Peter Andersen
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Competitor
2 X CBJJF medalist
BC Ultra Heavyweight Provincial BJJ Champion
Western Canadian BJJ Championships – Bronze
Most of my life I have always been athletic, playing various sports like basketball, football, rugby and now martial arts. I started my Martial Arts training back in 2012 with my focus in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and continued to train in this art until receiving my orange belt. Then in 2014 I started to train in Brazilian Jiu jitsu with the help of Team Zuma. Over these past 2.5 years I have had a great deal of success, winning the B.C provincial Championships and most recently i took home a bronze medal in the Western Canada finals.
Next up for me is going to be compete for the National title in early 2018 in the UAEJJF and I also plan on competing in the Seattle IBJJF Open in August 2017 with the hopes of qualifying for the World Championships in California in 2018. The end goal for me is to be an IBJJF World Champion at every belt level.
I remember the first day I went to Popeye’s Supplements Victoria when I was just 14 years old and I had no idea what to do or take and all I saw was shiny product labels. Chris (the owner) knew it was the first time that I have ever been into his store and he knew nothing about me except that I was a young aspiring athlete looking to take supplements to help my overall performance. From that very first day, instead of taking advantage of a young kid, he went way beyond what he had to do and really showed me how everything works and what to look for in both companies and products. Over the years Chris has taught me everything I needed know about supplements & nutrition. Over the years I have built my own supplement stack and without Chris and Popeye’s Supplements Victoria I don’t think I would have achieved the level of success I have reached without them. I am very proud to represent Popeyes Supplements Victoria and together we will continue to be “Strong to the Finish”
Favourite Quote: “Winners Win and Losers Lose”
The top 3 products that I absolutely must have:
Iso-100 Hydrolyzed Whey Isolate by Dymatize Nutrition
HydraAmino EAA by TC Nutrition
VegeGreens + Multi by Progressive Nutritional Therapies
larissa erickson
BIKINI COMPETITOR / TRAINER
Hi! I'm Larissa Erickson. I'm an Alberta girl, now living on Vancouver Island. I'm a personal trainer with a deep passion for natural bodybuilding. I recently competed in my first competition where I placed 1st in all three of my classes at the Vancouver Fall Classic 2022.
I truly believe in the power of resistance training and its ability to strengthen the body and the mind. It has the ability to make the body more resilient and dramatically improves ones confidence, inside and outside of the gym.
With 3+ years experience training clients with varying ages & motivations, I've gained a lifelong love for fitness and enjoy helping others find theirs too. From general fitness, to mobility & strength plus a special interest in bodybuilding, fitness is my jam !
I love the feeling that the fitness lifestyle has given me over the years. It's gifted me confidence, a reason to love & believe in myself and what I can achieve. It has also given me a lifelong community to belong to, full of supportive people and that is something I truly cherish.
I'm a big fan of sports nutrition so of course Popeyes Supplements has always been my go to place for supplements. What makes them different besides their incredible selection & prices is they offer the very best knowledge you can find anywhere.
My absolute favourite supplements right now :
Beyond Yourself Protein Isolate. (and I love the Popeyes 6lb VALUE size)
PVL Creatine Monohydrate (love that it’s Informed Choice tested)
Iron Kingdom Pre Workout (works great and its Made in B.C)
Alex Watson
Rowing – Team Canada
Sport and fun have always been two words I consider to go hand in hand. Whether you are grinding in the gym or shooting hoops with a friend, you should be able to walk off the field with a smile glued to your face. I take this smile with me each time I hop in and out of the boat for my morning and afternoon rows.
This past year, I have been very fortunate to be able to take my passion from the east coast here to beautiful Victoria, BC to begin training full time towards my goal of representing Team Canada at an Olympic games in the future. Once settled in Victoria, I realized that I was missing the nutritional support I had established back in Ontario. Luckily, Chris and his staff at Popeyes Supplements Victoria were there to help me when I needed it the most. They had everything I needed for "tested" products and the expert knowledge to go along with it.
It’s no secret that for any athlete to feel at their best, they need to be fueling their body with the proper nutrition. As a lightweight rower (racing in a weight category of 160lbs or under), I have found that the proper nutrition & supplementation can often make the only difference when racing someone who is generally the exact same size as me. Popeye’s Supplements Victoria is my indispensable source for high quality, "tested" for sport supplements from the brands I've grown to trust. This partnership with Popeyes will ensure that I continue to get my very best performances in the boat everyday and will someday allow me to achieve my ultimate goal of getting that gold medal put around my neck!
Some of my top achievements to date are:
- 4th place 2016 under 23 world championships, Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls
- 7th place 2015 under 23 world championships, Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls
- 2016 Canadian University Champion Lightweight Men's Single
- 2016 Bronze medal Canadian University Heavyweight Men's Eight
- 2015 Silver Canadian University Lightweight Men's Double
- 2017 Becoming a Popeyes Athlete Ambassador
Currently my Top 3 Products would be:
ALLMAX Beta-alanine
Promasil - Sustained Release Protein by Rival Nutrition
Glutamine Gold by PVL Essentials
(* All 3 are Informed Choice Tested to be Banned Substance Free)
Ruth Saunders
Women's Physique / MMA / Kickboxing / Kite Boarding
I have been very active my entire life. My parents who are both wilderness guides have had me hunting & fishing since I was just a little girl, so I think it’s safe to say that a very active lifestyle is just in my DNA.
I started weight training at 16 years of age after I started wrestling in high school and wanted to get stronger than all the boys. Yes, I have always been very competitive to say the least. Shortly after moving to Victoria in 2012 I met MMA coach - Jason Heit. I started training under him and went on to compete in various competitions including the Western Canadian Martial Arts Championships, where I won Gold. In 2013 I was selected to represent Team Canada at the World Martial Arts Games in Austria. Then I broke my leg just 4 weeks out, but continued to train with the intention of competing using only my strong ground game. I sadly re-broke my leg a week later, and was forced to officially pull out of the event. That’s when I started to focus my training on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu where I quickly earned my blue belt in 2014. Around this time I was offered a contract with Super Fight League out of Mumbai, India to compete in MMA. After several tough fight camps, but no Visa’s arriving (and a lost passport) I decided to re-focus my training on strength & proper recovery. I became very dedicated to the weight room, which culminated in me competing in the Western Canadian Bodybuilding Championships in Kelowna B.C where I placed 2nd in Figure Tall, qualifying me for Provincials. This is when I decided to really step up my training to build some quality muscle, and focus my sights on the Women’s Physique division. After 2 years of intense training 5-6 x per week, I just recently competed in November 2016 at the Popeye’s Fall Classic in Vancouver B.C where I placed 1st in Women’s Masters Physique, First in Women’s Open Tall, Won Best Poser of the Night and won the Overall Women’s Physique title. This now allows me to compete at the Provincial level for life.
My addiction to competitive sports doesn’t end there, but now has me Kitesurfing. Last year I was certified with IKSA and followed this by kiting the Eastern Coastline from New Orleans down to Florida.
I think it’s safe to say I work hard and play hard and know that I need quality supplementation (and advice) to keep my body is tip top condition, so I am ready to take on the next physical challenge that comes my way.
Chris and all his staff at Popeye’s Supplements Victoria have been a huge support system to me over all these years, and always so incredibly knowledgeable about their products. Their incredible community support and involvement has always impressed me immensely.
I proudly recommend Popeye’s Supplements Victoria to everyone I come across. As an active volunteer in the local community, I am also a youth lacrosse coach, and Chris the owner of Popeye’s Victoria has always been more then eager to support my team without hesitation.
Popeyes Supplements Victoria is and continues to be my one and only supplement store ... wether it’s their top notch customer service, their amazing prices, their very knowledgeable staff or Victoria’s best supplement selection by far ... all of these reasons makes them hands down the best supplement store by a long shot!
Audrina MAVIN - Youth ambassador
Lacrosse
Hi, my name is Audrina Mavin and currently I played on the JDF T1 field lacrosse team. Lacrosse has been a huge part in my life, it has been my childhood for the last 10 years, I started playing at 4 years old. I have built close friendships and huge passion for this sport. From 4 years old to now I have played box lacrosse for the Juan de fuca Whalers as a goalie pretty much since day one. I didn’t start playing field lacrosse till I was 7 although. In field lacrosse, I started off as a player but soon enough I was playing field goalie, being a goalie is my passion. One of my favourite highlights in lacrosse was in 2023 when I tried out for the boys u15 box lacrosse Team BC team. I made alternate goalie and went to all the practices. Later after I was scouted and was asked to play with the u17 girls Team Bc box lacrosse team where I played for the Nationals in Regina, Saskatchewan. We played in the finals and won silver, 2nd place (I’ve never cried so much). That trip gave me an amazing experience that I will forever remember. Now I am playing field lacrosse every day at school with the Royal Bay Lacrosse Academy. My biggest goal in lacrosse is to continue playing field lacrosse throughout high school and get a Division 1 scholarship, so I can continue my lacrosse career (Hoping to go to Penn State). Popeyes Supplements Victoria has helped with supplying me with products like Biosteel, I couldn’t have made it through back to back lacrosse games, tournaments or even school days without the extra hydration . Huge thanks to Popeyes Victoria!
My Favourite 3 Popeyes products
1. Biosteel High Performance - peach mango
2. Magnum Quattro - Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream
3. Progressive VegeGreens - pineapple coconut
My Sporting Idol is Aaron Bold. I have watched him play since I was little and his box lacrosse goalie style is one that I admire.
My Favourite Post game meal: Subway
Again thank you Chris @ Popeyes for supporting me and choosing me for this new Youth Ambassador program . Much appreciated, Audrina
Jesse campbell
Professional Strongman / Olympic Weighlifting
I started shopping at Popeyes Supplements Victoria when I was about 15 years old and training Boxing at Island MMA. Back then Derek Medler and some other athletes at the gym were sponsored by Popeyes and having no athletic background myself I was hopelessly lost when It came to training, nutrition, and supplementation. I looked up to those guys a lot and eventually got the courage to walk through the door and ask questions about how to take my nutrition and training to the next level. The crew at Popeyes Victoria helped get me on the right track with the basics and that set the course for my new athletic trajectory. While training and competing in Boxing for about 6 years I became enamored with different ways to strengthen the body. Weightlifting and Strongman caught my attention as they were unconventional and weren’t your standard “gym bro” set of exercises. Growing up working on a commercial fishing boat and doing a lot of labor jobs leant itself to the movements of strongman and the technicality and explosive power production from boxing leant itself towards weightlifting. In 2015 I competed at my first Weightlifting competition at the A & R Memorial in Port Alberni and later on the Victoria Strength Challenge Strongman competition at the Victoria Highland Games. I ended up winning that first Strongman competition at the games, and every one thereafter, and the rest was history. I was absolutely hooked on the sport.
To this day I have over 6 BC’s Strongest Middleweight Provincial titles and In 2018 I placed 2nd at Canadian Strongman Nationals in the 105kg Category. I then became the youngest BC athlete to ever compete on the World Stage @ Strongman Competiton at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus Ohio. This was something I repeated in 2020, and 2023 all while competing regionally and nationally in the sport of Weightlifting through the Canadian Sport Institute. In 2021 I achieved a Bronze Medal at Canadian Nationals in Weightlifting. In 2022 I placed 3rd at Western Canada’s Strongest 105kg man against two Pro athletes. In 2023 I became the first 105kg athlete in BC to compete at the Official Strongman Games World Championship, which is Worlds Strongest Man for weightclassed athletes. Currently I’m engaged in multiple Strongman federations with invitations to competitions across the globe in addition to trying to grow the sport within BC.
At this time I spend most of my time working as a professional artist and helping athletes get into the sport of Strongman by hosting seminars and introducing the lifts to curious folks at the gym, in parking lots, or wherever I might be training.
It’s a bit of a surreal thing to be a Popeyes Victoria Athletic Ambassador as It doesn’t feel like too long ago I was a completely un athletic, insecure kid who was terrified to step into the gym. I remember how intimidating but kind everyone was during my early days Boxing. I see this role as a Popeyes Athletic Ambassador as an opportunity to share my love of Strength Sports and personal development with the broader community whether it be your first day trying to get in shape or your 90th year as an athlete. Sport is an intensely humbling, human experience we all deserve a part in.
My Favourite Supplements:
● ATP Beef Collagen Protein - Chocolate Flavour is my go to
○ My number 1 pick for protein. Rich in collagen and dairy free for those of us who
are dairy sensitive or have a hard time digesting plant based options. Mixes up
well, has a great $/gram protein ratio, and rich flavour.
● Bio steel Electrolyte mix - Peach Mango flavour
○ Great if you’re needing an easy digesting electrolyte mix or want a good base formula when creating your own.
● Oatmeal Gold Protein Bars - Peanut Butter Carob
○ I keep talking about these and now Chris has a hard time keeping them in stock.
Great if you’re looking for a bit of carbs and fats with your protein bar. They taste
like a decent protein rich banana bread. I usually buy a box and leave them in the
work truck for when I need a snack on the road.
● Progressive Omeg Essential Fish Oil w/ Vit D
○ The best fish oils on the market. Great supplement especially during the
winter months when vitamin D production is low. Helps control inflammation
● ATP Magnesium Blend
○ I take mine at higher dosages due to the physical nature of my work and training
and I find the ATP blend to be the most absorbable at the best price point per cap.
The ATP blend combines different forms of Magnesium to allow for maximum
absorption to help your mitochondria function as best they can.
GrANT BREILAND & MICHELLE RENDLE
Men’s Physique / Figure Competitor
My name is Grant Breiland, born and raised in Victoria BC. I’m self employed, busy running my business for the past 30 years. I have a zest for life, love for animals and thrive on setting goals and achieving them. I have been passionate about fitness from a young age. I have done extensive weight training and have trained in power lifting for several years. I decided to change my fitness path due to injury and began my journey in body building with a goal to compete on stage.
I hired a coach who helped me fix my ailments before beginning to train for my first Physique show. I began my building phase, and nearly one year later my coach and I selected a show. We laid out a game plan and began my 16 week prep. With a lot of hard work and dedication I was ready and competed at the Van Pro/Am in Dec 2021. I placed 1 st in 50+ Masters and 3rd in Open. I was on top of the world, not only for placing well but the entire experience was incredible and now I want to keep going!
I’m currently in my off season building for a future show. I truly feel Age is just a number and I am proof that with hard work, a strong mindset to achieve, the sky is the limit! I definitely couldn’t have fully achieved my goal without Chris and the kind, and knowledgeable staff at Popeyes Supplements Victoria, fuelling me with everything I needed to be the best athlete possible.
My name is Michelle Rendle, born and raised in Victoria BC. I’m a feisty Italian who is passionate about everything I do. I’ve always had a competitive nature and am very goal oriented. I played soccer, badminton and later dance. Being physically active has always brought me fulfillment. It wasn’t until I joined my first gym at 18 and was introduced to strength training, this true passion began and the rest is history.
I knew I wanted to pursue this further and as I learned and became stronger my desire to want to compete became a huge goal that although daunting to think about, knew I was up for the challenge. I continued to work on my own and years later I decided if I wanted to really get serious I needed to hire a coach, which I did (still with her now) and thus began my journey in the world of fitness competitions.
My first competition at age 39 was the Kelowna Classic in April 2019 which I competed in bikini and placed 5th in Masters 35+. It was nerve racking but one of the greatest & gratifying experiences. I was hooked and wanted to get back to work. It was after that show and getting feedback I thought as well as my coach that i was better suited in the Figure category. We regrouped, had a game plan and started working hard towards this goal.
My second Show was the Van City Showdown in Oct. 2019 where I competed in my first Figure competition. I placed 2nd in Masters 35+ and 3rd in Open. Bringing home some hardware felt incredible! I then went on and did my third show 2 weeks later at the Popeye Classic. I placed 1 st in Open and second in Masters 35+. Now having attained my chance at a Pro qualifier i was more motivated than ever.
Unfortunately, I had some life changing experiences so i needed to take some time away from competing and focus on other things but only temporarily. My last show was the Van/Pro Am Dec. 2021 again competing in Figure placing third in Masters 35+ and 3rd in Open.
My major goals now are to place well in a Pro Qualifier and make my way to earn my Pro card. I know I will get there with the help of my coach and of course Popeyes Supplements Victoria. The staff and owner CHRIS are so knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with, always helping me find the best products to suit my individual goals. And the fact that I am supporting a local business is a huge win-win. Thank you CHRIS for your continued support and continuing to help me become the best athlete possible. Grant and I also want to give a special shout-out to our trainer Allison Dawson @EncoreFitness, as without her guidance this amazing journey would never be possible !