decent gyms in calgary/okotoks area?

[riccosuabe]

hi guys

i know im new to this site and im from the uk but the reason i joined was that me and my family are moving to calgary in the next 2 years with okotoks being the priority if we can.we are coming out there on vacation/recce trip in october and im going to be trying out gyms,anyone know or recommend some of the best ones?hardcore if possible.ive been looking at the golds gym in northgate but the more i can try out the better.and regarding competing in canada,how does the qualification system work?for example last year i won my height class(6"1) in my area(north england) and was then invited to the british finals where i placed 3rd which entitles me to automatic qualification to this years british finals without having to do regional.but also if you get to the finals you can only compete in that organisation for the whole year or suffer disqual.so this year im only competing once compare to 4 times last year
:popc:popc:popc

[Shortdave]

Remington's gym.

1609 centre st N.

[ironwill]

Remingtons is a great gym..........if you are looking im not far from okotoks 20 mins.......give me a pm and ill workout with ya.......Northgate is a good hike from okotoks i believe.....And 20 buck drop in fee....lol...

[riccosuabe]

yeah will definately meet up and you can show me how you guys in canada tear it up in the gym haha,should be october although nothing certain but will be this year

[ironwill]

Well, we will be here, shoot a pm and keep in touch.....

[GYMBRAT]

damn more competition haha......you'll love the Okotoks area bud!

[cog]

Greg's Powerhouse Gym in Okotoks.

[Talo]

I wish I lived down their , you lucky bastard :)

[GYMBRAT]

I'm thinkin bout it myself actually

[CMoney]

GoodLife Fitness on Canyon Meadows drive...

Yes, it's a commercial gym, but my BF is the top PT there, we're both competitors, and we're both hardcore! :p

Trust me, you won't get any strange looks or flack training there and training hard. I grunt louder than anyone and outlift most of the men (my BF and a few beefy guys excepted).

Too bad Bruce Greig is no longer alive. His Back Alley Gym in Okotoks was da bomb, for powerlifters, BB'ers, etc. Hardcore to the max. I really miss him. :(

Anyway, I know the south end of town (Calgary) well; Okotoks is an easy hop-skip from where I live and I used to head out to Greig's in Okotoks to train six days a week back in the day.

Cheers! And best wishes for the move...

[ironwill]

GoodLife Fitness on Canyon Meadows drive...

Yes, it's a commercial gym, Trust me, you won't get any strange looks or flack training there and training hard. I grunt louder than anyone and outlift most of the men (my BF and a few beefy guys excepted).

lol, if you are outlifting most guys....It isnt hardcore....lol.....Just a commercial gym, as most are these days...

[riccosuabe]

damn more competition haha......you'll love the Okotoks area bud!

time will tell my friend,i dont do bad over here competition wise (came 3rd in the british finals in the open class out of 6,losing out to the winner zack khan whom most guys are probably familiar with) but canada is a biiiiiiiiig place!

cant find anything on that gregs gym?remingtons looks ok,bit small and could me murder if it gets busy.i remember we were in calgary last year and i went to a gym on macleod trail near hooters and over the road to a supplement shop?(cant remember the name) and the ymca in downtown next to 5th ave,the ymca was too spa like for me,i like it hardcore!! hey who knows could have a big meet up when i come over and have a monster session!!:bch:bch:bch

[GYMBRAT]

hey who knows could have a big meet up when i come over and have a monster session!!:bch:bch:bch

sounds great ric count me in fore sure :)

[GYMBRAT]

lol, if you are outlifting most guys....It isnt hardcore....lol.....Just a commercial gym, as most are these days...

LMAO! true dat!!! I hope that never happens to my gym :p

[CMoney]

lol, if you are outlifting most guys....It isnt hardcore....lol.....Just a commercial gym, as most are these days...

I think I said that... ;) Don't let my pics fool ya...

Just making the point that you can bring it at my gym and not worry that you're gonna get kicked out for being "too" anything (noisy, sweaty, loud, profane, whatever).

Hope you'll at least check it out, my UK friend...

[GYMBRAT]

it sounds like a great gym Crystol fore sure, at my gym, if you sneeze everyone stops what there doing LOL

[ironwill]

I think I said that... ;) Don't let my pics fool ya...

Just making the point that you can bring it at my gym and not worry that you're gonna get kicked out for being "too" anything (noisy, sweaty, loud, profane, whatever).

Hope you'll at least check it out, my UK friend...

I never saw your pics, just your avi...But im pretty familiar with the female bodybuilder etc....LOL, CC (my girl) southern alberta champ in 09 heavyweight and overall is a strong, strong lady, but she wont be competing strength wise with many of the guys in the gym , some definitely, and if she did, the gym would not be hardcore, but maybe your perception is different...Go to remingtons for fun, then tell me the same thing....:greet..

Just sayin....
goodlife, definitely not hardcore......:D

[riccosuabe]

my gym is pretty hardcore and full of competitors and one of our girls sharon http://www.sharonmadderson.co.uk/gallery.html (who placed in the top 5 at the arnold amateur this year) is no joke in the gym!!!she can hang with quite a lot of the guys,and shes teenie!!

[GYMBRAT]

I love built chics, just not when they act manly

....Nicole Ball is BUILT and STRONG and still a lady ;) hey CC and Idub..

[ironwill]

she is, and a sweetheart of a lady.....CC made a good friend in her...IMO

[riccosuabe]

I love built chics, just not when they act manly

....Nicole Ball is BUILT and STRONG and still a lady :hit:hit:hit:hit:hit
sharon is also a grandmother to a 5 year old would you believe it??

[GYMBRAT]

insane man, she looks absolutely AMAZING WOW!!!! good for her seriously

......did I put the I'd hit it sign?

[ironwill]

my gym is pretty hardcore and full of competitors and one of our girls sharon http://www.sharonmadderson.co.uk/gallery.html (who placed in the top 5 at the arnold amateur this year) is no joke in the gym!!!she can hang with quite a lot of the guys,and shes teenie!!

Sharon looks great, kinda like cathy lefrancois IMO....Shes a bber, and thick dense muscle, i believe she would be a pit bull in the gym...

[riccosuabe]

insane man, she looks absolutely AMAZING WOW!!!! good for her seriously

......did I put the I'd hit it sign?

haha nope that was me,coz i would

[ironwill]

haha nope that was me,coz i would

Well, maybe CC and GB, and myself will introduce you to her.......She hits back though....lolShe lives close by, in GBs town....She is CCs mentor and coach, 10/10 for coaching skills...

[riccosuabe]

Sharon looks great, kinda like cathy lefrancois IMO....

shes quite the sexy bugger although i never say as shes married to my buddy haha.shes really small though and hasnt even been doing it that long either and turned pro after the arnold

[ironwill]

well, she definitely looks the part, some great genes there....!!!

[ironwill]

BTW, gotta give props to ricosaube, have you guys/gals checked his profile, he is a freak, in a good way......Kudos, must be something in the water mate.....
Im british ancestry, but didnt get those genes i tell ya...

[GYMBRAT]

haha nope that was me,coz i would

lol, me too...ooops did I say that out loud LOL :shock

she is super cool and yes super hot haha

[riccosuabe]

Well, maybe CC and GB, and myself will introduce you to her.......She hits back though....lolShe lives close by, in GBs town....She is CCs mentor and coach, 10/10 for coaching skills...

:tu:tu

[GYMBRAT]

BTW, gotta give props to ricosaube, have you guys/gals checked his profile, he is a freak, in a good way......Kudos, must be something in the water mate.....
Im british ancestry, but didnt get those genes i tell ya...

hell yeah man I agree! :bch

[ironwill]

Oh and you gotta get a Harley if coming out here bro.......

[GYMBRAT]

Oh and you gotta get a Harley if coming out here bro.......

lmao, was just bout to say that

[riccosuabe]

BTW, gotta give props to ricosaube, have you guys/gals checked his profile, he is a freak, in a good way......Kudos, must be something in the water mate.....
Im british ancestry, but didnt get those genes i tell ya...

hahaha,i aint like that at the moment i know that for sure,that was my best show ever,10 years and many failed competition attempts and i feel i nailed it,hope now ive putt some mass on that i can achieve that again this year

[riccosuabe]

Oh and you gotta get a Harley if coming out here bro.......

i wish!!!! i gotta nail a job first,as soon as thats done im there!! i was in the royal marines years ago and was based up at wainwright for a year and used to go to banff/calgary every weekend and have been at least twice a year since and its the best country in the world and cant wait to live there(although diet will be a problem due to all the awesome places to eat)

[GYMBRAT]

My neighbors just bought the house next to me and they came from the UK as well...very cool ppl!

And he may buy a Harley this summer ha, he used to ride a Triumph back home I guess

[ironwill]

They must grow them big out there...My buddy just moved here from UK, and hes friggin 6 foot 8 and 285, and ripped.....freakazoids....when i say freakazoids, i really mean, im an envious bastard....lol

[riccosuabe]

Well, maybe CC and GB, and myself will introduce you to her.......She hits back though....lolShe lives close by, in GBs town....She is CCs mentor and coach, 10/10 for coaching skills...

you guys not hook me up with danielle savoni the weathergirl from cbc news,i luuuuuurrrrve her!!!hahaha

[riccosuabe]

They must grow them big out there...My buddy just moved here from UK, and hes friggin 6 foot 8 and 285, and ripped.....freakazoids....when i say freakazoids, i really mean, im an envious bastard....lol

dude,you aint exactly small yerself,i bet your bigger and leaner than me at the mo'. and when i was in canada there where some monsters walking about!!!

[GYMBRAT]

Idub is a big fker, look at his freakin avi!!!

[riccosuabe]

Idub is a big fker, look at his freakin avi!!!

cant find him??

[GYMBRAT]

you can see more of'em in CC's profile pics haha

[countrychic]

I love built chics, just not when they act manly

....Nicole Ball is BUILT and STRONG and still a lady ;) hey CC and Idub..

Yes she is, she has crazy freak'n shoulders. That girl is very down to earth, enjoyed her as a coach and gained a great friendship :)

[ironwill]

Idub is a big fker, look at his freakin avi!!!

thanks......:D

[GYMBRAT]

Yes she is, she has crazy freak'n shoulders. That girl is very down to earth, enjoyed her as a coach and gained a great friendship :)

yup she is a sweet heart thats fore sure, we'll all have to train together one fine day :) ....oh and ride ;)

[countrychic]

yup she is a sweet heart thats fore sure, we'll all have to train together one fine day :) ....oh and ride ;)

yes for sure. I was just saying to IW on the way home that I need to give her a call one day and head up to SL to go train with her. She is in NY working with Palumbo right now for a week. When she gets back we may have to take a rip up on a Saturday :)

[GYMBRAT]

yes for sure. I was just saying to IW on the way home that I need to give her a call one day and head up to SL to go train with her. She is in NY working with Palumbo right now for a week. When she gets back we may have to take a rip up on a Saturday :)

hell yeah that would be sweet u bet! You 2 better get on that when this weather smartens up ha

[ironwill]

yes for sure. I was just saying to IW on the way home that I need to give her a call one day and head up to SL to go train with her. She is in NY working with Palumbo right now for a week. When she gets back we may have to take a rip up on a Saturday :)

HEY!!!, since your downstairs floating on the computer, wanna get making some supper....chop, chop.....:popc

[GYMBRAT]

LMFAO ooooooooooh!

[countrychic]

HEY!!!, since your downstairs floating on the computer, wanna get making some supper....chop, chop.....:popc

lol :beat

you guys he might be big and he thinks he's the boss, BUT he needs to remember who has the goods :D

[ironwill]

oh, now im a dink........lol, i do hear supper pots clanking, adda girl!!!

[GYMBRAT]

music to our ears eh bro :-P

.....k i'm gonna shut my yap now while i'm ahead LOL

[countrychic]

music to our ears eh bro :-P

.....k i'm gonna shut my yap now while i'm ahead LOL

haha don't believe a word he says. He's just trying to make you think he has pull :)

[ironwill]

yes....post workout nutrition......yummy....i wonder what im getting for din, din this eve?????hmmmmmm
Lahey on the trailer park boys would say shit sandwiches, and im thinking CCs thinking the same....gotta go brown nose now....

[GYMBRAT]

haha don't believe a word he says. He's just trying to make you think he has pull :)

tooooo funny, I bet you kick his ass steady eh girl hahaaa

[riccosuabe]

see it aint no different over the pond then,we all act tuff but we know who the boss is at home (they aint really tho but they have the poon in there pants and if we want poon then we gotta play it cool haha)

[riccosuabe]

oh and only just clicked on that idub is ironwill,the dude has got crazy conditioning i have to agree,nice hanging tri's aswell

[GYMBRAT]

^^ LOL

[CMoney]

This is a cute thread!! You guys make me laugh.

Yeah, it's kinda sad that I get so excited by the prospect of another BBer or two coming to my gym. At least some more who've competed... it's a little lonely sometimes!! And I'd be over the moon if someone like Sharon or Nic trained at my gym, even occasionally.

Not that I need that kind of external motivation, but I like the energy of the gym when you've got a few folks in there with the same kind of goals...

Dave, who BTW was a US Marine riccosuabe (you guys might have some "soldier things" in common), never posts on these forums :D, but he's a good sized, hardcore beast. albeit a hungry one right now. He's got one week to go; I've got three (we're doing the ABBA shows).

Any of you who happen to be in the area pop in and say hey!! Dave is there every afternoon and evening, M-F (click my profile for a pic).

[ironwill]

Maybe countrychic and i will pop in sometime, she is a very hardcore trainer.........what weight class is Your bf in?? Im sure we will meet on stage if he is a heavyweight....Good stuff...

[riccosuabe]

This is a cute thread!! You guys make me laugh.

Yeah, it's kinda sad that I get so excited by the prospect of another BBer or two coming to my gym. At least some more who've competed... it's a little lonely sometimes!! And I'd be over the moon if someone like Sharon or Nic trained at my gym, even occasionally.

Not that I need that kind of external motivation, but I like the energy of the gym when you've got a few folks in there with the same kind of goals...

Dave, who BTW was a US Marine riccosuabe (you guys might have some "soldier things" in common), never posts on these forums :D, but he's a good sized, hardcore beast. albeit a hungry one right now. He's got one week to go; I've got three (we're doing the ABBA shows).

Any of you who happen to be in the area pop in and say hey!! Dave is there every afternoon and evening, M-F (click my profile for a pic).

when im over there later in the year would be great to meet up and train with all y'all.im sure me and dave will have good ol storys to tell im sure haha

[riccosuabe]

Maybe countrychic and i will pop in sometime, she is a very hardcore trainer.........what weight class is Your bf in?? Im sure we will meet on stage if he is a heavyweight....Good stuff...


that stage better be strong enough to hold all of us!!

[kidmode]

Remington's all the way.

[ironwill]

that stage better be strong enough to hold all of us!!

I just have to get er done before you get here, ya big freak......Or i may be wiating to move on...I promised myself i wont put a handle under my user name, like provincial competitor etc until i win the overall, and i also wont move on to provincials until i win overall.....Im also a masters competitor, so should be neat...
Crystol, dont be shy.....We dont bite.....:shock

Side note.....observation time..
The biggest thing i find in Alberta is the chicks are catty.....The guy bodybuilders are very accomodating and kind and all around good fellas, for the most part....The chicks though....wow, its hilarious...Ive seen more girls get pissy at CC, who is one of the nicest people you could meet....Very humble lady, hence why i have to brag for her....But jesus, the chicks are nuts out here, 3 different gyms, 1 dude even came and asked me why we wouldnt hang with them anymore, and i told him his competitor old lady was a bitch...He agreed, and gave her shit, and she continued anyways, great by herself, but when other friends were around, jekyll, and hyde..., all because CC was getting to much attention while prepping, she friggin admitted it, and couldnt to this day make nice....
Meh, we are down to earth good loyal farm folk, No time for that shit, nor patience....If a guy acted that way, hed get knocked out, but chicks do it all the time, i find it very strange...The PT girls hate it, their clients say , i want to look like her, point at CC, then the hate is on.....Why are women so insecure????Anyone know, since weve been all over the place in this thread anyways???

[riccosuabe]

I just have to get er done before you get here, ya big freak......Or i may be wiating to move on...I promised myself i wont put a handle under my user name, like provincial competitor etc until i win the overall, and i also wont move on to provincials until i win overall.....Im also a masters competitor, so should be neat...
Crystol, dont be shy.....We dont bite.....:shock

so how does the system work over there?do you do a local show,then provincials and overall at provincials allow you to do nationals and overall at nationals gets pro card?i assume its a lot different to ours

in the u.k it goes like this:
regional stages
NORTH,NORTH EAST AND NORTH WEST
EAST AND WEST
SOUTH,SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH WEST
winners of weight class get an invite to the british finals and the overall winner of the british finals gets the pro card,which sucks ass that only they only give out one brit pro card a year!! although there now saying if you qualify for the arnold amateur (class winner at finals) and place top 5 you can APPLY for your pro card,which 3 brits did this year

[riccosuabe]

I just have to get er done before you get here, ya big freak......Or i may be wiating to move on...I promised myself i wont put a handle under my user name, like provincial competitor etc until i win the overall, and i also wont move on to provincials until i win overall.....Im also a masters competitor, so should be neat...
Crystol, dont be shy.....We dont bite.....:shock

Side note.....observation time..
The biggest thing i find in Alberta is the chicks are catty.....The guy bodybuilders are very accomodating and kind and all around good fellas, for the most part....The chicks though....wow, its hilarious...Ive seen more girls get pissy at CC, who is one of the nicest people you could meet....Very humble lady, hence why i have to brag for her....But jesus, the chicks are nuts out here, 3 different gyms, 1 dude even came and asked me why we wouldnt hang with them anymore, and i told him his competitor old lady was a bitch...He agreed, and gave her shit, and she continued anyways, great by herself, but when other friends were around, jekyll, and hyde..., all because CC was getting to much attention while prepping, she friggin admitted it, and couldnt to this day make nice....
Meh, we are down to earth good loyal farm folk, No time for that shit, nor patience....If a guy acted that way, hed get knocked out, but chicks do it all the time, i find it very strange...The PT girls hate it, their clients say , i want to look like her, point at CC, then the hate is on.....Why are women so insecure????Anyone know, since weve been all over the place in this thread anyways???


women..........bitchin?.......why ive never heard such a crazy thing!!!

[CMoney]

Maybe countrychic and i will pop in sometime, she is a very hardcore trainer.........what weight class is Your bf in?? Im sure we will meet on stage if he is a heavyweight....Good stuff...

He's sitting at 200 lbs right now, one week to go. So he's gonna be light heavy (and Masters). He hasn't been with Scott that long, so he may crack into the heavies down the road.

[CMoney]

I am one of the least catty women you will ever meet. Bitchy with a low bullshit tolerance? Yeah. Two-faced and catty? NO. I'm one of the guys...to a point. Like being a girl, for sure, just don't like to train like one.

Like CC, I'm a horsy chick. Maybe that makes us a little more down to earth? Dunno. Barrel racers are some of the worst catty chicks out there!!! LOL

Anyway riccosuabe, easiest for you to take a look at our rules here:
abba.ab.ca/competitionRules.html

I've won Masters, so I have a lifetime Nationals bi but in Masters only. I've placed third in my height class at Provincials, which gave me a two-show Nationals bi (competed in 2008, so basically I could do Nationals that year, 2008, and in 2009 as well). Since it's 2010, I need to requalify in my height class (I do figure) for Nationals, which I plan to do for the first time in 2011. No Nationals this year. Taking all the kiddos houseboating in August instead! :D

BBing basically works the same way....

[GYMBRAT]

well you look DAMN GOOD ;) I must say young lady :)

[ironwill]

Ricco, you compete at the southerns, or northerns....Top 3 get a by for the next yr, top 5 get a by to provincials that yr only...overall gets a lifetime by.....Once you go to provincials same thing to compete on to the nationals...Top 3 get a by for that yr, and the next yr....Top 5 get a by for that year only....Winner gets a lifetime by onto nationals.There are usually a few procards out at nationals....Masters, and usually a couple for guys and a couple for womens....Hopefully that makes sense...
There are some big fellas out here in alberta competing at regional shows even, and it seems a lot of guys get good prep guys to help them along as well...
Crystol, i find that women out here competing are so catty. I dont know how one lives in their own skin being so grouchy of others successes or attempts at success even. We are both horse folk, we board ours just a few minutes away, we are different folk for sure, horse sense...I think GB noted a lot of chips on albertans shoulders....LOL, Im new here, still feeling it out........I havent noticed it as much in other provinces...

I wish your BF good luck this yr at the contest...CC and i will be there,Countrychic is on the poster cover for the show....Im so proud....;^) it will be a great show...GB, you should swing down next wknd for the show in cowtown...

[GYMBRAT]

I think GB noted a lot of chips on albertans shoulders....LOL, Im new here, still feeling it out........I havent noticed it as much in other provinces...GB, you should swing down next wknd for the show in cowtown...

haha Idub, I'm actualy from Van Isl but been in Ab for far too long I'm thinkin (turnin into one)

I will do my best to make it for the show.. u bet man!

[riccosuabe]

i hope theres a show on when we do come over so i can have a look.itll be crazy because over here if your one of the top guys in your weight or height even at regional level,everyone knows you and you normally compete against the same guys every year anyway,but canada is huge and there will be plenty more guys to worry about haha,what age is masters over there?crystol and idub you say your masters but you guys dont even look much older than me (31) and crystol if your one of the guys,cant wait to see the women haha

[whiteknight]

I use Golds in mackenzie.. It's okay...( it's 24 hours which is why I go there)
I don't really care who works out at the gym as long as the equipment is there and I can do my thing....I actually show up at 4;30 am so it's pretty empty and I get my uninterrupted time in...

I personally haven't come accross too many catty women at comps but I could see it happening I suppose.... It is too bad.

Funny, women might get catty.... men get really competitive ( work out with the ego a bit much ...lol) .. it's funny to watch.. both sides

I actually admire women who work hard and look good....( not in a lesie way ...lol )....

Is country chic competing this year???

[ironwill]

At the comps, everyone is great, i am talking hometown gyms....
rico, im turning 40....im lucky with a babyface.......lol....hated it when i was young, enjoying it now....
Lots, and lots of great competitors in Canuckville here, Ontario,Quebec and Alberta seem to have the majority, per capita, id say alberta has the most good quality......From what ive seen.....

[CMoney]

I have to say I've had nothing but great experiences at the Alberta shows, too. Too bad about the hometown gyms, ironwill.

Must be something in the Alberta water and this good clean living we do here! LOL. I'm 41 (but can honestly say I look better and younger than I did five years ago!! :D) and Dave just turned 45.

But, hey! It's only a number, right?

Let's here for the fogies!! woot! woot! :p

[riccosuabe]

idub 40?? no way!! and crystol 41??? im 31 and i look older than both you guys haha