Beauty is in the bulk of the beholder.
On Saturday night, the Mr./Mrs. Buffalo Championships took over the UB Center For The Arts. Pumping up an audience full of relatives and pros from the past and the future, the over-tanned and immensely muscular competitors flexed, flaunted, and in once case, flipped their ways across the stage and into a potential trophy winning spotlight.
Walking to his podium like a king to his court, former Mr. Buffalo and master of ceremonies, Joe Lazarro, set the evening in motion as he watched his bikini wearing escorts slowly strut away. As he stressed the legacy of the event and the deep support of his sponsors, Lazzaro made it clear that Gold's Gym and basically the night in general was far from a forum to flex brainless Braun.
"They're about health and fitness," Lazarro said. "It's not just a bunch of meatheads running around like the old days," said Lazarro.
Every man and woman that competed was an ideal specimen of physical and nutritional health. With competitors in their 50s and 60s, the show showed generations of the never ending desire for self-improvement.
Kicking of the night's festivities with the first annual Women's Bikini Classes, Lazarro and his warriors showed that though bodybuilding is a long respected and traditional sport, it's still growing in support and femininity. Women's Overall Bikini winner Shalom Singer took home the inaugural trophy, despite facing some negative crowd banter and being one of the lesser-toned women in her class.
Regardless of the nay saying, Singer did own her suit, showing that bikini wearing isn't about muscle, but curves and classic - a natural form.
Fading from alluring to aging, the Men's Masters over 50 and 60 years old brought nostalgic entertainment to some and awe to others. Over 60-winner Bob Valenti was lean, mean and cut, showing up many of the night's competitors half his age. Second place winner Manny Wolcott was no slouch himself as he donned one of the biggest chests of the evening. His past, award winning form was still in tact, but just wasn't enough to beat Valenti, or over 50-winner David Herzog, for that matter, who had the physique of a 30-year-old lifter in his prime.
Shifting back to the women, Christine Vogel took home the Women's Figure Masters in the over 45 category, while Shrell Krawczyk did the same in the over 35.
Still moonlighting in the older classes, David Duncan took home first in Men's Masters over 35, a strong feat despite some stiff competition.
Within the Women's Masters category, the competitors varied in both size and style. Ranging from the toned, but feminine Susan Manera, whose performance flowed smoothly under the ever-judging eyes in attendance, to Theresa Vranich, the bigger and bulky ex-paraplegic whose story was as impressive as her physique. Even the runners-up were statuesque. While Manera took home the trophy for over 45 as the sole fit competitor, Theresa Moloney took home the over 35 and really shined in her moment with a huge smile and pure excitement.
In the always-entertaining teenage division, Andrew Rechin wiggled and smiled his tangerine-trunked way to the top, edging out the heavily charismatic Moudi Hubeishy. Rechin's rippling abs proved too much for Hubeishys bigger, brawnier frame.
In the Men's Novice category, lightweight went to Frank Mogavero, middleweight went to Christian Bakula and heavyweight went to Nathan Steiger. After an overall posedown and some playful interaction between Steiger and Bakula, Steiger took the overall novice title. Steiger's almost cartoonish figure, complete with oversized pecs and lats earned him an easy victory in novice division and more to come.
Winning the Women's Overall Open Class was Jessica Zeigler, defeating lightweight winner Christine Vranich. Zeigler's joy was overly apparent as she skipped off stage. Women's overall Figure went to Kelley Ferguson, a petite, but flawless competitor, edging out Figure 3 winner Jodi Usmail, Figure 4 winner Katie Smering and Figure 2 winner Shrell Krawkrawczyk.
Mr. Buffalo/the Men's Open Championship went to show-stealer Nathan Steiger, who crushed the competition and respective weight winners James Earner, Justin Stange, Mark Foley and Christian Bakula.
As the four-hour musclefest came to its end, competitors and rivals left with their families, trophies, smiles and grins, exiting like normal human beings and not the die-cut examples of the human body at it's finest that they are.
Mr. Buffalo. Mrs. Buffalo. Winner. Loser. There's nothing like watching a man's (or woman's) latissimus dorsi muscle flair our like a king cobra to bring you down to earth and realize how much potential the human body really has.
And how out of shape you really are.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
