February 1, 2010

Natalie Waples Talks about the Upcoming SAF "Superstar" Fit Camps

It’s a rare opportunity when people have the chance to learn from the best, but that’s what the SAF "Superstar" Fit Camps offer. The fitness "retreats" began in 2008, when amateur figure champion Michelle Matthews organized the first one for us. It was a resounding success and we knew that we needed to have more. After that inaugural event, Michelle recruited Natalie Waples, and the two have been co-leading them ever since. To-date, there have been four SAF "Superstar" Fit Camps, and we’re happy to say that they’ve all been very successful.

In April, we’ll be holding the fifth SAF "Superstar" Fit Camp with Natalie and Michelle in the lead again, but there’s a big difference this time around: whereas the first four were held in one day, this one will be over two days. The reason for the expansion is simple: Natalie and Michelle wanted to be able to teach more. So what was already great just got better, and in January I sat down with Natalie to talk about the new format and get her thoughts on these changes. This is what she said:

Doug Schneider: Let’s talk about the SAF "Superstar" Fit Camps first. In 2010, they will be going from one day to two days. Can you explain what prompted the change?

Natalie Waples: We decided to offer the camps in a two-day format as there was just too much information and too many activities that we wanted to provide for the campers – one day just wasn’t enough. After receiving feedback from attendees, we learned that many people had wanted us to give them more detail on the topics we addressed, and the two-day format will allow us to do that.

DS: What sorts of things can attendees expect to learn on each day?

NW: More than you can imagine! Honestly, it’s probably too much to describe here. The best thing to do is look at the site, www.SAFCamps.com, which has all the details and some pictures. It will help to give people a good idea of how extensive the information is.

DS: Will people who went to the SAF Camps in 2008 and 2009 still benefit from going to both days this year?

NW: Absolutely! The new SAF Camps are going to cover several new aspects and will also build on the fundamentals from our original one-day format. Even those who attended the first day before will learn new things on both days.

Michelle Matthews (seated with white cap) and Natalie Waples (standing right) make sure to provide attendees top-quality information that can help them succeed.

DS: When you teach at the SAF Camps, how does it make you feel? Do you find it strenuous, enjoyable, or both?

NW: I love being part of the camps. They provide a forum for discussion and interaction, and they build relationships between women of like-minded interests.  Working directly with Michelle Matthews in leading the camps has made them such an enjoyable experience, as we play on each others strengths, but we both also have unique experiences and knowledge to pass on to the campers.

DS: What’s been the general feedback that you’ve received after each SAF Fit Camp?

NW: More! More! More! We hear this all the time, and it’s why we have re-structured the format and expanded it to two days.

DS: Do you keep in touch with attendees after each SAF Fit Camp?

NW: At the end of each camp, we provide our contact information to campers and encourage them to get in touch with us anytime they have a question. Many do. Over the holiday season, I bumped into two women who attended our camp in Sudbury in 2009. They were both so elated to hear we were expanding the format in 2010, and we have stayed in touch regarding competition plans, posing clinics, etc.  I also maintain a distribution list so that I can communicate any upcoming seminars or clinics to past camp participants.

DS: Obviously, I’ve been at every SAF Fit Camp with you. Michelle Matthews, the creator of the first one, has also been there each time. Michelle is not only knowledgeable, but very entertaining as well. Can you explain what Michelle’s personality is like, and what people can expect? Or is it even possible to explain?

NW: I don’t know if you can sum Michelle up with words, but she is certainly one of my "rocks" in this industry, and I believe that is the impression she gives to our campers.  She is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, fun-loving and hard working, and I couldn’t imagine having these events without her. Anyone who attends our SAF Fit Camps knows that her energy is contagious, and she can make people laugh out loud.

DS: There weren’t any camps like these around when you started competing. Do you wish there were?

NW: I remember emailing several competitors for information and buying every magazine off the shelf to increase my knowledge when I first started out. Having a camp to attend would have been just what I needed to network, learn the "ins and outs," and grasp a realization of just what I was getting myself into.  In our camps we cover figure, fitness, fitness modeling, and everything in between, and our goal is to teach as many women as we can about the SAF lifestyle, how we in fact live it, and why we love it.

DS: Right now these SAF Camps are in Ontario only. Do you want to expand them across Canada?

NW: Personally, I would love to be able to expand the camps outside the province. This is definitely something to work towards for later in 2010 and 2011.

DS: Let’s hope they continue to grow and get even better. Thanks, Natalie.

NW: Thank you, Doug.

To learn more about the SAF "Superstar" Fit Camps, visit www.SAFCamps.com.