Ahh… sun, sand and surf. While there has been much debate over what is the best place to weightlift either at home or in the gym – for many weightlifters, those aren’t even in the running. For them their favorite place to weightlift is on the beach.
And when it comes to weightlifting and working out on the beach there is probably no place more famous or more well known then California’s Muscle Beach. Jack LaLanne and Vic Tanney are only two of the fitness legends that made the place famous. In its heyday muscle- bound stars from Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon) and Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan) to Steve Reeves (Hercules) all showed their stuff on Muscle Beach. And of course current Governor of California Arnold Scharzenegger was once a common site at Venice Beaches Outdoor Body Building Competitions.
Muscle Beach is still an extremely popular work out spot for fitness enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes. Located in Santa Monica the beach has been fully restored and features many state of the art work out stations. It even has scaled down stations and “Jungle Gyms” on a padded ground for kids. The site is still a popular one for many on going bodybuilding competitions.
Joe Wheatly Productions holds weekly competitions at Muscle Beach every Sunday afternoon from August through October. As always in the tradition of the original Muscle Beach the public is free to attend. If you want to get a look at some of the great bods on the guys (and gals) who frequent Muscle Beach check out
http://www.pbase.com/markwp/santamonica.
The bonds between weightlifting, body building, Muscle Beach and Hollywood were more formally tied in 2001 when several actors who portrayed the legendary strongman Hercules were given special recognition at the 2001 Muscle Beach Competition. Actors who portrayed the Sandal Wearing Greek Demigod, Mark Forest, Ed Fury Mickey Hargitay, Reg Lewis and Peter Lupus -who was probably better known for playing Circus Strongman Willy Armitage for several seasons on the “Mission Impossible” TV series - were all present to accept the Special Achievement Award.
California isn't the only Coast with a popular Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Destination. In November Gold’s Gym Holds their annual “Muscle Camp” Competition on Miami Florida’s South Beach. Normally the playground of celebrities, sports stars, and other “Rich and Famous” types, for one weekend in November the beach becomes home to some of the top names in the body building world including; Jay Cutler, Shawn Ray and Milos Sarcev. It is a three-day event with training sessions, tips from the pros and day and evening competitions on the beach.
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