[quote]SkyNett wrote:
That’s amazing. Onstage with Cordova or Whitacre - or both! Really looking forward to seeing that! : )[/quote]
Yeah, definitely a humbling thought though. Sure I’m going to pump the brakes a bit for the next couple of weeks (21 weeks of contest prep here), but I’ve got a lot of work to do before I’m ready to stand toe to toe with those guys 
S
I think you are a great representative for the sport of bodybuilding!
[quote]gregron wrote:
Great job Stu! Thats a pretty awesome trophy… Did you happen to get a shot of you doing the same pose as the guy on the trophy? That would be a cool shot
looking forward to seeing the professional shots… thats bad ass[/quote]
Congratulations on your hard earned victory. I have been following your posts recently and you have it together Stu. I second what gregron wrote. I’m sure you’ll do great at the Worlds, should you chose to compete, especially w/ I-3G.
GREAT accomplishment! Congratulations!
Nice work!
I don’t know what I find more impressive: your amazing success on stage or the fact that you CONTINUE to remain the same humble, helpful guy you were even after all your success.
No one on this site deserves it more, IMHO.
[quote]anonym wrote:
I don’t know what I find more impressive: your amazing success on stage or the fact that you CONTINUE to remain the same humble, helpful guy you were even after all your success.
No one on this site deserves it more, IMHO.[/quote]
lol at the picture but qft
[quote]anonym wrote:
I don’t know what I find more impressive: your amazing success on stage or the fact that you CONTINUE to remain the same humble, helpful guy you were even after all your success.
No one on this site deserves it more, IMHO.[/quote]
x2
classiest guy on these boards, congrats man
Congrats Stu! You looked Amazing!
[quote]TommyGunz32 wrote:
[quote]anonym wrote:
I don’t know what I find more impressive: your amazing success on stage or the fact that you CONTINUE to remain the same humble, helpful guy you were even after all your success.
No one on this site deserves it more, IMHO.[/quote]
x2
classiest guy on these boards, congrats man[/quote]
x5. Can’t count the amount of times I’ve lost patience and decided not to come back to the Beginner’s forum or a newbie post, but Stu is always helping.
Wow, so I just received 6 different forms to fill out and activate my WNBF Pro Status. Some topics are what I expected, the usual acknowldgement of drug testing policies etc. Others, are a little surprising and certainly make me re-read exactly what I’m signing here…
Some highlights:
-Upon receiving this paperwork, I have 2 weeks to end it in (okay, no biggy there)
-Once I received my WNBF card, I MUST compete at least once in the first 12 months after I have it (so much for an extended off season and waiting until next Fall. Hopefully there will be some Pro shows in the Spring, because I really do not want to worry excessively about my diet and cardio during the summer.
-In order to compete in the Worlds (held in November), I must compete in another WNBF show previously during the calendar year (so Spr 2012 and fall 2012).
-Athletes not to compete in non-federation sanctioned events (minimum 2 year ban).
-Must notify Vice Chairman in writing if I am invited to be photographed, interviewed, or appear in any media (magazine, radio, tv, newpapers etc). Federation has right to approve or deny permission. If permission is denied, and athlete opts to appear regardless, the athlete voluntarily gives up his WNBF membership and eligability to compete for minimum of 1 year.
-In case of approval, it is the athlete’s responsibility to promote his pro natural status (works for me). Should he/she be featured in any approved media where his WNBF affiliation and membership is not indicated, he may be subject to suspension from future competition and expulsion from th WNBF.
Oookay,… well, I’m not putting this up here in any form of griping, I mean, I know that the natural federations have their ‘static’ between them, but I certainly never had to sign anything like this when I recieved my congratulatory letter from the USBF on receiving my pro card there. Still, you can’t ignore the fact that the top talent all seems to congregate in this federation. Whether it’s the ultra stringent drug policies (some of the other feds will let you pop all the pro-hormones you want), the wide media exposure, or just the opportunity to compete against the best in the sport, this is the federation that despite the constant knocks on the rules and regulations, always garners the most respect.
For the record, I didn’t share the above highlights so people could get all riled up (please don’t let this thread go down that route). I try to remain as open as I’ve always been with all the aspects of my competitive journey, and I’m sure most people wouldn’t have the slightest inkling that this is standard policy.
S
As a Pro, will you win money? If you do, does that disqualify you from ever entering NPC shows? Will your Pro status effect your T-Nation activity, like commenting on Biotest products or photos/videos of your training?
Just curious.
I envy you because your partner share the same interest with you in this sport, life couldn’t get any better than this
congratulation Stu!
Congratulations to you and your girlfriend, Stu!
It’s awesome to see one of the smartest posters here have so much success.
Awesome job Stu! Congratulations.
Congratulations! Though we’ve not really spoke I can only repeat what everyone else says on you being probably the most giving lifter on this site.
I’m also interested in your stance on the NPC, I don’t really follow too many shows/feds but the Team Universe always struck me as the highest level of competition where there’s a possibility many are natural, such as J-Rod in my avi. I’m getting the impression that if your goal is to go as far as a natural can go whilst not having there legitimacy challenged WNBF is the best option. After all J-rod is insane but there’s still no guarantee he’ll get his pro card at the TU even after an extended off-season.
[quote]jake_j_m wrote:
Congratulations! Though we’ve not really spoke I can only repeat what everyone else says on you being probably the most giving lifter on this site.
I’m also interested in your stance on the NPC, I don’t really follow too many shows/feds but the Team Universe always struck me as the highest level of competition where there’s a possibility many are natural, such as J-Rod in my avi. I’m getting the impression that if your goal is to go as far as a natural can go whilst not having there legitimacy challenged WNBF is the best option. After all J-rod is insane but there’s still no guarantee he’ll get his pro card at the TU even after an extended off-season. [/quote]
Well, to answer your (and another’s) thoughts, I do have a few friends who are completely clean, yet have competed in the NPC. While I’ve got to watch them before, it’s always disheartening to me to see someone who weighs the same as my buddy, but easily dwarfs them in terms of overall muscle size. Sure I keep hearing the whole ‘you can bring better conditioning than someone who is assisted’ arguments, but it just seems to me like I’d be going into a game where I’m playing by different rules, and have absolutely no chance at winning whatsoever. I’m not sure if I need to carry the flag of natural bodybuilding around and wave it in people’s faces who honestly don’t care one way or another. I’ve never claimed any issue with those who choose to ‘use’, and those who don’t. To me, they’re just playing different games, BOTH requiring a hell of a lot of discipline and dedication. The bottom line in the natural side of the sport, is that the WNBF carries the most weight as far as the level of competition (honestly clean competition) goes. Having achieved this level, a mere 2 years after first stepping onstage, I can’t even begin to describe how I feel (especially as I always tend to view myself much less accomplished than I am.)
If I were to compete in the NPC, or any other federation from here on in, I would essentially be renouncing my status as a WNBF Pro. The federation’s stance is one of maintaining the highest degree of rules and restrictions, and as such, truly being able to back up (as much as humanly possible I guess) the legitimacy of their Pros’ drug free status.
The Team Universe requires its entrants be “1 year drug free”, which to competitors in any of the natural federations, is laughable. I respect the hell out of J-Rod, but I have known too many people who suddenly opt to not compete in the 5 - 7 years drug free (that seems to be the general policy) organizations anymore, and instead focus on the TU, or Musclemania, or one of the other questionable shows, always sidestepping the real reason why.
S
Stu-
Congratulations. You are certainly one of the most helpful and inspiring BB’ers. Well deserved and much respect!!
Congrats man! It was great following your log–it was the only thing I consistently checked on T-Nation besides the articles!
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]jake_j_m wrote:
Congratulations! Though we’ve not really spoke I can only repeat what everyone else says on you being probably the most giving lifter on this site.
I’m also interested in your stance on the NPC, I don’t really follow too many shows/feds but the Team Universe always struck me as the highest level of competition where there’s a possibility many are natural, such as J-Rod in my avi. I’m getting the impression that if your goal is to go as far as a natural can go whilst not having there legitimacy challenged WNBF is the best option. After all J-rod is insane but there’s still no guarantee he’ll get his pro card at the TU even after an extended off-season. [/quote]
Well, to answer your (and another’s) thoughts, I do have a few friends who are completely clean, yet have competed in the NPC. While I’ve got to watch them before, it’s always disheartening to me to see someone who weighs the same as my buddy, but easily dwarfs them in terms of overall muscle size. Sure I keep hearing the whole ‘you can bring better conditioning than someone who is assisted’ arguments, but it just seems to me like I’d be going into a game where I’m playing by different rules, and have absolutely no chance at winning whatsoever. I’m not sure if I need to carry the flag of natural bodybuilding around and wave it in people’s faces who honestly don’t care one way or another. I’ve never claimed any issue with those who choose to ‘use’, and those who don’t. To me, they’re just playing different games, BOTH requiring a hell of a lot of discipline and dedication. The bottom line in the natural side of the sport, is that the WNBF carries the most weight as far as the level of competition (honestly clean competition) goes. Having achieved this level, a mere 2 years after first stepping onstage, I can’t even begin to describe how I feel (especially as I always tend to view myself much less accomplished than I am.)
If I were to compete in the NPC, or any other federation from here on in, I would essentially be renouncing my status as a WNBF Pro. The federation’s stance is one of maintaining the highest degree of rules and restrictions, and as such, truly being able to back up (as much as humanly possible I guess) the legitimacy of their Pros’ drug free status.
The Team Universe requires its entrants be “1 year drug free”, which to competitors in any of the natural federations, is laughable. I respect the hell out of J-Rod, but I have known too many people who suddenly opt to not compete in the 5 - 7 years drug free (that seems to be the general policy) organizations anymore, and instead focus on the TU, or Musclemania, or one of the other questionable shows, always sidestepping the real reason why.
S[/quote]
Wow, thanks for the thorough responce Stu I certainly did not know they only require “1 year drug free” at TU and can completely see how that is laughable. Your choice seems to be that which perhaps makes most sense for those who are content with being at the top of the natural world and have made the concious decision to perhaps never use. I like to think J-Rod is part of the minority that are perhaps content with plugging away improving as much as possible and seeing where that lands them even if it never guarentees a victory. But theres really no way of knowing.