The 2008 IFBB Iron Man Pro XIX and NPC Figure will be held February 15th through 17th at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown LA. The event features more than 30 men competing in the 19th annual Iron Man Pro and more than 20 women competing in the NPC Women's Figure championship. A Fitness Expo will be held in conjunction with the events at the LA convention Center.

The Iron Man Pro is the only 2008 professional bodybuilding contest being held in California. Over the years, the Iron Man Pro has helped launch the careers of some of bodybuilding's greatest champions.

The NPC Figure judging takes place on Saturday, February 16th, on the main stage of the Iron Man Pro, following the Men's prejudging event. The Los Angeles FitExpo features all sorts of fitness professionals and will be held in conjunction with the two weekend events.

Venue: The Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Underground parking on premises $12. West Hall is located behind the Staples Center. No video or flash photography allowed.

Nearby Hotels: Holiday Inn City Center, 1020 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90015. (213) 748-1291
Figueroa Hotel, 939 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90015. (800) 421-9092
Marriott Los Angeles Downtown, 333 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90071 (213) 617-1133

Showtimes: Men's Judging is on Saturday, Feb. 16 - 10:00 a.m. (West Hall B)
Figure Judging is on Saturday, Feb. 16 - 12 noon (West Hall B)
Finals are on Saturday, Feb. 16 - 6:30 p.m. (West Hall B)
FitExpo Hours are Fri/Sat/Sun, Feb. 15, 16, 17 (West Hall A)

Male competitors include (subject to change): Toney Freeman, Desmond Miller, Phil Heath, Khalid Almohsinawi, Omar Deckard, Sergey Ogorodnikov, Mehmet Yildirim, Alfonso del Rio, and others.

Female competitors include (subject to change): Lynette Brooks, Debbie Bell, Danielle Edmonds, Danitza Freigher, Dore Madere, Kathryn Payton, MaryAnn Pangelinan, and others.

You can get more information about this Los Angeles bodybuilding event at www.thefitexpo.com/figure.asp and www.ironmanpro.com/npc-figure.html web sites.

Other upcoming bodybuilding events include the Arnold Classic, which is held in conjunction with the 16th Annual ICA Symposium on Natural Fitness with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Columbus, Ohio.

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PRESS CONFERENCE/MEN'S WEIGH-IN
Friday, Feb. 15 (4 p.m.) - West Hall A. One of the most exciting events every year! Meet with Iron Man publisher John Balik and Lonnie Teper, the most accomplished emcee in bodybuilding, as they introduce and weigh in all its pro competitors. All industry and mainstream press, VIP guests and Expo attendees are invited to participate. Get a sneak peek at these amazing bodies and see if you can predict who will win the IRON MAN Pro XIX title.

MEET THE PROS
Friday, Feb. 15 (5 p.m.) - West Hall A. We've asked the competitors to stick around in the Main Stage to mingle and meet attendees, so take this opportunity to wish your favorite athlete good luck and grab a photo or two with them as well!

IFBB IRON MAN PRO BODYBUILDING COMPETITION (JUDGING) Saturday, Feb. 16 (10 a.m.) - West Hall B.  The IFBB Iron Man Pro bodybuilding contest, now in its 19th year, is the longest-running IFBB professional bodybuilding event on the West Coast. The TOP FIVE finishers will qualify to compete in the '08 Mr.
Olympia . Total prize money is $30,000.  Competitor list includes Toney Freeman, Gustavo Badell, Phil Heath, Silvio Samuel, Desmond Miller, Will Haris, Troy Alves, Johnnie Jackson, Eddie Abbew, and many others.

NPC IRON MAN FIGURE COMPETITION
Saturday, Feb. 16 (12 p.m.) - West Hall B.  Featuring the world's hottest, fittest female bodies on one stage!  This has been an extremely popular event over the years. The overall winner will receive a photo shoot with Iron Man Magazine's celebrated photographer, Michael Neveux, and  will be featured in Iron Man Magazine.

IFBB IRON MAN PRO BODYBUILDING & NPC FIGURE (FINALS) Saturday, Feb. 16 (6:30 p.m.) - West Hall B. The Finals event features individual posing followed by the exciting posedown of the top 5 to determine the ultimate Iron Man Pro Champion who will take home $15,000. 

ARNOLD SENDS HIS REGARDS
Governor Schwarzenegger sends a welcome proclamation to all competitors of the Los Angeles FitExpo. See attached letter.

IRONMAN BOOTH 221/223/225
Come by and meet Iron Man Editor in Chief Steve Holman, publisher John Balik and many other Iron Man writers. Special Guest Jim Morris, former Mr. America and Mr. Masters Olympia winner, will also be here to autograph magazines.

JERRY BRAINUM, FITEXPO SPEAKER
Notable Sports Nutrition Author and Researcher, Jerry Brainum, will present his wildly popular seminar on Saturday in Room #502A from 5:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.
"Sports Nutrition: Fact vs. Fiction"

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: REG PARK
Since 1998 we have paid tribute to those who have devoted a lifetime commitment to bodybuilding such as Mickey Hargitay, Vince Gironda, Joe Weider, Jim Manion, Bill Bearl and Jack LaLanne.  This year the Peary & Mabel Rader Award for Lifetime Achievement will be posthumously awarded to Reg Park.

Reg Park was one of the all-time greatest bodybuilding superstars. He left an impression on the iron game that will live forever. He was larger than life and a real champion's champion. He passed away on November 22, 2007, of advanced skin cancer.  At a special tribute held in his honor on December 16, 2007, at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California, more than 200 of his friends and admirers gathered to celebrate his fabulous life and times in a private party hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver.

Reg was the first man to win three Mr. Universe titles, and he did that at seven-year intervals—'51,
'58 and '65.  He also had a successful career in movies, starring in five films as Hercules.  An amazing Renaissance man, he owned five gyms in South Africa and was a contest promoter extraordinaire, holding events all over that country.  He also published a highly respected bodybuilding magazine, the Reg Park Journal.  He trained many champion athletes and bodybuilders and greatly influenced Arnold as a mentor and inspirational motivating force.

Reg first came to the attention of the bodybuilding world in 1950, when he competed against Steve Reeves in the Mr. Universe contest.  He lost by a half point, and many thought he should have won because he had greater muscle density and muscularity than Reeves.
He returned to win the title the next year, and his legendary career skyrocketed.  He was considered the world's greatest bodybuilder by most fans and authorities at that time and for many years thereafter.

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SHOW SCHEDULE
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Press Conference/Men's Weigh-in, Friday, Feb. 15  at 4 p.m. (West Hall A) Meet the Pros, Friday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. (West Hall A) Men's Judging:  Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10:00 a.m. (West Hall B) Figure Judging:  Saturday, Feb. 16 at 12 noon (West Hall B)
Finals: Saturday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. (West Hall B) FitExpo Hours: Fri/Sat/Sun, Feb. 15, 16, 17 (West Hall
A)

*Schedule subject to change. Check www.ironmanpro.com for updates.

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TICKETS
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Judging + FREE Saturday Expo ($40)
Finals + FREE Saturday Expo ($70, $50)
*VIP Package ($125) includes Judging/Finals + 3-Day Expo pass, BEST CENTER SEATING and the 2008 IRON MAN Pro DVD.

Call to order 800-447-0008 (24/7) or online www.ironmanpro.com. All seats are assigned.

Tickets also available at:
Max Muscle Venice
259 Hampton Dr, #A, Venice, CA 90291
Tel: 310-581-9885

IRON MAN BOX OFFICE
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Friday, Feb. 15 - 3pm to 7pm Saturday, Feb. 16 - 9am to 8pm

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COMPETITORS
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MEN

Toney Freeman
Gustavo Badell
Phil Heath
Silvio Samuel
Desmond Miller
Troy Alves
Johnnie Jackson
Eddie Abbew
Khalid Almohsinawi
Ray Arde
Paul Baker
Troy Brown
Rodney Davis
Omar Deckard
Alfonso del Rio
Moe Elmoussawi
Deshaun Grimez
David Henry
Rusty Jeffers
King Kamali
Vincent Liu
JoJo Ntiforo
Sergey Ogorodnikov
Gian Enrico Pica
Armin Scholz
Jimmy Canyon
Ken Jones
Will Harris
Mehmet Yildirim
Dragan Paunovic
Neset Icli
Nathan Wonsley

FIGURE

Debbie Bell
Lynette Brooks
Danelle Edmonds
Laurie Eldredge
Hannah Fox
Danitza Freigher
Holly Humphreys
Jennifer Kline
Delinia Lewis
Lisa Lynn-Calhoun
Dore Madere
Kimberly McGarry
MaryAnn Pangelinan
Kathryn Payton
Kristina Perez
Alma Ramirez
Venus Ramos
Ana Tigre
Lorenn Uscilowski
Soumaya Wilmore
Lucinda Witte