A win on the national stage has bolstered Paul Mountfort’s confidence as he amps up to take on the world’s best body builders in Germany this month.

Mountfort, 50, took out two titles at the recent NABBA New Zealand National Bodybuilding Championships in Invercargill, but he is not slowing down to celebrate.

In two weeks, he will be making the journey to Cuxhaven in Germany to put himself to the test at the NAC International Mr and Mrs Universe competition on November 30.

Mountfort said he was at about 95 per cent of his best when he was named Mr New Zealand Athletic at Labour Weekend for winning the masters 50-plus and overall categories.

“It ended up very successful, but it was stressful to start with.”

His trip south was not off to a promising start, with massively delayed flights and unexpected detours including a stop in Wellington making it seem like he may not make it to Dunedin, where he was going to drive to Invercargill with his son.

Mountfort eventually arrived; his bags did not.

He had the most important piece of kit – his posing trunks – in his carry-on bag, and Kmart was able to get him through until his bag showed up the next morning, just in time for the drive south.

Learning from that experience, Mountfort has booked his flights with a five-hour gap in Auckland before his international flight.

He is spending the time leading up to the universe competition chiselling his physique to ensure he is at his peak to take his spot on the world stage.

It is an arena Mountfort is familiar with.

He was on it 12 years ago, but he returned to New Zealand unhappy with his performance and took a lengthy break from competitive bodybuilding.

This year he knows what to work on.

Mountfort's focus in terms of his physique has been on adding width to his shoulders, improving his back, and toning other areas.

Mentally, he is keeping his expectations measured.

“I never get over-confident, because I know you’re standing in front of judges. It's just a matter of putting my best foot forward.

“I have worked on my weaknesses over the last year.”

In the lead up to his travels, Mountfort is training every day, including posing practice to ensure things are being held tight and with the right areas popping.

“There are no days off for me.”

The first 17-hour international flight will be used as a depletion, part of the final toning effort, before the load phase.

Although he is arriving in Germany five days prior to the competition, Mountfort did not expect there to be any sightseeing happening.

In the final week he will reload his body with carbohydrates, helping his muscles to pop and bringing him into his best form to stand on stage.

He said he appreciates the support he has received from The Rock Pit and Temple Gym, as well as people he interacts with daily, his parents and those who have helped him financially, like Found Skin at the Mount.

As Mountfort’s 51^st birthday draws near on November 30 – the day of the competition – people across the country will have their fingers crossed he gets the present he has worked so hard for.

“I think there is a lot of favour for Kiwi athletes on the world stage at the moment; we have done very well, so I just pray that will happen for me too.”