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Markus Ruhl is huge, and coming off a surprising comeback last year, in which he proved once again he is still a top IFBB pro bodybuilder, was at the Ultimate Nutritrion booth at the 2010 Fit Expo here in Los Angeles on January 23-24th. Here is Bob Cicherillo, of Bodybuilding.com, asking Markus some questions.

Moe El Moussawi, top 10 IFBB Olympia athlete, flew into Los Angeles on Friday from New Zealand. He was at the Nutrigenix booth, along with Mindi Smith and Rosa Maria Romero (you can see their video on Hardbody.com, and they are both competing in the 2010 Arnold Classic Figure). Here are some question about what Moe is up to. Moe, courtesy of Weider / AMI

Each year in Columbus, Ohio, right after the Arnold Classic Pro Bodybuilding event, parties are usually held around town. One of them is the official Arnold Classic After Party, with Arnold himself attending the event, and another is the Jason Dhir Mega-Party Charity After Bash. Both are great parties, and I have a great time at both of them. Here is the information on the parties. The Arnold Party With The Pros will once again be the place to be as the world’s top professionals in bodybuilding, fitness, figure, strongman and others celebrate deep into the night at the Official After-Party for the Arnold Classic. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will also make an appearance at the can’t-miss event of the weekend. The Arnold Party With The Pros will be held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 – immediately following the Arnold Classic — at the LC Pavilion and neighboring A&R Music Bar and The Basement on Neil Avenue in the Arena District. The Party With The Pros will be a long night of fun, with drinks, dancing, music, star-gazing and world-class entertainment. Top celebrities who annually attend the Arnold Sports Festival will join the leading professional athletes…

Here is a look at the Los Angeles Fit Expo commercial that is running here on various cable and tv channels.

This Saturday and Sunday, January 23rd and 24th, the Los Angeles Fit Expo is going to be the place to be, with many NPC, IFBB and other MMA competitors at various booths and checking out the action at the L.A. Convention Center. One of the highlights that I am looking forward to is the current IFBB Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, who is going to take the main performance stage on Sunday at 2pm for a Q&A Seminar. This event is a great way to see what Jay has been up to, and how he won back the Mr. Olympia title when very few people thought he would. See you there.

Here is the latest poster for the first IFBB contest of the year. The 2010 IFBB Phoenix Pro is starting to rev up, and features pro bodybuilding (mens and womens), and pro figure. Troy Alves and Quincy Taylor are featured on the poster, as well as Felicia Romero, Amy O’Neil, Gayle Moher and Nita Marquez. This is the first IFBB pro contest in Arizona! Here are some of the competitors rumored to be competing IFBB Pro Men’s Troy Alves Melvin Anthony Con Demetriou Toney Freeman DeShaun Grimez Andy Haman Daniel Hill Neil Hill Johnnie Jackson Mike Libertore White Rhino Quincy Taylor Hidetada Yamagishi Mehmet Yildrim Pro Figure Monica Mark Nita Marquez Amy O’Neil Felicia Romero Mindi Smith

Two weeks to go to California’s largest Bodybuilding and Fitness Event: The Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo presented by Gaspari Nutrition and Pro Fight Supplements coming to The Los Angeles Convention Center on January 23-24, 2010. For bodybuilding fans we’ll have over 250 exhibits of interest filled with the latest in supplements, nutrition, exercise equipment, fitness wear, life extension, and more! For the 7th year of our Expo we are going all out with a roster of special bodybuilding/fitness celebrities for attendees to meet and learn from. Set to appear during the weekend are: 3 Time Mr. Olympia JAY CUTLER (courtesy of Weider Publications) 8 Time Ms. Olympia LENDA MURRAY (courtesy of PRO PTA) The Incredible Hulk, actor/legendary bodybuilder LOU FERRIGNO IFBB Pro BOB CICHERILLO (courtesy of Bodybuilding.com) IFBB Pro DENNIS JAMES (courtesy of PRO PTA) IFBB Pro, “The German Beast” MARKUS RUHL (courtesy of Ultimate Nutrition) Mr. Olympia SAMIR BANNOUT (courtesy of PRO PTA) IFBB Pro MELVIN ANTHONY (courtesy of PRO PTA) IFBB Pro BEN WHITE (courtesy Nutrabolics) IFBB Pro HIDETADA YAMAGISCHI (courtesy Gaspari Nutritiion) 2009 IFBB New York Women’s Pro 1st Place Winner CATHEY LeFRANCOIS (courtesy of Gaspari Nutrition) 2009 IFBB Atlantic City Pro -202 & Under 1st…

With the loss of the 2010 Ironman Pro, there will be no IFBB men’s pro bodybuilding in Southern California this year. But next year, Flex Magazine along with Ultimate Nutrition is bringing back men’s pro bodybuilding to Los Angeles, with the 2011 Flex Pro Bodybuilding and Figure Championships on February 26, 2011. You can read more on the announcement at Flexonline.com or by clicking the link below. 2011 Flex Pro BB & Figure Contest Announcement

The 2010 NPC USA’s on July 30-31st in Las Vegas is going to be the biggest ever. And this year, they will be awarding FOUR IFBB Pro cards for the Men’s division, for the top 4 overall out of 7 divisions (last year, it was only 3). Add to that 6 IFBB Pro cards for the bikini division, 6 IFBB Pro cards for the figure division, and 2 IFBB Pro cards for the Women’s bodybuilding division. For more info, please go to www.musclecontest.com on all of Jon Lindsay’s contests.

Team BSN® is very proud to introduce its latest marquee addition: 31-year-old IFBB star Dennis Wolf has officially joined the roster! The man often referred to as the “German Giant” has drawn plenty of attention in the bodybuilding world over the last few years, and already finds himself among the sports elite. With his massive frame and obvious genetic gifts, Dennis already possesses the kind of physique bodybuilders the world over aspire to achieve, yet his pursuit of greatness has only just begun. With two top-five Olympia finishes already under his belt, Dennis and his limitless potential represent the new guard of athletes poised to take the future of bodybuilding by the reins. Born in the former USSR before his family eventually settled in Germany, Dennis began his competitive bodybuilding career in 1999 after what started as a hobby became a full-fledged passion. After dominating the German bodybuilding circuit and making a name for himself on the international stage, Dennis made his way to Texas for his professional debut at the 2006 Europa Supershow. Since then he has skyrocketed up the pro ranks to become one of the sports true stars and a perennial Olympia contender. Realizing his enormous potential,…

Here we go again, more compounds are being added to the long list of prohormones being relabled as steroids. For your information, Effective January 4, 2010, boldione, desoxymethyltestosterone, and 19-nor-4,9(10)-androstadienedione are subject to CSA regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, importation, and exportation of a schedule III controlled substance

With the 2010 IFBB Ironman Pro cancelled for 2010, the first IFBB Men’s bodybuilding contest will be on February 20th in Pheonix, Arizona, two weeks before the 2010 Arnold Classic. Here is some information on the contest, which also will include an IFBB Figure Pro, IFBB Fitness Pro, IFBB Womens Bodybuilding and the IFBB Mens 202lbs and Under Bodybuilding competitions. The event location is the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466, and the host hotel is the Marriott Phoenix Mesa.

With no more IFBB Pro Contests for the year, the 2009 IFBB Pro Rankings are complete, including IFBB Bikini (although there has not been a contest yet). Congratulations to those who made the top 10 in the current rankings. Here are the lists. IFBB RAS Pro Rankings

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Muscle Beach, two time capsules were placed into the ground on the stage. John Balik, owner of Ironman Magazine and his daughter Lilly, did the honors. Bill Rosendahl presented a special Certificate of Recognition to Joe Weider (accepted by Charlotte Parker) for his ongoing vision and support for the sport of bodybuilding and his philosophy for health and fitness Other Muscle Beach Venice Hall of Fame Inductees included Samir Bannout, Sara Hirsch Clark, Bill Howard, Bill Grant, Chet Yortin, Gene Mozee, and Bernie Ernst Thanks to a group of young individuals for accepting the pledge to be the “guardians” of the Muscle Beach Time Capsules. Justin and Lilly Balik, John Balik’s children, Henry Fleischman, son of Eric The Trainer, Taylor Wheatley, Joe Wheatley’s niece, Boston Loyd, winner of the Teen Category Labor Day 2009 and Taylor Hansen, winner of the 2009, Labor Day Novice Overall Figure. For the pictures from this event, please click below Muscle Beach Time Capsule Pics

Some of you have asked for the dates of the NPC national contests. Here they are… March 20, 2010 NPC WHEELCHAIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Palm Beach Gardens, FL Frank Dalto, 2 Old Meadow Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, 561-627-9638 June 18-19, 2010 NPC JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, and Bikini Chicago, IL Deadline for entry: May 28, 2010 Pam Betz, 104 11th Avenue, Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-4467, PamBetz@aol.com www.npcjrnationals.com July 9-10, 2010 NPC TEAM UNIVERSE & NPC NATIONAL FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIPS Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini National Fitness Championships Hackensack, NJ Deadline for entry: June 25, 2010 Steve Weinberger, Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym 235-C Robbins Lane, Syosset, NY 11791 516-933-1111, bevsgym@optonline.net www.bevfrancis.synthasite.com July 23-24, 2010 NPC TEEN COLLEGIATE MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Teen National Fitness Masters National Figure Collegiate National Figure Masters National Bikini Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Gary Udit, PO Box 16424 Pittsburgh, PA 15242, 412-377-1438 gudit@comcast.net, www.garyudit.com July 30-31, 2010 NPC USA CHAMPIONSHIPS Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Las Vegas, NV Deadline for entry: July 9, 2010 Jon Lindsay, 2554 Lincoln Blvd PMB 749 Venice, CA 90291, 310-796-9181 jon@musclecontest.com, www.musclecontest.com August 28, 2010 NPC JUNIOR USA CHAMPIONSHIPS Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, and Bikini Stafford, TX Deadline for entry: August 6, 2010 Tres Bennett, 1816 Chelwood…

The 2009 NPC Excalibur is the last NPC contest of the year in Southern California, where over 170 competitors are going to meet up. The location is the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Culver City. The featured guest poser will be Kris Murrell, who just won the overall at the NPC National’s in women’s bodybuilding. We will be there taking pictures and more. For more information, go to www.musclecontest.com. See you there!

Joe Wheatley Productions is pleased to present the 3rd Annual Muscle Beach Toy Drive. Presented by Bodybuilding.com and Iron Man Magazine and Hosted by the LAPD Pacific Division and L.A. City Recreation and Parks. The event will take place on December 12 & 13, 2009. Please bring a new unwrapped toy between the hours of 10 am – 4 pm to the Venice Recreation Center, 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA, 90291. The toys will be distributed by the LAPD Pacific Division to needy children in the area. Santa will be arriving on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm. Bring the kids to greet and talk with Santa and his famous sled. In addition to the Toy Drive and in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Muscle Beach an historic time capsule will be buried on December 13, 2009 at 1 pm. The time capsule will include memorabilia, pictures, DVD’s and books that acknowledge the work and dedication of many individuals to health and fitness. On hand to participate in the ceremony Councilmen, 11th District, Bill Rosendahl, the world famous Joe Weider founder of the IFBB and Mr. Olympia competition, Franco Columbu, Mr. Olympia, the oldest Muscle Beach Athlete,…

Mark Mason and Ron Avidan took a number of pictures for bodybuilding.com, both from the stage, backstage, expo and even some beach shots from the 2009 NPC National’s at Hollywood, Florida. Here is a link to Getbig’s Picture Section, where the various pictures are sorted out. See if you can spot your favorite competitor there. NPC National Picture’s by Section

The 2009 NPC National Contests are over and here are the results. Please click on each link to check out the winners of bodybuilding, figure and bikini and to find out which latest NPC competitors have now become our new pros. NPC National Men’s Bodybuilding Results NPC National Figure Results NPC National Women’s Bodybuilding Results NPC National Bikini Results

For Immediate Release (November 13, 2009 – Oxnard, California) Iron Man Magazine Publisher John Balik reported today that the Pro Fight Supplements Iron Man Pro bodybuilding contest, originally slated to take place on Saturday, January 23, 2010, is being rescheduled for an as of yet undetermined date. The contest, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2009, is one of the longest running IFBB Pro shows in the world. For the last six years, the Iron Man Pro has been held in conjunction with The Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo, produced by National Fitness Productions. With over 20,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors, and an incredible line-up of fitness, physique, martial arts and strength contests, it is one of the country’s largest and fastest growing consumer fitness expos. “The Expo has been a huge success and is growing every year” said Balik. “But when it was held in late February, two weeks before the Arnold Classic to accommodate the Iron Man Pro, some companies just couldn’t exhibit at it. Shipping their booths coast-to-coast and asking their staff to work back-to-back expos was just too much for some of them.” So when National Fitness Productions elected to move the Expo to the third weekend…