Last weekend, we trekked out to the outskirts of Amsterdam for the world’s biggest hardstyle festival, Q-dance’s Defqon.1. For three days, 55,000 people raved in massive, strobe-lit tents and demon-faced cathedrals to a non-stop barrage of screeching synths and jackhammer breaks, with the energy levels of a hundred thousand Club-Mates.
The theme of the festival this year was “survival of the fittest,” but almost everyone we saw there was already fit as fuck. Probably due to the fact that every raver seemed to be an expert at the hakken—a rapid-fire, calorie-burning dance that originated from the Dutch gabber and hardcore scenes, and kind of looks like a hopping bunny rabbit mixed with Muhammad Ali on speed.
Videos by VICE
We jumped into the sea of washboard abs and buns of steel to ask the most sculpted bodies of the festivals how they worked on their fitness.
JONAS AND TOBIAS, AGE 20 AND 18
THUMP: Do you start training at the gym before festival season?
Jonas: Of course. We go to the gym at least five times a week.
Tobias: During the winter we bulk up by eating five to six meals a day of pasta, fish, chicken… protein shakes, too.
How much can you bench press?
Jonas: 100kg.
Tobias: 120kg.
Do you get looks from the ladies because of your hot bods?
Jonas: Oh yes.
Tobias: We get them from guys, too.
DIAR, AGE 22
THUMP: How did you get so sexy for this festival?
Diar: I’m a bodybuilder. I go to the gym four times a week and I train my whole body. I can bench press 150kg and squat 180kg. I really want to compete!
You’re also an excellent dancer.
I used to be a breakdancer!
Do you get a lot of stares?
Yes, but I do this for myself. I know there are a lot of girls who don’t like muscly guys. But when I go to a festival, people like to see me ripped.
What part of your body do you get the most compliments on?
Everybody says I have big delts. But that’s the only part of my body I don’t train! Maybe it’s genetic?
SOPHIE, AGE 23
THUMP: How often do you go to the gym to work out?
Sophie: I never go to the gym.
Wait, so you’re just naturally this fit?
Yes!
That’s crazy.
Well my workout is going to hardstyle festivals like this and dancing for twelve hours. It’s all about the lifestyle.
ALEKSEJ AND CESAR, AGE 23 AND 25
THUMP: Your abs are insane. How do you get them like that?
Aleksej: I go to the gym everyday.
Cesar: I go at least five times a week.
What’s your workout routine?
Aleksej: On Mondays and Wednesdays, I do my chest and triceps. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I do my back and biceps. On Fridays, I do my legs and shoulders. And I do cardio and stuff too.
Do you get all sorts of looks from the ladies?
Aleksej: Yes, of course. But the ladies here are not so nice.
What do you mean?
Aleksej: It’s a hardstyle festival. Hardstyle girls are like…
Cesar: Not so good looking. They just want to dance like this. [punches the air]
NICOLE, AGE 21
THUMP: Do you start training before festival season?
Nicole: Yup!
How do get in shape?
I’m a big runner, and I do lots and lots of squats.
What’s the best or worst thing someone’s said about your bod?
Well, guys are always coming up to me, saying funny things—or that I’m really hot or whatever. I try to not get creeped out by it and take it all as compliments.
LEO, AGE 25
THUMP: Hey there, you’re a great dancer!
Leo: Thank you!
What’s your workout routine?
Leo: I go to the gym three or five times a week. And I like to go running.
What dance moves do you think show off your muscles in the best way?
Leo: The hakken, of course! It makes you use every muscle in your body!
DAGMARA, AGE 28
THUMP: Do you start working out specifically for festivals?
Dagmara: Yes, definitely. It’s one of my goals. I compete in fitness with other women.
What’s your workout routine?
I run everyday for 45 minutes and I do weights for my legs, back, triceps, biceps and shoulders.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten for your hot bod?
“You look so sexy.”
DINO BOY
THUMP: Both of you have amazing bodies.
Dino Boy: [no response]
What’s your workout routine?
[no response]
How much can you bench press?
[neighs]
Michelle Lhooq is a fat girl living in a raver’s body – @MichelleLhooq
At THUMP, we go hard:
Defqon.1 Recap: The Agony and Ecstasy of the World’s Biggest Hardstyle Festival
More
From VICE
-
Collage by VICE -
Screenshot: Konami Digital Entertainment -
Collage by VICE -
Collage by VICE
