Thunder Down Under: IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix XI

When people were touting this event as the ‘greatest show on earth’, it wasn’t just bluster. Where bodybuilding and fitness events are concerned, Tony Doherty events are hard to beat. I’ve often described the style of his events to that of a rock festival.

The FitX was an all-encompassing event that truly had something to offer for everyone. In addition to the high volume of ticket holders for the expo itself, a substantial number of attendees were drawn to the IFBB Pro Grand Prix with many random attendees buying tickets on a whim.

If one considers the pre-judging and amateurs as starter meals, the Pro Grand Prix was the main course. Being a high-class production meant that high quality bodybuilders would be performing on stage and showing their physiques to a packed-out audience in the luminous Plenary Hall, all keen to see the biggest and baddest bodies on show.

In addition to the beefy pros, the show included the Pro Figure Classic, with the finals occurring during the main event — a very welcome change. The inclusion of the pro figure line-up provided the audience with a glamourous showcase, enabling them to see perfectly defined female bodies in prime form.

The crowd was warmed up by comedian Adam Rosenbachs, and laughter was soon followed by an eerie silence when organisers presented an historical show reel of notable winners from Tony’s previous events. Soon after, darkness engulfed us as each of the pros were ushered onto stage, the silence broken by Tony’s trademark Michael Buffer-esque delivery introducing each competitor with an individual spotlight. The darkness was shattered by pyrotechnics, which allowed each of the pros to pose on stage.

Commencing the men’s line-up was Grigori Atoyan from the USA. The Californian entered the stage to a heavy metal track, which appeared slightly out of place to his friendly demeanour and constant smile. Nonetheless, this opening routine was very enjoyable — Grigori showing off incredible thick arms and massive thickness across his upper back. Quite frankly, this man would do well in a sword and sandal epic if this lost genre ever makes a cinematic return.

Fellow Californian Adorthus ‘AD’ Cherry made a sensational impression on the crowd, his affable nature winning him many new fans. Of the line-up, Adorthus possessed possibly the best chest separation on stage, with equally prominent delts and a tiny waist; his perfect symmetry was matched by a very entertaining routine. He appeared to genuinely enjoy the crowd, with his massive horseshoe triceps hanging off his large arms drawing cheers from the audience, which grew louder when he made transitions to his back double bicep pose. Like a true pro, Adorthus did not allow hitches in his music to deter him from presenting on stage.

Germany’s Daniel Hill, who at 25 is the youngest IFBB pro on the circuit today, proved his place as a pro, illustrating nice sweeps in the quads and excellent side triceps. He presented a brawny chest, which boasted various fibres when striking his side triceps pose. There was something remarkably debonair about Daniel Hill; it might have been his genteel manner on stage or perhaps the swashbuckling moustache he was sporting!

The USA returned to glory when Johnnie Jackson stepped on the stage. Cited as the strongest bodybuilder in the world, it was evident that this Muscletech monster was a clear crowd favourite. Johnnie gestured to the audience at several points of his routine and as the crowd got louder his muscular physique became more pronounced, owning the stage with his granite-like build. Johnnie’s superior back did not go unnoticed for it was dense, striated and wide. His relaxed lat spread was the prelude to major density and riddled with chunks of muscle, off-set against his ridiculously large traps. Johnnie was the only pro to trade his poses for audience applause, a tactic that served him well.

Australia’s own Greek god Michael Kefalianos presented devastating shape on stage and is one of the Aussie pros who simply improves year after year, tweaking his physique and making it more fearsome each time. He struck pose after pose so masterfully, his muscular transitions matching the changes in his dramatic music. The audience was reminded that Michael works as a taxi driver to fund his bodybuilding and thus it beggars belief that a sensational professional such as himself is not sponsored by any major companies when he truly deserves it.

From across the Tasman came Darryn Onekawa, a New Zealand bodybuilder making his debut. Sponsored by Gaspari Nutrition, the large-framed Onekawa made his moves to a tribal number, which seemed to fit his laboured and deliberately slow movements to illustrate his condition. These were clearly illustrated in his upper back and quads, with well-conditioned striations in his lower body. The Mr. New Zealand 2005 winner sent the crowd crazy with his most muscular pose — snake lines seem to dominate his upper body. When his confidence rose towards the end of his routine it was impossible not to compare him to WWE’s The Rock.

Canada’s Ben Pakulski quickly drew heavy appreciation and support and for good reason. The 130 kg monster is noted to be one of the most consistent trainers, making massive gains within the past two years, resulting in his rise through the ranks. His first double-biceps pose was like two thick pythons roped across the stage; he impressed the audience further with his very natural transitions and his freaky lower body development. The Pac-Man was met with screams of delight when he presented a crab-like most muscular pose.

Hot off the heels of his impressive second place at the recent Arnold Classic, Dennis Wolf was arguably the most hotly-anticipated pro at the event. Prior to this, the massive German had not tasted higher placings despite his incredible physique, his inimitable image and mass worldwide popularity. It was noted that if Johnnie Jackson was the thickest pro on stage, then Dennis Wolf was the widest and his width is his signature. Wolf’s lats are unlike anything I’ve ever seen; they possess a wingspan like the Hughes H-4 Hercules aircraft. His flawless condition was matched only by his artistically charged posing, defined by circular movements. The Las Vegas resident and BSN poster boy made the best use of a stirring score, illustrating an insanely superior back riddled with striations. This Teutonic Knight also boasted a very narrow waist, mammoth quads, huge guns and a ropey midsection.

Winning his pro card only hours before, Luke Timms presented a uniquely muscled physique and was able to hold his own against the tough line-up despite lacking the size of his contemporaries that night. His ace was his vascularity, especially in his chest and abdominals.Unfortunately, Luke’s fatigue was evident at some points — unlike the other pros, Luke did not have the benefit of increased rest and preparation, having competed as an amateur that very day. However, the fatigue didn’t adversely affect his routine, with the quiet Aussie opting for shorter and sharper moves.

The last pro on stage was India’s Varinder Singh, who, like Timms, was granted pro card status after winning the Open Men’s in the amateur earlier that day. One of the most surprising facts about Singh is not his Bollywood career, but his nutrition — he’s the world’s biggest vegetarian. But it wasn’t only his dietary habits that got chins wagging: Singh is gigantic and as a taller competitor he has managed to fill out his muscles with great size. Singh eased gradually into his routine, commencing in a slightly pedestrian fashion but gaining confidence later on, striking a very powerful back double biceps, showing off his thick slats, bulky arms and massive lower body.

Singh entered Australia as an amateur but now leaves with pro card status officially sanctioned by Jim Manion (chairman of the IFBB) and his counterpart in India. Singh is now the first Indian IFBB pro, an initiative spearheaded by Tony Doherty, who contacted both officials with his pro card suggestion.

American IFBB official and pro head judge Ken Taylor took the pros through a comparative round to evaluate competitors against one another and scrutinise condition. Ken’s dry delivery made the call-out section more enjoyable and his manner was highly methodical.

Though comparison was made harder by borderline physiques in some instances, there were idiosyncratic differences that made each pro stand out. Jackson and Wolf were requested the most, with Jackson presenting more pronounced chest development and harder abdominals, while Wolf boasted wider lats and delts, which flared out with minimal effort.

Kefalianos’ quads seemed to dwarf his rivals’, both in size and mass, and this gave him the opportunity to break out his freaky biceps and triceps. Varinder was deficient in some aspects of his lower body and lacked inscriptions in his upper back, while Timms was a little dry in his presentation. Undoubtedly, the battle-of-the-lats was a four-way rivalry between Jackson, Wolf, Pakulski and Kefalianos but each were unique: Kefalianos was stoic and reflective; Pakulski was likeably cocky and self assured; Jackson a natural showman and Wolf used animalistic aggression to perhaps unnerve his rivals.

Before a decision on the men was made, the audience was treated to the beautiful bodies and faces of the GNC Pro Figure Classic. Unlike the amateur figure ranks within Australia, the American figure pro circuit only allows for quarter turns and comparisons, along with the individuals’ presentations for each competitor. The lack of posing in this division has perplexed many, with some critics decrying the denial of muscle movement with perfectly structured female forms, while others appreciate the streamlining of this process.

Commencing the figure line-up was Jeni Briscoe. This lovely Canadian lady was densely muscled, and though her lower body appeared a little thicker, this was contrasted against a nice midsection and toned arms.

From New Zealand the sensational Raechelle Chase presented a lean and gorgeous body; the perfect use of tanning made her capped shoulders and abdominals stand out to much audience appreciation.

Lisbeth Halikka flew the Finnish flag (not literally) on the Aussie stage, with this Nordic goddess presenting a finely tuned body. Possessing prominent shoulders, etched abs and a very nice v-taper, Lisbeth was all smiles and one of the most perfectly conditioned women within the line-up.

American Alicia Harris, who ranked 14th at the recent Arnold Classic, is a diminutive package of feminine muscle who set hearts racing with her sultry demeanor and angelic smile. No doubt the move into figure was a wise decision; Alicia has a Masters in Sports Management from Northern Illinois University.

New figure pro Kelli Johnson always presents well on stage, with her long shapely legs this Queenslander’s trademark. Normally presenting harder on stage, in this instance Kelli looked a little smooth but as a seasoned competitor she held her own confidently. Conversely, Kristy Thomson illustrated nice shoulders and arms but seemed to lack detail in her lower body.

Daniela O’Mara was a tough act to follow, with the tightly muscled powerhouse illustrating a very hard physique. Daniela enthralls audiences with her creative routines, drawing from her skills as a gymnast and dancer — it’s a shame these skills were not on show tonight.

The soaring pocket rocket Sara Picken-Brown never fails to impress. With feline grace, Sara strutted across stage with sheer confidence and class, her sleek muscles evident across her upper back and in her abdominals and tightly defined calves. She remains one of the most talented and finely tuned figure bodies in Australia today.

Figure pro Erin Stern defies description simply for being perfect in every way. The Figure Olympia winner and former track and field star entered the stage with quiet confidence and poise. Erin’s body is perfectly proportioned; she is strikingly defined in both her upper and lower body; her v-taper sits on a tightly defined core (unbelievable serratus) and shapely legs carry her derriere. Dymatize’s brunette beauty communicates with her eyes and smile, and watching her traverse the stage is like witnessing Wonder Woman come to life. It is so easy to become enamored with a competitor such as Erin Stern; the audience instantly fell in love with her, as this journalist certainly did!

After winning the Amateur Figure division at the Arnold, Aussie Darlene Escano had a great pro debut to her home crowd that received her with much enthusiasm. Though her upper body might have been slightly more overpowering than her lower body, Darlene’s overall condition was sensational.

Another figure girl direct from the Arnold was Aussie favourite Ellena Reidie (nee Tsatsos). Making her pro debut at this event, she has added more lines in her legs, while her back remains impressive; Ellena has gone from strength to strength.

To say that Summer Bernard electrified the judges was an understatement; officials recognised Summer’s standout qualities in the amateur division and as a result was rewarded her IFBB pro card earlier in the day. The raven-haired stunner from the West Coast boasted leaner muscles especially in her upper back contrasted against her tiny waist, her neatly defined arms moving gracefully. Friends of Summer had told me she intended on obtaining her pro card within the next few years — no doubt she is stoked at her quicker progress.

Before the top five figure competitors were announced, Tony Doherty conducted a short on-stage interview with the popular UFC fighter Forrest Griffin. The ex-police officer and BSN-sponsored athlete brought the house down with his laid back sense of humour. Tony asked Forrest about his fighting career, his media appearances, hobbies and, of course, his thoughts on bodybuilding. Forrest expressed amazement at the results Varinder Singh got from vegetarianism, saying, “That’s a whole lot of lettuce.”

After deliberation, the IFBB judges determined their top five in the GNC Pro Figure Classic: the flawless and dominant Erin Stern in first place, Alicia Harris in second place, Darlene Escano in third, while Raechelle Chase and Ellena Reidie placed fourth and fifth, respectively. (Note that the top three all qualify for the Olympia later in the year, and there was a tiebreaker for fourth and fifth.)

Soon after, it was announced that the top six male pros would do a posedown. They got down to business, flexing their wares and showing the audience why they should be named the ‘biggest and baddest’. In a trend set by earlier American competitors in the IFBB, the top six left the stage and moved into the audience, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

As the pros returned to the stage, the placings were announced: Dennis Wolf in first (winning $10,000), Johnnie Jackson second, Michael Kefalianos third, Ben Pakulski fourth, Grigori Atoyan in fifth and AD Cherry in sixth. The best posing trophy and $2,500 was awarded to Dennis Wolf, taking his prize pool to $12,500.

Wolf closed the show by praising his fellow competitors, particularly Jackson, and the event audience. “I must thank the fans for without you bodybuilding would be nothing,” he said, humbly.

Because of the epic scale of the event, Tony Doherty told the audience that he did have some initial reservations during the early stages of planning. But to the winner goes the spoils and one cannot deny that FitX and the 2011 Pro Grand Prix was Australian bodybuilding’s night of nights. Props go out to Scott Goble and the Doherty’s crew who worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran seamlessly. Reportedly, Tony will be planning to conduct another industry event in March 2012. In the words of John Laws: “When you’re on a good thing, stick to it.” IM

IFBB Pro Figure Classic

1. Erin Stern (USA)

2. Alicia Harris (USA)

3. Darlene Escano (AUS)

4. Raechelle Chase (NZ)

5. Ellena Reidie (AUS)

6. Daniela O’Mara (AUS)

7. Kelli Johnson (AUS)

8. Sara Picken-Brown (AUS)

9. Summer Bernard (AUS)

10. Lisbeth Halikka (FIN)

11. Jeni Briscoe (CAN)

12. Kristy Thomson (NZ)

IFBB Pro Grand Prix XI

1. Dennis Wolf (GER)

2. Johnnie Jackson (USA)

3. Michael Kefalianos (AUS)

4. Ben Pakulski (CAN)

5. Grigori Atoyan (USA)

6. Adorthus ‘AD’ Cherry (USA)

7. Darryn Onekawa (NZ)

8. Luke Timms (AUS)

9. Varinder Singh (IND)

10. Dan Hill (GER)

Photography by Rob Czempinski, AMPT Imaging