Eric Rautenberg

Josh Hewett aka "Beast"
Founder of Team Barbarian & Top Form Fitness
Former VP of the Ontario Powerlifting Association

Qualifications:

• BA in Kinesiology
• Resistance Training Specialist
• CanFitPro Certified Personal Trainer Specialist
• American Council on Exercise
• Sport and Exercise Psychology certification
• Strength & Conditioning Coach
• Emergency Medical Care Attendant
• OPA Registered Member

I started weight training at the age of 17 in order to put some muscle on my 6 foot tall, 150 lb frame. By the time I was in university I weighed over 240 lbs and decided to compete in powerlifting. After a few contests, I took a shot at strongman training and competition. My trainer partner, Conor Kelly, and I entered our first strongman contest in PEI in 1998 and were addicted ever since!

I now hold a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario, as well as personal training qualifications from several agencies including CanFitPro. I’m a qualified fitness professional with over 14 years of involvement in the health and fitness industry including employment, academic, competitive, and volunteer experience. I've also worked with the National Ballet of Canada, Shooting Stars Soccer, Ontario Powerlifting Federation, and the Sports Medicine Specialists.

Occupation: Personal Trainer; Strength and Conditioning Specialist , Owner of Top Form Fitness

Favorite Saying: “Unleash the Beast!”

COMPETITIVE HISTORY OVERVIEW

2nd- Dunnville Mudcat Festival Strongman, Heavyweight Division, 2007
4th - Woodstock Strongman Contest, Lightweight Division, 2006
2nd - Woodstock Strongman Contest, LightWeight Division, 2005
1st - Halton Cup Qualifier 1, LightWeight Division, 2005
3rd - Extreme Fitness Strongman Challenge, 2002
1st - St.Thomas Middleweight Strongman Contest, 2002
8th - Ontario's Strongest Man, 2002
9th - Wasaga All Strength Challenge, 2002
7th - Octoberfest Strongman Competition, 2001
5th - Trenton Air Force Base All Strength Challenge, 2001
1st - Deadlift on the Beach, 1999

For more information, goto: www.top-form-fitness.com/profile.html

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Conor Kelly a.k.a. "The Giant Killer"

Started bodybuilding at the age of 16, competing in powerlifting and strongman at the age of 21

Career Highlights: 4-time Ontario's Strongest Man finalist, 2004 OSM 8th place, 2000 Atlantic Canada's Strongest Man 4th place

Personal Bests: Deadlift 655, Bench Press 455, Squat 605

Selected Accomplishments: Log Press - Official competition best of 290 weighing 210 ( North Bay, 2001), in training PR of 330 at 220 lbs. bw, and more recently 285 @ 186lbs. bw

330 Atlas stone lifted to barrel (no tacky) @ 186 bw, 4 reps with tacky

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Favorite Saying:  "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, it is a habit" - Aristotle

Website: www.transformforever.com

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Yan Bechamp AKA: “Champ”

Qualifications:
· Bachelor of Combined Honours, Psychology and Kinesiology and Health Sciences, York University
· Certificate in Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counseling, York University
· Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, McGill University

Background:
I began training when I was 18 years old and soon became interested in powerlifting and started to train heavy, but never competed. By the summer of 2002 I weighed a solid 235 lbs. But, that same summer I became ill & couldn’t keep any food down or in. I stopped training, ate very little, and I was losing 1-2 lbs per week. Doctors could not determine exactly what was wrong. I tried many different treatments but none worked. By December 2003 I weighed 145 lbs. I had lost 90 lbs! Then in January 2004 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and I began my treatments. This time the doctors were right and I responded well. I began eating again and training light and started gaining weight back in no time. I felt great and have been doing well since then, and I am close to my previous heaviest bodyweight. Three things helped me get by those 2 years: my family (parents and brother), my wife, and my training.

Competitions:
2006 Toronto Fitness Festival – 6th place (Open)
2006 Dunnville Mudcat Festival – 3rd place (205 – 257 lbs)
2006 Woodstock Festival - 2nd place (up to 231 lbs)

Interests: Latest technology and lifting heavy!

Favorite Saying: “You’re not big because you lift heavy weights; you lift heavy weights because you’re big.”

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Sam Walls Aka “Machine”

Sam has been involved in training and rehabilitation for the past 13 years. He received an honors degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor. In addition to his educational background, he has also competed and coached many sports such as Football, Track and Field, Olympic style weightlifting and Strongman.

My goals consist of continuing to learn and educating people to achieve maximum result in sporting and in life. Personally I desire to improve my own performance to the level of placing within the top 5 at the Ontario Strongest Man. With the help and support of TEAM BARBARIAN, I look forward to what lies ahead.

My experience includes:

· Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
· Periodization- Planning Specialist (Tudor Bompa Institute)
· Certified Metabolic Typing Advisor Level one: Intermediate Certification
· Degree in Kinesiology: Member of the Ontario Kinesiology Association
· Member of the Ontario Weightlifting Association
· Level one and two Theory National Coaching Certification, 1997
· Level one track and field Technical, 1999

Competitions:
3rd - Neogenixx Competition, Nepean, 2006
3rd - New Liskeard Strongman Competition (Heavy Weight Division), 2007

Website:http://torontoathleticclub.com

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Son of Hans "Battle Axe" and Else "Green thumb" Nielsen

Qualifications:
· Health Science Diploma & Personal Training Certificate from George Brown College
· Can-Fit Pro Personal Training Certificate
· American Council of Exercise
· Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant Certification
· Joseph Pilates – Pilates certificate
· Tudor Bompa Periodization Planning Specialist
· Certified Fitness Consultant- Ontario Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences

I’m a certified personal trainer, currently instructing clients in Toronto. I train in powerlifting and have competed in several Ontario Strongman competitions. My favourite events include the tire flip and log press. I love the outdoors, learning about history and a good game of scrabble.

I also enjoy reading philosophy; a current favourite quote is "Things come to those who wait. But only things left by those who hustle," -Abe Lincoln

Favourite saying is "Viking Power” and `the mind fails before the body`.

Website: www.NielsenFitness.com

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Eric Rautenberg Aka: the Natural

Eric is a personal trainer with a strong athletic background, including football. He has been competing in strongman competitions since 2005 and aspires to qualify to compete at Canada's Strongest Man in the future. At 6'4" and weighing over 265 lbs, "the Natural" has a promising future in this sport.

Competitive History:
7th Place - 2005 Gloucester Fair
4th Place - 2005 Belleville Waterfront Festival
6th Place - 2005 Fitshoppe Warehouse in Ottawa
5th Place - 2006 2nd Annual Woodstock Competition
11th Place - 2006 Ontario's Strongest Man (Port Stanley)
3rd Place (SHW) - 2006 Mudcat Strongman (Dunnville, ON)

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Drew Bawden AKA: Junior

As one of the youngest members of the team, Drew has been improving his performance on an almost weekly basis since joining the Barbarians. Junior consistently demonstrates the potential to excel as a Strong Man.

Background:
. Played competitive Hockey for 12 years. Started strength training at 15 y.o. to rehabilitate and prevent Hockey injuries.
. Started Strongman Training at 17 y.o.
. Began competing in Strongman in 2007
. Hobbies: Hockey, Strongman, Fighting / Martial arts

Hobbies: Hockey, Strongman, Fighting / Martial arts

COMPETITIVE HISTORY OVERVIEW

2nd- Dunnville Mudcat Festival Strongman, (Middleweight Division), 2007
2nd - New Liskeard Strongman Competition (Middle Weight Division), 2007

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Dave Gascho aka Big D

Qualifications:
· NCCP Club Coach Weightlifting Certification (Theory)
· Member of the O.W.A. (Ontario Weightlifting Association)
· Can-Fit-Pro P.T.S. (Personal Trainer Specialist)
· C.H.E.K. NLC Level 1 (Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach)

I have a great interest in strength and performance conditioning. I have recently competed in my first powerlifting competition. I will be doing my first weightlifting competition this winter and will begin competing in strongman in 2007. I would have to say my favorite book so far is without a doubt Supertraining (the Bible of strength in my opinion).

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Rico Catibog Aka: Rhino

Rico began strength training seriously in 1999, when he was playing amateur football for Toronto MadDogs. His training focused on developing explosive strength for sport. In 2005 "Rhino" Rico began training for strongman with Team Barbarian and he began competing in 2006. Rico has also dedicated a significant amount of time to increasing public awareness of the strongman sport through his expert videography of training and competition.

-BA Mathematics, UofW
-BWT: 290
-Favorite Lift: Deadlift 575 lbs

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Derek "Softy" Soffe

Joined Team Barbarian May 2007

Derek began lifting at the age of 14 while training for baseball. Over the years, his interests have progressed from baseball to bodybuilding to powerlifting and more recently strongman. Derek's training had primarily been targeted towards aesthetic purposes but the heavy iron soon began to call out to him.

Aside from his physical drive, Derek also possesses a strong interest in learning the science behind the training. In addition to being certified with the ISSA, Derek continues to broaden his knowledge through private study.

With the support and wisdom of Team Barbarian, Derek will be competing in the 2008 strongman season.

Favorite Saying: "PERFECT practice makes perfect"

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