Giersch 'backs' into bodybuilding championship
By Seabrook Mow
Special to The Advertiser
Tarrell Giersch went back to basics to capture the heavyweight and overall title at the 2002 Hawaiian Islands Bodybuilding Championship Saturday at Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
"It was my back, that's what pushed me over, that's what it definitely was," said Giersch, who is in his first year of competition. "You know what they say: If you've got back, then you've definitely got to show. I worked so hard and I guess it showed, so I'm really happy about it."
"It was my back, that's what pushed me over, that's what it definitely was," Tarrell Giersch said after capturing the heavyweight and overall titles at the Hawaiian Islands Bodybuilding Championship.
Giersch, a 29-year-old Marine, impressed the crowd as well as his competitors by displaying a dominating back.
"I do a lot of deadlifts and a lot of pull-ups. I usually deadlift 600 pounds for reps of five."
Judge Clifton Torres was impressed with Giersch's strength — as well as his back. "He's got an incredible back," the 1996 Hawaiian Islands bantamweight class winner said.
By winning the overall title, Giersch is now eligible to compete on the national level.
However, Giersch plans on taking a year off to put on more weight. The 6-foot-2 bodybuilder weighs in at 207.
"I hope to get to about 250-260 pounds," he said.
Francis Taua won the light heavyweight division and finished second overall.
"I think in the overall, from the backside, he has a very dominating back, and I think that's what helped him out," Taua said of Giersch. "But I'm happy for the guy, and I love the guy."
"I found my win to be a real blessing, especially since I look up to Francis," Giersch said.
The final decision was a close call, Torres said.
"Actually, I chose Francis Taua, but I guess the majority went the other way," Torres said. "I think they usually go for the heavyweight. But overall he (Giersch) had a total development."
The one criticism Torres had of Giersch's physique was his legs.
"The legs make up half the body; and as far as downstairs, his legs needs a little more development," Torres said.
The most competitive division was the light heavyweight class, where Taua squeezed out a victory over razor-sharp Steven Perez.
"I think it was a very tough weight class between myself and Steve," Taua said. "I think I had a little more overall conditioning, a little more tighter skin that helped me edge him out."
The other half of the night belonged to the ladies, where Kristi Tauti, 23, won the Women's Figure Competition. It was a departure from the previous women's competition because there was no fitness division, where entrants are judged on muscularity, symmetry and a gymnastic dance routine. Instead, judges were looking for firm and round women, signifying what a healthy woman should look like.
"I think this category is good, 'cause I can't do gymnastics, but it still allows me to compete in something," Tauti said.
• • •
Women's Figure
Short — Kristi Tauti
Tall — Francine Lum
Jr. Hawaiian Islands
Lightweight — Lawrence Rios
Heavyweight — Arleigh Bumanglag
Overall — Bumanglag
Masters (34-older)
Lightweight — Hannu Selin
Heavyweight — Allen Mahuka
Overall — Selin
Open
Bantamweight — Chris Yelten
Lightweight — Nos Racoma
Middleweight — Neilsen Murakami
Light heavyweight — Francis Taua
Heavyweight — Tarrell Giersch
Overall — Giersch
