News
Two
Surprise women win bodybuilding contest
Bodybuilders
Jinky Collins, left, and Kelli Dewsnup, right, of
Surprise won won their divisions at the 2013 “America’s Natural
Bodybuilding Contest,” completed May 25 in the Palmvista Auditorium
in Surprise. Pete Samra, another Surprise resident, trains the
bodybuilders.
Posted: Thursday, June 6, 2013 9:51 am
Two Surprise bodybuilders won their divisions at the 2013 “America’s
Natural Bodybuilding Contest,” completed May 25 in the Palmvista
Auditorium in Surprise.
Jinky Collins won the novice division in the figure and also took
second in the open division of the physique. This was her first
contest.
Kelli Dewsnup won the masters in the figure division.
Two years ago, Dewsnup placed second in open physique and also won
most symetrical. After a long layoff. she only trained for two
months for this contest. She is preparing for the USA championships
in Las Vegas later this month.
Both women were trained by Surprise resident Pete Samra, a former
Natural Mr. USA and member of the Natural Bodybuilding Hall of Fame.
Samra once managed the original Gold’s Gym in Santa Monica, Calif.,
training grounds for such famous bodybuilders as Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Draper and Franco Columbo.
Samra, who made an appearance in Schwarzenegger’s movie, “Pumping
Iron,” is a pastor at Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in
Surprise.
“I thought I could walk away from the sport, but anywhere I go in
the world people invite to share my testimony of my life as a
bodybuilder,” he said.
“I guess it’s a great way to reach a lot of people for Christ.
“Christ told us to be fishers of men, he never said what bait to
use.”
Samra also holds a Saturday morning power lifting clinic for kids
who want to be lifters.
Only Pure Muscles Pass :
Lie Detector Enforces Steroid Ban at 'Natural' Contest
June 02, 1989|PAUL
McLEOD | Times Staff Writer
Even some of the contestants for Saturday's Southern California
Natural Body Building Championships at the Aviation Center in
Redondo Beach weren't all that sure what to expect of their
mandatory tests. At worst, most thought they would be asked to give
blood or urine samples.
Neither would do, according to promoter Pete Samra, the 1980 Natural
Mr. USA. Samra, once a steroid user, chose the polygraph.
"Nothing is foolproof," Samra said. "The polygraph is the best way.
With blood tests there is blood masking, and with urine an athlete
can slip in his brother's urine."
Samra required the 46 competitors to submit to a 20-minute battery
of questions administered by the National Intelligence Network of
Victorville. The tests were performed 10 days before the event at
Samra's Torrance warehouse, where he manufactures and distributes a
line of food supplements and vitamins.
Only three contestants did not pass. Each subsequently withdrew from
the competition.
"I was pretty happy with the outcome," Samra said. "But I was hoping
that everyone would pass."
Substance abuse in the quest for a better, beautiful body is running
rampant in body building, Samra said. In the '80s he has been a
crusader for clean contests."I saw so many natural body builders
with no place to go," the South African-born promoter said. He
currently develops and markets a worldwide line of food supplements
and vitamins.
The lie detector has been used in other body-building championships,
Samra said. It's also less costly than other tests. A urine sample
costs each contestant about $50. The polygraph cost $20. If a
contestant can't pass the lie detector test, Samra picks up the tab
for a urine sample. He does not care for blood tests because he said
he can't get accurate results quickly.
"We work with them," he said of a handful of body builders who might
feel nervous about a polygraph. "We're not trying to catch anyone.
We're trying to run a drug-free contest."
Nevertheless, a portion of each participant's performance contract
warned: "I . . . know that if I am caught using steroids I will be
reported (steroid use is a criminal offense)."
Dennis Tinerino, a former Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Natural Mr.
USA, dropped by Samra's warehouse during the testing. Tinerino
admitted that he used steroids over a five-year period in his
career, but he lamented the fact that drug testing is necessary.
"Body building is one of the sickest sports you can be in," Tinerino
said. He called the use of illegal substances "an epidemic."
"I can tell you horror stories," Tinerino said. "I know guys who are
using growth hormones. It costs $3,000 for a two-month cycle. Guys
are going to veterinarians for (strength-enhancing) drugs. They
figure that if someone owns a $3-million horse, that person is going
to give that animal the best stuff. Believe it or not, those drugs
cost less and have a better effect (on humans)."
Among polygraph questions at Samra's warehouse were: "Have you ever
thought about taking substance enhancers?" and "Have you ever
cheated to get ahead?"
Jerry Anderson, a well-defined competitor from Long Beach, found the
latter question difficult.
"What can you say but yes?" he said. "In school, just about anyone
would be lying if they didn't answer yes."
According to an examiner, who would identify himself only as "John,"
such questions help determine if an athlete is telling the truth.
John said all questions are "specific in nature" and none are
personal. All questions are reviewed with each athlete before the
test is administered.
Anderson, who passed, allowed himself to be photographed while
wired. Electrodes were placed on his fingers to measure changes in
his perspiration level. A pressure cuff was placed around his arm to
measure heart and pulse rate. Finally, under his jacket, his chest
was wrapped with a girdle-like device to measure changes in
breathing patterns.
Each device was connected to a box, about the size of an
old-fashioned reel-to-reel tape deck, that recorded Robinson's
reactions to each question. His responses were etched on a long roll
of paper by a set of needles.
Contestants' reactions to the testing varied. Most were surprised
that they would receive a polygraph test. No one complained,
however.
"I think it's a great idea," said Angela Bradshaw, who works for a
legal firm in Tarzana. Although her body building is only a hobby,
she came face-to-face with steroid use in her first contest in
April.
He's Into Heavy Metal and Music : Bodybuilding:
Otis Albert, a blind bodybuilder who is also a musician, will try to
add to his collection of trophies during competition Saturday at
West Torrance High.
|
October 19, 1990|ALAN
DROOZ | TIMES STAFF WRITER |
|
When the bodybuilders go on stage Saturday at West Torrance High,
several will make unusual entrances.
Some will be in wheelchairs. Some will be pushing retirement age.
And one of the area's best novice bodybuilders will be led to the
podium by his trainer's wife. Otis Albert, 26, has been an
up-and-comer in the sport since he began competing 2 1/2 years ago.
In a competition where, the saying goes, the two most important
tools are the barbell and the mirror, that's no mean feat. Albert
has been blind his whole life. He's never seen his massive biceps or
rippling pectorals.
If lack of sight has made bodybuilding more difficult for Albert, it
hasn't stood in his way. He'll be trying to add to his collection of
trophies in Saturday's second annual World Cup of Natural
Bodybuilding.
Not only does Albert compete in the sport; his enthusiasm has made
him a favorite of Pete Samra, a former Mr. USA who is the main mover
in the drug-free bodybuilding scene.
Samra helped Albert get into competing in 1988, showing him how to
pose, providing counsel and nutritional aids. Now Albert is part of
Samra's anti-drug team that addresses schools and youth groups.
"He speaks, he poses," Samra said. "People see guys like Otis, or
bodybuilders in wheelchairs. The message is no matter what you do in
life, no matter what your handicap, you don't need drugs or
steroids."
Albert, who has been on his own since he was 19, supporting himself
mainly as a musician and on Social Security, leans on the fellowship
of his group of comrades who call themselves the Barbells for
psychological strength.
Former Narbonne High buddy Elizardo Delrio, who went blind with
retinitis pigmentosa in the early 1980s, has become his trainer and
mentor. Delrio's wife Nancy helps with posing, does the cooking and
provides moral support. Albert moved in with the Delrios in 1988.
They train in their Hawthorne apartment.
A more recent addition to the Barbells is Bobby Smith, 22, also
blind. Smith is shaping up as a competitive bodybuilder as well. "I
hope to have Bobby competing by next April," Delrio, 27, said.
When they're not training, the three also form an impressive a
cappella group, performing old rock songs and Spanish standards.
Sighted friends Glen Kapuy and John Vasquez round out the group,
acting as bodyguards, spotting the barbells and weights during
workouts and providing whatever useful services they can.
"The important thing is we've got that closeness," Delrio said.
"Some ways we're closer than blood brothers. We all have different
roles. There's never an ego trip. I'm the spokesman. Otis is the
competitor, Bobby's our spiritual leader. And my wife is the most
important part--she looks after the three of us. We thank the Lord
every day."
It was Delrio who talked Albert into training two years ago. At the
time, he said, Albert was a "sickly looking" guy with insomnia and a
bad appetite.
"I'd been telling him to work out since high school," Delrio said.
"I told him, 'You got a good physique.' We had to force feed him.
Now you better make us famous, the way you eat."
Albert grinned in agreement. "I was active (as a teen-ager) but it
was more like running, not so much sports. I had got out of that for
a while. Thank goodness my trainer kept on me."
The 175-pound Albert progressed, and one day Delrio's wife saw an ad
for a bodybuilding competition.
"We told him to compete for the heck of it," Delrio said.
At last year's World Cup, Albert came to the attention of Samra, who
was intrigued. "I started training him to pose," Samra said. "He
placed, and he's been in a couple more (contests) since.
"I had never been involved with handicapped people when Otis came
along. At first I didn't know how to deal with it. Teaching Otis to
pose was very difficult.
"First I had to teach him where to put his feet so he'd always know
where the front of the stage was. He came in once a week. At first
he was very rough. He was so clumsy, so stiff. After the first time
I was saying to myself, 'How am I ever going to get through to him?'
But the second week he had about mastered it. He overcame that
barrier. It was a major achievement. He learned quick he has so much
more potential and ability.
"It's a visual sport. I would have to do the pose, flex and let him
feel me or move his arms around so he could feel it himself. To me
it was phenomenal. He's been very inspirational to me. A TV (cable)
company showed our World Cup last year and they said if you hadn't
seen him led on stage you didn't know he was blind."
That, more than anything else, seems to be what pleases Albert, who
is concentrating on developing his abdomen and legs to the
competition level his chest and arms are. He competes at about 175
pounds.
"He's got great potential," Samra said. "He's got good genetics,
size, proportion, personality."
Local pastor enters natural bodybuilding hall of fame
Natural Bodybuilders hall of fame
Local pastor enters natural bodybuilding hall of fame
Staff report
Submitted photo
Posted: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 3:15 am
Natural bodybuilders World President Denny Kakos inductes Pete Samra
into the natural bodybuilders hall of fame Nov. 13 in Reno, Nev.
Samra and his wife, Steffi, are pastors of the Abundant Life
Christian Fellowship in Surprise.
Pete Samra, 1980 Natural Mr. USA and the 1980 Natural Mid-American
Bodybuilding Champion, was inducted into the INABA/PABA Bodybuilders
hall of fame in November.
World President Denny Kakos inducted Pete into the natural
bodybuilders hall of fame at a special awards banquet in Reno, Nev.
The brunch took place during the natural amateur and professional
olympia bodybuilding championships.
The natural olympia is the pinnacle contest for natural
bodybuilders. All athletes are tested for steroid use.
Kakos, Samra and Wally Boyko started the aba natural association in
1988. Samra resigned in 1998 when he went full time into ministry.
Kakos thanked Samra for his years he crusaded against steroids, the
Samra anti-drug team that went into high schools with a message
against steroids and drugs. Kakos mentioned Samra as a promoter of
steroid-free contests.
“People still ask if I bodybuild. I answer yes, I still bodybuild,
only now I am building the body of Christ,” Samra said.
Samra, who has helped build 28 churches in South Africa, travels
extensively preaching. In October, he visited the United Kingdom for
a month where he held two crusades for the youth in Northern Ireland
and spoke in a high school. He also held a crusade in Wales and
spoke in many meetings in England.
He challenged the athletes to fight the evils of steroid abuse and use their titles to motivate the youth to live prosperous and healthy lives.