Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2004)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, December 2, 2004 Vernonia bodybuilder has near perfect season, five first places Vernonia resident Terry Fultz is a busy man. He works for Gwin Logging, owns and oper- ates Terry’s Gym and, in his spare time, is a competitive bodybuilder who just completed a nearly perfect season. When Fultz walked onto the stage June 26, for the Oregon State Championships at Port- land Tiffany Center, he weighed 174 lbs, 26 pounds less than his usual 200 pound training weight. The weight loss, which started in mid-March with body- fat reduction dieting, had noth- ing to do with being overweight. It was done to bring out his full muscularity by the time of the June contest. In the sport of bodybuilding, the judges need to see muscu- lar development without the standard blanket of fat that usu- ally covers and insulates skele- tal muscles. In bodybuilding terms, it’s called “being ripped,” which really means extremely defined, as one muscle group shows complete separation from another and, as the skin tightens, the vascular systems (veins and arteries) become more visible, which is known as the “road map effect” and is the unmistakable sign of a truly conditioned competitor. The guidelines used in body- building competition (also called the rules of battle) indi- cate to the panel of seven judges who is the Best, and, despite popular belief, the com- petitor with the biggest muscles is not necessarily the Best. The physique must be balanced, top to bottom, side to side, and front to back. Presentation is considered…how well does the competitor reflect or display those long hours in the gym? Lifting weights and utilizing ma- chines to develop, sculpt and shape the physique is the train- ing portion. The competing por- tion is presenting all that hard work through a series of seven mandatory poses. During each pose, judges compare the competitors to one another and may run the athletes through the full range of body muscle flexing poses several times before place- ments – first, second, third and so on – are decided. Under hot stage lights and tremendous pressure, competitors are usu- ally near exhaustion by the end of the judging round. This judg- ing takes place in the morning; that evening, in front of thou- sand of fans, each competitor performs a free posing round, showing their muscularity and general condition to the judges and the audience through per- sonally selected poses, all of which are choreographed and set to music. It is very entertain- ing, however, it can also be very exhausting. Wireless Internet is Here Now !! Bring the laptop & have a cup of Joe while you cruise the internet Terry Fultz in one of his win- ning bodybuilding poses. After completion of the free posing, also known as the Night Show Routine, all com- petitors from a particular class are brought back onto the stage for the judges’ final as- sessment and presentation of awards, usually from first through fifth place. Now it’s over…unless you win! The first place winner of each class must now do battle with the first place winners of the other classes within the same category. For example: Fultz is 57 years-old, so he competes in the Over 50 class, a category that also includes the Over 40 and Over 60 class- es. Now the judges determine who is the Best among the win- ners of each of the classes within a category for the Overall title, or Best in the Category. The battle begins with the judges lining everyone up at center stage to perform the original seven mandatory pos- es, again, while they compare the competitors, who are side- by-side for the first time. The audience is very vocal at this point, cheering on their favorite! After this comparison, class winners have a brief time to free pose, trying to “out pose” each other by striking poses not within the seven mandatory poses, in an attempt to catch the eye of the judges. This is called the “pose-down.” When the judges have made their decision, the master of ceremonies presents the award for Overall Champion. Fultz won his class, then went on to win the Overall at the Oregon State Champi- onships. It’s not hard to see that the Over 40 class presents the toughest competition, as he may have to compete against someone who has just turned 40 and is 17 years younger than he is. The age difference makes comparisons difficult, yet this season presented Fultz with a unique situation at the Northern Pacific State, a big regional contest held at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville on Octo- ber 9. All competitors were al- lowed to “double enter,” which meant Fultz could enter his age class in the Masters category, and he could also enter the Open Men category, which is divided by weight classes rang- ing from Bantam weight to the Super Heavy weights. First, he won his age class, Open Daily – 831 Bridge St. Vernonia 503-429-0214 6am - 6pm Mon-Fri, 6:30am - 4pm Sat, 8am - 3pm Sun Country Kitchen & Pizza Daily Breakfast Specials Holiday Special Need a break from the holidays? Drop in for a pleasant meal or a cup of coffee and let us serve you! • 25% off select candles • Gift Baskets under $20 • Gift Certificates Available WINTER HOURS: TH-M – 7 AM-8 PM, TUE- WED – 7 AM -3 PM FOOD TO GO Phone: 503-429-6523 342 Bridge St., Vernonia Across from High School Therapeutic Massage, Acupressure, Deep Tissue Massage, Aromatherapy, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology 503-709-4677 ASHN provider 845 Madison Avenue, Vernonia,OR Lic # 10732 then captured the Overall tro- phy in the Masters category. However, he really made a statement by placing second in the Open Men’s Middle-weight class, where he lost by only one point to a 26 year-old from California, a remarkable feat that the crowd recognized by presenting him with the only standing ovation of the entire show. That 31 year age differ- ence indicates the perfection of Fultz’s physique. “It’s really cool to beat the kids,” Fultz said. Fultz’s results in other com- petitions this season include the following: August 28, Northern Golds Classic, Tacoma, Washington, 1st in class and Overall Cham- pion. September 25, Evergreen State Championships, We- natchee, Wash., 1st in class. October 23, Washington State Championships, Auburn, Wash., 1st in class and Overall Champion. So, what’s next? Fultz says he will rest for awhile, then it’s back to the gym, training, and proper nutrition, because the strategy for next season begins now. “ “The fun never ends,” Fultz said, “I’m 57. I feel like I’m in my 30’s but my back often re- minds me that I’m not. So keep- ing things in perspective is my true challenge, avoiding injuries with a sensible approach, real- izing my limitations and govern- ing my ambition. This season was long and tiring from a com- petitor’s standpoint.” “I had a fantastic year, but I couldn’t do it alone,” Fultz said, “My wife, Gail, who is also my dietician, biggest critic and biggest fan, was always there for me and twice this season I was able to coax her up on stage, where I presented her with the Overall trophy that I had just won. She earned them right along with me. Oh yeah, the crowd loved it!” Fultz’s accumulation of ca- reer points (one of those com- puter things) has placed him as one of the top 57 year-old ama- teur bodybuilders in the world (There is a man in Ireland with a few more points.). What is his long term goal? “I want to win the Nationals when I’m 60.” For now, though, “Watch out fella, next year’s coming, and so am I!”
