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2004 Max's INBA Australian Titles
Seventeen South Australians crossed the border to compete in this years INBA Australian Titles and what a show it was. Over 150 competitors again made this years show the biggest bodybuilding event in Australia.
Michael Rositano placed a credible 3rd in an impressive line up in the Men's Intermediate. Beautiful Vivienne Krstic won the Women's Novice Figure. Awesome Kim Knott once again dominated by winning the Women's Physique Short Class and Overall Ms Australia. In the Men's Open, Hayzer Cayli won the Open Short and Paul Wachtel dominated the Open Tall. Both Hayzer and Paul vied for the Overall but lost out to Paris Kiripatea from Queensland.

Men's Overall from left Paul Wachtel, Warren Clampit, Paris Kiripatea, Hazer Cayli

Overall winner, Paris Kiripatea

Others who just missed out on a placing were Daniel Brunoli in the Teenage, Deanna Sellick in the Figure Short, Mimma Romeo in the Masters Figure, and Carlos Azevedo in the Open Short. All these athletes would of been in the top 5 in their respective classes.
The first INBA Pro Division was contested by 4 athletes, all past Overall Mr Australia winners. Adelaides Joel Ramintas put up a gallant effort but placed second to the incredible Danny Chau. Joel looked great and held his own against Danny in a very entertaining class.

Joel ramintas and Danny Chau

I competed in the Men's 40-49 division. After nearly six months of dieting I finally made it on stage, and it was a privealage to compete in the Australian Titles. There was a total of nine in my class and while I did not make the top 3, I felt that I was not out of place being on stage. I'm not sure where I placed as they only announce the top 3 and everyone else after that is awarded equal 4th.

Me on the Left

Me again

Judging from feedback from the SA team and people in the audience, I did not finish last and could have been as high as 5th. Never the less, I'm satisfied with how I went and will be back maybe next year to try again.
The standard at the INBA continues to rise every year. It was not many years ago that only the Men's Open classes had any serious muscle. Now the high standard starts right from the novices and goes through each class. Gone are the days when a beach body will win you a title. This was evident in the Men's Open Classes where all the winners had world class physiques and Danny Chau in the Pro Class who already has a number of world titles.

Open Medium winner Warren Clampit

An interesting statistic from the INBA Australia is that there were more female competitors than male (79 to 78). This would be the first time that I can think of that the women out numbered the men at a contest.

Over Figure winner, Maria Saviane

I want to thank the whole SA Team. This was my first Australian Titles as a competitor and it was great to be with this terrific bunch of competitors. We all looked great in our State Team jackets (donated by Australian Muscle), and once again were the only state team in uniform. For the 3rd time in the past 4 years, South Australia again won the Max's Best State Team award.
Thanks to both Carlos and Daniel for helping me backstage.

The following pictures are of Joel Ramintas and Maria Saviane (click on photo to enlarge).

2004 Mr Olympia, 30th October. Las Vegas Written by: By Team Flex
So the 2004 Olympia is a wrap. Ronnie Coleman walked away with a seventh straight title and fans walked away with programs, protein samples, and enough stories to last them until the Arnold Classic in March, at least. 
With Ronnie Coleman winning a seventh consecutive term as the leader of bodybuilding's free world, the question is not so much whether he could tie Lee Haney's record of eight wins, but when he will decide to let someone else grab a piece of Olympia glory. At 40 years of age he showed no visible signs of slowing down. At 296 pounds he was bigger than ever. There's little doubt he'll return next year for more of the same. 
Few seem to dispute Ronnie's dominance, even many of his fellow competitors. For whatever faults he may possess, Ronnie Coleman is quite possibly the most impressive physical specimen walking the earth today. Pictures do not do him justice. When he stands relaxed muscle literally hangs from his frame, as if his skin can no longer support the pendulous masses of flesh he has forged with untold tons of iron and steel. It's difficult to imagine anyone surpassing Big Ron's level of mass in this, or any, lifetime. 
At 273 pounds Jay Cutler got as close to Ronnie, size wise, as anyone on the Mandalay Bay stage. But it appeared that subcutaneous water, his old nemesis, got the better of Iron Jay, preventing him from displaying the kind of crisp muscularity he had at the 2001 Olympia. 
Gustavo Badell didn't exactly come from nowhere (he's been a pro for six years) but he really shined on Saturday night with a physique that was big, cut, and nearly flawless. Expect even bigger things from the Puerto Rican this coming year. 
Dexter Jackson has more reason than anyone to dislike the Challenge Round. With a loss in the most muscular pose to Gustavo and a controversial defeat to Ronnie in the ab and thigh, he watched third place slip through his fingers like so much Las Vegas desert sand. 
Markus Ruhl was certainly big enough. At 280 pounds he was the third heaviest man in the show (behind Ronnie and Gunter Schlierkamp) but his lack of detail, especially in his back and hams, left some wondering how he placed so high, especially above guys like Darrem Charles and Victor Martinez. 
The same was said of Gunter Schlierkamp. Not at his best on this occasion, there was ample talk in the days after the Olympia of the big German receiving an early Christmas gift from the judges. Expect Gunter to turn this negative talk into motivation. 
Special mention needs to be made of Darrem Charles' posing routine, which received far and away the biggest reaction from the Events Center audience. As always the Trinidadian put on a tremendous show, replete with popping and locking, moonwalking and even a little posing. Not surprisingly, Darrem won Shawn Ray's best poser award and the $10,000 that goes with it.

Mr Olympia 2004 30th October, Las Vegas
1. Ronnie Coleman
2. Jay Cutler
3. Gustavo Badell
4. Dexter Jackson
5. Markus Ruhl
6. Gunter Schlierkamp
7. Chris Cormier 
8. Dennis James 
9. Victor Martinez 
10. Darrem Charles 
11. Pavol Jablonicky 
12. Kris Dim 
13. Ahmad Haidar 
14. Johnnie Jackson 
15. Troy Alves 
16. Craig Richardson 
17. Mustafa Mohammed 
18. Richard Jones 
19. Claude Groulx

Ronnie Cloeman 1st, Jay Cutler 2nd, Gustavo Badell 3rd
For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

MOSCOW MUSCLE
Written by: Greg Merritt

The first thing you should know about the Russian Grand Prix is Alexander Federov is for real. He has a long way to go to match everything Ronnie Coleman has, but you could say that about everyone else in the Olympia posedown. Despite recovering from surgery for a torn pectoral, the 26-year-old Russian certainly has what it takes to make that posedown next year. This day, like 23 other days, belonged to Coleman, as he racked up his 23nd professional win, earning $15,000 and breaking Vince Tayler's record of 22. 
The biggest surprise of the show was the disappearance of Radoslav Slodkiewicz. In shredded condition with a great V-taper and quad sweep, he was third after the prejudging but dropped out before the evening show due to illness. That allowed Russia's Sergei Tsikunkol to move into third, thus earning a qualification for the 2005 Mr. Olympia. England's Mike Sheridan or America's Kris Dim (who looked much better at the finals than the prejudging) would've been better choices for the three-spot but had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively. Italy's Alberto Bistocchi rounded out the posedown. 

FINAL RESULTS
1. Ronnie Coleman (USA)
2. Alexander Federov (Russia) 
3. Sergei Tsikunkol (Russia)
4. Michael Sheridan (England)
5. Kris Dim (USA)
6. Alberto Bistocchi (Italy)
7. Tommi Thorvildsen (Norway)
8. Guseppe Albi (Italy)
9. Alexander Tumashevion (Russia)

Alexander Federov (Russia) 
For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

RONNIE'S HOLLAND HIGH
Written by: Greg Merritt

The Dutch Grand Prix on November 6 was perhaps the most entertaining show I've ever seen in over 15 years of competing or attending. Start with the fact it's in Amsterdam, which makes Las Vegas look like Salt Lake City. Then put it in a warehouse nightclub setting with a rock band warmup, six bars, nearly nude cocktail waitresses (who also served as "IFBB expediters/dancers"), a mind-altering laser light show, a cabaret-style stage and an effusive crowd that came foremost to have a great time. 
Oh yeah, and there was a contest too. Some guy named Ronnie Coleman won again. Chris Cormier was far from his best, but diced abs aren't the most important thing in Amsterdam. Much improved from his Olympia condition, Mustafa Mohammed garnered a sustained thunderous response for his splendid posing routine to classical music; he was second in the posing round. Kris Dim was sharper than the day before in Russia and finished a solid fourth. The biggest surprise was smooth Markus Ruhl slipping to fifth (his Olympia position one week prior). Though not unwarranted, the judges seemed to have him in third after prejudging.

TOUR NOTES:
Michael Sheridan was fourth in the Russia Grand Prix on November 5 but was granted a qualification for the 2005 Mr. Olympia because Sergei Tsikunkol, who placed third in that show, is still an amateur.

New face Ramone Gonzalez of Spain looks like an older face. He's a dead ringer for a young Dorian Yates.

Milos Sarcev joined the tour in Amsterdam to emcee the show and assist his athletes, Kris Dim and Mustafa Mohammad. His expertise was needed when Mohammad cramped up in the prejudging.

Markus Ruhl changed his hairstyle dramatically before the final 6 were called out.

Sammi Ben Otman qualified for the Dutch Grand Prix by winning the amateur Dutch Championships hours earlier on the same day. He was the best conditioned bodybuilder in both the amateur and the professional shows. 

Unlike the tension backstage and hard feelings in Russia, everything was groovy in Amsterdam. It must have been something in the air. 

Now it's on to London for the third and final stop on the Grand Prix Tour and a different atmosphere yet again. As always, expect the unexpected. 

FINAL RESULTS 
1. Ronnie Coleman (USA)
2. Chris Cormier (USA)
3. Mustafa Mohammad (Jordan)
4. Kris Dim (USA)
5. Markus Ruhl (Germany)
6. Mike Sheridan (England)
7. Ronnie Rockel (Germany)
8. Ramone Gonzalez (Spain)
9. Sammi Ben Otman (Holland)
10. Tommie Thorvildsen (Norway)
11. Misser Milazzo (Germany)
12. Armand Plaisant (France)
13. Giovani Thomson (Holland)

Chris Dim 4th 
For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

KING COLEMAN
Written by: Greg Merritt

The Moscow Grand Prix, cold and gray, was held in a military hall with soldiers as ushers. The Dutch Grand Prix, staged like a rave in a giant nightclub, captured the pleasures of Amsterdam. The British Grand Prix - the final contest of the tour of three countries in three days - was, fittingly, held in a classy but comfortable auditorium next to the famous soccer cathedral, Wembley Stadium. The on-stage and on-the-mic activities, orchestrated by promoter Kerry Kayes, captured both the British people's charm and reverence and their lacerating wit.
This time the judging was no joke. Both Chris Cormier and, especially, Kris Dim improved on their condition of the day before. Dim was happy to qualify for the 2005 Olympia, but his excitement was exceeded by that of gleeful, teary-eyed Ramon Gonzalez. The ripped Spaniard, who looks like a young Dorian Yates, had the thrill of his life when he made the posedown against the current 7-time Mr. Olympia. Markus Ruhl was as smooth as the day before, but the Beast merrily joked with the competitors and crowd. And some guy named Ronnie Coleman won for the 25th time in his pro career.

TOUR NOTES: Mustafa Mohammad was rushed via ambulance to an Amsterdam hospital after his potassium level reached potentially deadly levels - the result of severe dehydration. Milos Sarcev assisted the doctors, and Mohammad's potassium level decreased. He is being held in the hospital for at least 24 hours.

The following man qualified for the 2005 Mr. Olympia on the European tour: Alexander Federov, Michael Sheridan, Chris Cormier, Mustafa Mohammad, Kris Dim.

2003 British Champion Paul George was the best conditioned competitor in any of the three tour stops. He redefined the term "shredded."

Unless another promoter comes forward there will, unfortunately, not be an Amsterdam Grand Prix next year. The current promoter is moving to Miami.

As London is the final stop, this concludes the exclusive FLEXOnline coverage of the 2004 European Tour. 

ENGLISH GRAND PRIX RESULTS
1. Ronnie Coleman (USA)
2. Chris Cormier (USA)
3. Kris Dim (USA)
4. Markus Ruhl (Germany)
5. Ramon Gonzalez (Spain)
6. Michael Sheridan (England)
7. Ronnie Rockel (Germany)
8. Paul George (England)
9. Tommie Thorvildsen (Norway)
10. Migger Milazzo (Italy)
11.Peter Brown (England)
12. Harold Marrillier (England)
13. Ian Morgan (England)
14. (tie) Bistocchi Alberto (Italy)
14. (tie) Alves-Jorge Jose (France)
16. Armand Plaisant (France)
17. Emro Karaduzovic (Montenegro)
18. Fabrizio Zittucro (Italy)

Chris Cormier 2nd 
For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

"My BeNcH pReSs BrInGs All ThE GirLs To ThE yArD, n ThEy'Re LiKe, YoUr PeCs ArE LaRgE, dAmN rIgHt My PeCs ArE LaRgE, u CaN tOuCh ThEm, bUt IlL hAv To ChArGe"

Saturday November 27th
Ask me for 15% off everything
10:00 AM  til 3:30PM

Can’t make it in? Just call me on the day with your order and pay by credit card, or visit the new Australian Muscle E-Store for convenient on line shopping (details below) and pick your order up later on during the week.

FREE BODYFAT TEST

Australian Muscle now offers free bodyfat testing. Just come into the shop with your height in centimetres and I can do a bodyfat test on you using the TANITA bodyfat monitor. The test is non intrusive, quick, and FREE!!

Last months winners of the 4cooler bag full of goodies was Nathan Greaves.

This month I have a carton PVL Gourmet Cruncheez to give away.

NOVEMBER SPECIALS

100% Whey 

10lb bag
$150:00

Bodyripped Androbolin

80 Tabs $47:95

200ml $54:95

Battle For The Olympia 2003
$79:95

Wild Bull L-Glutamine
300g $39:95
500g $59:95
1kg $79:95

N.B. All Prices are in   AUD.

WHAT'S NEW?

The Battle For The Olympia VIII 2003

Announcing, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Gunter Schlierkamp(And Many More) In The Most Intense Hardcore Muscle Blasting Ever!

Incredible New 2-DVD Set,
Just released, features the world's greatest bodybuilders in insanely shredded condition during their grueling "Balls To The Wall" pre contest training sessions.

Over 5 Hours (339 Minutes Total) Of Non-Stop Action With Special Bonus "Backstage At The Olympia" And Expo Footage.

Ronnie Coleman - The Cost of Redemption

The DVD from Video Master Mits Okabe we all have been waiting for is out now! Ronnie Coleman - The Cost of Redemption! It was taped in August 2003 and shows Ronnie`s workouts for the 2003 Olympia! (And we sure all remember that Ronnie shocked the BB world last October!) So how did Ronnie do it? He competed about 40 lbs heavier than in 2002 and was just as hard! 
On the 3 + hour DVD you will find lot of footage of Ronnie having his meals, Ronnie and his cars (Ronnie in the HUMMER.......Unbelievable......) and some very funny bonus footage! (Ronnie & his nails!!!!! - MUST SEE!). Sean and I were gobsmacked by some the gym footage. Watching Ronnie do 800lb squata and 500lbs benches is pretty inspirational. One of the funniest scenes is watching him make breakfast.....1 litre of eggs whites and a kilo of oats all mixed together - yum.

Ronnie Coleman - The Cost of Redemption 3hr DVD $79:95

Jay Cutler - New, Improved and Beyond.

It's actually a 2-DVd set, and the total running time is a whopping 4 hours and 37 minutes.
You see Jay doing his total Mr. Olympia workout: Day 1 - Chest; Day 2 Part 1 - Legs; Day 2 Part 2 Arms & Calves; Day 3 Shoulders & Traps; Day 4 Back & Calves. And then there are the interviews. At the end of it all, you really feel you know Jay Cutler the world famous bodybuilder, as well as Jay Cutler the man.

Jay Cutler - New, Improved and Beyond 2 DVD Set $79:95

I do have other DVD's in stock also. Call or e-mail me on 08 83730735 for more details.

Other DVD's now available are;

Bronx Wild Bull Ecdy Sterone Stack - (Formerly known as Vyo-VAR)

· Contains the herbs Rhaponticum Carthamoides and Rhodiola Rosea. Rhaponticum is a natural version of 20 hydroxy ecdysterone. 
· Is a potent, efficient and technologically advanced adaptogen formula. 
· Use proprietary stabilization technology, which is designed to increase absorption and effect. 
One tablespoon delivers 20 mg of pharmaceutical grade Rhaponticum Carthamoides

495ml $79:95

Tanita BC-532 Total Innerscan

The next generation in home healthcare, Tanita Body Composition Monitors can be used to provide in-depth information about your body’s composition to help you monitor your diet, health and fitness programme in the long term.

Unique BC-532 Features
Total Body Water %
Visceral Fat Rating
Bone Weight
Basal Metabolic Rate
Metabolsm Age
Muscle Mass
Physique Rating
Athlete Mode
Weight & Body Fat % Recall
Guest Mode

· Visceral Fat Rating – Visceral fat surrounds the internal organs in the stomach/trunk area of your body. High levels of visceral fat increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Monitoring your results can help you adjust your lifestyle to stay in the low risk range.

· Bone Weight – Indicates the weight of bone mineral in the body. The development of muscle tissue has been shown to encourage stronger, healthier bones. It is important to develop and maintain healthy bones through plenty of exercise along with a calcium rich diet.

· Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – Indicates the number of calories your body burns when at rest. Unlike other methods of calculating BMR, Innerscan Fitness takes the amount of muscle in your body into account, giving a more accurate picture of your dietary requirements. Your BMR will tend to decrease as you get older – you can help prevent this through a regular routine of cardiovascular exercise and increased activity.

· Metabolism Age – Your BMR starts to decrease after the age of 17 and the metabolic age rating indicates what age level your body is currently rated at. Aim to keep young!

· Muscle Mass – Calculates the weight of muscle in your body.

· Physique Rating – Describes your overall physique or body shape by examining the balance between the amounts of body fat and muscle in your body.

· Athlete Mode – For people who do more than 10 hours a week intense exercise and who have a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute.


Features
Adult & Child Modes
4 Push button memories
High weight capacity - 150kg / 23st 8lb
Weight increment 100g / 0.2lb
Body Fat increment 0.1%
Weight only function
Healthy Body Fat% Ranges
Toughened safety glass
Battries Included
3 Year Guarantee

Colour: Glass / Silver

$370:00

Redbak Venim

REDBAK VENIM is a high potency thermogenic herbal formula containing Green Tea and Yerba Matte designed to assist with fat loss. Studies show that the key ingredient Green Tea may assist in the improvement of lean body mass or optimization of body composition by improving liver fatty acid oxidation (fat burning) and thermogenesis (energy expenditure). Yerba Matte is traditionally used in China as an appetite suppressant, which may be useful when used in combination with a slimming diet. It may also have a diuretic effect to help eliminate excess fluid and give the body a leaner appearance.

120 caps $59:00

WHAT'S THE GOSS?

Gossip is sourced from various sites such as muscletime.com, getbig.com, nuclearnutrition.com, ironmagazine.com 

Muscle Ute
Those of you who have been to the shop recently may have noticed the new Aussie Muscle Falcon Ute. Yes, I have lashed out and bought a 2001 model EA ute. Finished in a striking dark blue duco with green and gold sign writing depicting the flexing kangaroo, it's an eye catcher. I want to see just how eye catching this ute is. If you see the Aussie Muscle ute on the road, call me on 8373 0735, and tell me where you saw it, and you will win a prize. The first person to call me each month wins the prize. Seeing the ute in the shop carpark, in my driveway, or at Limbo Gym, does not count. In the past month the ute has been at Sellicks Beach, Adelaide International Raceway, and in the Adelaide hills, so I do get around.

Speaking of hot cars. If you think your beast deserves recognition, bring it in to Australian Muscle and I'll take a picture of you and your pride and joy and place it on the Aussie Muscle website.

Mr O Press Conference Notes.
With Ronnie, Gunter and Jay all shirtless and posing down against one another on the Mandalay Bay Events Center stage, Thursday afternoon's Olympia press conference turned into a spectacle the likes of which have never been seen in bodybuilding's history.

Gunter Schlierkamp got the action going early on by informing the assembled press and fans that he had beaten Ronnie before and that, come Saturday, he would do it again. Obviously, Big Ron didn't take kindly to such talk and pointedly asked Gunter what he had done against him lately (Gunter's win over Ron came in 2002). Soon Jay Cutler joined in the verbal fracas, letting everyone present know that he came to win and that at 290 pounds there's not a lot anyone can do about it.

Then, after a few more jabs thrown by various competitors, Ronnie decided he had had enough of the talking and let everyone know that he's ready to claim the title today. With that he ascended the steps to the stage and began peeling off his official Olympia track suit top and shirt. Soon Gunter joined the big man onstage, then Jay and then Gustavo Badell. Once Iris Kyle hit the stage it was an out of control free-for-all with shirts flying and shots being challenged left, right and center.

For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

End/Beginning of an Era?
Written by: Shawn Perine 

In a dramatic decision that may very well have signaled the end of an era in women's bodybuilding, Iris Kyle rose to the top of women's bodybuilding's ladder, defeating 8-time and reigning Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray in the process, as she was crowned 2004 Ms. Olympia Champion. While it took a spirited posedown against lightweight class winner Dayana Cadeau to certify her victory, the evening's most dramatic moment came at the point Murray was announced as the heavyweight class' runner-up. 

An ecstatic Kyle thrust her fists into the air triumphantly and embraced the woman who had defeated her in whisper-close decisions the previous two years. Murray, ever the champion, was gracious in defeat, both onstage and backstage after the decision was handed down. Massive Yaxeni Oriquen was third in the class. 

Dayana Cadeau made it into the final posedown via her lightweight class victory over runner-up Denise Masino and third place finisher Marja Lehtonen. Lehtonen appeared to carry the most muscle in the class, but it was the lines of Cadeau that won the day.

Ms Olympia
Heavyweights over 135 pounds 
1 Iris Kyle USA Overall Winner
2 Lenda Murray USA 
3 Yaxeni Oriquen Venezuela 
4 Betty Pariso-Carmichael USA 
5 Betty Viana Venezuela 
6 Lisa Aukland USA 
7 Bonny Priest USA 

Lenda Murray and Iris Kyle  

Lightweights up to 135 pounds 
1 Dayana Cadeau Canada 
2 Denise Masino USA 
3 Marja Lehtonen Finland 
4 Joanna Thomas England 
5 Desiree Ellis Canada 
6 Mah Ann Mendoza Philippines 
7 Nancy Lewis USA 
8 Velentina Chepiga Ukraine 
9 Vilma Caez USA

For heaps more photos, check out www.flexonine.com 

Adelaide's Teri Roberts competed in the NABBA Universe titles on the 2nd of October and finished in 6th place in the Figure in an "Awesome Line up" Well done Teri.