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John Lancaster Gets First Taste Of The Pro Stage

In this interview, IPL President Ben Yosef chats with John Lancaster, a rising star in the league who recently made his Pro Debut at November 2024 IPL APEX VIII in Phoenix Arizona, marking the beginning of his professional career. Reflecting on his exciting journey through the 2024 contest season, John opens up about the highs and challenges of his debut year with the IPL, including his first taste of the Pro stage, the invaluable experience he gained along the way and what he is planning for the future.

INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN YOSEF

"…I RELISHED THE TREATMENT I RECEIVED AS A CONTRACTED ATHLETE…THE MEDIA PACKAGES WERE TOP NOTCH, THE IPL PROVIDED EXCELLENT VALUE..."

BEN YOSEF: OK, here we go! Congrats on a great 2024 contest season! At this moment we are just a few days away from the new year. As you reflect on your 2024 IPL season, especially as a newcomer to the league, how are you feeling about how it played out?
JOHN LANCASTER: I’m more than satisfied with how the season went. I was ecstatic about earning my Pro Card and relished the treatment I received as a Contracted Athlete. The venue selections were fantastic, the shows were ran efficiently, the media packages were top notch. The IPL provided excellent value in all the things a bodybuilding organization should provide.

“I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER VENUE TO TURN PRO AT. BEING ABLE TO COMPETE AT THAT SAME VENUE AND EARN MY PRO CARD WAS MIND BLOWING.”

BEN: So, let’s take it back a little bit to your first IPL contest, the Virginia Championship in the Spring. Funny thing is, we never actually got to do a proper magazine interview with you following that show! So, what was that show like for you and what was it like earning your Pro Card in Bodybuilding there?
JOHN: I couldn’t have asked for a better venue to turn Pro at. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to vaudeville, early Hollywood, and the roaring 20s. So, competing at the Colonial Center and hearing about its rich history in the entertainment industry was a special treat for me. Being able to compete at that same venue and earn my Pro Card was mind blowing. I’m grateful that it’s being booked again for 2025!
BEN: Nice! So, does this mean we are seeing you hit the stage for Pro show number two this coming April?
JOHN: Definitely!

“FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET AIR FARE TO PHOENIX IN TIME TO MAKE THE SHOW...IT WAS OPPORTUNE TIMING FOR ME.”

BEN: Boom! Awesome! Coming out of that Virginia show after such great success, where you already planning to make your Pro Debut at APEX in November? Or did that decision come later?
JOHN: That decision came later. The difficulty in picking a show came down to travel arrangements and scheduling. Fortunately, I was able to get air fare to Phoenix in time to make the show. I also had enough PTO (Paid Time Off) saved up from my job where I could prepare for the flight and focus on the show. It was opportune timing for me.
BEN: Well, I was definitely pumped to see your entry form come through when you registered for APEX! Steven Kendrick, who is the reigning IPL APEX Champion, was contemplating competing at APEX VIII to defend his title in 2024. After you registered, I reached out to him and said, “Yo! I got somebody for you!” [laughs] Speaking of Stephen Kendrick, how much did you know early in the year about him?

"I WAS EXCITED WHEN I SAW THE PROMO! ...BUT I'M NEVER INTIMIDATED…IF MY NAME IS ON THE DOTTED LINE, THAT MEANS I'M READY TO GO."

BEN: Yes sir, Steven is the top dog. After registering for APEX, it quickly became clear that you would be facing off with him for that APEX title. When the promo featuring you and him went live, what did you think of it? Intimidating? Fun? Exciting? All the above? 
JOHN: I was excited when I saw the promo! It was a rush seeing myself on the poster. I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but I’m never intimidated going into a show. If my name is on the dotted line, that means I’m ready to go.
BEN: Boom! Nice! What was your strategy and what was your prep like heading into APEX? And did you do anything specifically targeted for going up against Steven?
JOHN: I planned on coming in with a better V-Taper, so I focused hard on my lower abs and lower lats. The goal was muscularity and symmetry. Also around that time, I found myself staying in the office longer to keep things afloat (I’m an insurance agent by trade). This made it more difficult to dial in the conditioning as I’d been using steady state cardio to keep lean, which can be time intensive.

“THE GOOD THING ABOUT HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20 IS YOU GET TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND DEVELOP A BETTER PLAN.”

BEN: That’s a great segue because I definitely want to talk with you about conditioning. So, after we saw you on stage in Virginia earlier in the year, we were all super impressed with the size you brought to the stage. Although your conditioning wasn’t razor sharp, it was good enough to snag that Pro Card, coupled with your size and posing. When the news broke that you would be facing off with the number one guy, Steven Kendrick we were all super excited. Steven carries a nice amount of muscle, and he comes in very lean. So, we were thinking, if you even held onto 75% of your size while getting shredded, you would give Steven a super hard time! At APEX, your conditioning wasn’t on par with Steven’s. Regarding your conditioning, this was basically due to you not having enough time to dial it in?
JOHN: You could say that. I’d say it was me not developing a plan to dial it in, given what limited time per week I had. The good thing about bodybuilding is the amount of control the athlete has over the variables (training style, diet, sleep, etc.) Though my work schedule got cumbersome, there might have been time-friendly options that would’ve helped with the conditioning (HIIT, fasting, etc.) The good thing about hindsight being 20/20 is you get to go back to the drawing board and develop a better plan.
BEN: Facts! So the APEX Pro Bodybuilding lineup had a wild card join in! Colt Milton, who earned his Pro Card at that show decided to hop in and compete against the Pros. I know the guys at that show got a chance to spend some time together backstage getting to know each other and chatting it up. I’m sure on some level you guys were sizing each other up as well! How could you not? [laughs] what were your thoughts about Colt and what was it like having him on stage with you guys in that Pro class?

"IT'S NEVER FUN COMING SHORT OF THE GOLD. IT'S A SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ON THE CHIN…BUT I'M HAPPY FOR THE OTHER COMPETITORS. THEY BROUGHT THEIR A GAME."

JOHN: Colt’s an awesome guy, very enthusiastic about helping people. A true salt of the earth, family man. He’s also an avid meat eater like myself. His lower body conditioning was top notch and he had a solid V Taper which complimented his tall frame. I was amazed by his posing stamina. He was on stage for what seemed like an eternity and was not winded in the slightest. Anyone who has to hold poses against him is going to go through hell trying to match his poise.
BEN: Colt definitely brought it and definitely pushed you guys! In the end you would have to settle for 3rd place in that lineup. How did you take that placement? Were you disappointed, or did you just take it in stride?
JOHN: It’s never fun coming short of the gold. It’s a situation that you have to take on the chin. Funny enough, I look at bodybuilding primarily as art (which is ironic for me as I’m not an “artsy” kind of guy). When I think back on my favorite bodybuilders, their contest placing never crossed my mind. I was simply inspired by the physique and presentation. A low placing at a contest wouldn’t diminish my admiration for any particular bodybuilder. Even considering all that, there’s still some sting attached to taking 3rd. But I’m happy for the other competitors. They brought their A game.
BEN: Indeed. Congratulations on earning your IPL Judge’s Certification recently! It’s awesome to have you part of the judging team now! Right now you are planning to judge on the panel for the IPL Connecticut contest in March. How are you feeling about the whole judging process and making your judging debut in Connecticut?
JOHN: I’m excited to be on the other side of the stage. The certification process really drove home how intricate the judging process is. You have to have a sharp mind and keen eye.

"THE PRO STAGE IS EXHILARATING. I'M EXCITED TO BE FACING HIM AGAIN! SO FAR, I'M SEEING RESULTS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS!"

BEN: Just a couple weeks after Connecticut you will be returning to the IPL stage for your second Pro showing. That’s also super exciting! And rumor has it that Colt Milton might be jumping into that show! How cool would that be for a rematch between you guys! How are you feeling about your return to the Pro stage? What changes have you made, and will you be making in order to get ready for this next show? And how do you feel about the prospect of a rematch with Colt?
JOHN: The Pro stage is exhilarating. I’m excited to be facing him again! I’ve been a full-body workout guy for a while. That style allowed me to keep all my muscle groups caught up with my schedule and produced rapid growth compared to the regular split styles. The downside was the workouts were long, and I didn’t have the time to stay in the gym for those lengthy sessions. I also wanted to increase the volume and intensity for my legs. So, I switched to an upper/lower split so I can direct more focus on my lagging areas. So far, I’m seeing results. I can’t wait to see what will happen in the upcoming weeks!
BEN: Awesome, brother! Well, once again congratulations on all of your success in the league so far and congrats on your first official magazine interview! it’s been a long time coming! I’m looking forward to seeing you on that judges panel in Connecticut as well as on the IPL Virginia stage here in the next few months. Considering that you are a top Pro now in the IPL, I think I can talk to you frankly like this and say that you better come in with noticeably improved conditioning in Virginia! Or I’m going to be mad at you! [laughs] Any final thoughts for ATHLETIC Magazine?
JOHN: It’s an honor to be a part of IPL. The horizon looks bright! ATHLETIC

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