This weekend 22 IFBB Figure Pros will take the stage in San Diego for the Border States Pro. Promoter Jon Lindsay also has a NPC event that will feature over 180 competitors. This is going to be a very competitive show. Our West Coast correspondent, Ron “Yogi” Avidan will be there covering the action.
This show has twice as many pros as last weekend’s Houston Pro and will be a competitive group or IFBB Figure Pros. One point separated Courtney West and Teresa Anthony at the Houston Pro. Can the rookie West make it two in a row? She’ll need to be a little sharper than last week to leave victorious in this line up. She’ll face top contender Felicia Romero and a deeper line up.
Felicia Romero is coming off a fifth place showing at the 2010 Figure Olympia and presented one of her best looks to date. If she brings that look to the stage she’ll be top three. If she isn’t on point and brings the look we saw earlier in the year at the Phoenix Pro she’ll be on the outside looking in on the top spots. Ava Cowan returns to the stage and is one of the fan favorites. Can she become one of the judges’ favorites?
**Update: Houston Pro Figure winner Courtney West will be sitting out this show due to the demands of college. She hopes to get an Arnold (Figure International) invite as her next contest. She’s more than proved she’s worthy of that.
This definitely makes the show a bit more interesting for the top spots.
The Hardbody Breakdown:
Teresa Anthony – Teresa has found her groove and should find herself in the top call-out. She’s still looking for her first pro win. It could come at this contest but it won’t come easy. She’ll face a tougher line up than the Houston show where she finished second. Look for her to be in the top five here.
Julia Aragon – Julia will be making her pro debut after winning her class at the 2010 NPC USAs. She’ll need to come in a bit tighter from the backside if she wants to hang with the top pros. She has nice shape and if she can present it well she’ll have a successful debut.
Michelle Bates – Michelle will be making her pro debut after winning the tall class at the 2010 NPC Nationals. Michelle has a nice look and it we’ll have to see how she stacks up against the pros.
Melanie Burger – Melanie took home the NPC Masters Nationals Figure 35+ Overall title a few weeks ago and will make her debut at this contest. She battled it out in the NPC ranks for the past few years and will start her journey in the pro ranks this weekend.
Crystal Chiles – Cystal will look to move up from her 9th place showing at the Phoenix Pro. She was 13th at this show last year.
Krissy Chin – Krissy is on that bubble where she might be “too muscular” for what the judges are looking for but it all depends on who she’s compared to. She continues to refine her physique and depending who she stands next to she either holds her own or over powers the others, specifically in her delts. She’ll look to move up from her Houston showing and return to the Olympia stage.
Ava Cowan – Ava returns to the stage in hopes of qualifying for the 2011 Olympia. She came close her debut at the Jacksonville Pro and will have her hands full here. Can she be in the mix? Certainly but it won’t be easy. She’ll have to be at her best to land in a top three spot on Saturday night.
Carin Hawkins – Carin will also look to move up from her Houston showing. She’ll need to be a little bit tighter than last week but could be a top five contender here.
Mandy Henderson – The shorty from Cali will be making her IFBB pro debut. Mandy battled it out in the NPC ranks and was consistently in the top five from show to show before finally turning pro at this year’s NPC USA. If she comes in tight she can hold her own. She’ll have to nail her posing from the back, which has plagued her at times, and she’ll need to be in her best condition. Mandy will be up against a tall group here but could be a contender if on point.
Amy Lee Martin – Amy took home the overall NPC USA trophy in 2008 but has yet to find her groove in the pro ranks. She’s taken some time off and we’ll see if her improvements are enough to put her in the mix.
Christina Mehling – Christina was out of the top 15 in this year’s Europa Super Show and it will be tough for her to land in the mix of a top spot here. Nothing is impossible but given the depth of the line-up she’ll likely be on the outside looking in on the top five.
Kristin Nunn – Nunnchuck has improved her physique over the months and will look to be in the mix here. She can be a top five competitor and has been in the mix before. I look for her to definitely be in the top two callouts but where is a toss up.
Mindi O’Brien – We haven’t seen Mindi on stage since she limped off during her 2009 Fitness Olympia routine. Mindi has always been known as having a more muscular physique and unless she’s totally transformed her body since the injury I don’t see her being a top contender here. We’ll have to wait and see what physique she brings for her cross over to Figure.
Kiana Phi – Kiana has nice shape and will be making her pro debut after turning pro at the 2010 Team Universe. She’ll make the trip from Oregon to try her hand in the big leagues.
Felicia Romero – Felicia showed one of her best looks to date at the 2010 Olympia and nearly landed in fourth but had to settle for fifth. If she brings a similar physique to the San Diego stage she’ll be a contender for the top spot. She’s improved her legs and her physique is more balanced than in year’s past. As long as we don’t see the physique she brought to the Phoenix Pro we should see her in the top call-out. A fresh and rest Felicia could be the biggest threat to this lineup.
Shala Singer – Shala will be making her pro debut after turning pro at this year’s Team Universe contest. She has nice shape and we’ll have to see what physique she brings to the pro stage to see if she’s a contender.
Masae Tagami – Masae brings a good deal of muscle to the stage and will face an uphill battle to be in the mix here. She placed 10th at this year’s California Pro and will hope to improve upon it here.
Sabrina Taylor – She was on the outside of the top 10 at the 2010 Phoenix Pro and will hope to improve upon that showing here. She took will face an uphill battle to get into the mix with this line up.
Deena Walsh – Deena could be one to watch to shake things up in her pro debut. She found success on this stage as a NPC competitor and won her class at the 2010 NPC USA, earning her pro status. She’ll look to avenge her loss to Courtney West in the overall title at that contest. She has a nice look at I look for her to be a dark horse in this line up.
Natalie Waples – Natalie suffered an injury which prompted her to compete in the Pro Bikini division. She’ll return to the Figure stage in hopes of being in the top spots. As one of the smaller competitors, she’ll have her work cut out for her. I found her physique more fitting for the bikini division and could have moved up with improved presentation. We’ll see how she fairs in her return/
Courtney West – Courtney will look to continue her winning ways from her pro debut in Houston. She was very good but will need to be a bit sharper with her conditioning and presentation with this line up to repeat as the champ. I look for her to be in the top three again but to hold off Teresa Anthony and Felicia Romero she’ll need to be at her all time best. Can she do it? Certainly but it will be a test of things to come as doing shows back to back, along with traveling isn’t easy.
Stacy Wig – Unless Stacy stripped a ton of muscle off her frame since the 2010 New York Pro she will be relegated to the dreaded tied for 16th spot. She will likely be the most muscular competitor in the entire line-up and I don’t see it working to her favor.
Visit MuscleContest.com for the NPC Schedule of events and to purchase your tickets.
Event Location:
Scottish Rite Event Center
1895 Camino Del Rio S.
San Diego, California 92108
Event Hotel:
Sheraton Mission Valley
1433 Camino Del Rio S.
San Diego, CA 92108
Reservations: Online reservations or call 800-325-3535
Event Day/Time:
Saturday, Oct 30th at 11:00am Prejudging
Saturday, Oct 30th at 6:30pm Finals
Discounted Ticket Prices:
Discounted ticket prices for Children, Seniors and ACTIVE Military. (Must show military ID at box office.)
Children that will NOT occupy a seat are free.
Available for purchase at box office only.
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, Oct 30th 11:00 am – Athlete brief followed by check-ins. Scottish Rite Center
Saturday, Oct 30th 11:00am – Prejudging Scottish Rite Center
Saturday, Oct 30th 6:30pm – Finals for all classes Scottish Rite Center
