Almost 20 years ago a friend reluctantly dragged Abbotsford鈥檚 Michelle Krack to a bodybuilding show.
In the two decades that followed, Krack became a competitive bodybuilder herself, earned an International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness pro card and then became both a judge and show promoter.
In between all the fitness she has also found time to continue her teaching career at Abbotsford Virtual School and help raise a family 鈥� some may consider her a real-life Abbotsford superhero.
Krack brings her 鈥渃ape鈥� and years of experience competing, promoting and judging to the table for this weekend鈥檚 Vancouver IFBB Pro Qualifier and IFBB Pro Show, which occurs on Saturday (July 15) and Sunday (July 16) at the Abbotsford Arts Centre.
She initially entered the promoting game in 2014 with the Krack Klassic held in New Westminster. After running that amateur show she decided to make the leap to host a pro event beginning in 2015 with the Vancouver Professional/Amateur & Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
That show was the first IFBB show in Vancouver in over 40 years and Krack became just the second woman to ever promote an IFBB-sanctioned event in the world. She has continued on that journey and debuted the show in Abbotsford last year.
She said the early years were challenging, but that she believed there was a demand for a show in the Vancouver area. She said that demand still exists and has continued to grow during his time as a promoter.
鈥淚 felt there was a ton of support and we had such a huge response that first year when we brought in our pro qualifier event,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople were just like wow 鈥� because otherwise to go pro you had to go to Ontario at that time and they only gave out one pro card. I felt like it was a good response and everyone was excited to have the shows here locally.鈥�
Krack explained that for many years she was the lone event in B.C. to hand out pro cards, but last year a show on Vancouver Island has begun handing out pro cards in several divisions. She said dealing with IFBB officials initially was not the easiest, but she won them over with her hard work and determination.
鈥淭hey really didn鈥檛 know who I was at the start 鈥� I just kind of came knocking on the door and I ruffled a few feathers from other people who had been wanting to run an IFBB show here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 went through the proper channels and it was like are we going to keep talking about it or just do it. So it is what it is, but now it鈥檚 great. And now I don鈥檛 have all the divisions so other local promoters can get involved as well.鈥�
She said the COVID-19 pandemic did hurt the event and the fitness industry in general, but the recovery is coming. She hopes to raise awareness about the Abbotsford event in its second year.
鈥淥ur marketing took a hit with COVID but more and more people are getting involved and our branding is strong,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ore people seem to be coming out and I want people to know that can get tickets to just come and watch.鈥�
Krack said the audience is often filled with the friends and family of participants, but she would love to see more of the general public check the show out and witness some of the athletes.
鈥淚鈥檇 really like to see our community come out because we鈥檙e a big fitness community in Abbotsford,鈥� she said.
She said moving the show to Abbotsford and the AAC makes logical and economical sense for all involved after so many years in Vancouver.
鈥淭he airport is right here, hotels are close by and the theatre itself is just beautiful,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the nicest theatres that I鈥檝e hosted an event in and there is also a lot of parking. Hotels are close by and more affordable and the athletes love how easy everything is to get to.鈥�
Krack expects to see around 500 athletes hit the stage over the two days. The Pro Qualifier on Saturday will see prejudging for men and women of all divisions starting at 9 a.m., with the finals set for 5 p.m. Prejudging for the IFBB pro men鈥檚 bodybuilding also kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Prejudging for the IFBB pro women鈥檚 bikini open and masters occurs on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Some of those competing on Saturday in the qualifier will earn a shot to compete against some of the best pro athletes on Sunday鈥檚 show.
Prejuding for the IFBB pro men鈥檚 classic physique and men鈥檚 physique, as well as the finals of the IFBB pro men鈥檚 bodybuilding competition occurs at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
The event concludes with the finals of the IFBB pro men鈥檚 classic physique, the men鈥檚 physique, pro women鈥檚 fitness, women鈥檚 figure and women鈥檚 bikini beginning at 5 p.m.
For more information on the event, visit vanproshow.com.
