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Super Fitness Weekend
Event Producer - Brian Cannone
What was all the commotion in Connecticut on the last weekend of April?
Well, everything was typical for a spring day in New England. So, that leaves only one thing - an iron-pumping extravaganza in New Haven, Connecticut. That's right your favorite show packed with over 100 superstar fitness-crazed natural athletes!
*"Super Fitness Weekend" has become one of the largest natural bodybuilding and fitness events in the country. A National Qualifier for the ESPN Fitness America Pageant and Professional Qualifier for the Musclemania World Championships and now introducing the Ms Bikini America and Fitness Model Search.
Brian Cannone, the event organizer, began his full-time career in the fitness industry in 1991 and continues to manage health clubs in Connecticut today. His experience in this business has lead him to run many successful health clubs and his responsibilities include setting up new facilities, building and managing a staff, daily membership sales, personal training, and club marketing and promotion. He is also certified as a personal trainer, nutrition consultant, and spin instructor.
Brian decided to compete in his first bodybuilding contest in 1992 and placed second in a natural bodybuilding event titled the Milford County Bodybuilding Championships sanctioned by the AAU, then in his second show placed third in the NPC East Coast Iron Classic and then following that third in the AAU Mr. Connecticut in 1993. Even though Brian wasn't the overall winner in these events he did place fairly and he was always a crowd favorite since he sold the largest amount of tickets and promoted the events he competed in like crazy at his local gym.
 Brian became friends with Fred Yale the promoter of the AAU physique contests and he also became a volunteer for the bodybuilding events in 1994. Brian started helping Fred with ideas for the show such as adding elements of stage design to the events. While most promoters did a great job for the competitors Brian felt it should also be entertaining for the audience to watch. When Fred Yale became more involved with the AAU Jr. Olympic Games he handed the bodybuilding events over to Brian in 1996.
Brian went into promoting with enthusiasm and a very genuine love for the sport. His approach and feelings about bodybuilding are that it is not only a sport but more of a way to motivate yourself and others to achieve results of loosing body-fat and gaining lean muscle along with improving overall health. By competing in natural bodybuilding you push yourself to be in your best possible shape of your life. In fact, he believes that it is more about the results you gain then the trophy you may take home with you. With fitness results in mind Brian trained nearly every competitor that competed in the Milford County and Mr. and Ms. Connecticut events, most of these new bodybuilders then competed for their first time and they were overwhelmed with their accomplishments. This is a sport that the contestants can't loose for it is their physique that is the trophy and the process of getting into great shape that is the reward.
In 1998 the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) decided to discontinue physique contests as one of the 52 sports the organization would offer. The AAU was the very first sanctioning body of the sport of bodybuilding but decided to focus on youth sports and not bodybuilding as a sport so it would no longer be offered. In October of 1998 Brian co-promoted a ANBC (American Natural Bodybuilding Conference) and Fitness America Pageant Connecticut Regional event with CJ Bouchard and during this time also started planning the very first Musclemania Bodybuilding Championships for the East Coast.
Since Brian was going to travel to California for his first time he made a decision to compete in the Musclemania World Championships in November of 1998. The Musclemania World was everything Brian had ever imagined a contest to be with incredible stage settings, television coverage, major sponsors and tons of exposure. His intention was to watch how they produced the event and then copy the entire event in Connecticut, and not only that but he ending up walking away with a fifth place trophy.
The Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant events were the best transitions Brian could have made from the AAU natural events and the stage settings Brian had been doing all along but, this time the event was held at the Palace Theatre, a 2,000 seat auditorium with professional sound systems and lighting instead of a high school auditorium. Brian's eight years of producing fitness events has gone over well and he is thankful that the athletes continue to support the annual event. The 1999 event was a true success and the event continues to grow today and new athletes come to Connecticut from experienced to novice and many going on to become world champions. The event has also taken notice from major health and nutrition companies and many have supported the event and take part in making the show a Super Fitness Weekend.
Experience:
1991 - 1997
World Gym Plus - Trumbull, Connecticut
Membership Sales and Personal Trainer
1997 - 1998
In Shape Fitness Center - Branford, Connecticut
Fitness Director and Head Trainer
1998
Gold's Gym - Norwalk, Connecticut
General Manager
1998 - Current
Ultimate Fitness Centers - Shelton and New Haven Connecticut
General Manager of two locations
Competition History
1991 AAU Milford County - 2nd place Men's Tall
1992 NPC East Coast Iron Classic - 3rd place and crowd favorite
1992 AAU Mr. Connecticut - 3rd place Men's Tall - 3rd Juniors
1998 ANBC Constitution State - Guest Poser
1998 Musclemania World - 5th place
Bodybuilding Team Trophies (World Gym Trumbull)
1993 AAU Milford County
1994 NPC East Coast Iron Classic
1996 AAU Milford County
1996 Mr. and Ms. Connecticut
1997 East Coast Iron Classic
1997 AAU Milford County
1998 AAU Milford County
Judging
NABF Connecticut Supernatural
ANBC Connecticut State
2000 Musclemania Superbody
2004 Musclemania New York
2005 Musclemania Superbody
Bodybuilding and Fitness Shows Produced:
1. 1996 A.A.U. Milford County
2. 1996 A.A.U. Mr. and Ms. Connecticut
3. 1997 A.A.U. Milford County
4. 1997 A.A.U. Mr. and Ms. Connecticut
5. 1997 A.A.U. East Coast Iron Classic
6. 1998 A.A.U. Milford County
7. 1998 A.A.U. Mr. and Ms. Connecticut
8. 1998 A.N.B.C. Constitution State and Fitness Connecticut Pageant
9. 1999 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - Atlantic Championships
10. 2000 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - Atlantic Championships
11. 2001 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - Atlantic Championships
12. 2002 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - Atlantic Championships
13. 2003 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - Atlantic Championships
14. 2003 Musclemania and Fitness America Pageant - New England in Boston
15. 2004 Musclemania, Fitness America Pageant, Ms Bikini America - Atlantic
16. 2005 Musclemania, Fitness America Pageant, Ms Bikini America - Atlantic
Email: info@fitnessatlantic.com
Fitness Lifestyle - Letter from Brian
Return the Male Bodybuilders Section
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