Alumni Spotlight
Forrest Among the TreesBy Reuben Villagracia, Chronicle Journal
Rylan Forrest (HBA '06) never picked up a baseball bat, a hockey stick or a basketball in his youth. But his training regiment these days can stand toe-to-toe with that of any athlete – so much that it‘s been the essence of Forrest‘s life since he discovered fitness and muscle modelling. “I‘ve always been training to get in the best shape possible,” said the 24-year-old Thunder Bay native. “I always wanted to compete but didn‘t know where.” The World Natural Sports Organization was the place and a podium finish in the muscle model division was what Forrest achieved at his debut in the Fame model search competition in Winnipeg last month. “Before I stepped on stage I was nervous,” he recalled, “but once I hit the stage, every nerve went away and it was great, so much fun.” Forrest, a Lakehead University graduate who works at Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario, is the first to admit to the WNSO isn‘t exactly a “count up the score” sort. Similiar to any pagaent, judging muscle modelling involves not only form, but presentation and how one carries him or herself onstage. “I was never always active. It‘s taken a lot of work,” said Forrest, who at six-foot-one and 190 pounds goes through a self-taught training regiment twice a day. “Some people are naturally lean and ripped. You want to come in lean and it‘s a very individualistic sport. It‘s all about you, about being positive.” Winners earn something top competitive athletes do: Cash. Contractors from fitness magazines and websites scour these events and are looking for the right look. One, two jobs could lead to a full-time career. Because of his performance, Forrest moves to tier III on his way to pro status. He heads out for his second competition at the World Show in Toronto today. “The idea is you want to get exposure,” he said. “The bigger (Fame) shows are the shows are broadcast live on the Internet.”
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