Interview with IFBB Figure Amateur Tea Eriksen by Anne Pietila

Photo by Frank Lauvstad

1. So Tea, at first, could you please give us a short introduction of yourself?

- My full name is Tea Havstein Eriksen, I`m actually born in Denmark, but I have lived in Norway since I was three years old. I live in Oslo with my boyfriend Bjørgulf who is also an athlete, he competes in bodybuilding. I work as a massagetherapist in a chiropractic clinic and I have specialized in sportsmassage. When I`m not at the clinic, I work as a teacher at the largest and oldest massage eduacation schools in the Nordic countries, Axelsons BodyWork School. My boyfriend and I have just recently opened a Gymgrossisten shop in Oslo. Gymgrossisten is an already existing chain of shops in Sweden. I work there as well as often as I can!
I`m truly dedicated to my sport, body fitness (figure), and I love doing it! I have been training with weights for 4-5 years now, before that I did kickboxing and athletics (100 m). I normally work out five times a week, and when not, I hang out with friends or lay on the couch and just relaaaaaax! ;)
I love my life, and I concider myself being a positive, happy, energetic girl, and I do believe that I can do anything I want to if I just put my mind to it! There`s only one person standing in way of making your dreams come true; YOU :) So do like Nike says: Just do it!

Photo by Frank Lauvstad

2. You are now on your way to your next contest but before we go into that, could you share with us your best achievements so far?

- You know what, I kind of think that all my achievements are great achievements, so I`ll just let you know all my results so far:
My first competition was in April 2007, I achieved a runner up placing. The next two contests after that (Oslo Grand Prix & Loaded Cup) I won. Then I placed 7th at the European Championships one month later, one place away from being in the finals, at my first season of competing..
Last fall (2008) I placed 2nd at the first competition, and then I won the Norwegian nationals, as well as the Nordic Championships. And I did won the overall in both... So I`m pretty happy about all my placings so far!!!

Photo by Frank Lauvstad

3. Yes, you did won Nordic Championships a year ago, could you comment that show and the awesome result a bit more?

- I had so much fun that day! Everyone was in a good mood in backstage, and my adrenalin was on top the entire day. The whole show was very well organized, no delaying or such like that. I was superexcited at the final round, and I just couldn`t wait for the speaker to let us girls on stage know the final results. I wasn`t sure if I was going to win or not, my competition was tough... So when they called my name as a winner, I felt like jumping through the roof! That was absolutely an incredibly good feeling!

4. Anyway, the main reason that I wanted to interview you in our October issue is the fact that you are now on your prep to your first bigger international show, The IFBB World Championships, right? In which category/class you will be competing?

- Yes, that`s true, I`m now prepping for the IFBB World Championships which is taking place in Italy 17th October. I`ll compete in body fitness (figure), tallest class, +168 cm. (I`m 170 cm tall.) Can`t wait for the day to come, and it would be awesome to be in the finals this time... So we`ll just have to wait and see..

Photo byJoachim Pedersen / Treningsforum.no

5. After your contests last fall, how was your off season? What was your goal during it and do you think you made that progress you wanted to?

- I think I had a really good off season, lots of hard training (always is!!!!). My main goal was to get some more width on my back, and goal number two was to get some more volume in my anterior deltoids. I know I have achieved it to some level, because I can see these parts are better now, but you know... I`ll never be completely satisfied. That`s what I love in this game, always a way to making progress!

6.  And when did you start your prep for the Worlds?

- My training prep started right after the Nordic Championships. I always have a goal for my training, always training like it was the last one! Not necessarily heavy, but the intensity has to be there. I have to have the right mindset, otherwise it`s just a waste of time... I`m not just training to keep my body moving, it`s my sport!
My diet started in July. Last diet, in fall 2008, I started dieting 9 weeks before my first show. This time I have 14 weeks, just to make sure I will get in the best shape possible. Also it allows me to take it "easy" (when is it ever easy to go on a competition diet?!!!! Haha..) So my diet lasts longer this time, but what I eat and the amount of calories is about the same.

Photo byJoachim Pedersen / Treningsforum.no

7. Like I said, this will be your first bigger international show, what kind of expectations and goals do you have both concerning your own package and placing?

- Well, I did do the Europeans in 2007, so it`s not completely strange to me.. So this time I know what I`m getting in to! I hope my package is what the judges would like to see, I know I`m not the most muscular girl, but I`m not the smallest either.. And I think my symmetry is quite even, not lacking anything or having too much muscles of any "bodypart". Maybe I have a shot at the TOP 6, but you never know, it`s up to the judges... At least I hope my shape will be good!

8. By the way, you are not only one from Norway competing in Como. You have quite tough team mate,right?

- Yes, that`s for sure! Nina Sandvold Moe is competing from Norway as well, actually we`re in the same class! She placed 2nd at the World Championship last year, and she also placed 2nd at the Europeans earlier this year. So yes, it is tough! She is awesome, really great physique, and always in a good shape, and she`s simply great on stage.
We have competed together only once before, at the European Championships 2007, where I placed 7th and she came in as 10th.... Her shape was a little off that time, and I was too small for that line-up. So we`ll just have to see it now then!  It will be fun to stand in line-up on stage with her in Como, and I wouldn`t mind being beaten by an awesome athlete as Nina ;)

Photo byJoachim Pedersen / Treningsforum.no

9.   Just a few weeks left, how will your last weeks look like and how are you feeling about this whole show coming up soon?

- To be honest I`m trying not to think too much about it. No point of being nervous or concerned about my shape or about my placing. I have to do the same preps the last weeks no matter what. So I`m quite calm actually, just looking forward to getting there!! At the Norwegian nationals and the Nordic Championships last year I had really high expectations towards myself to win, but this time I`m glad just to be there, and get as high up as I can. But you know, of course, wouldn`t mind winning!
I`ve taken time off from work the last week, so I can really calm down and just focus on myself. We`re leaving to Italy three days before the contest day, so I`ll have time to relax and take it easy before it`s GO-time. I train just a little less heavy now the last two weeks before competition, and I do my cardio and eat the same until the few days before. Then I do small changes to make it all look perfect on stage.

10. Now you get a chance to give us a guess of your own placing, give a try!

- Okey, hmmm... not easy. somewhere between 4-8th,I hope!!

Photo byJoachim Pedersen / Treningsforum.no

11. After the World Championships, any more shows in this fall and what about after that, next spring and fall, anything planned yet?

- No plans after the Worlds this fall. And I don`t have any concrete plans next year. But I have a feeling I`ll be doing the Worlds next year as well....

12. I wish you best luck at the IFBB World Championships, thank you for the interview, anything you want to add?

- I would like to thank my boyfriend, who is also my training partner, coach and mentor - my biggest support. My sponsor Gymgrossisten, they`ve been a big help. And all my friends and others in this game who cheer for me and believe in me. A BIG thank-you-hug to all of you!

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