Bonded by Iron

Website links lifters to Santa Cruz visit
By Jon Walsh, Santa Cruz Sentinel
Photo by Bill Lovejoy, Sentinel

July 17 , 2001

Henrik Nielsen, upper left, and David Massey, upper right, attend a training clinic co-hosted by Dr. Ken Leistner, seated, held last Saturday

Sacrifice and determination are two key ingredients in obtaining physical fitness. Not surprisingly, sacrifice and determination is what led to what may best be described as an "Iron On-line Summit."

Last weekend, dozens of people from near and far made their way to Dave Draper’s World Gym in Santa Cruz, each one of them bonded by Draper’s Web site.

Draper’s wife, Laree, created "Iron On-line" nearly three years ago. What followed was an electronic forum for devoted fitness fanatics from around the world. The chat group took off, and soon people wanted to put a face with an on-line moniker. Hence, the gathering.

"This is what has evolved after a year and half (of planning),’’ said Draper, a bodybuilding icon whose titles include Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe. "I kept waiting for it to all fall apart. But it didn’t."

The chat group has a small — but devoted — following, evidenced by the fact the people were willing to spend their vacation time and money to travel to the area.

Some have traveled from as far as Europe and Pennsylvania, Florida and Alaska. Some came from as close as San Jose. "There is this neat relationship we all have,’’ Draper said.

David Massey, the man who created the idea to have the meeting, came all the way from the Canary Islands. "I was telling people that if I can make it all the way from the Canary Islands, you can find a way to get there from Michigan,’’ Massey said.

"One guy scraped up just enough money to ride in on a Greyhound bus from Texas," Draper said.

Henrik Neilson traveled from Copenhagen, Denmark to take part in the festivities. "I was here for five weeks last year, primarily because of Dave," Neilson said. "He’s my role-model for bodybuilding. In my opinion, the best bodybuilder of all-time. This year I wanted to meet all the other people, see what they’re actually like. I’ve been saving for a year to come here."

Massey stumbled upon Draper’s Web site (www.davedraper.com) after reaching a new low. Frail and weak after receiving a heart transplant, he couldn’t muster the strength to rise from the toilet. A nurse had to assist him. "I was weighing 110 pounds and didn’t have the strength in my legs,’’ he said. "I bought a set of dumbbells and started lifting. I went to a search engine on my computer one day looking for advice and I came upon (Draper’s) site. These wonderful people put me on the road."

Looking anything but frail, Massey’s been training ever since. His doctors told him not to lift weights, but he took a slow and cautious approach. Now his doctors are amazed at his progress. "I’m the fittest, strongest of all 300 of the hospital’s transplant patients," Massey said.

Inspired by similar stories in the chat group, Massey thought a meeting was in order. "It was a spur of the moment kind of thing,’’ he said, "if we can get everybody together. I thought that maybe there would be about a dozen people getting together, sharing a laugh. Then the organization kicked in."

Draper wasn’t surprised that Massey came up with the idea to get together and "share a laugh." "He’s a 40-year-old man with a 24-year-old heart,’’ Draper said. "He embraces life a little differently."

Some guests stayed for just a couple of days while others will stay in the area for a few weeks. The week’s highlights included a trip to the Boardwalk and a screening of "Don’t Make Waves" at the Nickelodeon, featuring Draper along with Tony Curtis and Sharon Tate. A power-training seminar and a barbecue were held on Saturday.

Most of all, members used the opportunity to thank the Drapers for providing words of advice and encouragement. "I just couldn’t wait to see the guy,’’ Massey said.

"I wanted to say thanks to Dave,’’ Neilson said. "I wanted to give something back to him. He’s already given me a lot."

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