Simi goes to the Nationals!

When I began this strange trip that we've come to know as bodybuilding, I began training at Maverick's in Emeryville. Most of the trainers were in OK shape, but one stuck out-Simi Tufunga. Dude was large and in charge. Over time Simi and I began to talk and became friends. When I did my first show in 2007 he helped me prep my posing routine, which is by far my best of the 3 I have done.
Simi's sponsored by Muscletech, the industry's largest supplement company- one day Vernon and I were in Borders and I flipped to a page that featured Simi. I told Vernon I knew him, and of course the kid didn't believe me. So we walked next door to Mavericks and luckily Simi was there. Blew his mind to say the least.
After winning the SF earlier this year, Simi's riding his wave of momentum and will take the stage at the 2008 NPC Nationals. Joel who's been helping with his prep (that makes him a Guru!) had an impromptu photoshoot last weekend to catch his progress at one week out. He's looking really sharp considering he's still got a week to go, and the usual water/carb manipulations still to come.

The Sunday before last year's Nationals he was at 230 and then dropped to 216 for Friday's weigh-in. This year he is expected to drop from 222 to about 210 - 212 on Friday. This will put him in the highly competitive Heavyweight class.

Good luck Simi, I'll be pulling for you!