Marc-Oliver Kluike in action
After six months of 'behind-the-scene' hard work, we opened the doors to the International Fitness Forum at its prestigious new home - Stamford Bridge, Chelsea.
The event had a truly international feel with the US's Patrick Goudeau kicking the event off on the main workout stage, with fellow compatriot Chuck Wolf and Australia's Paul Batman in the main lecture rooms, and Italian-born Ilaria Montagni all helping to get the show underway.
Throughout the first day delegates were either strutting their stuff in the main workout area with the likes of Spain's Jonatan Canada and Britain's own Helen Carpenter Waters and John Shehan, or taking notes on the latest techniques from a vast number of presenters and speakers in the numerous lecture halls and workshops in Stamford Bridge's vast exhibition centre. To say delegates were spoilt for choice would be an understatement, but this was true of every time slot over the two days
The main stage drew large crowds throughout the day, but none more so than the aforementioned Jonatan Canada - our 'little' man with the ‘Big Dance’ moves! He wooed attendees with the dynamic ballroom-based group exercise programme, Big Dance.
Spinning room sponsors Star Trac put delegates through their paces over the two days with some exceptional sessions. Based around some exhilarating music, delegates left the Star Trac spinning studio having participated in an intensive session, and with a handful of new ideas to take away and implement in their own classes.
On the subject of bikes though, a personal highlight of the weekend was watching our very own Web Team Leader being put through his paces as part of Darryl Preston and Tosh Camroon's 'The Boys are Back in Town' indoor cycling session. I'm not sure he expected such a challenging session in the closing time-slot of the day (or any slot for that matter!), but he stuck it out, went a bright shade of red and made it through. Good work to everyone taking part in that one.
With the first day over, it was time to get up the glam with the Forum party, held at the nearby Valmont. Attendees and presenters alike took the opportunity to let their hair down, chill out and reflect after a hard days exhibition, and shrugged off any signs of fatigue to dance and drink the night away.
To start our second day – but without wanting to turn this article into a shameful who’s who in fitness name dropping – Steve Boedt and North America's finest group exercise innovator Mindy Mylrea were among the presenters that got sessions off to an incredible start. German 'uber' presenter Marc-Oliver Kluike, a fan favourite who was absent on the first day due to prior personal commitments, didn’t waste any time in making up for lost time with his super-sessions Dance Step and Dance Aerobic. With the electric energy and the pumping music, everyone taking part had a fantastic time. Marc has the rare ability to make his sessions into an educational show for both participants and the onlooking audience, which is why he's a firm convention favourite.
ilates proved to be a massive hit over the weekend. With Pilates more popular than ever, this year's International Fitness Forum had three dedicated rooms with some of the biggest name presenters, including Zosha Piotrowski, Elise Matthijssens, Caroline Murry and Leslee Bender, appearing. One stand-out session was Joanne Cobbe's 'The 34 Moves', as she took delegates through the original 34 Pilates moves.
The expo was also a huge hit with both delegates and exhibitors. Attendees loved the variety of stands, which ranged from fitness clothing to courses, while presenters used the Expo to check out the latest equipment on the market.
As the weekend headed down the final stretch, sessions certainly weren’t slowing down. Per Markssen, Mindy Mylrea, Patrick Goudeau and Agata Pienio were among the number or presenters closing the show with their respective sessions, all with the same enthusiasm and energy shown by both presenters and delegates from the first sessions of the first day. As the last sessions started to wrap-up everyone involved could start to look back on what had been a great weekend.
Delegates expressing their views throughout the weekend commented on the new venue and its fantastic facilities, the high quality of presenters and the brilliant atmosphere. It certainly was the place to be for any Fitness Professional.