Team HD Muscle Have the ‘Hammer Brothers’ Started a Bodybuilding Empire?
Team HD Muscle
Have the ‘Hammer Brothers’ Started a Bodybuilding Empire?
By Ron Harris
2020 has been one hell of a tough year for most businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented unemployment levels and has forced hundreds of thousands of businesses to close their doors forever. Many of your favorite restaurants, bars, clubs, and even gyms are now gone, unable to weather months on end with zero profits. In the supplement industry, many companies were hit hard and could no longer afford to pay athletes, releasing them from their contracts. But it hasn’t been gloom, doom, and failure for all. There has also been some uplifting, inspirational success stories in this otherwise dark time. One of them is HD Muscle, a supplement company that actually launched at what most would regard as the worst possible time, just as the quarantines were imposed and the world as we know it was put on hold until further notice. Owned by brothers Dorian and Noah Hamilton from Burlington, Ontario (dubbed by Antoine as “The Hammer Brothers”), it somehow managed to grow and thrive even as gyms around the world were closed and many in the target market either lost their jobs or were subsisting on unemployment benefits. But wait, there’s more. HD Muscle didn’t just keep a couple of athletes on their team, they added some of the very best in the sport to their roster: names like Breon Ansley, Keone Pearson, Steve Laureus, and Antoine. Did I also mention Dorian and Noah own one of the best gyms in Canada, Pure Muscle + Fitness, and that Dorian is one of the top coaches in the industry? It’s time to get to know these two young entrepreneurs who are fast becoming major players in the fitness industry.
Business-minded From the Start
Most successful businessmen had early foreshadows of that acumen, and the Hamilton brothers are no different. As kids, they collaborated on a lawn care business and paper routes. Their first venture had its roots in 2006, when the two were just 18 and 22 years old and working at a local supplement store when the owner informed them it was going out of business. “The place had decent foot traffic, it was just poorly managed,” says Noah, the older of the two who had just finished university, where he’d been a standout hockey player. Dorian said, “why don’t we call the landlord to see what the rent is, and just take it over ourselves?” Thus, the store reopened as Pure Nutrition in 2007, and would add two more locations in the next few years. The landscape was rapidly changing as retail stores found it increasingly difficult to compete with online stores, and independent supplement retailers in Canada were up against powerhouses like Popeye’s, which had over 120 locations. In 2013, the brothers sold off their three stores to Popeye’s, and Dorian began to focus more on coaching athletes.
A Brand of Their Own
Dorian had a fascination with supplements from an early age. “Noah was always training hard and of course I looked up to him,” he tells us. “He had a very impressive physique, and I always paid attention to what he was using or taking. He would tell me, you can’t take any supplements until you’re 14!” he laughs. Both of them used to visit GNC and wonder at the myriad of colorfully packaged products. “As a natural bodybuilder in my teens and early 20s, I was constantly looking for any advantage I could find through nutrition and supplements,” adds Dorian. Noah recalls, “When we owned our stores, we genuinely loved helping customers find the best products possible to help them reach their goals, whether it was to gain muscle, lose body fat, and so on. We just found it satisfying to be able to do that for them.”
Fast-forward to early 2020, and the Hamilton brothers at last launched their own brand, HD Muscle. Little did they know a virus was about to change the world. Instead of throwing up their hands in defeat, Dorian and Noah focused on things they could control, such as marketing and putting out great content on YouTube and Instagram. “We put out content that was fun and educational, and aligned ourselves with others who shared our vision and what we stand for,” says Noah. They also pointed out the key role their sister Mariah plays. “She has an art and fashion background,” explains Noah. “She handles all our social media, and she’s the link that holds it all together and makes it all work.” Both brothers were surprised at how quickly HD Muscle gained traction, given the circumstances. “When the pandemic hit and gyms were closed, we really didn’t expect people to buy pre-workouts to go lift in their basement, but they did,” says Dorian.
An Industry Giant in the Making?
It’s mind-blowing that a startup supplement company could come so far, so fast, during a pandemic that’s crippled the world’s economy. But it also goes to show you that with hard work, a genuine desire to help people, and a solid product line, anything is possible. “MuscleTech headquarters is only a six-minute drive up the highway from where we live,” says Dorian. “It’s an amazing, huge facility with a full gym inside. We used to drive by and joke, one day we’ll have a company like that!” They are well on their way. With their vision for HD Muscle and a growing stable of top athletes representing the company, the sky is the limit.
Meet Team HD Muscle!
Antoine Vaillant
Division: Open Bodybuilding
Contest Highlights:
2012 CBBF Canadian Championships
Super Heavyweight and Overall
2018 Toronto Pro
Fourth Place
2020 California Pro
Winner
Antoine was the first athlete to come onboard before the brand even officially launched, and he was originally meant to be the face of the company. Since his impressive comeback at the 2018 Toronto Pro, we’ve all been waiting to see this Quebec native back on stage. He was ready for the 2019 New York Pro when he tore his biceps at Pure Muscle + Fitness gym picking up some construction materials, and only the pandemic has held him back for the first part of the 2020 season. By the time you read this, Antoine will have competed again. Dorian, who is also his coach, knows people won’t be disappointed. “He’s made real improvements, and the extended prep due to shows being pushed back has only made his condition freakier than ever before.”
Jon De La Rosa
Division: Open Bodybuilding
Contest Highlights:
2015 Chicago Pro
Winner
2017 New York Pro
Second Place
2019 Toronto Pro
Winner
2019 Puerto Rico Pro
Winner
Jonathan certainly needs no introduction to MD readers. Combining tremendous muscle density with flowing lines and round muscle bellies, this New York transplant has now been living in Florida for nearly two years, training with Flex Lewis at his Dragon’s Lair Gym in Boca Raton and being coached by Neil “Yoda” Hill. It was through Dorian’s friendship with Flex that he reached out to Jonathan to join the team after he parted ways with his previous sponsor.
“Jon is such a hard worker and is highly respected all over the world,” says Dorian. “I knew he would be a good fit for our brand, and one thing that always bothered me was that no other company he’s been with ever really utilized him for content. Let’s see him train, let’s hear him talk! I look forward to building both our brands together and hope to see him continue to climb the ladder in the pro ranks to be one of the very top men as he should be.”
Quinton Eriya
Division: Open Bodybuilding
Contest Highlights:
2019 Toronto Pro
Fifth Place
2019 Vancouver Pro
Sixth Place
Just 25 years old, Quinton is a young man whose capabilities have hardly been tapped. Dorian knew of him as he lived in the Toronto metro area and was thoroughly impressed with the fact that Eriya turned pro naturally. It was Antoine who made the introduction at a local contest. They invited him for a workout at Pure Muscle + Fitness, and the rest is history. Dorian began coaching him, and when the time was right, brought him onboard with HD Muscle. “If you look at his structure, his muscle shape, and how fast he’s been able to add quality mass, it’s crazy to think how good he’s going to be,” says Dorian. “We wanted to give him the best possible environment to realize his astounding potential.”
Keone Pearson
Division: 212 Bodybuilding
Contest Highlights:
2019 New York Pro
Winner
2019 Arnold Classic
Fourth Place
2019 Classic Physique Olympia
Fourth Place
2020 Chicago Pro
Winner
You know someone is damn good when they decide to switch divisions and are immediately being talked about as being the future of that division. That’s exactly what happened with 25-year-old Keone Pearson from Georgia, whose brief time in Classic Physique saw him earn the coveted New York Pro title and place fourth in the two biggest shows in our sport, the Arnold Classic and the Olympia. His structure and shape have been compared to the legendary Flex Wheeler, who served as his mentor for a time.
“Like Quinton, Keone turned pro naturally, and has made some of the most incredible gains ever seen in the past year,” Dorian explains. “He was looking for a new supplement sponsor and coach after a fallout with his previous ones, and everything just fell into place. I truly believe he will be the 212 Olympia champion in the near future.”
Steve Laureus
Division: Classic Physique
Contest Highlights:
2018 Pittsburgh Pro
Winner
2018 Classic Physique Olympia
Seventh Place
2019 Arnold Classic
Second Place
When I think of the ideals for what a Classic Physique pro should look like, the vision in my head is eerily similar to Steve Laureus: wide clavicles, tiny waist and joints, full muscle bellies, peaked biceps, and sweeping quads. He’s been second and third place at the Arnold Classic, and anyone with eyes can tell it’s only a matter of minor tweaks before he ascends to that next level.
“I also met him through his coach, Neil Hill,” Dorian says. “No doubt men like Chris Bumstead and Breon Ansley are the top men in the Classic Physique division, but Steve can certainly be right up there fighting them for that title soon.”
Breon Ansley
Division: Classic Physique
Contest Highlights:
2017 New York Pro
Winner
2017 Classic Physique Olympia
Winner
2018 Classic Physique Olympia
Winner
2019 Classic Physique Olympia
Second place
Team HD’s most highly decorated team member is Breon Ansley, a man who owns two consecutive Classic Physique Olympia titles and is currently on a mission to get his title back this December in Las Vegas. “Signing Breon gave us a lot of attention and credibility, because he’s obviously one of the very best athletes in the sport, regardless of division, today,” says Noah. “He is so well-liked and respected among his peers that he immediately made others want to be part of Team HD.”
Jeremy Potvin
Division: Men’s Physique
Contest Highlights:
2016 Men’s Physique Olympia
Third Place
2017 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique
Fifth Place
2017 Men’s Physique Olympia
Fifth Place
2019 Tournament of Champions Pro
Winner
When the brothers were assembling their team of athletes, they knew they needed an American-based Men’s Physique pro, as that division is wildly popular, especially with the younger crowd. Jeremy came to mind almost immediately. “He was always supportive of the brand from the day we launched,” Dorian tells us. “Jeremy was congratulating every athlete we signed, and I always liked the way he represented himself, with class and being so well-spoken.”
The big news with Potvin is that after the 2020 season, he plans on adding mass and moving to Classic. His shape and aesthetics have taken him to the top three at the Olympia before, so it will be interesting to see how he looks when he fills out a bit more.
Rickey Moten
Division: Classic Physique
Contest Highlights:
2018 New York Pro
Fourth Place
2019 Arnold Classic
Sixth Place
2019 San Antonio Pro
Winner
2019 Tampa Pro
Second Place
2020 Arnold Classic
Fifth Place
Ricky is an athlete I’ve been watching with interest for a couple years now. With almost impossibly small joints and a waist like a 9-year-old girl, Moten’s physique reminds me of golden era greats like Frank Zane and Serge Nubret. He now has a pro win under his belt and has been sixth and more recently fifth at the Arnold Classic. In the summer of 2019, Dorian became his coach. “He’s put on a ton of size since then while maintaining his small midsection,” Dorian reveals. “I didn’t just sign him for his physique. Wait until we’re able to show his personality on our videos and podcasts, the guy is hilarious!”
HD MUSCLE ATHLETES SUPPLEMENT STACKS
KEONE PEARSON
Vita-HD
Glyco-HD
Pre-HD UltraPineapple Mango - 2 scoops pre-workout
Intra-HDBlueberry Mojito - 1 scoop
Carb-HDStrawberry Kiwi - 2 scoops post-workout
ANTOINE VALLIANT
Lower Carb Day:
With every meal (6 meals total): 2 caps Vita-HD
Pre-workout: 2 scoopsPre-HD Ultra Peach Rings
Post-workout: 1.5 scoops Intra-HDWatermelon
Post-nap/Pre-Yoga or Cardio: 1 serving Burn-HD
Regular Day:
With every meal (6 meals total): 2 caps Vita-HD
Pre-workout: 2 scoops Pre-HD Ultra Pink lemonade
Post-workout: 2 scoops Carb-HD Strawberry Kiwi + 1 scoop IntraHD Watermelon
Post-nap/Pre-Yoga or Cardio: 1 serving BURN-HD
High Day:
With every meal (6 meals total): 2 caps Vita-HD
Pre-workout: 2 scoops Pre-HD Elite Berry Blast
Intra-workout: 1 scoopIntra-HDWatermelon + 1 scoop Carb-HD Strawberry Kiwi
Post-nap/Pre-Yoga or Cardio: 1 serving Burn-HD
JON DE LA ROSA
Upon Waking:
Glyco-HD2 caps
Burn-HD 2 caps
Vita-HD 5 caps
1 cap Glyco-HD with each carb meal
Pre-workout:
Pre-HD Ultra 1 scoop
Carb-HD2 scoops
6:00 pm
Vita-HD5 caps
RICKEY MOTEN
Vita-HD
Glyco-HD
Pre-HD Black Strawberry Mango
Pre-HD Elite Berry Blast
Carb-HD Strawberry Kiwi
Intra-HDWatermelon
Burn-HD
BREON ANSLEY
Pre-HD Ultra Sour Peach Rings (Pre-workout)
Pre-HD BlackBlack Cherry (Pre-workout)
Intra-HDRaspberry Lemonade (while training)
Carb-HDPeach Mango when training after 1 meal
STEVE LAUREUS
Morning:
Vita-HD-10g of Intra-HD before breakfast
Glyco-HD 2 caps before meal #3
Before training, Glyco-HD 2 caps to spike insulin response with meal #4 and 1 scoop of Pre-HD Ultra 30 minutes before training session.
After training, 2 scoops of Carb-HD-2 caps of Glyco-HD for glucose disposal to mitochondrial response.
JEREMY POTVIN
Currently starting my day with 1 serving of Vita-HD with 16oz water and breakfast.
Pre-workout:
(30 minutes before gym)
1 scoopPre-HD UltraSour Gummies and 1 scoopPre-HD BlackStrawberry Mango with 12oz water. I do this to ensure I still get a crazy pump while adding a little more stim to the mix. This has been my favorite combo thus far. I chug this.
Intra-workout:
1 serving of Intra-HDBlueberry Mojito. I’ll sip on this throughout my training session.
Post-workout:
2 scoops of Carb-HDStrawberry Kiwi. By far my favorite-tasting supplement.
End of Day:
1 more serving ofVita-HD to ensure I get a full serving of my vitamins for the day.
QUINTON ERIYA
Morning:
Vita-HD
Glyco-HDbefore fasted cardio and before biggest carb meal of the day.
Pre-Hd Black2 scoops Strawberry Mango
Pre-Hd UltraBerry Blast
IntraHD Blueberry Mojito - during and after the workout.
For more information, visit hdmuscle.com
Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Magazine” show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram
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