A RECAP OF OUR GREAT YEAR OF 2007.
 

First of all in this our first newsletter for 2008 I wish you all a healthy, happy and successful new year.

2007 was a fantastic year for me personally and as well as for GMV. I would like to share with you a recap of where we have gone with GMV and what was achieved last year. On the website we had a record number of postings in our “What’s New” section on 208 occasions compared with 200 postings in 2006.

I was asked by one customer if I would be starting to hand over the reins and cutting back my travels in this year! Not likely! I am still as enthusiastic as ever and look forward to another huge year in 2008. After 37 years of shooting overseas contests and major events it is my passion and my way of life.

At times I have been able to record other people’s triumphs over adversity such as when Simon Robinson guest posed at the English Grand Prix and then at the 2003 Mr Olympia. Simon lost his leg from the groin and sustained so many multiple injuries he was in hospital for 12 months. To come back from that and walk onto an Olympia stage was a sight I will never forget.

Many bodybuilders under value their own stories, their potential and their achievements. That is another reason why I never grow tired of producing another feature on a deserving bodybuilder, either an up-and-comer or a top professional. Once the DVD is shot they are preserved for posterity.

Through GMV I have had the privilege of introducing many new young champions to a larger market such as Tom Platz and Ron Teufel back in the 70s to Hide Yamagishi for example in the last 6 months or so. I hope that my DVDs on these wonderful athletes, both male and female, gives the viewer a priceless and yet entertaining insight into the essence of another human being.

To reflect briefly on some of the wonderful events we covered last year in 2007, they were as follows starting with February

EARLY YEAR EVENTS

The Sacramento Grand Prix and women’s contests;

Ironage Reunion and Chuck Sipes Award to Roland Kickinger in Columbus;

Oscar Heidenstam Hall of Fame Awards in London;

The Australian Pro Grand Prix in Melbourne.
 

MID YEAR EVENTS

The WFF Universe in Northeim, Germany and gym shoots with top athletes (special thanks to Wilfried Dubbels for his help);

NABBA Worlds in Malta plus various shoots with athletes.
 

END OF YEAR EVENTS

NABBA Universe in Southport, UK (the 59th year of the Universe). 

Our biggest release for the year was the DVD with Hide Yamagishi, COLOSSAL WORKOUT.  It has met with huge success and looks like becoming one of our all time best sellers. Other classics to do well were our documentaries on Bill Pearl and Mike Mentzer Part 3.Planning is taking place right now to cover the same events in 2008 and also the Olympia.
 

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES

This is a tough question! I love shooting the Iron Man Pro each year.  I would have to rate shooting the Arnold Classic events from the centre of the tightly packed press pit as a real adrenalin rush and a major highlight in USA.

My European highlights would have to be my first ever visit to Malta and also shooting the NABBA Universe in Southport in October. There is no way to easily describe a Universe event to anyone who has not experienced one. It is pure magic with a huge dose of history thrown in stretching back to 1948. It has been my privilege to have covered this event on film and video since 1970.

When doing a long tough contest or long trip of many weeks, dragging around lots of video equipment on my own, a good support team is essential to enable me to keep going. I would like to pay tribute to not only my wife Tina, and Sean and Ollie in the Adelaide office, but also Richard and Ray in USA. There are so many good friends around the world who have helped me in many different ways, and without your help and support this would all become impossible. My most sincere thanks to all of you. 

I would also like to pay a special tribute to my dear friend in the UK, Clive Jaques. Many of you will remember Clive as the golden voice of GMV, as he helped me with interviews and travel for many, many years. Sadly Clive’s health has deteriorated over the past 2 years, and he is no longer mobile.  I miss him, and thank him most sincerely for all he has done over the past 30 years or so. He’s a great mate.

Before and between various trips it is time to consolidate, reflect and re-charge the batteries ready for the next challenge. For me that means serious training in the gym and on the Concept 2 rower. Plans for 2008 include upgrading our web site, adding more names and photos from past classic contests, new features, and editing long awaited ”Super DVDs” on Zane and Sergio. We will also reflect on what worked best for us in 2007 and do lots more of it in 2008!