
Carla Heins
Toronto Pro SuperShow Promotions Ltd.
Tel: 1-888-883-5766 ext. 3
Email: media@torontoprosupershow.com

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2015 Results

May 11, 2015 by

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2015 Results

NORTH BERGEN, N.J.  – Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE:  VSI), a multi-channel specialty retailer and manufacturer of nutritional products, today announced preliminary results for the three months ended March 28, 2015. Total net sales in the first quarter increased 9.4% to $336.8 million compared to $307.8 million in the same period of the prior year.  Reported fully-diluted earnings per share in first quarter 2015 were $0.63, compared with $0.67 in first quarter 2014.

Commenting on the quarter’s results, Colin Watts, recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated, “Our first quarter results were both below our expectations and were disappointing due to a combination of external headwinds and margin pressure. We are working quickly to strengthen the core business and develop new growth opportunities.  As a trusted, leading health and wellness retailer, we have confidence in our ability to deepen our relationships with our customers and to improve business performance going forward.”

First Quarter 2015 Results
Sales growth in the quarter was driven by: 1) Total comparable sales of 1.2%, 2) growth from non-comp stores, and 3) manufacturing revenue of $14.0 million.  Retail comparable sales were 1.5% and ecommerce sales were down 90 basis points.

Cost of goods sold, which includes product, distribution, manufacturing and store occupancy costs, increased $23.8 million, or 12.0%, to $222.2 million for the three months ended March 28, 2015, compared with $198.4 million for the three months ended March 29, 2014.

Gross profit increased $5.2 million, or 4.7%, to $114.6 million for 2015 first quarter, compared with $109.5 million for first quarter 2014.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 34.0% for the quarter ended March 28, 2015, compared to 35.6% in first quarter 2014. The decrease was mainly attributable to product mix, increased promotional activity, deleverage on store occupancy costs and the impact of Nutri-Force.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), including operating payroll and related benefits, advertising expense and depreciation and amortization increased $8.5 million, or 11.3%, to $83.7 million for the quarter ended March 28, 2015, compared with $75.2 million for the quarter ended March 29, 2014.  SG&A includes approximately $0.4 million of acquisition-related costs.  SG&A for first quarter 2014 included acquisition related expenses for Super Supplements and manufacturing consulting costs of approximately $1.8 million.  Reported SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 24.8% for first quarter 2015 compared with 24.4% in first quarter 2014.  Excluding non-operating items for both periods, SG&A as a percent of revenue was 24.7% in first quarter 2015 and 23.9% in first quarter 2014. This increase in SG&A rate was mainly driven by higher store payroll, digital advertising costs and depreciation and amortization expense.

Income from operations in first quarter 2015 of $31.0 million compared to $34.2 million in the same period of the prior year.  As a percentage of net sales, income from operations was 9.2% for first quarter 2015 compared with 11.1% for first quarter 2014.  Adjusted for non-operating costs in both periods, income from operations as a percentage of sales was 9.3% in first quarter 2015 and 11.7% in first quarter 2014.

Net income was $18.7 million for first quarter 2015 compared to $20.5 million in the same period of the prior year.  Reported earnings per diluted share were $0.63 in first quarter 2015 compared with $0.67 in first quarter 2014.  Adjusted EPS was $0.63 for first quarter 2015 and $0.70 for first quarter 2014.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Cash and equivalents at March 28, 2015 were $1.9 million and $18.0 million was drawn on the revolver.

Capital expenditures were $11.3 million in the quarter. Funds were primarily expended on new stores and IT investments.

During the quarter, under the company’s previously announced $100 million share buyback program, the company repurchased 400,000 shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of $16.5 million.  As of March 28, 2015, 1,672,039 shares have been repurchased for a total of $74.4 million.

Subsequent Event.  The Board of Directors has authorized another share repurchase program that enables the company to purchase an additional $100 million of its shares of common stock over the next three years.  Shares will be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares and may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases.

2015 Outlook
In view of first quarter 2015 results and recent trends, management now expects the following for 2015:

  • Net sales increase of 6% to 8%
  • Total comparable sales growth, including e-commerce, in the low single digits for the year
  • Approximately 60 new stores
  • Earnings per diluted share of approximately $2.05 to $2.25 for the full-year. This assumes completion of the 2014 share buyback program.

Webcast
Management will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2015 results at 8:30a.m. Eastern Time (ET) today.  Interested investors and other parties may listen to the simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.vitaminshoppe.com. A telephonic replay will be available beginning at 11:30a.m. ET on May 6, 2015and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176 or 1-858-384-5517 for international callers. The passcode for the replay is 5621899.The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. ET on May13, 2015.  The webcast will also be archived on the company’s website at www.vitaminshoppe.com in the investor relations section.

About the Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE: VSI)
Vitamin Shoppe is a multi-channel specialty retailer and contract manufacturer of nutritional products based in North Bergen, New Jersey.  In its stores and on its websites, the Company carries one of the most comprehensive retail assortments in the industry, including vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and beauty aids.  In addition to offering 900 national brand products, the Vitamin Shoppe also carries products under The Vitamin Shoppe®, BodyTech®,True Athlete®, MyTrition®, plntTM, ProBioCareTM, Next StepTM, Betancourt and Nutri-Force Sports®brands.  The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through more than 700 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe, Super Supplements and Vitapath retail banners, and primarily through its website, www.VitaminShoppe.com.Follow the Vitamin Shoppe on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/THEVITAMINSHOPPE and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VitaminShoppe.

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements”. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and actual results of operations may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the economy, changes in the overall level of consumer spending, the performance of the Company’s products within the prevailing retail environment, trade restrictions, availability of suitable store locations at appropriate terms, the availability of raw materials, compliance with regulations, certifications and best practices with respect to the development, manufacture, sales and marketing of the company’s products and other factors which are further described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014 and in all filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K.  The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so by law.

Filed Under: Press Release

GNC Shares Fall on Disappointing Results

April 30, 2015 by

PITTSBURGH — GNC, which has faced government scrutiny about the nutritional supplements it sells, said Thursday that its profit fell more than 9 percent during its first quarter as sales slipped. The company also lowered its earnings and revenue outlooks for the year.

Its shares fell more than 8 percent in midday trading.

The retailer reached a deal last month with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to test its herbal supplements to confirm their authenticity. The deal came after Schneiderman’s office sent letters to GNC and other retailers in February, alleging that store brand herbal supplement products weren’t what they said they were. Other attorneys general around the country have asked Congress to investigate the herbal supplements industry.

On Thursday, GNC reported first-quarter profit of $63.3 million, or 72 cents per share, down from $69.9 million, or 75 cents per share, a year ago.

Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 75 cents per share. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 81 cents per share.

The Pittsburgh-based company said revenue fell less than 1 percent to $670.2 million in the period, also missing Street forecasts. Analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $695.4 million.

The company now expects full-year earnings in the range of $3 per share to $3.15 per share, compared with its previous forecast between $3.10 per share and $3.15 per share. Analysts expected earnings of $3.15 per share, according to FactSet.

It now expects full-year revenue growth in the low single digits. It previously expected a “mid single digit increase.” Analysts expected revenue to rise 4.4 percent to $2.73 billion, according to FactSet.

GNC Holdings Inc., based in Pittsburgh, operates more than 8,900 stores around the world.

Its shares fell $3.91, or 8.3 percent, to $43 in midday trading. They have fallen more than 4 percent over the past year.

Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GNC at http://www.zacks.com/ap/GNC

Via Associated Press

Filed Under: News & Features

Nike Inspires Women to Get Active

April 29, 2015 by

nike mexico

For the first-time in Mexico, Nike offered a women’s-only 21K race for 5,000 women.

WOMEN TAKE TO THE STREETS OF MEXICO CITY EMPOWERED BY MOVEMENT AND COMMUNITY
Following the launch of Nike’s #betterforit initiative to inspire women to get active, Nike hosted two days of sweat-drenched activities in Mexico City just for her. More than 6,500 women hit their #betterforit milestones with a five-hour Nike+ Training Club (N+TC) experience and a 21K race.

The Mexico City N+TC Tour stop, at the iconic World Trade Center building, saw 1,500 women at six different workouts, which ranged from NTC to Adrenaline Hit.

The events are the latest step toward Nike’s long-standing commitment to help women achieve their personal goals. The participants in Mexico City added kilometers to their Nike+ Running App and achieved multiple training sessions with the N+TC App over the last three months of training.

At part of the Mexico City N+TC Tour stop, at the iconic World Trade Center building, 1,500 women raised their heart rates at six different breakout workouts, which ranged from NTC to Adrenaline Hit.

“The space buzzed with an amazing energy — there was never a lull. It was inspiring to see women of all fitness levels push and help one another to finish,” said Flor Beckmann, a Nike Master Trainer who has been leading the N+TC Tour across the globe.

Additionally, and for the first time in Mexico, Nike offered a women’s-only 21K race for 5,000 women. The starting line at Fuente de la Diana Cazadora (Fountain of Diana the Hunter) served as an immediate tribute to women. It is one of the few monuments in the city that celebrates women’s freedom, and one of the most relevant pieces of Mexican art near Paseo de la Reforma. The race route touched other symbols of the city such as the Angel de la Independencia statue, and then crossed over the Bosque de Chapultepec, the large forest in the heart of the city. The highest point of the circuit reached 2,383 meters above sea level. Road bicycle racer Ingrid Drexel and heptathlete Jessamyn Sauceda cheered on the field.

“As an athlete, I embrace the competitive mindset. It’s as much about the other athletes as it’s about competing with myself, pushing myself to really go for it,” said Sauceda. “Looking at that field of women, I felt that drive from them — the unrelenting mindset to go for it and be better because of it.”

Mexico Nike Women

The winner of the 21K race, Karina Pérez, broke her personal best after reaching the finish line in 1 hour and 24 minutes. “The best prize was to have conquered my mind. Nothing in life is easy. Life is full of challenges and this race was not easy, but I overcame my challenge, crossing the finish line winning the Nike Mexico 21K,” said Pérez, an elite runner from Tlaxcala who has been running professionally for the last nine years.

#BETTERFORIT JOURNEY

As part of the training journey that led up to the race, Nike offered two Run Clubs dedicated to women that attracted more than 2,500 participants. These run clubs also included special functional training sessions with N+TC. Athletes also found support through Nike’s digital community of nearly 70 million women. The Nike+ ecosystem, which includes the Nike+ Running App and N+TC App, provides customized running and training programs to help women reach their goals.

This weekend’s events help drive the women’s sport movement to grow and evolve, both as women bond with one another and as Nike expands the sport and fitness lifestyle in new places. Connecting to a global community of female athletes, #betterforit stands out as Nike’s largest initiative to support and motivate women’s athletic journeys. To learn more, visit nike.com/women.

If you’re brave enough to try, you’re strong enough to finish.

#betterforit

Story and Images Via Nike

Filed Under: Press Release

May Magazine Watch – Vote for Your Favorite Cover

April 29, 2015 by

may fitness magazines

The latest issue of your favorite fitness magazines are hitting store shelves and arriving in your mailbox this week. One thing you can almost always count on these days is that the cover will be on a white background. That aside you never know who might make the cover and this month’s crop of mags is evidence of that.

FitnessRX for Women features top IFBB Bikini Pro and Miss Hooters International, Janet Layug. Muscle & Fitness HERS went with the WWE’s Bella Twins for their May/June cover. Oxygen Magazine is throwing it back to a model who is no stranger to their covers, Alicia Marie. This is her sixth Oxygen cover over a span of ten years. SHAPE showcases it’s first issue under new publishers and with the combined content of the now defunct, FITNESS magazine. Hilary Duff was SHAPE’s choice for their coming out party. Women’s Health features actress Cobie Smulders on their newest cover.

Which is your favorite? Cast your vote in our May Magazine Cover Watch.

FitnessRX for Women

Muscle & Fitness HERS 2015

Alicia Marie Oxygen Cover

Shape Magazine 2015

Women's Health Magazine May

Filed Under: Polls

Inner Strength: Manny’s Winning Mindset

April 28, 2015 by

Manny Pacquiao
INNER STRENGTH: MANNY PACQUIAO FIGHTING AND FOCUSED
Manny Pacquiao may have the biggest shoulders in all of sports. Every day he trains, and every time he steps into the ring, the 5-foot-7 boxer carries the weight of a nation.

In addition to the expectations of more than 100 million Filipinos, Pacquiao is perpetually surrounded by fans, training partners, business partners, media and entrepreneurs looking for something from him. So many people want a moment of his precious time that it has to be parceled out daily between training sessions, sparring, meals and precious sleep.

When you add up the mountain of potential distractions he faces in any given day, focus becomes the most important element of Pacquiao’s training and preparation. Never has this been truer than in the lead up to his much-anticipated fight in Las Vegas on May 2.

“I love to have people around me while I’m training. But you have to prepare your mind, train your mind,” said Pacquiao, the only boxer to have held world championship titles in eight different weight divisions. “When you focus, you don’t have to worry about, ‘Oh, what am I gonna do? Maybe I’m not ready,’ or anything like that. But you have peace of mind and you’re ready to fight.”

In the area around the gym where he trains in Los Angeles, Pacquiao has become a quasi spectator sport. Pacquiao’s relentless training regimen may not be solitary, but he has trained his mind to shut out the distractions surrounding him while running, side-stepping stadium steps, doing core workouts and heavy ball throws.

“When I was 16 years old, I worked hard. I trained, trained, trained, trained [the] whole day. When you’re getting older, you have to balance…balance your body. You have to give time for your body to rest.”

Pacquiao began his boxing career as an amateur in Manila when he was 14, turning pro before the age of 17.

Now 36, Pacquiao is training for the most publicized fight of his career. Over the past two decades he’s learned a lot about himself and about the best ways to prepare his mind and body.

“You have to survive,” said Pacquiao. “You have to go through the hard work before you get the crown.”

Via Nike, Inc.

Filed Under: NEWS

2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Competitor Lists

April 27, 2015 by

2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro

The 2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro will feature Figure, Bikini and Men’s Physique divisions. The competition is always fierce at this event and many times it’s a preview of who will do well at the Olympia this Fall. Along with the pro competition is a huge amateur event which showcases some of the brightest NPC physiques in the country. An added bonus and always a huge hit with the fans are the guest posers. While the guys aren’t shredded it is the only place you’ll see the top male bodybuilders on one stage, outside of the Olympia.

2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure Competitors
Andrea Calhoun
Andrea Cantone
Rebecca Eger
Wendy Fortino
Allison Frahn
Vanessa Jacobs
Sophie Lagace
Julie Mayer
Monique Norval
Vivien Olah
Megan Olson
Marie Ong-Allegro
Samantha Rioux
Rinnah Schmid
Diana Schnaidt
Rebecca Schubeck
Tamara Sedlack
Sun Sweeney
Christine Watson

2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini Competitors
Michelle Ackerman
Stacey Alexander
Katherine Ampolini
Narmin Assria
Andrea Beam
Callie Bundy
Andreanna Calhoun
Anne Marie Caravalho
Andrienne Crenshaw
Jamie Del Angel
Joanne Holden
Courtney King
Tatiana Koshman
Stephanie Mahoe
Nicole Markovic
Ashriel Osgood
Lovey Paiva
India Paulino
Jessica Pimentel
Catherine Rdulic
Satrice Rigsby
Casey Samsel
Cat Textures
Kenea Yancey

2015 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Men’s Physique Competitors
Matt Acton
Sunny Akhigbe
Michael Anderson
Sam Andrews
Michael Balan
Nate Baumbick
Michael Dougherty
Damon Ford
Logan Franklin
William Gregory
Frank Griffin
Brian Hay
Michael Hughes-Lewis
Joseph Lee
Jacques Lewis
Qaadir Majeed
Dev Maxwell
Martin Mester
Aarin Moore
Kyle Moore
John Nguyen
Nick Olsen
Lorenzo Orozco
Geobanny Paula
Arash Rahbar
Daniel St. Peter
Eduard Seferi
A.J. Shukoori
Stephen Talamo
Ryan Terry
Pierre Vuala
Antoine Williams

WHEN:
May 1 & 2, 2015

WHERE:
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall
4141 Fifth Avenue – Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Prejudging
Friday, May 1 at 6:00 pm
IFBB Figure, Bikini, Men’s Physique and NPC Men’s Physique
Prejudging
Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 am
NPC Men’s Bodybuilding, NPC Women’s Physique, NPC Figure and NPC Bikini

Finals
Saturday, May 2 at 6:00 pm
All NPC and IFBB Divisions

For tickets and more information visit: garyudit.com

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

2015 IFBB Orlando Europa Super Show Competitors

April 27, 2015 by

2015 Europa Super Show Competitors Orlando

The 2015 IFBB Orlando Europa Super Show competitor lists have been released and nearly 50 competitors will take the stage in Orlando, Florida. The Women’s Physique division dominates the number of entries with no clear cut winner with an Olympia qualification up for grabs. The Fitness division only drew 10 competitors. Look for Michelle Blank, Ryall Graber and Marta Aguiar to be in the mix for the top spots. Stacy Wright is back on stage after some time off and will look to shake things up in her return. The men’s bodybuilding didn’t draw any of the IFBB’s top competitors but that doesn’t mean the show won’t be competitive. Look for Fouad Abiad to be the one to beat. He’s hungry to compete after the FIBO how was cancelled. Alexander Federov will look to live up to the hype he received years ago but failed to deliver on. Look for rookie Iain Valliere from Canada to be a contender in his pro debut. It will also be interesting to see how Michael Lockett does in the big leagues.

2015 IFBB Orlando Europa Super Show Pro Women’s Physique
Rachel Baker
Kim Baum
Olga Beliakova
Tara Brandt
Ayanna Carroll
Roxanne Edwards
Heather Grace
Lisa Grasso
Aurelia Grozojova
Rocio Guillen
Michele Horan
Lisa Horrigan
Rosela Joseph
Janeen Lankowski
Donna McGinn
Frances Mendez
Petra Mertl
Loana Muttoni
Jennifer Palazzo
Dona Pohl
Angela Salvagno
Pamela Slemmons
Sabrina Sonner
Leila Thompson
Masha Tieken

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE PAYOUT
1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,500
3rd – $500
Total Prize Money: $4,000

2015 IFBB Orlando Europa Super Show Pro Fitness
Marta Aguiar
Michelle Blank
Danielle Chikeles
Kristine Duba
Kelcie Gahley
Ryall Graber
Dominique Matthews
Tanis Tzavaras
Yanina Terragni
Stacy Wright

FITNESS PAYOUT
1st – $3,000
2nd – $2,000
3rd – $1,000
Total Prize Money: $6,000

2015 IFBB Orlando Europa Super Show Pro Men’s Bodybuilding
Fouad Abiad
Pablo Ayala Zayas
Alfonso Del Rio
Marius Dohne
Lloyd Dollar
Vitaly Fateev
Alexander Federov
Michael Lockett
Nikitas Manolakas
Ryan Pateracki
Feras Saied
Daniel Toth
Derek Upshaw
Iain Valliere

MEN’S BODYBUILDING PAYOUT
1st – $10,000
2nd – $5,000
3rd – $3,000
4th – $1,000
5th – $1,000
Total Prize Money: $20,000

MEETING AND EVENT SCHEDULE:
HOST HOTEL
Hyatt Hotel – 9801 International Drive

VENUE
Orange County Convention Center – West Building – Hall WA4
(DO NOT go to the Clam Sheel looking Convention Center that was used last year)

IFBB PRO MEETING
Thursday – 7pm

IFBB PRO PREJUDGING
Friday – 2:30pm Main Stage Convention Center

IFBB PRO FINALS
Saturday – 2:30pm Main Stage Convention Center

For more information on tickets, the Expo, NPC Amateur and move visit www.europaexpo.com.

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

HARDBODY POLL: Baddest Bitch in the Gym – Offensive?

April 27, 2015 by

baddest bitch

When Dana Linn Bailey’s cover of Muscular Development hit the web most people were impressed that the magazine took a chance on putting a female on the cover. Not just a female but one with muscle and by herself. Most people have no issue with that, although I’m sure there’s someone complaining about some dude not getting a cover and how dare they put a woman on the cover.

What’s ruffling a few feathers (not DLB’s mind you) is how the magazine refer to her as. The cover calls her the “Baddest Bitch in the gym” and the opening spread inside does the same. Is it offensive? Most seem to feel that if Dana isn’t offended by it why should you? Others think referring to a woman as a bitch is offensive and should never be done much less put on a magazine cover. Join the conversation on twitter and Facebook.

MD JUNE COVER

Filed Under: Polls

Monday Morning Clicks

April 27, 2015 by

flex cam girl

Check out the some of the latest news, stories and videos from the past week. See the links below on GMO Labeling, Spanx, FLEX CAM girl, baby boxer is back and what is Jennifer Nicole Lee doing? If you have a story or news item email editor @ hardbodynews.com.

Is the GMO Labeling Movement Just a Long Con to Get You to Buy Organic?
By Kavin Senapathy
An interesting read on the hot topic of GMOs. “But whether a product contains GMOs? Not informative or relevant in the least. The term “GMO” refers to how a food ingredient was bred, not its content. Knowing whether or not a food is GMO is akin to knowing whether or not a person was conceived via in-vitro fertilization. Indeed, genetic modification is not an ingredient, it’s a breeding technique, and there’s no reason for consumers to know if their food was made using this method.”
READ THE STORY ON: gawker.com

SUPPLEMENT NEWS – LAWSUITS
A federal judge in Georgia denied a request by the U.S. government to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc., a dietary supplement manufacturer that contends FDA unlawfully detained millions of dollars in products that contained a controversial substance.
READ THE STORY ON: www.naturalproductsinsider.com

Alison Overholt celebrates her first anniversary as editor-in-chief of espnW
“We’ve made some noise this year, which is exactly what we needed to do. I think we’ve established why it’s not just valuable to have women in the sports conversation, it’s crucial.”
READ THE STORY ON: espnfrontrow.com

Spanx Tries to Loosen Up Its Image
By HIROKO TABUCHIAPRIL
An interesting New York Times article on Spanx. You remember Spanx, right? The product that makes you feel like a human sausage? Ya that. The article talks about the change in trends and how Spanx is struggling to adapt. One of the more interesting nuggets of info was that women’s activewear is a $15.9 billion industry. Yes, BILLION with a “b”. Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at the NPD Group said, “Why buy underwear that’s uncomfortable when you can buy yoga pants which has got stretch to it and can make you look a little slimmer?”
READ THE STORY ON: nytimes.com

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK
A reminder to all the dudes out there… Don’t taunt a woman to FLEX or you might just get “stoned, my brother!” Watch how one dude gets shown up on the Philadelphia Soul‘s FLEX Cam.

BOXING BABY IS BACK
Two years ago this video became an online sensation. It’s an impressive showing of skill and speed. That was nothing compared to Evnika Saadvakass’ newest video. She shows off showing off her boxing skills with her father/trainer. Now she’s back and she’s faster than fast.

Her father shared, “My friends keep telling me: ‘It would be cool if we could train like this when we were kids!’ Just imagine, how great our life could be if we had skills like Evnika? It’s every child’s right to start training when you’re under five and then use the gained skills for the rest of life. Actually, this is not a video about sports, but about our parental abilities and things we can give our children today.”

Ridiculous Item of the Week
Jennifer Nicole Lee. No words except… why? See the pics on www.egotastic.com. Four years ago JNL was in hot water over her AB CIRCLE PRO.

Jennifer Nicole Lee

Lead image via youtube

Filed Under: News & Features

8x Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray in Adam Sandler’s New Movie

April 24, 2015 by

Lenda Murray Movie
Fans of bodybuilding refer to Lenda Murray as an icon and legend. She’s an eight-time Ms. Olympia champion known for feminine muscularity and upbeat attitude. She’s often referred to as the greatest female bodybuilder of all-time despite her adversary Iris Kyle having won more titles (ten). Lenda retired from competition years ago but that hasn’t stopped her from working out and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The champ has been sharing her latest project on social media and you can sense her enthusiasm in every post. The project? A role in a movie. Adam Sandler is currently filming a new movie in New Mexico called “The Ridiculous Six”. It’s described as a spoof on “The Magnificent Seven” and bring produced for Netflix. The cast includes the Sandman himself, Terry Crews, Nick Nolte, Steve Bucemi, Vanilla Ice and may more.

According to Lenda’s social media posts, her role is the mother to Terry Crews’ character in the film. “LIGHTS….. CAMERA….. ACTION. I’m ready for my close up. This has been an awesome experience,” Lenda shared on her Facebook page.

When she finished filming Lenda posted, “What an Amazing experience! Thank you Adam Sandler for the opportunity to hang out with an Incredible cast. You treated ALL like Box Office Stars.”



On my way to Hair and Makeup for my role as a mother to one of the stars. I'm having a blast.

A photo posted by Lenda Murray (@themsolympia) on


Follow Lenda on her Facebook page and on instagram for more. Want to know how she build her incredible physique? You can read all about it in the Women’s Precontest Bible book. She details her meal prep, training regime, workout tips and more.

Filed Under: News & Features

Four New Events Added to 2015 GoPro Mountain Games

April 24, 2015 by

Go Pro Mtn Games

With close to 15 years behind it and a forward-looking approach to keep innovating year after year, the GoPro Mountain Games event organizers are pleased to announce four new events for participation and spectating this year: Coors Light S2 Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Cross, Coors Light Down River R2 Raft Sprint, The Tudor Ultimate River Challenge and Vibram Disc Golf.

The continued growth and success of the GoPro Mountain Games requires the event to expand into a new full day of competition and festival activity on Thursday, June 4.

“We experienced significantly larger crowds on Thursday last year which reflects a desire to start the weekend earlier and enjoy all that the event has to offer. In response to this growth and demand, we will open Gear Town, Adventure Village, and River Town on Thursday and hold a selection of events, demos, group rides and free activities. All the fun and excitement of GoPro Mountain Games now starts one day earlier,” said Mike Imhof, Senior Vice President of Sales & Development at the Vail Valley Foundation.

New events being added in 2015 include the S2 SUP Cross. Similar to the existing and popular SUP cross event, S2 SUP Cross will add a tandem component. Teams of two will battle it out head-to-head on C4 Waterman Raptor boards in this every-man/woman-for-themselves-format. The first team of two that survives the sprint through Vail Village and Vail’s Whitewater Park will take the top spot on the podium. Teams must cross the finish line together, and on their boards.

Identical in format to the Down River Kayak and SUP Sprints, the R2 Raft Sprint is a four mile raft race (two person rafts) on the Class II/III whitewater of Gore Creek from East Vail to the Covered Bridge in Vail Village. With a rally race format, rafters drop at timed intervals and teams will be racing against the clock.

To complement the new water events, this year for the first time GoPro Mountain Games organizers will name an Ultimate Riverman and Ultimate Riverwoman. To be crowned victor of the Ultimate River Challenge, competitors must compete, back-to-back-to-back, in the Down River Kayak Sprint, Down River SUP Sprint and Down River R2 Raft Sprint on Gore Creek. The Ultimate Riverman & Ultimate Riverwoman will be crowned based on the lowest combined time in all three events.

And finally, a sport that previously saw casual participation, as a demo or expo village activity, will be formerly instated into the event line up as Disc Golf becomes an official competition of the GoPro Mountain Games, complete with a prize purse. Disc Golf – described most simply as traditional golf with a Frisbee®, will be offered with a GoPro Mountain Games twist. Competitors will need to survive two qualifying rounds before actually playing a round of disc golf. Qualifiers will consist of various skills competitions in the heart of Vail Village. Players with the best skills in qualifying will step up and play a round of golf to be crowned champions at a to-be-determined course.

“Though the Mountain Games is a well-established event in Vail and throughout the mountain sports community, we are constantly looking at ways to incorporate new mountain events, activities and participants,” said Imhof. “These four new events will enhance an already dynamic weekend of competing and spectating for our athletes and guests.”

Registration and lodging for the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games are available at www.gopromountaingames.com. Participants are encouraged to register early to save on costs. Spectating at the GoPro Mountain Games and all concerts are free and open to the public.

About the GoPro Mountain Games/Vail Valley Foundation
The GoPro Mountain Games is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation. The Vail Valley Foundation is a Colorado 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to enriching the Vail Valley and sustaining its unique spirit through the delivery of unparalleled arts, world class athletics and inspiring education programs throughout the community. For additional information on the GoPro Mountain Games, please visit http://www.mountaingames.com. For the Vail Valley Foundation, please visit www.vvf.org.

Connect with the Mountain Games on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

About GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRO)
GoPro, Inc. is transforming the way people capture and share their lives. What began as an idea to help athletes self-document themselves engaged in their sport has become a widely adopted solution for people to capture themselves engaged in their interests, whatever they may be. From extreme to mainstream, professional to consumer, GoPro enables the world to capture and share its passion. And in turn, the world has helped GoPro become one of the most exciting and aspirational companies of our time.

For more information, visit www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or LinkedIn.

GOPRO® and HERO® are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Filed Under: Press Release, SPORTS

Dew Tour Announces 2015 Schedule

April 24, 2015 by

Dew Tour Announces 2015 ScheduleBurr Ridge, Ill. – April 23, 2015 –  The 11th year of the Dew Tour will bring the best of skate and BMX to Chicago, Ill., and will kick off June 20-21. First-time host Los Angeles, Calif. will provide a playground for a celebration of the sport and culture of skateboarding, spanning the downtown area from August 14-16. Concluding the season will be eight-year host Breckenridge Ski Resort with snowboard and freeski events December 10-13.

Dew Tour returns to Chicago after a five year hiatus, highlighted with the successful streetstyle competition created by the Dew Tour three years ago. The event will take place at Grant Park Skate Plaza, and will feature skate and BMX street and streetstyle competitions. Sunday of the event coincides with international Go Skate Day, and will feature special activities for local Chicago area skaters. In addition, Dew Tour’s return to Chicago will also be a celebration of the summer opening of the new Grant Park Skate Plaza. As part of the celebration, the Dew Tour will work with the Chicago Park District and Grant Park Conservancy to make further improvements to the park.

Heading to downtown Los Angeles, where skateboard roots run deep, the Dew Tour will create a skateboard cultural ecosystem, inclusive of art, fashion, music, movie premieres, competitions and more. For the first time in the Tour’s 11-year history, the Ace Hotel will act as the central hub of the Dew Tour, encompassing theaters, concert venues and outdoor competition courses. Dew Tour Los Angeles will feature skateboard street, skateboard streetstyle, and additional skateboard competitions to be named at a later date. It will also host the cinematic version of “Dew Tour Push.”

“Los Angeles is the heart of the skateboard industry, and the Dew Tour has long celebrated the diverse culture that has grown from this hub. We’re shaking things up and tapping into the resources the area provides, from adding movie premieres to incorporating fashion, art and music on a grander scale. We’re ready to bring Dew Tour home to skate’s roots,” said Chris Stiepock, General Manager, Dew Tour. “This year NBC and the Dew Tour are very excited about holding events in two of the three largest cities in America.”

“Mountain Dew is devoted to driving progression within action sports, and Dew Tour 2015 signals new, groundbreaking partnerships and enhanced consumer experiences through film, music and art that will help drive this continued commitment,” said Greg Lyons, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Mountain Dew. “We strive to bring the culture of skateboarding to life through creativity and community, and both Chicago and Los Angeles provide the perfect backdrop to celebrate skateboarding through the deep heritage and lifestyle surrounding the sport.”

Come December, the Dew Tour will return to Breckenridge, Colo. for the eighth year in a row, representing the winter sports of freeski and snowboarding. As one of the top winter resorts in their capacity to hold a major early-season event, Breckenridge Ski Resort will once again support the top international men and women’s snowboard and freeski athletes to compete in superpipe and slopestyle competitions, while downtown Breckenridge will play host to streetstyle competitions, music and more.

Complete coverage of all three events will be broadcast on NBC and will be available online via DewTour.com and NBC Sports Live Extra. Further information about coverage dates and times will be announced at a later date.

2015 DEW TOUR EVENT SCHEDULE

EVENT DATE LOCATION
Dew Tour Chicago June 20-21 Chicago, Ill.
Dew Tour Los Angeles August 14-16 Los Angeles, Calif.
Dew Tour Breckenridge December 10-13 Breckenridge, Colo. 

Dew Tour
The Dew Tour consists of three marquee events, featuring disciplines across BMX, skateboard, freeski and snowboard (superpipe and slopestyle), with additional competitions integrated throughout the year. Dew Tour events are premium action sports and lifestyle festivals combining the best in competitions along with the Dew Tour Experience, live music performances and lifestyle showcases. The Dew Tour is broadcast live on NBC, and streamed live on DewTour.comand NBC Sports Live Extra. The Dew Tour is also distributed domestically on Universal HD and Comcast SportsNet, and internationally on Eurosport, TVA, Fox Sports Asia, Extreme Sports Channel, MCM, ProSieben, DR and Globosat. Dew Tour partners include Mountain Dew (tour title sponsor), Paul Mitchell, SQUATCH Snack Sticks, Sony Mobile Communications, Verizon Wireless, Airwalk, Mike and Ike and U.S. Army. More information can be found at www.DewTour.com.

Filed Under: News & Features, SPORTS

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