Kassie Kemmis - Triple Threat

(Editor's note: Visit YouTube to see Kassie Kemmis on stage at Emerald Cup 14)

Kassie Kemmis meant business at the 2014 Emerald Cup. For most competitors, one division is enough. A rare few enter two. Not Kassie. She went big, jumping into the fray by entering three divisions.

Oh, and by the way, it was her first show. Not a bad way to make your debut and get your feet wet.

The 5-6 Kemmis hit the Emerald Cup stage weighing between 117-120 pounds, down from her off-season weight of 135-140 pounds. She earned a 4 place finish in Physique B; 2 in Figure E; and just for fun, jumped in to Mixed Pairs Bodybuilding with trainer/boyfriend Lance Fulker as the other half.

Will you be back for the 2015 Emerald Cup?

I am not sure yet if I will be back, to compete that is. However, I will be going to watch, that is for sure. My placing at Emerald Cup 2014 allowed me the opportunity to compete at a national-level show. I will be competing in November 2014 in the NPC National Bodybuilding Championships in Miami, FL. I am very excited to compete on the National stage.

Not just related to the Emerald Cup, but in general, what are you focused most on improving?

I am most focused on improving my presentation on stage. There are specific parts of my physique that I am currently working on, but I believe that comes with time. As Emerald Cup 2014 was my first competition, I was a little nervous on stage, and it showed. I am working on everything from walking gracefully, to posing properly, to hair and makeup details. I really believe showing confidence on stage will help your overall physique stand out.

Favorite Emerald Cup moment or moments?

I competed in Mixed Pairs with my boyfriend and competition coach, Lance Fulker. Being up on stage with him was a great experience. We really just had fun with it! The favorite moment I am talking about, though, is when one of the couples that competed had a proposal on stage. It was great to see that.

What was your after show Emerald Cup meal?

Oh gosh - I had a pasta dish (not sure exactly what it was, but I know it was delicious). I had a couple glasses of wine and a great big mud pie as well.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to compete in the 2015 Emerald Cup?

Have fun and be confident. Being on the Emerald Cup stage is so amazing because when you look out to the crowd, you can see people back to the vendor booths. As the premier contest in the Northwest, everything is well organized by the promoters and all who work with them. It helps those that are competing remain relaxed before going on stage.

Best tip for sticking with your diet plan?

I believe that having a positive mind and positive energy throughout the whole competition preparation is important. If you are competing, you should be doing it for you and learning different things about yourself throughout the process. Individuals that compete show tremendous amounts of progress. It should be enjoyable because it is something you are choosing to do for yourself. Having negative thoughts will just make you miserable.

Do you have anyone that you would like to thank?

I would like to thank my boyfriend, Lance. In addition to my personal trainer and nutrition and prep coach, he is my best friend and biggest supporter. He is the one who got me started in bodybuilding and has helped me shape my body and become a better version of myself. Lance believes in me and pushes me harder than anyone ever has.

Do you have a link for fans?

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kasskemmis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kassiekemmispro

(Editor's note: Since the publication of this article, Kassie went on to earn her pro card.)

For more information on the Emerald Cup and other Craig Production events, visit their website at www.CraigProductions.com.

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Emerald Cup 2015

Once again, it's Emerald Cup time. Mark your calendars for the May 8/9 weekend. If you're anywhere in the Pacific NorthWest, whether the Canuck side of the 49th parallel or the US side, this is a "must see" event.

The event, spanning a full two days, includes an expo; standout guest performers; a powerlifting component; and the main event featuring every class of muscle on the books, from bikini to bodybuilding to fitness. For more information on this show and other Craig Production events, visit CraigProductions.com and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/EmeraldCup.

We'll be covering the show and looking for interesting competitors and "faces in the crowd" to feature as before. Click Athletic Women Magazine to see coverage from Emerald Cup 2014.

Below is a reprint of last year's coverage from our Athletic Women Magazine online publication.

Emerald Cup 2014

In 1982, Dallas and M*A*S*H ruled the TV universe. Arnold Schwarzenegger, not far removed from winning Mr. Olympia, hit the movie screens as Conan The Barbarian; fame as The Terminator had yet to begin.

In sports, a young, skinny kid named Wayne Gretzky - "The Great One" - had just started his assault on the NHL record book; an aging Reggie Jackson - "Mr. October" - was winding down his baseball career.

Email and cell phones were not part of the lexicon of the day. Tweet was something a bird did. Selfie was probably something you did when no one was looking.

And the Emerald Cup was in its infancy.

Fast forward to today and promoters Brad and Elaine Craig have built The Emerald Cup into one of the premier physique events in North America. The event runs for a jam-packed two days, including pro and amateur divisions, powerlifting and an expo. Home base is the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA.

As a testament to the longevity of the Emerald Cup, consider that many of those on stage for the 2014 version were not even born when the show debuted in the early 80's.

Rather than do a blow-by-blow review of the entire show, we decided to focus on some of the individuals competitors who graced the Emerald Cup 2014 stage combined with some faces in the crowd at the Expo.

Cassie Keeping - Crossfitter

We had the opportunity to work with Cassie on a cool fall day in October 2014. Although Cassie might not bring as much visible muscle to the table as some of the muscle competitors do, the old adage "don't judge a book by its cover" certainly comes to mind with her.

Cassie definitely wowed us with her strength and athleticism. Most athletes would have their hands full trying to keep up with this crossfitter. In our ongoing Grip Strength Challenge, she blew the field away, finishing second only to powerhouse physique competitor and world-class wrestler Shayla Turcotte. It will be interesting to see if anyone passes Cassie.

Vital Statistics: I'm 5-8, I weigh 146 pounds and I'm 25-years-old.

Athletic Background: I started track and field when I was around 15. I am an eight-time national qualifier; a four-time All American; and I hold a couple of records at my university. In college I competed in long jump, sprints, hurdles and I would run relays if they needed me.

I've competed in a couple of crossfit competitions, finishing second in one and ninth in the other. I competed in the Femsport 2014 Vancouver Open and finished second.

Athletic Goals: At some point I would like to look into bikini, figure or physique. I would like to try because it looks like a pretty good challenge and I like to be challenged.

I think I would like to do figure because I have a very developed and strong lower body. As far as my upper body goes, I would have to gain some biceps and triceps. Right now my lower body is figure and my upper body is bikini.

Training for figure would be different. For crossfit, you have to be functionally strong, walk on your hands and do handstand pushups; but for figure I would be more focused on developing my muscles versus seeing how strong and athletic I could actually be. I could be super strong and athletic but might not look it, so I would have to work on my upper body and actually show that I have some biceps muscles for figure competitions.

Occupation: I've been a personal trainer for about six months now and I love it. I don't think I would want to do anything else with my life. I love it because I'm being constantly challenged by my clients and also challenging my clients. I'm showing them that they have someone that believes in them and they are constantly pushing themselves to new limits that they didn't believe they could reach. It's always motivating to see someone do something that they didn't believe they could do. It's inspiring.

Pet Peeves: I hate shopping for jeans because it makes me feel super fat. It's because I can't fit my ass or my quads into jeans, but I can fit my waist into them. Someone needs to come up with jeans that fit athletic women, not just skinny women.

See Cassie's YouTube clip here https://youtu.be/vzYbVx8-xZM

See more Cassie at Athletic Women Magazine.

Make sure to visit our affiliate partner store at Bodybuilding.com.

Goddess Mandy - New YouTube Channel

By day, mild-mannered figure competitor and fitness model Mandy Urner; but by night, she's "the scandalous and the fabulous Goddess Mandy, pro wrestling's hottest valet."

Now you can follow the adventures of Goddess Mandy on her YouTube channel and keep up on her scandalous adventures on her Facebook fan page.

Catching Up With Pro Wrestler Jaida

We had an opportunity to catch Jaida in action with ECCW on February 7/15 in Vancouver, BC. You can find more photos from this match on our Facebook page here www.facebook.com/AthleticWomenMagazine

In our original interview, you said one of your goals was getting into the WWE. Shortly after, you did a tour with them. Can you tell us how that came about and what the experience was like?

The WWE contacted me in August about doing an extra spot for RAW and Smackdown. I was in the middle of a tour through Saskatchewan with HIW, so I left that and flew back to Vancouver to hit the road. I had no idea that a little extra spot would turn into such a major role!

The experience was absolutely unbelievable. It was very eye opening being able to pick people's brains and start to understand a bit of what these wrestlers do 365 days a year. The experience made me even hungrier for success. Running into The Hulk wasn't so bad either!

At the moment, who would you consider your main wrestling rival?

At this very moment, Cat Power is my main rival. She is the ECCW women's champ. But that may change next week, you just never know with wrestling!

Annoying celebrity you would like to take into the ring and finishing move you would use on her?

I would take Paris Hilton into the ring and give her my facebuster!!

Read our complete interview with Jaida here http://joom.ag/sLlb

Visit and "Like" Jaida on Facebook www.facebook.com/JaidaProWrestler

MMA Fighter Jessi Brennan-Dalton

Look out Justin Bieber. MMA fighter Jessi Brennan-Dalton is gunning for you and she's going to kick your ass! When asked to name an annoying celebrity that she would like to go a few rounds with in the cage, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber topped Jessi's list.

"I would like to go a few rounds with Justin Bieber. I would put him in a headlock and noogie him until he agreed to treat women better and stop being such a punk."

Smart money says the MMA fighter over the annoying pop star in two rounds.

Jessi Brennan-Dalton is an up-and-coming MMA fighter with her eye on inking a contract with the UFC by her 25th birthday. Not only can she handle herself in the cage, but she brings a marketable look to the table, a valuable commodity in today's world of social media likes and sharing.

Following is our Q and A with Jessi.

How tall are you, how much do you weigh and what is your weight class?

I'm 5-4.5, I walk around at about 135 lbs to 140 lbs and my weight class is 125 lbs.

Date of birth?

January 24, 1992

What is your profession?

I'm a dog groomer by day and an MMA fighter by night! I keep the furry, four-legged of Vernon, BC clean and stylish!

Do you remember the first time you were punched in the face and what that was like?

I don't remember the first time I was punched in the face, but I remember the first time I took a serious hit in the cage. Luckily it was only on the forehead, but it was quite hard and it made me really angry! I tend to be an emotional fighter so all I could think about was getting her back!

When was your first fight, where and what was the outcome?

My first fight was against Veronica Charters in Merritt, BC through the Unified Combat League. I won by TKO in round one.

What is your fight record to date? 

My fight record to date is two wins and a draw.

What motivated you to train and become a fighter?

Like a lot of people in this sport, I started off in karate. Some of the boys and I would go to class early and "rough house" on the big crash mat. I heard about an MMA club in town and decided to give it a try and I was hooked!

How easy or hard is it for you to get fights? 

It hasn't been too difficult to find fights so far. I think agreeing on a weight has been the more challenging part.

Are there enough local women out there to keep you fighting in British Columbia?

I've only had three fights and I only know of a couple other amateur women in the area. It may be challenging to find fights down the road without having to travel outside of the province.

What is your sports/athletic background?

I've been doing sports all of my life. I started off in gymnastics, ballet, tap dancing, and jazz at four-years-old. From there I moved into soccer, volleyball, basketball, and then karate in my last year of high school. When I discovered MMA, I quit karate and started bodybuilding alongside of my new found passion.

Favorite fighters from both the men's and women's side?

I don't really follow men's MMA, but from what I've seen of Chael Sonnen he puts on a good fight, he's charismatic, and I can appreciate a good sense of humor. For the ladies my favorite fighter is Leslie Smith. I don't think that girl even knows how to frown, and she's incredibly tough.

Have you ever had a real life encounter where you had to use your fighting skills?

I've never been in a real life situation where I've had to use what I know. The thought does cross my mind though, when I'm possessed by road rage.

Where can we see more of you?

You can find me on Facebook at my public page, Jessi Brennan-Dalton; make sure to like me!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessi-Brennan-Dalton/1525937347693762

Do you have a sponsor or anyone in particular you would like to thank?

I would like to thank JH Construction and Excavating LTD. for their contribution. The owner of the company, Jason Hadath, is a valued member of our team at Intrepid MMA and his generosity is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Pauline Davidson at Davidson Photography for doing such awesome work with me! Pauline is a great photographer who works in the local circuit. She often volunteers her time at events which shows how truly passionate she is about MMA, fight photography, and supporting the local fighters. I owe my biggest thanks to our coach, Richard Dubois at Intrepid MMA, for making all of this possible for me.

See footage of Jessi fighting in the ring http://youtu.be/GHwou81zEZk

Strong Women - Grip Strength Challenge

We've been running an ongoing contest on Athletic Women Magazine that measures grip strength using a basic hand dynamometer. It's interesting to note that some of the participants that look strong have not posted numbers that match the visual; yet others that appear average have far exceeded what one might expect.

At this point one thing is clear - +Shayla Turcotte is an absolute beast. This is one strong woman and to date, no one else is even close to her lofty numbers. On the day she did the test, she stated that she was below her peak strength level. Hopefully one day we will have a repeat performance with Shayla at her best.

You can see the full results on the site here. Below are the top 10 as of November 11, 2014, including individual stats and the strength challenge date.

1. Shayla Turcotte, 6 feet, 185-lbs of Amazon power, physique competitor and world-class wrestler. 137.60 lbs right arm (December 3/13)
2. Shayla Turcotte, 6 feet, 185-lbs of Amazon power, physique competitor and world-class wrestler. 134.40 lbs left arm (December 3/13)
3. Angel S, 5-5, 135 lbs, figure competitor. 107.80 lbs right arm (August 11/14)
4. Shannon Courtney, 5-2 162 lbs, physique competitor (www.hdphysiques.tv). 102.00 lbs right arm (January 4/14)
5. Wendy Lindquist, 5-3 128 lbs, bodybuilder, powerlifter, strength athlete. 100.80 lbs right arm (July 25/14)
6. Cassie Crossfit, 5-8 146 pounds, crossfit competitor, track and field competitor. 98.60 lbs left arm (October 26/14) 
7. Kristen O, 5-6 130 lbs, bikini competitor and hockey player. 96.40 lbs left arm (August 16/14)
8. Kristen O, 5-6 130 lbs, bikini competitor and hockey player. 95.00 lbs left arm (August 16/14)
9. Kristen O, 5-6 130 lbs, bikini competitor and hockey player. 94.40 lbs right arm (August 16/14)
10. Wendy Lindquist, 5-3 128 lbs, bodybuilder, powerlifter, strength athlete. 94.00 lbs left arm (October 19/14)

Shayla Turcotte, grip strength challenge leader