June 15, 2006

Keeping the Dream Alive

In my travels, I am often asked, "What is going on with pro bodybuilding in Canada?" The answer to that question is complicated, but the shortened version is: Pro bodybuilding in Canada is nearly non-existent. That reality became painfully clear with the last-minute and unexpected cancellation of the scheduled Toronto Pro Invitational, which was to take place in Niagara Falls on the June 3 weekend.

I attended last year’s Toronto Pro Invitational and was totally impressed with the great job Winston Roberts and partner Robert Attieh did in promoting the event. Without question, the Casino at Niagara Falls was miles ahead of the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Vegas, which is where they held the Mr. Olympia.

So what happened to the Toronto show? Simply put, it all came down to dollars and cents – high sanction fees, lack of committed sponsors, and, of course, the promised prize money for the athletes. I don’t mind saying it, but I am a bit annoyed at the policies of the IFBB when it comes to pro competitions. I always thought the purpose of that organization was to promote and encourage bodybuilding. Being a professional, by definition of the word, means earning a living at what you do. This is not the case with any bodybuilder who is considered a professional in Canada. They are a professional in name only – the other part is, well, let’s just say non-existent.

Yes, the IFBB has to raise money to run as an organization, which is the reason they charge sanction fees for competitions. That, though, is where the problem begins for the promoter – the sanction fee is high, especially for a smaller pro competition, and it is one of the major expenses that a promoter has to pay before the actual competition date. Then, add to that the prize money and you are looking at close to $40,000 to $50,000 before you even find a place to hold the event. With the rest of the expenses added, the cost of promoting a pro competition gets close to $75,000, and often reaching $100,000 or more. Now, why would anyone in their right mind want to promote a professional bodybuilding championship with so much risk on the line? Even the Olympia is struggling to make money these days.

You don’t need to be a genius to realize that pro bodybuilding lacks the interest and popularity it once enjoyed, and the shortage of pro contests isn’t helping. I believe we have to start rebuilding and find ways to rekindle interest in these shows. But it can’t be done when promoters like Winston are financially wrecked before even selling a ticket. I say, Cut these promoters some slack until the show gets rolling.

This is why new organizations like FAME are so successful and getting stronger every day. They don’t have the expense of high sanction fees to pay. The promoters can take whatever money they want and give it back to their athletes. In my way of thinking, that is a huge advantage to them. Their designated pro athletes are compensated, while fans, athlete participation, and sponsorship numbers continue to grow.

I think it is time the professional division of the IFBB took a serious look at finding a way to resurrect pro bodybuilding, which in my opinion should begin in individual countries around the world. All major sports have their farm teams in places where they can build and train their future stars. Just winning your national championship and jumping to the pros is too big a step for most bodybuilders. They may try competing in a pro show or two but usually end up quitting out of frustration. They realize that the caliber is just too high, but would still like to compete and have an opportunity to make a little cash.

For example, I have always had a dream of seeing a professional competition open only to Canadian pro bodybuilders held, obviously, somewhere in Canada. The winner would receive a decent cash prize, and our country’s equivalent to the Mr. Olympia title. Also, this Canadian Pro Champion would, on the basis of his win, earn a spot to compete at the Mr. Olympia or Arnold Classic. If we were to have an annual competition like this, I would guarantee that in five years we would have 15 to 20 Canadian pros onstage at one of the most prestigious competitions in Canada. That’s how to grow the sport of professional bodybuilding but, unfortunately, it’s not happening.

Each year the CBBF has awarded two IFBB Pro Cards to Canadian athletes who win at the CBBF Canadian Bodybuilding Championships. Often, though, we never see them on the stage again. Other than competing at a U.S.-based pro show, they really have nowhere to go. This really eats at me as our Canadian talent eventually disappears from the scene. But how many of our champs would continue to train and improve if they knew that once a year they could compete in a show against their peers, such as the one I’m suggesting, and have a chance to earn some cash and qualify for the Mr. Olympia?

So why hasn’t a promoter stepped forward and put on such an event? Simple – they must pay the IFBB professional division a high sanction fee, money that could be spent as prize money for the athletes instead. As a result, although a Canadian promoter can hold a pro show, with the high expenses he is forced to try and bring in big name U.S. athletes in order to boost ticket sales. So the result is that we don’t have a show. Really, no one gains from this current situation; our Canadian athletes don’t have a realistic competition, the IFBB gets nothing as these athletes drop out and don’t compete anywhere, and the potential fans, sponsors, and promoter are cheated out of seeing what could be a fantastic homegrown pro competition. (Personally, I don’t think the powers-that-be really care that much about our Canadian pro athletes. The exception might be if a potential superstar came along, which could help raise the interest in the Olympia or some U.S.-based pro events.)

In fact, this year’s promoter of the CBBF Canadian Bodybuilding Championships, Harvey Viteychuk, has spent many sleepless nights trying to find a way of working with the IFBB professional division to organize such an event in conjunction with his Life-Fit Festival during the weekend of September 15-17 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The answer he received to a Canadian-only pro competition was, "You must pay the required sanction fee, no exceptions!" With all the other required expenses, plus promised prize money for the pro athletes, Harvey had to drop the idea. Despite his disappointment, he still has managed to put together a "parade of champions" – Canadian pros have been invited to take part and subject themselves to being judged by the audience. Unfortunately, this is a poor substitute for what could have been a historic event for Canadian bodybuilding, but it is a start.

So, will Canada see an official pro competition in 2006? Yes, in spite of warnings from those who have been stung by the huge financial burden of promoting such an event, Quebec’s Joe Spinello has taken the torch from Winston and has put his heart and soul into it and is risking some serious cash in promoting the Montreal Pro Classic in Laval, Quebec, during the Labour Day weekend. It has been ten years since the last pro competition was held in Quebec, and guess who won that show? None other than eight-time Mr. Olympia himself, Ronnie Coleman! In fact, Ronnie narrowly defeated legendary Flex Wheeler at that show.

Without a doubt, Joe has a huge challenge on his hands. However, I am very confident that if anyone can pull off a great event, it is Joe. Still, I also admit that, as a friend, I tried to talk him out of promoting this event, as it was too risky due to the financial demands. However, Joe has always thrived on a challenge, and the more I tried to discourage him the more determined he was to do this show. Of course, I am behind him one hundred percent, and I would like to encourage everyone reading this to get out to Montreal on the Labour Day weekend for a nice vacation and take in Joe’s show. He promises a lot of surprises like the return of popular Canadian pro Paul Dillett, as well as other top Canadians such as Quebec’s homegrown Canadian Champion Simon Voyer, Ontario’s Henderson Thorne, and Newfoundland’s Frank McGrath. As well, the very first Montreal Pro Figure Championships will also be part of the program.

So, yes, we are struggling with pro bodybuilding in Canada, but we are not dead yet. Fortunately, passionate individuals like Winston Roberts, Joe Spinello and Harvey Viteychuk, despite never-ending obstacles, are still working hard at keeping the pro-bodybuilding dream alive for many of our Canadian pro bodybuilders. I highly recommend that you support them by getting out there and attending these events.

...Garry Bartlett
garryb@seriousaboutmuscle.com

For more information on the Canadian Bodybuilding Championships with its "Parade of Champions" see www.bodybuildingchamps.com, and for information about Joe Spinello’s Montreal Pro Classic, see www.montrealproclassic.com.

SeriousAboutMuscle.com contributor Garry Bartlett is the leading authority on Canadian bodybuilding, fitness and figure. Garry's "Canadian Corner" column has appeared in MuscleMag for over 25 years and has provided an unsurpassed level of exposure and publicity for Canadian bodybuilding, fitness and figure enthusiasts.