Denis Pedneault Takes On the World!

I’ve been involved in the bodybuilding world since my teens, but it’s only within the last ten years that I’ve dedicated my time to writing about bodybuilding and photographing the contestants. During this time, I’ve been to competitions that most people can only dream of attending – the Mr. Olympia, the Arnold Classic, and the IFBB World Amateur Championships to name a few – and I’ve met many of the world’s top amateurs and pros, and even watched some of them train. It’s these rare glimpses into places where few people ever have a chance to go that has made this pursuit worthwhile.

That’s not to say that it’s all been positive. With access to almost every aspect of the sport, I’ve run into the seedier side of the bodybuilding world more times than I would like. I’ve seen drug abuse that’s rampant to the point of being insane, even deadly, and I’ve met top bodybuilders who are glamorized in the magazines as heroes, but whose personalities and actions in real life make them anything but. That kind of stuff is disappointing, to say the least.

On the other hand, there have been many positive things that have happened and, in particular, many interesting people I’ve met. One such person who has brought a lot of positive energy to this endeavor is Denis Pedneault of Sherbrooke, Quebec. From the first time I saw Denis compete, I knew he was different from most. It was at the 2006 CBBF National World Qualifier (a drug-tested event) where he won not only his class but the overall title too – all at a bodyweight of less than 140 pounds. His shape and overall proportions were superior to everyone there, and the way he posed was like an old-school pro. I could tell that he knew a lot about proper training, he understood what it meant to showcase his physique on a stage, and his conditioned, yet healthy appearance indicated that he knew how to get into great shape without the use of drugs. You don’t see these qualities in a bodybuilder very often these days.

Immediately after that show, I asked Denis to start writing for SeriousAboutMuscle.com, because I knew that he had something special to offer our readers. I didn’t give him much direction on what I wanted; instead, I just offered him the opportunity to do a regular column. He came back to me with the idea of the "Body Sculpting" column, which is more in line with how he trains his physique.

Since then, I’ve learned a good deal more about Denis, including the fact that he’s not just a great bodybuilder but a great trainer as well, and that his drug-free status is a lifetime thing – he’s never taken drugs and says he never will. He’s developed his own training style that he’s written about in "Body Sculpting" and has also showcased in a French-language DVD called Bodysculpture. Denis has done a lot – and he’s not even 30 years old.

Denis also recently allowed me one of those rare glimpses into a world few people see. He came to my city specifically to train, just three weeks out from competing at the IFBB Men’s World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships that are held the first week of November in Doha, Qatar – his second time competing at the world level. This wasn’t a make-believe workout Denis was doing. Rather, it was a real training session that our team photographed and videotaped and that I’ll make available on SeriousAboutMuscle.com very soon. It’s not only interesting, but inspirational and educational as well – and the photos and video will allow you a glimpse into this world few people see.

Denis trains arms.

The last ten years have had their ups and downs, but it is people like Denis and the opportunity to see unique things that make it worthwhile. In the next month or so we’ll be redesigning and expanding SeriousAboutMuscle.com to accommodate the upcoming photos and videos in order to provide you with a better view into this world I get to see, and as soon as I can, I’ll report back about how Denis did at the IFBB World Championships. He’s hoping for a top-three placing – let’s see!

...Doug Schneider, Publisher
das@seriousaboutmuscle.com

Doug Schneider is the publisher and chief photographer for SeriousAboutMuscle.com, BodyBuildingLive.com, and SeriousAboutFitness.com.