| My Contest Experience by David Robson |
Champ David Robson The 2006 competitive bodybuilding season has been a great one, topped off nicely by a win at the MCBB (Midwest Christian Bodybuilding) Cyber Contest. In 2005, as a personal trainer helping others to reach their goals, I again became motivated to compete in a sport that has captured my interest since the early 90s. So upon the urging of several friends and clients, I made a decision to pull on the trunks once again (I had competed 13 times since 1994, my last show being in 2001) to contest the 2006 season, a choice that proved immensely rewarding. Teaming up with nutrition and training expert Dan Gastelu, I formulated a plan of attack; one that would this year lead me to second places at both the Auckland Championships in May and Waikato Championships in July, and a win in the Midwest Christian Bodybuilding Cyber Contest the same year. In fact the Cyber Contest was instrumental in motivating me to push to greater heights for all 2006 outings, as it was for the first time staged in March, making it the first show I contested, as a lead up to other 2006 events. It certainly got the competitive fires burning. The first ever Cyber contest was quite an experience. Upon reading about this event my initial thoughts were, "what a revolutionary concept". A show where people from all corners of the world can compete together and be judged by a panel of esteemed bodybuilders, including several former IFBB professionals, with the only stipulation being full natural status, almost seems an offer to hard to overlook, at least for a natural bodybuilder who loves to compete. My first attempt at the Cyber Contest was met with great opposition: eventual winner, the well-conditioned Jeff Locke, took the deserved victory. I felt happy to have been part of the contest and made the commitment to present a better-conditioned package at the next event. After competing in two regional shows, and placing second in both against very strong opposition, I again submitted my photos to MCBB and, this time, won. To have won this show was a great honour and privilege given the quality judging panel and the intent behind the contest: to bring bodybuilding competitors around the world together to compete in a natural event. Hosted by Bobby Barker, a Christian who is committed to increasing the profile of natural bodybuilding worldwide, the cyber contest promotes the spirit of bodybuilding competition in line with Christian values. All competitors compete without the use of anabolic drugs, their only advantage being the body God designed for them. As a lifetime natural bodybuilder I would love to see natural bodybuilding's popularity grow. Through the cyber contest people can support natural bodybuilding in a safe non-threatening environment. The show could even be seen as an ideal way for the beginner to "test the waters" to see how they compare to other bodybuilders from around the world. I look forward to the next one and urge others to take the challenge and pose down with the great community of bodybuilders the MCBB has created. 
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