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IFBB Toronto Pro Super Show – Hardbody Preview

May 30, 2012 by

This weekend the women of the IFBB will head to Toronto Canada for the Toronto Pro Super Show. This three day even begins on Friday and lasts through Sunday. The Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique will take place on Friday and the Figure will be held on Saturday. All three days will feature an Expo and various events throughout the day. The Bikini division is one of the deepest line-ups of the year and one of the most competitive we’ve seen. Each division will have a few seasoned veterans to the stage alongside some promising rookies.

 

The competition will be fierce in each division and the judges will have their work cut out for them. Fitness will be dominated by Canadian competitors and defending Champ Jodi Boam is in the lineup with a target on her back. Look for Fiona Harris & Danielle Ruban to make a run at dethroning the champ. One dark horse in this line up is Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams. This is her IFBB Pro debut and riding high after overall wins at the NPC Emerald Cup and JR USA. Can she hang with the big dawgs? We’ll find out on Friday.

IFBB Pro Fitness:
Jodi Boam
Sherry Boudreau
Allison Ethier
Vanda Hadarean
Fiona Harris
Whitney Jones
Somkina Liudmila
Tiffany Robinson
Danielle Ruban
Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams
Tanis Tzavaras
Nichole Venzara

This isn’t the deepest line up for Figure we’ve seen but it will make for an interesting top five. Gen Strobo wasn’t at her best at the Pittsburgh Pro and will look to return to the winner’s circle once again. Natalie Waples has been up and down in the placings and will hope for a first call-out in this show. Look for Alesisha Hart to be in the mix for the top five and one woman to keep your eye on is rookie Jessica Farrelly. Jessica turned pro at the 2011 NPC USAs and will be making her pro debut here. She has nice shape and if she can come in tight enough look for her to have an impressive debut.

IFBB Pro Figure:
Leah Berti
Natalie Calland
Becky Clawson
Ginette Delhaes
Yolanda Esteso Sauri
Jessica Farrelly
Marie Gibbon
Aleisha Hart
Catherine Holland
Tracey MacDonald
Mona Muresan
Gennifer Strobo
Louise Rogers
Rosalind Vanterpool
Natalie Waples
Janet Lynn West

Bikini will be the toughest event of the weekend. Whoever finishes in the top five here will position themselves as the division’s elite. The odds on favorite has to be Dianna Dahlgren after her placings last year. This is her first time competing this year and if she brings a similar look to this stage that she brought to the Olympia stage, she’ll be the one to beat. Yeshaira Robles has finished in the top three at her last two shows and will look to keep that streak alive for a third time. Jessica Paxson returns to the stage once again and will look to move into that top call out. Michelle Brennan had an impressive debut at the St. Louis Pro and will be a contender once again. Leigh Brandt and Justine Munro will look for a top finish as two of the division’s first pros from Canada. As you can see from the line-up below this is a great bikini line-up.

IFBB Pro Bikini:
Natalie Abrheim
Sandy Avelar
Leigh Brandt
Michelle Brannan
Genevieve Brodeur
Jennifer Chapman
Katie Chung Hua
Dianna Dahlgren
Ashley Harbour
Dayna Maleton
Véronique Morin
Pollianna Moss
Justine Munro
Cecile Palacios
Jessica Paxson
Kristy Robbins
Yeshaira Robles
Casey Lee Trailer
Christina Vargas
Jaclyn Wilson
I expected to see more women in the bodybuilding division as it’s one of the few shows of the year. Look for Cathy LeFrancois to be the one to beat and if she shows up like she did at the Arnold, it could turn into a battle for who finishes in second.

IFBB Pro Women Bodybuilding:
Kim Buck
Laura Carolan
Laura Davies
Lisa Giesbrecht
Alevtina Goroshinskaya
Gillian Kovack
Janeen Lankowski
Cathy LeFrancois
Wendy Mccready
Frida Palmell
The Physique division will once again have a mix of bodybuilding, figure and physique competitors. Nicole Ball will be making the switch from bodybuilding to Physique and it will be interesting to see what she brings to the stage. Michelle Blank will look to redeem herself from the New York Pro finish. Kim Tilden has a look I think the judges could favor in this show. Marina Lopez gets the award for most persistent as she has entered every IFBB Pro Women’s Physique competition this year.

IFBB Pro Women’s Physique:
Nicole Ball
Debbie Barrable-Leung
Michelle Blank
Lyris Cappelle
Gloria Fauls
Amie Francisco
CeaAnna Kerr
Marina Lopez
Tammy Patnode
Rhonda Lee Quarsema
Janessa Roy
Kim Tilden

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
PREJUDGING:
Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique
EXPO Stage – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
1:30 p.m.

FINALS:
Women’s Finals for Bodybuilding, Fitness, Bikini and Physique
Prejudging for Men’s Open and 212 Bodybuilding
John Bassett Theatre – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
7:00p.m.

SATURDAY
PREJUDGING:
Women’s Round One for Figure.
EXPO Stage – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
10:00 a.m.

FINALS:
Men’s Finals for Open and 212 Bodybuilding
Women’s Finals for Figure
John Bassett Theatre – Metro Toronto Convention Centre
7:30 p.m.

 

For more information visit: http://www.torontoprosupershow.com. We’ll be using #TOPRO as the hashtag on twitter for this event.

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

NPC California State & IFBB California Pro Figure Photos

May 30, 2012 by

Our West Coast correspondent, Ron Avidan was in attendance for the 2012 NPC California State Championships and 2012 California Pro Figure. Get the complete results and photos from the event both on and off stage.


See the photos here.

Filed Under: Contest Results, Event Photos

Remember The Meaning of Memorial Day

May 28, 2012 by

Many of you in America will be outdoors grilling, having a picnic or doing something other working today. Today in the United States is a Federal holiday, Memorial Day. Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is observed on the last Monday of May. It was established to commemorate the men and women who sacrificed their lives while in the military for their country. Take a minute to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom in the United. States.

Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include casualties of any war or military action. – reference

Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day. We here at Hardbody salute all the men and women who have served in the military, past and present. If there is someone you would like to honor and remember, please post their name in the comments field.

Read more on Memorial Day.

Filed Under: News & Features

Hardbody Couples – Tips to Being Happy & Healthy Together

May 27, 2012 by

It can be challenging to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you’re married or in a relationship it helps if your significant other is supportive. They may not go to the gym with you (maybe you don’t want them to) but they can be supportive in a number of ways. Take top national NPC Figure competitor Phannary Pen for example. Her fiancé Joey diets with her when she prepares for a show, so not only is Phannary getting in top shape he is too! The two of them support each other by eating similar things and getting a hardbody in the process. This got us thinking… what are other ways are there to be supportive in a competition or by living a healthy lifestyle?

 

We went to our Facebook page and asked fans what their significant other does or could do to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. Check out some of the responses:

IndianCat Joyce Thompson Hart
Workout together

Jennifer ‘Lange’ Bower
Watching our 2 boys while I hit the weight room 🙂

Monica Goto Beltran
Eating clean AND working out together! 🙂

Michelle Oberg
My hubby started doing the dishes, this gave me a little extra time to prepare big healthy lunches for both of us. Nothing sexier than a man who washes dishes 🙂

Rochelle Parks
We train hard, we eat well, we make no excuses!

Stacy Wright Ifbb Pro
Live the lifestyle with me! Working together as a team is the best way!

Gwendolen Sawchuk
Eating cleaner and taking turns making healthier meals for the family. Switching up workout time vs. home time with our son. This way we can take turns having workout alone time and quality one on one time with our son.

Kaylee Norton
Mine eats clean and doesn’t expect different meals and doesn’t expect me to keep special things in the house for him if I have problems resisting. If he wants something on my black list, he’ll buy it and eat it before I see it! He’s my biggest supporter, motivator, and fan!

Chante Reynolds Hickey
We run together.

Nicole St John
Show off our results to each other. It really keeps us motivated and gives us a fun sense of competitiveness and accomplishment.

Mr & Mrs Workout
We keep each accountable, if one doesn’t feel like working out we give the other the whisper of motivation in their ear. Also with our lil baby girl we make sure that we each have equal amounts in the gym and go one after the other if we cant work out together. So no excuses 😉

Iris Wiseman
My husband is the LOUDEST at my competitions. He is sooo supportive by watching our 3 children whenever I want to go to the gym!!!

Ashley Anne Pollock
My boyfriend is a personal trainer and I’m a Phys. Ed major. We motivate each other to workout, and spend our Saturdays hiking. I think I’m the balance though that makes us eat healthy. It’s funny, we will go grocery shopping and he will pick up something unhealthy and be like “This looks good!” and I just keep walking because he wants me to give in. This also happens when we drive past a restaurant he will say “oh that sounds good!” and I just keep driving and tell him I’ll make him dinner at home. I think i push for better eating and he pushes more workouts out of me.

Danielle Taylor-Victor
Cook for each other. Have both indecisive and “couple” goals. Like completing a marathon together (our current goal)

Bry Jensen
My boyfriend and I have both wholly embraced the fitness lifestyle – we don’t always get to work out together due to schedule conflicts, but when we do, its like a date. We look forward to it, get excited about it and push each other hard. We also cook together and eat the same sort of food, and discuss how we can make new creative recipes that are clean and enjoyable. We only ever go out to eat together at places where we can get clean food, and we also are those clean-eating-food-smugglers at the theatre and other such places!

Natasha Miller
Stop buying me Peanuts!

 

Do you have a tip that helps keep your relationship happy & healthy? Post it in the comments below.

Lead Photo by Liftstudios.com РPhannary Pen & fianc̩ Joey Rocha.

 

Filed Under: News & Features

Jami DeBernard Narrowly Wins IFBB California Pro Figure

May 27, 2012 by

Jami DeBernard was the only woman qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia making her the favorite (at least on paper) to take top honors at the IFBB California Pro Figure competition. When the dust settled and the scores were tabulated, Jami took home her first IFBB Pro title.  A pretty impressive feat considering she was still in the amateur ranks a year ago.

Giving Jami a run for her money was Jersey Girl, Allison Frahn and Arizona’s Tamara Montoya. Frahn seems to fair a bit better in her finishes at West Coast shows and she was definitely improved from her showing at the 2012 New York Pro, where she finished 9th. Tamara Montoya proved she’s one to watch in the months ahead. She finished in third and was coming off a fifth place finish at her pro debut in Pittsburgh. Impressive start to her IFBB pro career, especially considering there was just one point difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Rounding out the top five was Meriza DeGuzman Ciccone and Kimberly Sheppard. The two tied for fourth and the judges had to use a tie breaker to determine the final placings. There were two other placings that also had to go to a tie breaker as well. Meriza redeemed herself after missing the top 5 the past two years. The last top five finish came at the 2010 California Pro where she finished fourth as well. Kim Sheppard has found her groove the past two shows finish in the top five at both events.

IFBB California Pro Figure Results:
Placing/Name/Score
1. Jami DeBernard 9
2. Allison Frahn 10
3. Tamara Montoya 11
4. Meriza DeGuzman 28*
5. Kimberly Sheppard 28*
6. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo 33
7. Julia Aragon 37*
8. Kristi Tauti 37*
9. Natalie Waples 42
10. Julie Mayer Hyman 46
11. Wendy Fortino 61*
12. Meredith Berthelson 61*
13. Monica Escalante 62
14. Anna Larsson 64
15. Charmayne Jackson 65
16. Deborah Denio 70

Visit NPCnewsonline.com for photos and official scorecard from the event. Next up on the IFBB Pro Figure circuit is the Toronto Super Show and The Omaha Pro.

 

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

MMA with Momo – UFC 146 Predictions

May 25, 2012 by

IFBB Bikini Pro Monique Ricardo is back with her MMA predictions for UFC 146. The fight takes place Saturday, May 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada. When Momo isn’t training for a bikini competition, she’s kicking ass on the mat. Monique trains alongside headline fighter Junior Dos Santos so you can be assured she’s legit. Check out her picks for this weekend’s main fights.

MMA with Monique

Hey Hardbody buddies,
I don’t know what your doing this Saturday but I will be in downtown Dallas watching the UFC heavyweights throw down! This Saturday, UFC 146 will feature an amazing card. The exciting part is the payperview fights will be all heavyweights, a first in UFC history. The interesting thing about heavyweights is that they weigh over 230 pounds, that means any punch or kick can knock a mofo out. That makes me think about when Arnold Schwarzenegger knocked out a camel on “Conan the destroyer” LOL. So if you are not doing anything don’t miss this fights. My team mate and friend Junior dos Santos will be fighting Frank Mir, I hope he knocks his teeth out hahahhaha just kidding… maybe lol! Here are my predictions for this card.


Struve vs Johnson – I’m gonna go with Struve aka skyscraper on this one…this guy is very tall like 7 ft something from the Netherlands. I have seen this guy about to lose and pull a horseshoe out of nowhere! This guy is very lucky.

Miocic vs Del Rosario – Del Rosario for the win this should be a brawl fight!

Nelson vs Herman – Def goin with Nelson here….judging by Herman’s last fight Nelson is motivated to win this fight because he wants to get back on top to shoot for the belt!

Velasquez vs Silva – Velasquez for the win… he is quicker than Silva and more aggressive. Just a bad match up for the big foot. Even though I like Bigfoot because he trains with our team, I don’t think its a good match up for him because the guy (Cain) is really really fast and prolly going to take down and ground and pound!

Dos Santos vs Mir – Being a team Noguiera member, this fight is really special to me because Dos Santos will be fighting Mir, who beat his master(Noguiera) with a nasty kimora breaking his arm. Mir talks a lot and has gotten really full of himself lately! I can’t wait for Dos Santos to knock him out:) I have witnessed live, his heavy fists and his Jiu jitsu skills dominate his training partners! This warrior packs a lot of power.A lot of fans (especially me) will hope for Dos Santos to avenge his teacher with this fight!

Let MOMO know what you think of her predictions in the comments below or on her facebook page.

Filed Under: BLOGS, MMA, News & Features

2012 NPC/IFBB California Competitor List & Hardbody Preview

May 24, 2012 by

This weekend over 250 NPC competitors will take the stage at the California Championships. Also competing this weekend will be 16 IFBB Figure Pros. The Figure competition may actually be more enjoyable to follow this weekend than most. There are no “big names” in the line up which makes it a wide open event for who will leave victorious. As always here on Hardbody, we break down the field and give you a little insight on what you might expect to see on Saturday’s event. The action gets started at 10am and our West Coast correspondent, Ron Avidan will be there covering the action.

THE HARDBODY 411

2012 IFBB California Pro Figure:
1. Julia Aragon – Julia will look to move up into the top 10 for the first time. She was 15th at the 2010 Border States but improved her physique from her NPC USA win, earlier that year. Would like to see her take the stage with more confidence and enjoy the moment. She has a balanced physique and will hold her own here. View photos.

2. Meredith Berthelson – Meredith has taken her time to refine her physique and it’s paid off. She place 12th at the 2007 NPC USA and since that showing she collected a few finishes, none lower than 4th. She made her pro debut at the 2011 Toronto Pro and finished 6th. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage this year but she could be one in the mix for a top 5 spot. View pics.

3. Jami DeBernard – Jami is the only woman in the line-up qualified for the 2012 Olympia. Since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USA Championships, Jami has competed in 8 shows. Outside of last year’s Olympia, she has never finished lower than 5th. The one thing she has yet to achieve in her relatively short pro career is a first place finish. She’s been the brides-maid in two shows and heads into this weekend’s show looking for the win. On paper she may be the favorite however it won’t be an easy victory. View pics.

4. Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone – Meriza’s placings have been like a roller coaster. She’s finished as high as third but that was in 2009 (the Houston Pro & Europa Supershow). She was 9th at this show last year and was 8th at the 2011 Border States. So which Meriza will show up? We’ll have to wait and see on Saturday. View pics.

5. Monica Mark-Escalante – Monica has tremendous potential but we have yet to see her reach it to its fullest in the Pro ranks. Since turning pro we’ve seen her come in soft and we’ve seen her bring a rock hard physique. She has the structure and muscle to be a top contender here but it will come down to how she dials it in. If she’s too soft it’s not a good look on her frame. If she is too hard the judges mark her down. She was fifth at this show last year but we’ll have to see what this former tennis standout brings to the Cal court this year. View pics.

6. Wendy Fortino – Wendy made her pro debut earlier this year at the IFBB Governor’s Cup where she finished 7th. She has a chance to crack the top five here but will have to bring a tighter booty without coming in too hard. Easy enough, right? It’s often balancing act of bringing in a tight lower body without being too muscular and hard in the shoulders. If she can find the balance she brought to the NPC USAs, where she turned pro, she’ll be in the hunt. View pics.

7. Allison Frahn – Allison was third at this year’s Governor’s Cup but fell to 9th last weekend at the New York Pro. She’ll have to tone down the vascularity and not come in too hard to be in the top spots. Look for her to be compared in the first two call-outs. View pics.

8. Charmayne Jackson – Since turning pro at the 2010 Team Universe, her highest finish has been 8th. Charmayne needs to a bit more size and fill out on her upper body to match her lower body. If she’s done that she’ll move up but if we see a similar physique to the prior shows, she’ll be in the 9-12 range of placings. View pics.

9. Anna Larsson – Anna is a seasoned veteran of the Figure stage. We’ve seen her on and off the pro stage since 2005. She’s been as high as 4th and in the dreaded tied for 16th. Anna will have to find a balance of not coming in to hard like the earlier years of competing as a pro but not too soft like her last showings. She was at the bottom of the pack last year at this show and competed as Anna Johnson. View pics.

10. Julie Mayer-Hyman – Julie was 10th in her IFBB Pro debut earlier this year and will look to move up in the top ten. She has a nice physique and if she can improve her posing she’ll hold her own. This will be her second pro show since making it into the big leagues at the 2011 NPC Nationals. View pics.

11. Tamara Montoya – Tamara is my dark horse to shake things up at this show. She flew under the radar heading into the Pittsburgh Pro (her pro debut) earlier this month but after her 5th place finish, she’s no longer off the map. The look she brought to the PA show was on point and she has great structure. If she brings in a slightly tighter lower half look for her in the mix for the win. View pics.

12. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo – Olga won not only her class but also the overall title at the 2012 Arnold Amateur. She calls Mexico home and this will be her IFBB Pro debut. Olga has big capped delts and I’d like to see a change in her makeup. It’s great to see competitors for other countries compete in the States.  View pics.

13. Katherynne Ramirez – Kat Ramirez has good energy about her and when she takes the stage you want to see her do well. She was in the bottom of the line-up at last week’s New York Pro so she can only move up in the placings. Kat will need to bring in a tighter lower half to crack the top ten here. View pics.

14. Kimberly Sheppard – Kim continues to improve from show to show. While some women fade after one show, Kim gets better. She was 11th at the Pittsburgh pro and finished 4th at the Optimum Classic earlier this month. If she continues down this path look for her to add another top 5 finish to her competitive resume. View pics.

15. Kristi Tauti – This will be Kristi’s second show back since having a baby and look for her to finish higher than her first time back. She was 6th at the Optimum Pro and look for her to be in the top five this time around. Kristi is another woman who is always smiling and you can’t help but be drawn to her positive energy on stage. View pics.

16. Natalie Waples – The lone Canadian in the lineup, Natalie will do her country proud. She brought a smaller, tight and toned physique to the Orlando Pro that earned her a 7th place finish. If she brings a similar look to this stage look for her in the top five. It may have been her best overall look to date in terms of hair, makeup and suit. A bit tighter in the glutes from Orlando and she’ll be a contender. View pics.

 

Follow call-outs and updates on twitter by using the hashtag #CALPRO.

Event Location: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA
Prejudging: Saturday, May 26th at 10:00am
Finals: Saturday, May 26th at 6:30pm

More info: www.musclecontest.com

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

IFBB Fitness Pro Jodi Boam Video Blog

May 24, 2012 by

IFBB Fitness Pro Jodi Boam has positioned herself as one of the leading ladies in fitness. She continues to refine her physique and always brings incredible strength moves to the stage. Jodi notched another win earlier this month at the Pittsburgh Pro and currently days out from defending her title as Toronto Super Show Fitness Champion. This video blog gives you a peek at the incredible strength and talent she has.


The beginning she talks a bit about what she does and why she does it and then she gets down to business. Watch as she performs the strength moves and not just ones but multiple times. We’d encourage you to try this yourself to understand how difficult they but we don’t want you to hurt yourself. Jodi makes it look easy and that’s why she’s a pro. Follow Jodi on Facebook as she tries to avoid parking tickets and dials it in for the 2012 Toronto Super Show.

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features, Videos Tagged With: , , , , ,

Amanda Latona’s High Five Booty Workout

May 23, 2012 by

Resident Hardbody, Amanda Latona shared her wildly popular cardio workout last month. A.L. is never one to disappoint and this month she delivers once again with a booty workout. Give your booty a high five with this butt blasting workout from cover model Amanda Latona. We can’t promise you’ll build a butt like Amanda’s but it’s worth a try.

AMANDA’S  BOOTY TIP:

Take 5 Booty exercises, I did…
1. Leg Press
2. Reverse hack squat
3. Single leg squat
4. Step ups
5. Butt blasters

Do 5 sets of each. 20 reps and up to 40 reps for drop sets. FEEL THE BURN!

High Volume for a High Booty! Have fun and Hit it HARD!


Amanda’s High Five Booty.

Follow Amanda on twitter for workout tips. If you haven’t “liked” her fan page you can do so here and lastly check out her blogs on BSNonline.net. Let us know how it goes!

HIGH FIVE TO A HARDBODY BOOTY

photo via A.L. facebook

Filed Under: News & Features, TRAINING Tagged With: , , , , ,

Krissy Chin Breaks the News – There’s a Baby on Board

May 21, 2012 by

One of the nicest couples you’ll meet in the fitness industry is IFBB Figure Pro, Krissy Chin and her husband Troy. The dynamic duo are always friendly at expos and a pleasure to be around. The California couple shared some exciting news with us recently. Krissy was preparing for this weekend’s IFBB California Pro Figure show but realized something wasn’t going quite right with her contest prep.

She shared, “About four weeks out I was a little sluggish and that’s usually when I start to see major changes. I was sticking to the plan but it felt like I was bloated and this little pooch didn’t want to go away.” Anyone who has seen Krissy’s photos, especially at contest time knows she doesn’t have a pooch. In fact, she has some of the sickest abs in the biz. Krissy decided to take a home pregnancy test, wait make that three pregnancy tests and they all came back with the same positive reading. Krissy and Troy confirmed with the doctor that they will in fact be having their first child this Fall. Krissy said she was 12 weeks and four days pregnant when she confirmed the news. She’s currently sitting at about 15 weeks pregnant and will find out the sex of the baby during the next visit to the doctor.

She’ll obviously be sitting out this weekend’s Cal Pro and the Olympia. The baby is expected to arrive on November 15, 2012.

Join us in congratulating Krissy and Troy on this exciting news. You can leave a comment here or post one to Krissy’s facebook wall.

Filed Under: News & Features Tagged With: , ,

NPC Athletes of The Month – March

May 18, 2012 by

The NPC has released the second installment of Athletes of the Month. Each month NPC chairman, Jim Manion selects an individual from each of the seven divisions. The selections are based on information provided by contest promoters. If you would like to be selected, first compete and second encourage the promoter to get involved with NPCnewsonline.com. Congrats to all selected!

npc competitors monthly feature athletes

NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES MARCH ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (May 17, 2012) – John Blatz, Lequida Sanders, Amy Allen, Ally Baker, Jacklyn Sutton, Matt Pattinson and Lauren Lessnau have been named the National Physique Committee’s April Athletes of the Month.

Each month, NPC Chairman Jim Manion selects an Athlete of the Month in each of the organization’s seven divisions – Men’s and Women’s Bodybuilding, Figure, Bikini, Fitness and Men’s and Women’s Physique – based on the information provided by contest promoters across the country and featured in the NPC News Online Contest Roundups every Monday.

Men’s Bodybuilding: Blatz, 23, from Fort Walton, Florida, won the Super Heavyweight and Overall titles at the Panhandle Showdown on April 14.

Women’s Bodybuilding: Sanders, a 39-year-old gym owner and personal trainer, from Jackson, Mississippi, won the Light Heavyweight and Overall titles at the Panhandle Showdown on April 14.

Bikini: Allen, 35, won the Class E and Overall at the Amateur Grand Prix on April 14. Allen, whose first competition was in October of 2011, has competed five times in the past seven months.

Figure: Baker, a gym owner from Kennewick, Washington, won the Class B and the Overall at the Empire Classic on April 28.

Fitness: A former professional cheerleader for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Sutton won the Overall in Fitness at the Emerald Cup. Sutton is 23 years old.

Men’s Physique: Pattinson, 28, won the Overall at the Empire Classic on April 28. Pattionson played linebacker at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and was signed by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 before injuries forced him out of football.

Women’s Physique: Lessnau, 21, from Denver, Colorado, won the Class A and Overall at her first-ever competition, the Northern Colorado Championships on April 14.

For complete profiles and galleries of the NPC Athletes of the Month, go to www.npcnewsonline.com.

Contact:
Allan Donnelly
Editor, NPC News Online
editor@npcnewsonline.com

Filed Under: News & Features

Hardbody Competition Checklist

May 16, 2012 by

You’ve busted your butt to get Hardbody in the gym. You’ve choked down tilapia and asparagus to get your body rock’n for the stage and now it’s time for your big day. The last thing you want to do is have a panic attack because you forgot your heels or something else. Thanks to our Hardbody friend, IFBB Fitness Pro and veteran to the stage, Tracey Greenwood has assembled this checklist. If you’re a competitor you don’t want to forget anything, especially if you’re traveling away from home.

CHECKLIST FOR NPC/IFBB COMPETITION:
• 2 PIECE SUIT (back up suit if you have one)
If you are flying carry this on with you. You don’t want your luggage getting lost and no competition suit!
• HIGH HEELS
• BIKINI BITE OR SPRAY ADHESIVE GLUE
• PROTAN or JAN TANA AND SPONGE (unless you are getting sprayed)
• LATEX GLOVES
• YOUR OWN TOWELS
• HAIR ACCESSORIES, ROLLERS, CURLING IRON, STRAIGHTENING IRON, SCRUNCHIES, BOBBY PINS AND JEWELRY
• MAKE UP
• MUSIC (FITNESS) Make sure this plays and it doesn’t hurt to have two copies just in case.
• ROUTINE OUTFIT AND SHOES (FITNESS)
• FOOD ( EXTRA FOOD JUST IN CASE)
• ELASTIC BAND TO PUMP UP
• OIL OR LOTION FOR SHEEN
• CAMERA
• WATER AND STRAW FOR SIPPING since your lips will have lipstick
• NAIL POLISH AND NAIL GLUE
• SANITARY SUPPLIES (just in case)
• VISINE

• VASELINE FOR YOUR TEETH SO YOUR LIPSTICK DOESN’T GET ON YOUR TEETH
• MOIST TOWELETTES
• SEWING KIT
• WARM UP OUTFIT, FLIP FLOPS, ROBE TO WEAR BACKSTAGE
• NPC CARD
If you do not have one, you can purchase it the morning of the show cash or check only!! Check gets made out to NPC
• YOUR OWN TOWELS AND SHEETS
If traveling….pack a set of sheets and towels so your do not get charged by the hotel for getting tan on their sheets!  You will get charged by hotel if you ruin sheets and towels!
Filed Under: News & Features

Women’s Soccer Star not Impressed with California Lawmaker

May 16, 2012 by

Just when you think women are making progress in sports a story like this comes along. Brandi Chastain is a world-famous soccer player and was in Sacramento to be honored by the California Assembley. The event was to recognize the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Pretty cool, right? It would have been had ASSemblyman Chris Norby not offered his two cents. Norby said, “We need to be honest about the effects of what I believe are faulty court interpretations or federal enforcement of Title IX, because it has led to the abolition of many male sports across the board in UCs and Cal States.” What a dope.

Lawmaker blasts Title IX, Brandi Chastain winces
By LISA LEFF, Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — If Brandi Chastain could have cried foul, she would have.

The world-famous U.S. women’s soccer player was in Sacramento on Monday with her Brazilian counterpart Sissi to be honored by the California Assembly as it recognized the 40th anniversary of Title IX.

The occasion prompted Assemblyman Chris Norby to reveal that he wasn’t a fan of the 1972 federal law chiefly known for mandating gender equity in high school and collegiate sports. The Fullerton Republican said he thought Title IX had come at the expense of male athletes, particularly those who depend on sports scholarships.

“We need to be honest about the effects of what I believe are faulty court interpretations or federal enforcement of Title IX, because it has led to the abolition of many male sports across the board in UCs and Cal States,” he said. “And that was never the intention of this, to have numerical equality. It was never the intention to attain equality by reducing opportunities for the men.”

Standing in the back of the chamber, Chastain, who plays with the semi-professional California Storm in Sacramento, visibly bristled at Norby’s remarks and raised her hand to try to interject. But she was denied the chance to give a rebuttal because resolutions do not have public hearings.

She did, however, get some assists from other lawmakers. Assemblyman Mike Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat, pointed out that the softball fields at the high school where his daughter pitches pales in comparison to the boys’ baseball diamond. “Equality is yet to be attained,” Feuer said.

Assemblyman Jim Silva, a Sunset Beach Republican, also came to Chastain’s defense. A former high school football coach, Silva said that he, too, once questioned providing more funding for female athletes.

“Then, on March 18, 1978, my world completely switched,” the Sunset Beach Republican said. “That was the day my daughter was born.”

Chastain is remembered for and revered by women’s sports enthusiasts for making the game-winning kick when the U.S. faced China in the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and celebrating the victory by stripping down to her sports bra. And while Norby’s comments obviously rankled, she did not blow her top.

In the end, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla reached her goal for AJR27: the measure passed 68 to 0, with 67 co-sponsors. It wasn’t clear whether Norby voted.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Photo via espn.com

Filed Under: News & Features

Skechers to Pay $40 Million over Sketchy Fitness Shoe Claims

May 16, 2012 by

Chalk this one up to not-too-shocking news. The US government reminded the public and shoe makers that it takes more than a pair of shoes and a celebrity endorsement to have at tight booty. Skechers USA Inc. will pay $40 million to settle charges brought against them by the Federal Trade Commission. You might recall the California based shoe company used Kim Kardashian in a Super Bowl commercial promoting Shape-Ups. Skechers encouraged people to ditch their trainer and went to so far to say, “Get in Shape without Setting Foot in a Gym”. The FTC found that Skechers made unsupported claims that the shoes would provide more weight loss and toning than regular shoes

 

According to a story from the Associated Press, the settlement announced today also involves the company’s Resistance Runner, Toner and Tone-Up shoes. If you were a consumer who purchased the shoes, you could be eligible for a refund. This settlement trumps the one slapped against Reebook last year, when they were forced to pay $25 million for their EasyTone and RunTone shoes.

“Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims.”

Read more on the story here.

**UPDATE**
Did you buy Skechers Shape-ups, Resistance Runner, Toners, or Tone-ups shoes? You may be eligible for a refund.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, charged Skechers with making unfounded claims that its Shape-ups and other “toning shoes” would help people lose weight and tone their buttocks, legs, and abdominal muscles. To settle the case, Skechers USA has agreed to pay $40 million to provide refunds to people who bought Skechers toning shoes. More information is available on the FTC’s Skechers Hotline at 866-325-4186. Visit: http://www.skecherssettlement.com to apply for a refund.


A  SKECHERS ad with celebrity Brooke Burke

 

Filed Under: Celebrity Fitness, News & Features

2012 NPC JR USA Preview

May 16, 2012 by

This weekend over 400 men and women will take the stage at the NPC JR USAs in Charleston, South Carolina. Promoter Tres Bennett has a great venue locked in just minutes from the airport. The area near the venue and host hotel continues to be developed, which is music to competitor’s ears. Why? Restaurants after the show of course. This show played host to the first crowning of the Bikini division and last year the Men and Women’s Physique divisions. There are no new divisions this year but there will be a record number of competitor. Last year we saw around 300 competitors on stage, this year that number has jumped to nearly 450.

The NPC JR USA is typically a show where competitor get their feet wet on the National scene. That still holds true for men’s bodybuilding as there is no pro card awarded however the same can’t be said for the women’s events. The women will once again dominate the show and the Figure division continues to lead the way with 122 entrants. The Bikini division will also showcase over 100 women and look for each class to be competitive.

The UNOFFICIAL competitor breakdown by division… This number won’t be final until check-ins are complete on Friday night and there are no breakdowns by height/weight until check-ins are finished. Final OFFICIAL numbers will be available on Saturday morning.

Figure – 122
Bikini – 102
Women’s Physique – 42
Fitness – 20
Women’s Bodybuilding – 12
Men’s Physique – 87
Men’s Bodybuilding – 58

IFBB PRO STATUS AWARDED TO:
• Overall Fitness Winner
• Top 3 in the Overall Figure
• Top 3 in the Overall Bikini
• Class winners (2) in Men’s Physique
• Class winners (2) in Women’s Physique

OFFICIAL SHOW PHOTOS AND VIDEO:
Official show photos can be purchased at photos.liftstudios.com. Official video from the show will be provided by Money Mark Mason. If you’re interested in purchasing video from the show visit markmasonmedia.com. If your pre-order your DVD you will save $20!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
FRIDAY MAY 18, 2012:
Location: HYATT PLACE
NPC OFFICE OPEN 9:00am to 7:00 pm

CHECK IN / WEIGH IN*
9:00AM-11:00AM or 5:00PM-7:00PM

*NOTE: Competitors are only required to check in once, either at the morning session or the evening session.

————

SATURDAY MAY 19, 2012:
Location: PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

DOORS OPEN TO PUBLIC: 8:00AM
PREJUDGING BEGINS: 8:30AM

COMPETITOR MEETING TIMES
– FITNESS / WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING / MEN’S BODYBUILDING / MEN’S PHYSIQUE 7:30 AM
-  WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE  9:00 AM
– FIGURE 9:30 AM
– BIKINI 10:00 AM

PRE-JUDGING ORDER*
FITNESS ROUTINES
WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING
MEN’S BODYBUILDING
MEN’S PHYSIQUE
WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
FITNESS 2 PIECE
FIGURE
BIKINI

*THESE TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, FINAL TIMES WILL BE POSTED IN THE HYATT LOBBY FRIDAY NIGHT.

——–

FINALS:
SATURDAY MAY 19, 2012
Location: PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

MANDATORY MEETING 5:00PM

DOORS OPEN TO PUBLIC 5:30PM

FINALS BEGIN 6:00PM

Visit www.npcjrusa.com for more info. Look for LIVE coverage here on Hardbody.com throughout the weekend. If you’re on twitter use #NPCJRUSA as the hashtag.

 

Filed Under: NPC

Gold Medalist Misty May – “I’m stronger than I think I am. Mentally, physically.”

May 15, 2012 by

If you’ve ever watch the Olympics the names Misty May and Kerri Walsh are familiar to you. The Olympic championship duo will head to London in hopes of their third consecutive gold medal. Beach volleyball may be a hobby for most people but when you watch Misty and Kerri play you know it’s more than a hobby. USATODAY recently interviewed Misty and she talks about a stint dressed as a hot dog, her last Olympic Games and more.


USATODAY interview excerpt:

A partner, marriage, friendship: it’s kind of all wrapped into one because Kerri and I are together so much. You kind of have to know the person. You try to learn more and you want to learn more about the person fighting next to you.

I’m stronger than I think I am. Mentally, physically.

It’s important just interacting with people. I love to go back to my old college and workout at the rec center. I’m just a normal athlete hanging out with students and they work out next to me.

 

– Read the entire Interview here.

photos via.

 

Filed Under: Olympics Tagged With: , ,

Video: Michelle Obama’s Olympic Message

May 15, 2012 by

First Lady Michelle Obama recently spoke about the Olympic Games and how she hopes the games will inspire children to be active. The First Lady was at the Olympic Games Media Summit to announce her commitment to getting more children active and healthy. One of the athletes she mentioned in her speech is 7x Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica Long. Jessica is a woman who defines the word HARDBODY not only physically but mentally as well. We’re stoked to have the honor and unique opportunity to feature Jessica here on Hardbody.com in the coming weeks. Check out the video where Michelle Obama mentions Jessica and check back as we help tell her story.

The First Lady talks about the London Olympic Games and triumphing over adversity. Congrats to our Hardbody buddy Jessica Long on being mentioned in the speech! Follow Jess on twitter at twitter.com/jessicalong and check back in the coming weeks as we feature Jessica.

Visit www.ahealthieramerica.org/olympics and type in your zip code to find programs in your area.

Filed Under: Olympics, Videos

U. S. Gymnast Shawn Johnson Weighs In On Body Image

May 15, 2012 by

Shawn Johnson has a decorated career as a gymnast. She won three silver medals and one gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and is making a run at the 2012 Olympics. The 20 year-old gymnast recently shared that she lost 25 pounds en route to returning to the Olympics.

USATODAY recently interviewed Shawn in Dallas, Texas where she shared “I was always on top. I wasn’t used to being the critic’s choice.” The experience made her more resilient, teaching her “how to stay strong when other people don’t want you to (succeed).”

She went on to say,”I was at the Olympic Games winning medals and I still doubted my image. I doubted what I looked like. That’s sad. Girls should be taught different than that. I think everyone should be taught different than that.”

Read the entire article on USATODAY.

Photo Via.

Filed Under: Olympics

New York Pro Predict & Win

May 15, 2012 by

Think you have what it takes to predict the New York Pro women’s competition? Now is your chance to prove it. We’re offering $200 worth of product from our partners at BSN and Gaspari to the person who correctly predicts the New Pro women’s events. Easy enough, right? Step up and make your predictions in the comments field below. Share this page with your friends (after you predict of course) and let’s see if you have what it takes to predict the competition.

bsn gaspari products

The HARDBODY BREAKDOWN.
• You MUST correctly predict IN ORDER the TOP THREE FOR EACH division. If you only get one or two divisions correct, congrats but no win for you.
• You must live in the United States.
• You may only post once.
• In the event of multiple people correctly predict the winners, the first person to post will win.
• Your predictions must be in before 10am EST on Saturday, May 12th. Any posts after that will not count.

Good Luck!

2012 IFBB New York Pro Figure Competitors
Read the HARDBODY Preview on the figure line-up.

1. Tiffany Archer (Washington, DC)
2. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz (Chile)
3. Melanie Becker-DePalma (Staten Island, New York)
4. Leah Berti (Alberta, Canada)
5. Andrea Cantone (Peabody, Massachusetts)
6. Ava Cowan (Forest Hills, New York)
7. Heather Dees (Lehi, Utah)
8. Ginette Delhaes (Quebec, Canada)
9. Thea Erichsen (Oslo, Norway)
10. Brooke Erickson (Boise, Idaho)
11. Yolando Esteso (Sauri Seville, Spain)
12. Allison Frahn (Mahwah, New Jersey)
13. Aleisha Hart (Ontario, Canada)
14. Ryan Hays-Althoff (High Point, North Carolina)
15. Caroline Hernandez (Howard Beach, New York)
16. Jacqueline Hoppe (Harvest, Alabama)
17. Candice John (Trinidad)
18. Candice Keene (Maitland, Florida)
19. Elizabeth Maurice (New York, New York)
20. Angela Mraz (Clifton, New Jersey)
21. Mona Muresan (West New York, New Jersey)
22. Angelica Nebbia (Hicksville, New York)
23. Eleni Plakitsi (Athens, Greece)
24. Marcy Porter (Georgetown, Massachusetts)
25. Katherynne Ramirez (Bronx, New York)
26. Tara Scotti (Cortland Manor, New York)
27. Monica Specking (Paragould, Arkansas)
28. Laura Tolonen (Lahti, Finland)
29. Patrice Vignola (Morganville, New Jersey)

2012 IFBB New York Pro Bikini Competitors
Read the HARDBODY Preview on the bikini line-up.

1. Jessica Arevalo (Tracey, California)
2. Sandy Avelar (British Columbia, Canada)
3. Jaime Baird (Orlando, Florida)
4. Abigail Burrows (Las Vegas, Nevada)
5. Juliana Daniell (Atlanta, Georgia)
6. Tawna Eubanks (Dallas, Texas)
7. Diana Graham (Duvall, Washington)
8. Janet Harding (Yardley, Pennsylvania)
9. Melinda Janiszewski (Atlanta, Georgia)
10. Tabitha Klausen Leandri (Clinton, Connecticut)
11. Kristal Martin (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
12. Bernadett (Matassa Hungary)
13. Taylor Matheny (Sand Springs, Oklahoma)
14. Heather Nappi (Novi, Michigan)
15. Cecile Palacios (New York, New York)
16. India Paulino (Pembroke Pines, Florida)
17. Kristy Robbins (Palm Harbor, Florida)
18. Yeshaira Robles (Bronx, New York)
19. Skye Taylor (Las Vegas, Nevada)
20. Talia Terese (Vallejo, California)

2012 IFBB New York Pro Women’s Physique Competitors
Read the HARDBODY Preview on the WPD line-up.

1. Maria Allegro (College Point, New York)
2. Dana Linn Bailey (Reading, Pennsylvania)
3. Debbie Barrable-Leung (Alberta, Canada)
4. Michelle Blank (St. Simons Island, Georgia)
5. Laura Boisacq (Anchorage, Alaska)
6. Dayana Cadeau (Wilton Manors, Florida)
7. Ayanna Carroll (Baltimore, Maryland)
8. Melissa DiBernardo (Hyde Park, New York)
9. Rose-Anne Duvigneaud (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
10. Marilena Echohawk (Thornton, Colorado)
11. Nathalie Falk (Sachsen, Germany)
12. Cassandra Floyd (Marietta, Georgia)
13. Karen Gatto (East Meadow, New York)
14. Heather Grace (Aurora, Colorado)
15. Aurelia Grozajova (Slovakia)
16. Jennifer Hernandez (New York, New York)
17. Marina Lopez (Aurora, Colorado)
18. Juliana Malacarne (Brazil)
19. Petra Mertl (Czech Republic)
20. Teresita Morales (Middle Village, New York)
21. Tammy Patnode (Lake Placid, New York)
22. Jillian Reville (Ridgefield, Connecticut)
23. Louise Rogers (United Kingdom)
24. Jane Santos (Harrison, New York)
25. Carrie Simmons (Marina Del Rey, California)
26. Stacy Simons-McDowell (Blackwood, New Jersey)
27. Joele Smith (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
28. Jennifer Smythe (Laurence Harbor, New Jersey)
29. Penpraghai Tiangngok (Chonburi, Thailand)

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

2012 New York Pro Women’s Physique Preview & Predictions

May 14, 2012 by

The IFBB’s newest division continues to explode. The New York Pro Women’s Physique division will be the largest line up to date and the judges will have a variety of physiques to compare. Look for there to be a number of call-outs and comparisons in this show. No one in this line-up has won a Physique pro show, so one lucky lady will have that honor. Who will leave the Big Apple as the first ever Women’s Physique Champion? Let’s break down the competition.

 

The HARDBODY 411:
If this show was an online popularity contest then Dana Linn Bailey would be crowned the winner however it’s not. Despite being the first woman awarded a pro card in the division, she’ll have her work cut out for her. She’s one of the few women who can pull off a short hair cut. She came into the Phoenix Pro show shredded and was out of the winner’s circle as a result. Look for her to come in softer but will it be enough for her to victorious? I don’t think so based on her structure / shape. She has a wide waist compared to a number of the other women in this line up and has a difficult time matching her conditioning on the top of her body to the bottom. Debbie Barrable-Leung will be making a comeback at this show and she add another division to her competitive resume. She’s competed in bodybuilding and figure over the years and look for her to hold her own at this show. She gave birth to twins and to step on stage after that is a win. Michelle Blank jumped into the St. Louis Pro show after injuring herself before the Fitness International. Look for her to improved her posing and be in the top call-out. Dayana Cadeau is a familiar name to many of you who follow the industry but typically you’d be discussing her as a bodybuilder. Big name but will be too big for the division is my prediction. Marilena Echohawk landed in the top spots at the Phoenix Pro and will look to do so again here. She’ll have a tougher time of repeating but don’t count her out. Heather Grace will be making the switch from Figure to Physique and look for her to fair better in her placings in this division than in Figure. Marina Lopez gets the award for most persistent physique. She’s competed in every competition to date and brings a different look each time. She continues to strip muscle off her frame but when she comes in too soft it doesn’t suit her well. Jillian Reville has positioned herself as a leading lady in the division and look for her to be in the mix of the top spots again here. Jane Santos is a name we haven’t seen in awhile. Jane was a fitness competitor who packed a good deal of muscle and it will be interesting to see what she brings to this stage. Stacy Simons and Carrie Simmons also made the switch to the new division from Fitness and faired well in California. They’ll look to repeat on the East Coast. Jennifer Smythe has a great physique and if she can pose her body better she’ll move up. She should be in the mix for a top spot though. Ayanna Caroll has a tremendous physique and while she may have more muscle than some I think she’ll fair well here.

The woman I am most excited to see in this line-up is Juliana Malacarne. The Brazilian first competed in fitness and then made the switch to figure once becoming an IFBB Pro. She has a SIC physique and when the division was announced she was the first person I thought of as the “ideal”. She was always told she was too big for Figure and was too small for bodybuilding. She has the shape, structure and right amount of balance that in my opinion SHOULD be what this division is all about. When you see Juliana it’s obvious she has more muscle than top Figure competitors. I’d love to see the judges make a statement and reward her the top spot, should she bring the same look she brought to the Figure stage. We’ll have to see if the judges agree or if they feel she still has too much muscle.

2012 IFBB NEW YORK PRO WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE:
1. Maria Allegro – College Point, New York
2. Dana Linn Bailey – Reading, Pennsylvania
3. Debbie Barrable-Leung – Alberta, Canada
4. Michelle Blank – St. Simons Island, Georgia
5. Laura Boisacq – Anchorage, Alaska
6. Dayana Cadeau – Wilton Manors, Florida
7. Ayanna Carroll – Baltimore, Maryland
8. Melissa DiBernardo – Hyde Park, New York
9. Rose-Anne Duvigneaud – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
10. Marilena Echohawk – Thornton, Colorado
11. Nathalie Falk – Sachsen, Germany
12. Cassandra Floyd -Marietta, Georgia
13. Karen Gatto – East Meadow, New York
14. Heather Grace – Aurora, Colorado
15. Aurelia Grozajova – Slovakia
16. Jennifer Hernandez – New York, New York
17. Marina Lopez – Aurora, Colorado
18. Juliana Malacarne – Brazil
19. Petra Mertl – Czech Republic
20. Teresita Morales – Middle Village, New York
21. Tammy Patnode – Lake Placid, New York
22. Jillian Reville – Ridgefield, Connecticut
23. Louise Rogers – United Kingdom
24. Jane Santos – Harrison, New York
25. Carrie Simmons – Marina Del Rey, California
26. Stacy Simons-McDowell – Blackwood, New Jersey
27. Joele Smith – Hattiesburg, Mississippi
28. Jennifer Smythe – Laurence Harbor, New Jersey
29. Penpraghai Tiangngok – Chonburi, Thailand

ISAAC’S PREDICTIONS:
1. Juliana Malacarne
2.Ayanna Carroll
3. Debbie Barrable-Leung
4. Michelle Blank
5. Jillian Reville
6. Jennifer Smythe

RON’S PREDICTIONS:
1. Dana Linn Bailey
2. Jillian Reville
3. Ayanna Carroll
4.  Joele Smith
5. Jennifer Smythe
6. Juliana Malacarne

As you can see Ron and I are world’s a part on who we think will win the show. I feel the top three will all have similar physiques and begin to set “the look” but Ron is all over the map with who he is predicting. Who do you like for the win? Post your comments below and when tweeting about the show use #NYPRO. Our West Coast correspondent Ron Avidan will be in attendance covering all the action. You can also check out NPCnewsonline.com, FLEXonline.com and MuscularDevelopment.com for coverage.

{democracy:236}

Saturday – May 19, 2012

Tribecca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY

Prejudging: 11am EST
Finals: 6pm EST

More info: BevFrancis.com

COMPETITORS:
Note that all competitor meetings will be held at the venue site, the Tribecca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY at the following times:
9:00 am: Bikini
9:15 am: Open Bodybuilding
9:30 am: Figure
9:45 am: 212
10:00 am: Women’s Physique

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features Tagged With: , , , ,

2012 IFBB New York Pro Bikini Competitor Lists & Hardbody Preview

May 14, 2012 by

Twenty hardbody bikini women will take the stage at the New York Pro Championships this Saturday at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center. Looking at the line-up it is one of the toughest we’ve seen. The competition certainly doesn’t get any easier in the bikini division and I wouldn’t want to be a judge at this show. The top five at this competition will be one of the best we’ve seen just short of the Olympia and Bikini International. Let’s break down the field and go out on a limb with a few predictions.

 

The HARDBODY 411:
1. Jessica Arevalo – Tracey, California
This is Jessica’s pro debut. She took the B Class at the 2011 NPC Nationals and will have a tough time in her first IFBB show. Can she hang? Ya but it won’t be easy in this line-up. If she cracks the top ten she should consider it a success.

2. Sandy Avelar – British Columbia, Canada
Sandy will also be making her pro debut and nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool, right? We’ll see how she fairs in one of the toughest shows of the year. She will be able to use this as a good tune-up before the Toronto Pro show in a couple weeks.

3. Jaime Baird – Orlando, Florida
Jaime will undoubtedly be in the first call-out. She’s positioned herself as a top bikini pro and don’t look for that to change any time soon. She didn’t seem quite herself at the Pittsburgh Pro but look for her to be on point here and in the hunt for the win. If she’s calm, cool and in her zone she could win it. I also like her make-up less dark around her eyes as it didn’t seem to fit her look at the PA Pro.

4. Abigail Burrows – Las Vegas, Nevada
Miss Abigail. The big question is which Abbie will show up to the Big Apple. When she’s got her sh*t together she’s a top contender. If she’s distracted with the things happening away from the stage it takes its toll on what she brings to the stage. She was clearly way off her best at the Bikini International. If she’s collected herself and regrouped from that showing she’ll be in the mix here, if not she’ll be on the outside looking in.

5. Juliana Daniell – Atlanta, Georgia
JD has my favorite physique in this line-up and one of my top 3 in the entire Pro Bikini division. I like the athletic look she brings to the stage and if she brings a look similar to what we saw here last year and at the Bikini International she’ll be in the top spots. Juliana’s biggest challenge is relaxing and just doing her thing. If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right? Let’s hope she brings what she did in Columbus.

6. Tawna Eubanks – Dallas, Texas
Tawna was on the outside of the top spots at the PA Pro earlier this month and will be looking for a bit of redemption. This line-up is tougher than the one we saw in Pittsburgh so if she can climb up from her 7th place finish it will be a success.

7. Diana Graham – Duvall, Washington OUT DUE TO ILLNESS
Diana will likely be in one of the top spots at this show. I don’t see her finishing higher than third but don’t count her out of a the top five. I’ve been critical of her distracting boobs and it’s a sentiment that judges have shared with me. If she can find a way to not make them a talking point and focus on her physique she’ll be in the hunt.  The boys at Getbig.com highly praise Diana for being one of the curviest competitors on the stage and always welcome her.

8. Janet Harding – Yardley, Pennsylvania
Janet is a persistent competitor. Her biggest challenge are the little details like her tanning and hair. When her hair is too big and curly it’s distracting. She’s almost never dark enough with her tan when on stage. If she can tweak those little details she’ll move up from the bottom of the pack.

9. Melinda Janiszewski – Atlanta, Georgia
Melinda had a respectable showing at the Pittsburgh Pro. If she can crack the top ten here it will be a success. She’s definitely improved her physique from what we saw in her pro debut at this show, two years ago.

10. Tabitha Klausen Leandri – Clinton, Connecticut Tabitha has withdrawn due to injury.
Tabitha can move up from her Pittsburgh 14th place finish if she takes the stage with confidence. When she presented in Pittsburgh she didn’t seem confident and she has every reason to be confident. I’d like to see her take the stage like a Victoria Secret’s Runway model. Tabitha is one of the taller competitors and she has a long torso, so for her it’s all in how she presents it. Improved presentation = improved placing for Tabitha.

11. Kristal Martin – Gaithersburg, Maryland
Kristal was at the bottom pack in her pro debut. Now that she got the first time pro jitters out of the way and knows what she needs to improve upon, look for her to present a better package. She needs a different colored suit than Pittsburgh and her physique needs to be a bit fuller. If she changes that she’ll move up.

12. Bernadett Matassa – Hungary
Bernadett rocks short blonde hair and I’m not sure it works for her. She used to have some goofy poses but she learned to leave those behind. I’d like to see her with longer hair, more relaxed posing and a bit softer in the upper body. Will we see any of that in New York? Not likely.

13. Taylor Matheny – Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Taylor has a rock’n physique and is adorable. She still struggles with her posing and in order to crack the top spots she’ll need to improve her posing. She was third at the St. Louis Pro which was a great finish for her. Placing that high her won’t be as easy. I’d like to see her tan a little darker as well. I like her look and if she can relax and polish her posing she’ll be in the hunt.

14. Heather Nappi – Novi, Michigan
Heather is coming off a 13th place finish at the Pittsburgh Pro and if she can crack the top ten here she’ll be doing good. She’s been as high as fifth but given the line up here it will be a tough placing to match. I like the look she brought to the Florida Pro to close out 2011.

15. Cecile Palacios – New York, New York
Cecile will be making her pro debut after winning the F class at the 2011 NPC Nationals. She will have to pose her body in a curvy manner as one of the taller women in the show. This will be a great test for her because if she can crack the top 10 here it will be a success.

16. India Paulino – Pembroke Pines, Florida
India has momentum on her side and the odds on favorite to two in a row. She was runner-up at the Bikini International and brought a winning look to Pittsburgh. I swear the girl is going to break a hip with her little shimmy shake she does at the end of her individual posing presentation. She can get away with it because it fits her sassy personality. Count on her to wear a yellow bikini suit because it works. India’s “assets” can also be distracting if just looking at photos but when you see her present, her attitude and presentation make you focus on her physique and not her boobs.

17. Kristy Robbins – Palm Harbor, Florida
Kristy looked good in Pittsburgh and I would have placed her higher than 9th. I would like to see her compared to the top women if she brings the same look to the stage as she did in Pittsburgh. Look for her in the top ten here and if she struts he stuff and catches the eye of the judges in the individual presentation look for her to be in the hunt.

18. Yeshaira Robles – Bronx, New York
Yeshaira has the best energy. In some poses she’s smiling and cute but then she’ll flip a switch and give you a sexy diva look. I dig it. She has the physique of a top contender, a tight booty and positioning herself as one of the leading ladies in bikini. I look for her to be in the top spots once again here.

19. Skye Taylor – Las Vegas, Nevada
Skye looked her best at the Houston Pro where she finished second. She’ll have her work cut out for her to crack the top five here but look for to be in contention if she brings a similar look.

20. Talia Terese – Vallejo, California
Talia oh Talia, which Talia will we see in New York? If the Talia we saw at the 2011 NPC USA shows up she’s top five no question. If she shows up like she did in her pro debut she won’t be in the top 10. Talia is one of the most beautiful women in the division but she has yet to find her groove as a pro. She finished in fourth at the 2011 Sacramento Pro and will have a tough time placing higher than that here but without question she can do it if she brings the USA look.

So who wins? Who finishes in the top five? As you can see the judges will have a VERY difficult time sorting this one out. It will come down to the little details like tanning, hair, posing and presentation. If everyone was 100% and presented their best physique to date I’d go with Juliana Daniell for the win however I doubt the judges will agree with me.

ISAAC’s PREDICTIONS:
1. Jaime Baird
2. India Paulino
3. Juliana Daniell
4. Yeshaira Robles
5. Talia Terese

RON’s PREDICTIONS:
1. India Paulino
2. Jaime Baird
3. Yeshaira Robles
4. Abigail Burrows
5. Talia Terese

{democracy:238}

Who do you like for the win? Post your comments below and when tweeting about the show use #NYPRO. Our West Coast correspondent Ron Avidan will be in attendance covering all the action. You can also check out NPCnewsonline.com, FLEXonline.com and MuscularDevelopment.com for coverage.

Saturday – May 19, 2012

Tribecca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY

Prejudging: 11am EST
Finals: 6pm EST

More info: BevFrancis.com

COMPETITORS:
Note that all competitor meetings will be held at the venue site, the Tribecca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY at the following times:
9:00 am: Bikini
9:15 am: Open Bodybuilding
9:30 am: Figure
9:45 am: 212
10:00 am: Women’s Physique

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features Tagged With: , , , , , ,

2012 New York Pro Figure Competitor Lists & Hardbody Preview

May 14, 2012 by

The IFBB New York Pro has become one of the premier contests of the year. Many fans and pundits would argue that the New York Pro is the most prestigious IFBB Pro show behind the Arnold and Olympia. This weekend we’ll see one the biggest (and toughest) Figure lineups of the year. Hardbody women from across the globe have sent their contracts in and this is going to be one show not to miss. There are a few names that jump out as the favorites heading into Saturday’s event. You never know who will be on the money and who will miss the mark but let’s break down the competition.

new york pro figure

The HARDBODY 411

Favorites:
Ava Cowan has relocated from Florida to New York and will look for her second pro title. She’s coming off back to back fourth place finishes and left Columbus less than stoked. Along with the move, Ava has gone back to working with Layne Norton for her contest prep. This is important to note as she streamlined her physique and came in at her best while working with trainer Kim Oddo. She’ll have an advantage of not having to fly. She’ll also have leading Figure lady Candice Keene standing in her way. The two have developed a bit of a rivalry over the last year. Candice and Ava have gone third and fourth behind Erin and Nicole a few times. Since Erin nor Nicole are in this show, it would be a safe to wager on Candice or Ava walking away the winner. Candice has gotten the better of Ava their last two times, the 2011 Sheru Classic and 2012 Figure International.  Candice is coming off a win at the Orlando Show of Champions and carries the confidence with her from that show into the Big Apple. Heather Dees may have something to say about either of these women being the favorites. She has refined her physique over the last few months and positioned herself as a threat to both women. She was nipping at their heels at the Figure International and finished just behind Candice and Ava. If either lady is off Dees could slip into the top two spots. If Ava and Candice are on point look for Heather in the third place position. Two other women to watch to shake up the top spots are coming off wins. Candice John notched her first pro win at the 2012 Pittsburgh Pro and last weekend Monica Specking also found the winner’s circle for the first time as a pro. I don’t see either of them beating Candice or Ava however never say never.

Contenders:
There are a few women I could see challenging for a top spot and cracking the top five. Allison Frahn has been in the top five before and is coming off a third place finish at the Governor’s Cup. While I’m not a big fan of her physique the judges seem to favor it. I’d like to see her pose a little less rigid, especially with her arms and hands. Caroline Hernandez showed she can hang in the top ten last year when she finished in seventh. I could see her cracking the top ten if she brings a similar to last year. Marcy Porter has been up and down in here placings. She was ninth in this show last year and she took a little time off after the 2011 Olympia. If she comes in conditioned she’ll be in the top ten, if she’s off she’ll be in the dreaded tied for 16th. The woman I am most excited to see in this line-up is veteran Tara Scotti. Tara hasn’t competed since the 2006 West Palm Beach show. She’s been the the Olympia, won a pro show but that was all years ago. She had a baby 8 months ago but says she’s never felt better. Tara could be in the first call-out but it will all depend on what she brings in her return. One thing you can count on, Tara wouldn’t take the stage if she didn’t feel she could be a contender and I wouldn’t bet against her.

2012 IFBB New York Pro Figure Competitor List:
1. Tiffany Archer – Washington, DC
2. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz -  Chile
3.  Melanie Becker-DePalma – Staten Island, New York
4. Leah Berti – Alberta, Canada
5.  Andrea Cantone – Peabody, Massachusetts
6. Ava Cowan – Forest Hills, New York
7. Heather Dees – Lehi, Utah
8. Ginette Delhaes – Quebec, Canada
9. Thea Erichsen – Oslo, Norway
10. Brooke Erickson – Boise, Idaho
11. Yolando Esteso Sauri – Seville, Spain
12. Allison Frahn – Mahwah, New Jersey
13. Aleisha Hart – Ontario, Canada
14. Ryan Hays-Althoff – High Point, North Carolina
15. Caroline Hernandez – Howard Beach, New York
16. Jacqueline Hoppe – Harvest, Alabama
17. Candice John – Trinidad
18. Candice Keene – Maitland, Florida
19.  Elizabeth Maurice – New York, New York
20. Angela Mraz – Clifton, New Jersey
21. Mona Muresan – West New York, New Jersey
22.  Angelica Nebbia – Hicksville, New York
23.  Eleni Plakitsi – Athens, Greece
24.  Marcy Porter – Georgetown, Massachusetts
25. Katherynne Ramirez – Bronx, New York
26. Tara Scotti – Cortland Manor, New York
27. Monica Specking – Paragould, Arkansas
28. Laura Tolonen – Lahti, Finland
29. Patrice Vignola – Morganville, New Jersey

ISAAC’S PREDICTIONS:
1. Candice Keene
2. Ava Cowan
3. Heather Dees
4. Candice John
5. Tara Scotti

RON’S PREDICTION:
1. Ava Cowan
2. Candice Keene
3. Candice John
4. Heather Dees
5. Monica Specking

{democracy:237}

Who do you like for the win? Post your comments below and when tweeting about the show use #NYPRO. Our West Coast correspondent Ron Avidan will be in attendance covering all the action. You can also check out NPCnewsonline.com, FLEXonline.com and MuscularDevelopment.com for coverage.

Saturday – May 19, 2012

Tribecca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY

Prejudging: 11am EST
Finals: 6pm EST

More info: BevFrancis.com

COMPETITORS:
Note that all competitor meetings will be held at the venue site, the Tribecca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY at the following times:
9:00 am: Bikini
9:15 am: Open Bodybuilding
9:30 am: Figure
9:45 am: 212
10:00 am: Women’s Physique
10:15 am: Men’s Physique

 

Filed Under: IFBB, News & Features

Hardbody Interview: Tara Scotti Returns to Competition

May 13, 2012 by

If you’re new to the IFBB competitive scene you may not recognize the name Tara Scotti. Those of you who have followed the Figure division know exactly who Tara Scotti is. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Tara for nearly a decade and she’s the type of friend that you can go months without talking to but as soon as you do it’s like you never missed a beat. When Tara told me she was thinking of coming back to compete, I wasn’t surprised. She’s a competitor and when she puts her mind to something look out, she means business. A lot has changed in Tara’s universe since we last saw her on stage. I caught up with Tara for an interview as she returns to the competition stage for the first time in nearly six years.

Tara competed in the 2001 NPC Figure Nationals (the first time figure was part of Nationals) and finished in the top five. She stood next to eventual Olympia champions Davana Medina and Jenny Lynn at that show. She stepped away from the scene for a couple of years but the competitive spirit brought her back in 2003. When she returned, she took home the overall NPC Eastern USA Figure title and locked her sites on turning pro. Tara competed at the 2004 NPC JR USA Championships and won not only her class but also the overall Figure title. In those days, only the overall winner was awarded IFBB pro status. She wasted no time jumping into the big leagues and ended up  fifth at the 2004 NY Pro Figure, her IFBB debut. Tara put together an impressive competitive resume with several top five finishes and notched a win at the 2005 Toronto Pro.

Fast-forward to 2012 and Ms. Scotti is BACK and she’s never felt better. She’s met the love of her life, had a baby and ready to return to the stage that started her pro career. Tara will be competing at the 2012 New York Pro Figure competition and she was kind enough to share what she’s been up to since we last saw her compete.

What’s up wild woman how the hell have you been?
Hi Isaac. So happy to be talking to you and Hardbody.com once again! Haha!

Still living in New York?
Yes, of course I am still a New Yorker!

A lot has changed since we last heard from you…
Ya think? So much has changed.  All for the best and all positive. What hasn’t changed is my love of fitness and my competitive drive.

One major addition in your life, you had a baby, how old is she?
Our little bundle of joy, Brooke, aka Brookie Cookie, is 8 months. She’s absolutely amazing. I am just loving being a mom so much.

Did you continue to train while you were pregnant?
I lightened it up but still hit stairmaster and elliptical daily. I never wanted to let myself go too much. I’ve seen how hard it is to grab hold of after the baby comes through friends & clients so I was always cognizant of it. I think whatever I did has contributed to Cookie having superhuman strength. That baby is an infant Hercules!

How did you diet/nutrition change during the pregnancy?
No weird cravings like I expected. I kept my diet clean for the most part but allowed myself my favorite treats like pizza and cheeseburgers once in a while. No alcohol. I have passed some of my diet and training tips to friends of mine that are expecting and they seem to be having a pretty easy go of it.

What was the most challenging part of your first pregnancy?
Hmmm… letting go of some of my control. I like things a certain way, orderly (some would even say mild OCD but I say nah) and a baby comes, or even before the baby comes, and you just have to let go of some of that control. The baby is first priority above everything. And the sleep deprivation is no joke. Even on nights when she’s sleeping longer, I’m up checking on her or staring at the monitor.

Will baby Brooke be getting a brother or sister any time soon?
Well first let me say that Brooke has a sister, Taylor who is 9 years old. Even though they are half sisters the bond and love they have for each other is full blown sisterly love so I don’t feel like Brooke will be alone in the world if I don’t have any more.  That’s my nice, long answer for “No way I!”

HAHA. Fair enough.

What advice would you give mothers out there in regards to staying fit after a pregnancy?
I’ve been able to help some clients greatly in this regard and they are loving me for my advice now. Don’t wait for after the pregnancy to stay fit. Keep your fitness a priority (albeit a smaller priority than non-pregnancy times) but make time for even a small cardio session. And absolutely do not use that time as an excuse for binging; you will regret it after.

Speaking of advice, are you still training people?
I sure am. We have an amazing home gym here at our house. I have a few clients come here daily and then one day a week I have a packed schedule of clients that I go to train at their homes. My mom watches Brooke on that day. I am very fortunate that I can be a stay at home mom & not really work at all right now but that’s just not me. I like generating an income & I love what I do so it’s a win-win situation. :). I have been fortunate enough to have the demand for 1-2 more days of training clients but I am easing into it.

When was the last time you competed?
Isaac! That’s like asking a woman her age.  HA, Seriously…. I think it was West Palm Beach 2006.

Tara after the 2005 Pittsburgh Pro

You’ve decided to come back and compete in the 2012 NY Pro, what made you decide to come back?
Kevin. He reminded me how big a part this was in my life & although I have an amazing life & couldn’t be happier- he flat out asked me if I missed the sport & thought I should dust off the clear heels at least one last time. After doing some soul searching, I felt that I could come back with out sacrificing any time from my family which was hard for me in the past.  I have balance now. I am in the best shape of my life. Never felt better or more comfortable in my skin. I am excited. And it feels good to be excited about the sport and competing again.

For those that may not know, Kevin is your husband…
Kevin is my soul mate & the love of my life.

Has he been to a show and knows what to expect on you getting all painted orange err golden brown?
He has been to shows & has worked out with top bodybuilders in the past as they trained for shows so he gets it.  Kevin also used to wrestle and fight so he knows and understands competing as an individual and the psychology behind it.  He is amazing. This is the first time he is seeing me as an oompah loompa. 🙂

Why did you stop competing when you did?
At that time in my life I was competing non stop.  Not really an off season. One show to the next. I had won a pro show, competed at the Olympia twice, I felt my placings were always quite respectable. I wanted to exit the sport with my head held high. I didn’t want to be that person who stays too long at the party. I was exhausted physically & mentally. I must also add that I was not in a great place personally & I see now how that was a big factor in me exiting the sport. My life fell out of balance toward the end.

What’s been the biggest obstacle for this prep?
Being tired. Being a mommy is tiring. Lol. But seriously, and ironically – this has been the easiest prep I have ever had. I am  fortunate to have an amazing gym here at my house so when I put Brooke for a nap, I go down & train.  And after she goes to bed I do my cardio. It also helps that Kevin is so supportive & doesn’t mind eating grilled chicken and asparagus 7 days a week. 🙂

Do you follow the industry since your time away from the stage?
No, not really.  I am grateful to have made the great friends I have made over the years but since my last show I really do not know any of the new competitors.

Physique you admire most past or present?
I have always been a Monica Brant fan. She’s one of my good friends in the sport. Her longevity & marketability is inspirational to me.

What’s the goal for New York?
Lol. I started off my training with the mindset of “I’m only doing it for me, not too competitive, blah, blah,blah” but as you can attest – that’s just not me. Hehe. So now I’m all about qualifying for the O. Hehe

Will this be one and done or are you planning on going back to Canada where you won your first pro show?
Let’s see how this one goes & then ask me again.I think I have a great efficient routine right now and I am feeling great!

What type of diet/nutrition are you following?
A very different one from years past. Eating clean but less. Not every 2 hours. More like breakfast, lunch & dinner & a extra shake post workout. My days of carrying around Tupperware are behind me. I’ve built my muscle base years ago. It’s easier to maintain muscle then to build.

Any supplements you’d recommend to women?
I have found a couple of supplements that have helped me maintain my focus and stamina post having Brooke and a great multi-vitaman as well. I like to feel natural and not rely heavily on caffeine. Let’s see how I place before I go recommending my secrets!

IFBB Figure Pro Tara Scotti

So we won’t be seeing you in bikini or women’s physique but Figure, right?
Yes, Figure.  If it were a few years ago I’d probably give physique a try but I am leaner & smaller these days so I am a perfect fit for the current Figure division.

What do you think of the new divisions, since they weren’t around in your day?
Ummm… I think Physique is great. Even though I am a lot smaller these days, I am and always will be a fan of female muscle.  That bridge between Figure and Female Bodybuilding was much needed.

Are you on Facebook / twitter or you still hanging out on myspace? 🙂
HA.no myspace, wise ass. On Facebook but under a pseudo name that I have just for family & close friends. Some imposter schmoe has my TaraScotti name and uses my photos on facebook  & it’s been quite frustrating to get it shut down. It’s creepy & annoying that some weirdo is posing as me. I am working on getting it closed and hopefully having him punished somehow. Kev was a law enforcer and his peeps are looking into it.

Thanks T! All the best and welcome back!
Thank you Isaac.  Always great chatting with ya!
Competition History:
1998 NPC JR. USA Fitness Overall
2001 NPC National Figure Championships (Team Universe) Tall 4th
2003 NPC East Coast Figure Championships Overall
2003 NPC Eastern USA Figure Championship Overall
2004 NPC JR. USA Figure Championship Overall
2004 NY Pro Figure Championships 5th
2004 IFBB New York Pro Figure- 5th
2005 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro- 4th
2005 IFBB Atlanta Pro Figure-2nd
2005 IFBB California Pro- 4th
2005 IFBB Toronto Pro- 1st
2005 IFBB Charlotte Pro – 5th
2005 IFBB Olympia- 14th
2006 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro- 4th
2006 IFBB Colorado Pro- 4th
2006 IFBB Olympia- 19th
2006 West Palm Beach – 3rd

Filed Under: Interviews, News & Features

Monica Specking Wins – 2012 IFBB Pro Optimum Classic Results

May 13, 2012 by

The 2012 Optimum Classic Figure competition is in the books and Arkansas resident, Monica Specking notched her first IFBB Pro victory. Monica beat a small (10) but competitive field at the Shreveport, Louisiana competition. The win earns her a return trip to the Figure Olympia stage. Prior to this event Monica’s highest finish was third, her pro debut at the 2010 Houston Pro. She finished 2011 with a fourth place finish at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup.
monica specking ifbb pro figure

Monica looked to be a bit more polished than she had in the past with her presentation and with the guidance of Kim Oddo, she’s put together a winning look. Jami DeBenard was just one point behind Monica and many felt she could have been first without any argument. The second place finish matches her best placing since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USAs. Jami was the runner-up at the 2011 Phoenix Pro and has yet to finish out of the top five, if you don’t count last year’s Olympia. She’s strung together an impressive pro contest resume in less than a year. Ann Titone has positioned herself as a top five Figure Pro in each show she enters. She moved up one spot from last year’s Optimum Classic and finished in third once again. This was Ann’s fourth finish in third place since turning pro at the 2009 Team Universe. The consistent top five finishes are helping Ann accumulate points toward an Olympia invite with the new point system. Kim Sheppard moved up from her Pittsburgh showing and finished in fourth. Rounding out the top five was Alabama resident Yolanda Alvarado. Yolanda showed tremendous potential in the pro ranks as this was her IFBB Pro League debut.

Photos from this competition are few and far between. The photos that I have seen online are very poor quality and a reminder that promoters should invest in a professional photographer to capture their events. The competitors deserve to be shown in a professional manner and if they aren’t don’t be shocked if they choose to skip the event the following year. Congratulations to all the women who achieve their goals and set new ones for future competitions.

2012 IFBB OPTIMUM CLASSIC PRO FIGURE RESULTS:
Shreveport, Louisiana – May 12, 2012
1. Monica Specking
2. Jami DeBenard
3. Ann Titone
4. Kim Sheppard
5. Yolanda Alvarado
6. Kristi Tauti
7. Rosalind Vanterpool
8. Thea Erichsen
9. Eleni Plakitsi
10. Annisa Payne

Visit NPCnewsonline.com for official scorecards.

 

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

AD WATCH: Quest For Bodybuilding Title Comes at A Price

May 9, 2012 by

Advertisers are constantly trying to capture the attention of customers in new and unique ways. This is a short film about a bodybuilder and his soon-to-be wife ends in a strange way. The bodybuilder trains and eats and well eats. The video is generating some buzz online however will you remember the product?

VIA YOUTUBE:
In any given day, body builder Phill Pace eats a whole chicken, a turkey, steak, fish, kangaroo and assorted vegetables and rice — all in his quest for the Mr Australia title.
However, it comes with a price….

{democracy:235}
Filed Under: Ad Watch

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Championship Results & Review

May 8, 2012 by

The 2012 Pittsburgh Pro Championships hosted over 50 hardbody women in fitness, figure and bikini. Women from across the globe traveled to Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro Championships in hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Olympia. There were some expected results and a few surprises along the way. Canada dominated the Fitness division and left and wondering where all the US citizens were at for this show. The Figure divisions proved that if you’re not on top of your game you leave the door open for someone to sneak into the top spots. The Bikini division had some of the best physiques in the world on stage but the final results didn’t exactly play out how many thought they would before the show.

 

The HARDBODY Breakdown:

FITNESS REVIEW
Heading into this show Kizzy Vaines and Jodi Boam were the only two with IFBB Pro wins and we saw why once again. Jodi Boam brought an improved physique from her previous competitions at the FLEX PRO and Fitness International. She also brought back her Mortal Combat routine and it proved to be the right move. Jodi notched her second pro career win and takes some momentum into next month’s Toronto Pro where she will look to defend her title. Kizzy Vaines also brought an improved physique and routine to the stage. Kizzy’s brought blonde, almost white, hair and it helped her stand out a bit more. Some in attendance had her winning the routine round but the judges saw her as a lock for second. Fiona Harris had an impressive pro debut with her third place finish. She was a lock for third in the physique rounds and was in the middle of the pack for her routine. Danielle Ruban brought a tighter, improved physique to the stage and I really like her potential. The judges scored her third in the routine rounds and an argument could have been made (at least on my score sheet) for a spot higher. She has incredible skill and definitely one of the rising stars in the division. Allison Ethier brought her best physique and routine to date. She was in her best condition as a pro and her routine was much cleaner than before. Allison definitely brought her best package to date.

Props to the nine women who entered this show and especially the Canadian contingency. Don’t be surprised if the Fitness portion of the Pittsburgh Pro doesn’t return to the 2013 event due to the lackluster turnout. The fitness division is the most entertaining division and if we don’t see more women entering the shows we’ll see the division dropped.

IFBB PRO FITNESS
1. Jodi Boam
2. Kizzy Vaines
3. Fiona Harris
4. Danielle Ruban
5. Allison Ethier
6. Whitney Jones
7. Sheri Vucick
8. Nichole Venzara
9. Michelle Gales

Check out competition photos here.

FIGURE REVIEW
This show proved that if you aren’t at your best you can slip a few placings. There were a number of very bad tans and makeup jobs at this show. I’m not sure why that is but it’s definitely something that can cause a competitor to drop in their placings. When it comes to makeup there are a few things women need to remember. If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t do your own makeup. If you hire someone make sure they have done stage makeup before because it’s different than photo shoots or other types of makeup. I’m definitely NOT a fan of the bright blue eyeshadow or matching your eyes to your suit. Many women look like clowns when they add glitter and bright eye shadow. Some of the women had a muddy look to their face and it’s very noticeable from the judge’s table despite not being able to see it in photos.

Candice John notched her first pro victory and positioned herself as a rising star in the division, despite being a pro for many years. She proved that patience and persistence pays off. Candice’s symmetry, conditioning and presentation lead to the win here. She needs to fill out her upper chest a bit but other than that she’s got a winning look. Candice was the unanimous winner on the judges score sheets. Gennifer Strobo edged out Jami DeBenard by one point for second. I had Jami ahead of Strobo at this contest as Jami was a bit more polished in her presentation and I felt her symmetry was a bit better. Gen wasn’t at her best but still held her own. The photos won’t show it but she had vascular arms in the prejudging and her makeup wasn’t my favorite. Ann Titone slipped slightly at this show in large part because of the little details. Ann looked a bit red with her tan and didn’t present with the same confidence we saw in Orlando. Rounding out the top five was Tamara Montoya. This was Tamara’s pro debut and an impressive showing her first time out. I would have had no problem with her in the top three. Keep your eye on her as she heads into The California Pro. I like the look Candice Lewis brings to the stage. She still needs to balance her legs with her upper body a bit but hey symmetry and overall look is one of the best in the division. I would have placed her in the top five but the judges had her in 7th.

IFBB Pro Figure
1. Candice John
2. Gennifer Strobo
3. Jami DeBernard
4. Ann Titone
5. Tamara Montoya
6. Andrea Cantone
7. Candice Lewis
8. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz
9. Ryan Hays Althoff
10. Natalie Calland
11. Kimberly Sheppard
12. Maria-Jose Garcia
13. Tara Hollingsworth
14. Tiffany Procopio
15. Marie Gibbon
16. Becky Clawson
17. Kiana Phil-Lewis
17. Chikondi Mseka
17. Thea Erichsen
17. Gloria Tarpley
17. Janet West
17. Tamara Riberio-Bailey

Check out competition photos here.

BIKINI REVIEW
The top two spots played out as most people thought they would heading into the show. India Paulino continues to be a favorite with the judges and has positioned herself as a top contender in every show she enters in just her second year as a pro. India has nice skin tone and sticks with the yellow bikini because it works. She toned down her over-the-top presentation from prior shows but still throws in her hip buster at the end of her presentation. I’m not a big fan of it but it’s become her “signature pose” to end her individual presentation. It works for her personality but it wouldn’t for others. I do find her boobs slightly distracting because they are hiked up so high and smashed together, it seems a bit unnecessary. Jaime Baird didn’t seem to be at her best or at least as good as I’ve seen her before. When she posed she seemed a bit distant and not like she was living in the moment. I’ve also seen her makeup a bit better, it looked like her eyes were outlined a bit darker than in the past and it wasn’t as flattering as I’ve seen in the past. Jaime has refined her physique since competing on this stage as an amateur and always one of the top contenders. Yeshaira Robles brought an improved physique to the stage, in just her second pro show. I love the energy she possesses and you can’t help be drawn to someone who exudes a positive, confident attitude. She has just the right amount of sexiness and isn’t over the top with her presentation. Look for her to continue to be in the top spots if she brings this same look and attitude to the stage. Diana Graham was one point behind Yeshaira for the fourth place spot. I continue to be distracted by Diana’s boobs and feel they are keep her from moving into the winner’s circle. Let’s not confuse this with me being a hater or someone who dislikes large breasts, I’m not. I’ve talked with several judges who tell me the exact same thing… her boobs throw her symmetry off. She has a good physique and if she can find away to conceal them differently with her hair or the suit it won’t be such an issue. Remember just an opinion but one shared by many others, so don’t shoot the messenger. Marcela Tribin rounded out the top five in her pro debut. She’s a beautiful woman however I’d like to see her lower body improve before putting her in the top five. There were a number of women I felt could have been in the top five but it speaks to how the division is getting more and more competitive.

Kristy Robbins was in 9th but brought her best look to date, I would have her higher. Tawna Eubanks was in seventh and I would have placed her in the top five at this show. She has a nice bikini body and one of the best booties in the division.

IFBB Pro Bikini
1. India Paulino
2. Jaime Baird
3. Yeshaira Robles
4. Diana Graham
5. Marcela Tribin
6. Lexi Kaufman
7. Tawna Eubanks
8. Marisa Renee Lee
9. Kristy Robbins
10. Brooke Hameier
11. Melinda Jamiszewski
12. Nicole Moneer
13. Heather Nappi
14. Tabitha Leandri
15. Crystal Matthews
16. Samantha Morris
17. Janet Harding
18. Khanh Nguyen
19. Jessica Pendergrast
19. Kristal Martin

See complete scorecards on IFBBpro.com. Check out photos from the event on NPCnewsonline.com and Bodybuilding.com. Photos are also available for purchase on photos.liftstudios.com.

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

2012 IFBB Optimum Classic Competitor Lists & Preview

May 7, 2012 by

This weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana the IFBB Figure ladies will be taking the stage once again. The line up isn’t the strongest we’ve seen and look for a few more women to enter the show this week. The show will be held in conjunction with a NPC event at the Shreveport Convention Center this Saturday, May 12. 2012.

 

The HARDBODY 411:
Look for Monica Specking and Kristi Tauti to battle for the win at this show. Monica has made some improvements and her biggest challenge is her presentation. If she can pose her physique, she’ll be in the mix. Kristi Tauti is returning to the competitive stage after having a baby. She stayed in great shape during her pregnancy and will be a top contender here. Kim Sheppard looked good last weekend and could break into the top spots this time around. Ann Titone will look to recapture some of the momentum she built in Orlando and return to the top three once again.

2012 IFBB Optimum Classic Pro Women’s Figure
1. Yolanda Alvarado
2. Thea Erichsen
3. Tara Hollingsworth
4. Anissa Payne
5. Eleni Plakitsi
6. Kim Sheppard
7. Monica Specking
8. Kristi Tauti
9. Ann Titone
10. Rosalind Vanterpool

Visit: www.optimumfitness.com for more information.

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

Live Coverage from The Pittsburgh Championships

May 5, 2012 by

The 2012 Pittsburgh Championships get started today at 9am EST. We’ll be there covering all the action and you can follow along LIVE from the Steel City. NPC President, Jim Manion shared with us that this is the largest field of competitors to date. Over 50 IFBB pros will compete on the same stage as 275+ NPC competitors. This is one of the few shows where NPC competitors can get a look by IFBB pro judges and make any necessary changes before the National circuit begins.

If you missed the preview of the show, check it out here.

Schedule of Events

If you’re on twitter, you can see the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews, twitter.com/MusclePhone, twitter.com/NPCnewsonline and twitter.com/AroundTheNPC_JM. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #pittpro for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/pittpro.



Good luck to all the competitors in the show. Official show photos will be available for purchase at photos.liftstudios.com after the event.

Filed Under: IFBB

PHOTOS: IFBB Champion Sightings at The Pittsburgh Pro

May 5, 2012 by

Top IFBB Pros Sonia Gonzales and Adela Garcia made an appearance in Pittsburgh yesterday to help kick off the 2012 Pittsburgh Pro. The leading ladies were joined by top bodybuilders Phil Heath, Jay Cutler and Branch Warren.


A bus full of Team Bombshells was also sighted in the Burgh and you can see all the photos exclusively on NPCNEWSonline.com. Things are heating up in Pittsburgh this weekend!

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, IFBB, News & Features

2012 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Competitor Lists & Preview

May 3, 2012 by

2012 NPC Pittsburgh Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships & IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini, Figure & Fitness will take place this weekend and it’s shaping up to be a record breaking event.

The NPC show is one of the only national qualifiers where you will be judged by head NPC and IFBB judges. It looks to be a record breaking event with over 275 competitors entered. Those in attendance will see champion bodybuilders Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren Kai Greene, Dennis Wolfe, and more guest pose at the night show. A number of vendors will be on hand providing supplement samples at the venue.

Prejudging begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 5, 2012.

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust
4141 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

HARDBODY 411:
This is a great group of women and each division will be highly competitive. The winner of each division will receive an Olympia invite and the top five will collect points towards a trip to the Olympia.

FITNESS:
Despite the low turn out we should see some entertaining routines. I look for Danielle Ruban to be in the top spot for the 2-piece round with Jodi Boam leading the way in the routines. Whitney Jones will be making her pro debut and will be looking for an Olympia birth the first time out of the gate. Another new-comer is Fiona Harris who competed at the 2012 Arnold Amateur earlier this year. Kizzy Vaines and Boam are the only competitors with a pro win in this line-up. The women of Canada stepped up for this show and props to them for competing. If more women don’t enter future shows, promoters will no longer add the division to their shows.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Fitness Competitors
1. Jodi Boam (Ontario, Canada)
2. Allison Ethier (Quebec, Canada)
3. Fiona Harris (Ontario, Canada)
4. Michelle Gales (Union City, Georgia)
5. Whitney Jones (Chandler, Arizona)
6. Danielle Ruban (Ontario, Canada)
7. Kizzy Vaines (United Kingdom)
8. Nikki Venzara (Orlando, Florida)
9. Sheri Vucick (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington)

FIGURE:
The top five here will be competitive. Look for Jamie DeBenard, Candice John, Gennifer Strobo an Ann Titone to be leading the way. I like Chikondi Mseka and Candice Lewis’ physiques and would like to see them compared in that first call-out. If I was a gambling man, I’d put my wager on that being your top six but we’ll have to see if there is a dark horse who can shake things up this weekend.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure Competitors
1. Natalie Calland (Hilliard, Ohio)
2. Andrea Cantone (Peabody, Massachusetts)
3. Becky Clawson (Columbus, Ohio)
4. Jami DeBernard (Granite Bay, California)
5. Thea Erichsen (Oslo, Norway)
6. Maria Jose Garcia (Spain)
7. Marie Gibbon (Cincinnati, Ohio)
8. Ryan Hays-Althoff (High Point, North Carolina)
9. Tara Hollingsworth (Alabaster, Alabama)
10. Candice John (Trinidad, West Indies)
11. Candice Lewis (Chandler, Arizona)
12. Tamara Montoya (Lake Havasu City, Arizona)
13. Chikondi Mseka (Washington DC)
14. Kiana Phi (Hillsboro, Oregon)
15. Tiffany Procopio (Millersville, Maryland)
16. Tamara Ribeiro-Bailey (Trinidad, West Indies)
17. Kimberly Sheppard (Katy, Texas)
18. Gennifer Strobo (Daytona Beach, Florida)
19. Gloria Tarpley (Gahanna, Ohio)
20. Ann Titone (St. Louis, Missouri)
21. Janet Lynn West (Ellicott City, Maryland)

BIKINI:
This is going to be a very competitive show with leading ladies Jaime Baird and India Paulino as the odds on favorites to take top honors. Look for Tawna Eubanks and Diana Graham to be compared to them in the first call-out. A couple dark horses who could come in and shake things up in their pro debuts… Kristal Martin and Crystal Matthews. Both of these women are taller and have a fresh look. Martin will have one of the best booties in the bikini line-up. Tabitha Klausen and Yeshaira Robles will also be ones to watch at a top five finish. Marcela Tribin has stunning good looks however will have a battle to hang with the top five here. If she crack the top 10 in her pro debut it will be a success. Candy Agundez informed me that she would not be competing in this show.

IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini Competitors
1. Candy Agundez (El Cajon, California)
2. Maria Luisa Baeza-Diaz (Chile)
3. Jaime Baird (Orlando, Florida)
4. Tawna Eubanks (Dallas, Texas)
5. Diana Graham (Duvall, Washington)
6. Brooke Hameier (Spring, Texas)
7. Janet Harding (Yardley, Pennsylvania)
8. Melinda Janiszewski (Atlanta, Georgia)
9. Lexi Kaufman (Dublin, Ohio)
10. Tabitha Klausen Leandri (Madison, Connecticut)
11. Marisa Lee (Atlanta, Georgia)
12. Kristal Martin (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
13. Crystal Matthews (Denver, Colorado)
14. Nicole Moneer (Schaumburg, Illinois)
15. Samantha Morris (Brandon, Florida)
16. Heather Nappi (Novi, Michigan)
17. Khanh Nguyen (Austin, Texas)
18. India Paulino (Pembroke Pines, Florida)
19. Jessica Pendergrast (Auckland, New Zealand)
20. Kristy Robbins (Palm Harbor, Florida)
21. Yeshaira Robles (Bronx, New York)
22. Marcela Tribin (Columbia)

Who do you think will win the divisions?

 

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

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