Newly established Sau Ia! Bodybuilding Inc. has been organized to promote bodybuilding as an amateur sport, says President of the Sau Ia Body Building Club and businessman Peter Reid III along with Vice President Sala McMoore following their 12 week Body Transformation challenge. Reid told Samoa News that their mission is to foster, enhance, promote, and conduct amateur weight lifting and bodybuilding training and competition in American Samoa.

Last week Sau Ia bodybuilding held an award ceremony for their 12-week Transformation Challenge, which was held from December 11, 2015 to March 4, 2016. This event leads up to the Sau Ia Bodybuilding Competition slated for next month, for the first time in the territory.

McMoore told Samoa News that a total of 11 people signed up for the competition, some from off island, and unfortunately they were unable to attend the award ceremony.

She said the top three awards went to: third place, Jacki Tupua Tulafono, with Laurenthia Pouesi in second place; and the winner was Olenamuaiao “Moochie” Lutu.

Reid and McMoore thanked their sponsors GHC Reid & Co.,Malia Mua and Stan Efferding for their support and generous donations to the first Transformation Challenge.

President of GHC Reid & Co., Olivia Reid-Gillet told Samoa News that they support the "Sau Ia Bodybuilding Competition" and events leading up to it as they are good causes — “promoting good health, strength, agility and endurance at all ages is important.”

“Vaimalu bottled water and PowerAde support the event and the athletes because bodybuilders are athletes and this event provides a stage for these particular athletes to compete and inspire others to take control of their health. It doesn't have to be to the same heightened degree as others to the point of competitive bodybuilding (i.e. weight training), but it can only benefit a person if you decide to engage in some form of weight training and make healthier food and beverage choices.”

She pointed put that it's also the first time that this type of event is being held locally and “we think it's important to promote healthier lifestyles to help eliminate non-communicable diseases such as Type II diabetes and heart disease.

Reid-Gillet said, “For athletes who engage in other sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, baseball, etc., I guarantee you that the successful ones are engaging in some form of weight training.”

“It's a well-known fact that NFL players engage in weight training, but probably less well known is that all-time greats such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Sinjin Smith, Karch Kiraly, Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh, etc. all used (and still use) weight training to strengthen their bodies for their main sport. 

“Bodybuilding and weight training is an important foundation as a sport by itself, and as a foundation for other sports. We're proud to be part of this health initiative and hope the rest of the community will feel the same way and support it,” she said.

BACKGROUND

As reported earlier, the bodybuilding competition that will premiere local competitors will be held April 16, 2016 at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium. “We hope to take the best bodybuilder from American Samoa to compete in Hawai’i, to create a more competitive field for our kids … and raise the standard for our local athletes, and of course give the youth a good reason to keep training constantly and consistently year round,” said the president of Sau Ia.

He said this has been a dream come true not only for him, but also for McMoore as they share the same passion to have American Samoa’s very own body bodybuilding competition. “…Ever since we started working out together… we've seen a lot of kids training really hard and yet they have nothing to look forward to, to showcase all their hard work.”

The winner of the Flag Day competition will represent American Samoa at the well-known Ikaika Bodybuilding Competition in Hawaii. Reid explained that Sau Ia will cover their NPC (National Physique Committee) Membership, their registration to enter the Ikaika Championship, their round-trip airfare, and hotel accommodations.

In 2015, the pair sponsored Bert Fuiava who represented American Samoa at the Ikaika Bodybuilding Competition. Fuiava, who was a first timer, nailed second place in the Men's Light Heavy Weight Open Class at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu.