ALL THE ANSWERS
BECAUSE FIT IS THE NEW RICH
TRANSFORMERS
A pair of salt-of-the-earth local trainers have suddenly found themselves guiding two A-list celebrities. But if you assume this has changed them as men, or altered their approach to achieving ultimate fitness, think again
EARLY LAST YEAR, Zac Efron’s body once again became the subject of international tabloid fascination. No stranger to objectification, Efron and his much-admired rig first made headlines back in 2016 when he buffed up to don the famous Hasselhoff red swim trunks alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in the big-screen adaptation of Baywatch. Lean, muscular and tanned, Efron had adhered to well-documented fasting regimes and training protocols (and a seemingly time-intensive sunbed routine) to portray Californian swimmer-turned-lifeguard Matt Brody. As is always the case on the internet, reaction was mixed: some admired the young actor’s commitment to transforming his body, while others (Efron among them) highlighted the absurdity of Hollywood’s new male-body standard and the extreme measures required to reach it.
This time around, in 2021, the reaction was different. Bloggers and the like all but universally praised Efron and his body after photos emerged of the actor in the lead-up to his Netflix docuseries Down To Earth. While once again shirtless, Efron was noticeably less defined. Cries of “Daddy Efron” echoed through social media, though few responders were being critical. On the contrary, it was an overwhelmingly positive reaction to a thicker, stronger and entirely more functional leading man. Simply put, the man looked healthy.
Efron, 34, had spent much of the pandemic in Australia, with his new physique the result of an extended training block under the guidance of Byron Bay-based PT Jaden Garft. Efron did a long stint in the South Australian desert on the set of his new film, Gold, so Garft’s programming relied heavily on simplicity and creativity.
To the east, in Sydney, Kiwi. Somewhat more under-the-radar, Waititi was kicking off a training program of his own under the expert guidance of Wade Farmer. The goal: enhanced quality of life ahead of a six-month stint on set, honing a sharp mind, body and spirit. That was Waititi’s story, anyway; the unadorned truth was rather different, according to Farmer.
