2016 ATLANTIC CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

This year’s 38th Annual Atlantic Classic Championships will be held in Moncton at Casino NB for the 4th year in a row.  It will also be the 10th year since Promoter’s Ti-Jean and Heather LeBlanc started promoting the show in 2007.

Things have come a long way, going from a High School venue to the prestigious Casino NB.  In 2007, only 12 classes of athletes amongst the various divisions ranged between 40-50 competitors in total.  The promoters are very pleased that all four Atlantic Provinces will be well represented. The Atlantic Classic Championships has evolved tremendously over the past 10 years and this year’s championships has over 265+ athletes across all 4 Atlantic Provinces; New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, registered to compete in this year’s event. 

NBPFA President Heather LeBlanc explains; “The interest in competing has skyrocketed over the past several years when we started holding and promoting educational fitness & bodybuilding seminars.  We now feel confident that our athletes have the proper information, direction and tools to commence their competitive journey to the stage.  It’s apparent that athletes have a better self-confidence and improved comfort level in showcasing their physique on stage in front of a thousand spectators.  Our objective has always been to get as many people on stage as we possibly can and by organizing and promoting the Atlantics and a Vegas style format, it has brought back the comradery and the fun doing competitions.”

The event has grown from 12 classes to 26 classes consisting of Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini, Women’s Physique, Men’s Physique and newly created division Men’s Classic Physique.  This new division was designed to show more of an artistic impression of an actual bodybuilder and creating a Frank Zane era of bodybuilding with nice full round muscles but in a lesser downsized version of the bodybuilders seen on stage today. 

The promoters are also very pleased to bring back the SCULPT TRANSFORMATION AWARD showcasing 12 athletes (consisting of male and female) who’ve drastically transformed their out of shape physiques into stage bodies in less than 16 weeks.  The Before and After results will be presented in an opening montage before stepping on stage very similar to the popular TV series the Biggest Loser.  10 random judges across Atlantic Canada were chosen to judge this award prior to the event. 

The biggest and baddest addition will be the newly created and Invitational Bodybuilding Class, the Gladiator Elite Bodybuilding Showdown.  4 Time Canadian Bodybuilding Champion and IFBB Pro Ti-Jean LeBlanc explains; “I had this idea of bringing bodybuilding back to where it once was by trying to create more interest in offering a personal invite to some of the best bodybuilders in Atlantic Canada to compete in an Elite best of the best open class of bodybuilding.  In the past 10 years, Bodybuilding in Atlantic Canada has been slowly declining and this showdown has definitely brought it back to life!” 

On the Gladiator roster, there will be big names taking part in this upcoming division; National Level Competitors Dana Baker-NS,  Rene Leger-NB, Dave Miller-NL, Danny Garon-NS, Prince Boabang-NS, Troy Ferguson-NS, Tom Leclair-PEI, Mike Gray-NB, Andrew Kupkee-NB, Mike Griffin-NB, Jamie Peterson-NB, Mike Martin-NS, Devin Trenholm-NB, Ken Black-NB, Jobie Dewland-NL and Sebastien Bertin-NB.   Jean describes this division as; “Bodybuilders of high caliber who have won an Overall Championship in their own province or achieved high accolades in their sport.”  LeBlanc says; “Out of 30 invitations sent out, 16 Gladiators accepted.  I never dreamt in a million years that this division would create so much hype and interest in our sport and I am very pleased with the response by both our fans and the athletes.”  With a mini “Olympia” style press conference the night before the event, the smack talk will commence and war will be unleashed.  16 Gladiators will be battling it out for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placing’s with a Fan Favorite Award also added to the mix.  Up for grabs is the Elite Gladiator Sword bearing an engraved marking of the first ever Gladiator champion, as well as, trophies for 2nd and 3rd, as well as, the fan favorite.  All Gladiators will also receive commemorative medals.  Significant bursary amounts will be awarded to support their competitive journey to the National CBBF Championships.

The newly elected New Brunswick Physique and Fitness Association President, Heather LeBlanc and her husband Ti-Jean is confident that a show of this magnitude is only a successful one because of the support of all individuals involved.  Ti-Jean LeBlanc states; “It’s simple.  We are only successful for the following reasons ;  being supported by  loyal and generous sponsors, having the professionalism and participation of the athletes involved, having an excellent team helping us organize the event and last but not least, the support of the audience and the fans.”

In closing, the promoters are elated that this event will be web streamed for any family, friends and fans living abroad.  Please go to:  http://tv1.bellaliant.ca/Home/Live/1 for live coverage of both the Pre-judging and Evening Finals.  Prejudging will commence at 9:00 am Atlantic standard time, with tickets being sold at the door for $20 each.  The evening show finals will begin at 6:00 pm, tickets are available at www.casinonb.ca .  For more details about the show, please visit our website at www.atlanticclassic.ca .