Introduction to a new fitness sport

As you may have already read in the editorial on page 13 of this issue of FITNESS TRIBUNE, the fitness industry has a new sport: STRENFLEX®! Many may ask why this sport was created. The answer: Because there is no sport for thousands of enthusiastic and physically active fitness studio members worldwide. The past few issues of Fitness Tribune contained information about MFI, which was the old name for the new sport. The name STRENFLEX® had yet to be registered worldwide as a trademark, which is a mandatory requirement even for novelties in the fitness industry. Now the new sport is official. STRENFLEX® has been launched successfully and offers a platform for competitive fitness sport without diets, body watching, expensive choreographies or doping supplements of any kind. Au contraire, it is the only sport discipline known to man in which people can participate at any age (muscles know no age, as you may well know). One of the four STRENFLEX® age categories begins at 60 years of age. In addition, there are eight different weight classes. The following disciplines are part of the competition: bench press at 60% of body weight, squats (70%), clean & press (30%), adductor press, hand strength measurements, dip series, pull-up series, push-up series, trunk bends, rope jumping, interval course, forward bends, splits and shoulder flexibility. For participants 35 years and older, cycling or rowing is substituted for rope jumping. This means that five exercises are strength-based, four address muscular endurance, two are cardiovascular exercises and three are based on stretching. Both men and women over the age of 18 can actively participate in contests. However, STRENFLEX® not only offers something to fitness enthusiasts, but STRENFLEX® also benefits fitness studio owners. It will enable them to attract new members and can help fitness studios in motivating long-term members to keep up their regular training activities (lower fluctuation rate). To retain these customers, a studio owner need not participate in every expensive trend - STRENFLEX® alone should be enough. Everyday studio routine is made more exciting with STRENFLEX® training. Furthermore, not everybody has to participate in competitions, but studios accredited by the STRENFLEX® organization can award competitive titles such as STRENFLEX® Studio Master. In addition, these studios can offer and conduct basic workshops. Studio members, who have completed such a basic workshop, will be eligible to compete in national and international championships (European and World Championships).

STRENFLEX
The ultimate Fitness Sport

STRENFLEX® - the ultimate fitness sport that gives you the “kick” you need to turn the strength, barbell and cardio training, stretching etc., into action at last, and lets you measure your performance against others. This new FITNESS lifestyle is opening up to a much wider audience because STRENFLEX® combines performance with good looks and the feel good factor. It’s the first and only sport suited to this kind of lifestyle.

STRENFLEX®- the trend-sport for the healthy and
modern FITNESS lifestyle.

STRENFLEX® is the singular answer to the call for a sport which enhances the image of our industry and which takes into consideration the three pillars of strength, endurance and flexibility as its basis. STRENFLEX® fully embodies the philosophy behind the desire for fitness. But it is not only the gyms which will be revolutionised. STRENFLEX® symbolises the way, the trend “back to the roots”, back to free weight training, cardio training and stretching. Hundreds of thousands will be so enthused by STRENFLEX® via Internet or TV that they will descend upon the nearest local gym. STRENFLEX® is easy to follow and understand, not just for the participants, but also for spectators - whether on TV or live.

Miss Fitness, bodybuilding and/or aerobic contests are out - because only very few competitive sportsmen and women can take part. Aside from this, these types of competition rather tend to discourage new clients who are really interested in fitness from seeking membership of a gym.

Sylvia Gattiker, president of the STRENFLEX® organisation, will be present at FIBO from April 18th to 21st 2002, on the FITNESS TRIBUNE stand no. 905, Hall 9, to answer questions and provide more information.

Make your FIBO appointment under:
Tel.: +41 1 883 73 91 or info@strenflex.org

Who is Sylvia Gattiker, first president of STRENFLEX®?

Sylvia Gattiker’s Curriculum Vitae

11.2.1956	Born in Vienna, Austria
1962-1966	Primary school in Vienna
1966-1970	Secondary school in Vienna
1970-1972	Fashion college in Vienna
1972-1977	Business college in Vienna leading to Advanced level qualification for university entry
1980-1983	Business Studies course at the Business University in Vienna

After completing primary and secondary education I attended the fashion college in Vienna for 2 years. This subject area did not really appeal to me and I moved to the Business Academy in Vienna in 1972. Here I completed five years of advanced level study leading to my pass for university entrance.

Following three years in the computer industry as systems analyst I began my studies in business and commerce at the Business University in Vienna.

At about 12 years of age I took up sports. Firstly high diving, followed 2 years later by gymnastics where, in 1972, I became Austrian Champion in the Olympic eight-events competition and Austrian Champion on the asymmetric bars. This was the start of a sports career spanning almost 10 years as a gymnast, winning many titles as county, federal, national and international champion. My participation in the 1974 World Championships in Varna, Bulgaria, was the highlight of almost a decade in the Austrian national team.

In 1982 I came into contact with the new “aerobics” trend for the first time - and it has fascinated me ever since. During 1983, when the aerobics wave really started to roll, I published my first book “AEROBICS” and some of my articles on the subject were printed by several newspapers.

I married in 1983 and in the same year my husband and I opened our first fitness club in Affoltern, Switzerland. In 1984 our first son was born, soon followed by twins in 1986.

Aside from many professional courses in the fitness industry, I also undertook the aerobics course run by the American ACE organisation.

My yearning for a competitive sport didn’t allow me to slow down and when, in 1990, the new sport of aerobics arrived on the scene, it was just what I was looking for. In order to participate in aerobics competitively in Switzerland I founded the first Aerobics Association of Switzerland (AVS). My intensive training was rewarded with four Swiss Championship titles, participation in two World Championships (including - in 1990 - the very first aerobics World Championships in San Diego, USA) and in two European Championships (6th place in Rimini). Following on from this I switched to become an instructor and later joined the referee team and president’s office of the new SCAF association. An internationally approved referee and member of the International Technical Committee, I now channel my energies into ensuring fair and professional competition for all athletes.

In the search for a new sport with its roots in fitness I formulated, together with Jean-Pierre Schupp, the competition rules for STRENFLEX. This new sport is a real challenge for all sport and fitness fans in every age group, offering them the possibility to be judged against one another in competition. With my long experience as an active athlete, president and referee for FISAF and aerobic sport, and not forgetting my 20 year involvement in the fitness industry (including the formation of, and instructor training for pump-work®), I am convinced that we can attract many fitness and aerobics enthusiasts to this new type of competition.

That’s why I’ve now decided to commit all my energies into the development of this sport and to offer the fitness industry a new “kick”. As president of STRENFLEX® I represent the sport on the outside, involving many visits abroad where my long international experience and contacts are a great advantage.

You can be a STRENFLEX® enthusiast too!

Even as a non-member you can take part in STRENFLEX® championships. As a member however, you can take advantage of many discounts that will apply to more and more areas.

Basic workshop dates to the end of June 2002:

Participant numbers limited!

The first World Championships will take place on 16th June 2002 in Rimini at which only women will take part. (European and World Championships for men are planned from 2003). Register as soon as possible if you would like to take part in the World Championships.

Following the workshops which were already held during March and April in Switzerland and Austria, many women competitors from several nations including the USA, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Brasil, the United Kingdom, Finland and the Ukraine, have qualified for the World Championships in Rimini.

Dates for 2002:

• 18th to 21st April FIBO, Essen, Germany, at the FITNESS TRIBUNE stand 905, Hall 9 (STRENFLEX® information stand) • 27th to 28th April International Referee Course in Zurich • 13th to 16th June Fitness Festival in Rimini, various workshops and 1st World Championships in different classes • 27th to 30th June, San Diego, workshops and Referee Seminar in the USA.

Planned dates:

• Workshops and referee seminars in Australia /New Zealand /Japan • 18th to 22nd September - Bodylife, Karlsruhe, workshops • 3rd to 6th October -FIBO, Stuttgart, workshops - German Championships • 24th to 27th October - LIFE-TIME, Frankfurt, 1st European Championships • November - open • December - open

Confirmed dates 2003:

• January 2003 - Fit 2003 in Wels - Austrian Championships and workshops • 14th to 16th February 2003 - FitMess in Basel - Swiss Championships and workshops • 27th to 30th March 2003 - Miami - 2nd World Championships.

I want to be a referee!

Are you interested in becoming a referee with STRENFLEX® and taking on an important task in this new sport? The first referee course takes place on April 27th and 28th 2002 in Zurich. (€200.00 incl. STRENFLEX® membership and accomodation). Registration at: www.strenflex.org

Gym owners who have realised which direction the new trend is heading, and would like to offer STRENFLEX® in their studio are asked, as already mentioned above, to make an appointment for FIBO via info@strenflex.org.

Participants of the 1st basic workshop held during FitMess in Basel on March 3rd. The photo on page 52 shows the participants before the practical part and the photo below after the excercises. The photo above was taken during the theory section of the basic workshop. The participating ladies were certainly enthusiastic about STRENFLEX®.

STRENFLEX® - price list:

The set comprises of a multi-purpose training frame, universal bench, Ø25mm barbell (without discs), quick locks, shoulder pads, neoprene gloves and skipping rope with built-in counter. Required only by sportsmen & women who workout in a gym without the correct equipment.

For more information:

Tel. +41 1 883 73 91, Fax +41 1 883 73 92

E-Mail: info@strenflex.org Homepage: www.strenflex.org

We look forward to welcoming you and count on your active participation. See you soon!

no. 77 / pp. 51-54