The third annual IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup takes place on Saturday, October 20, 2012. Some of the league’s top competitors will take the stage in hopes of qualifying for the Olympia and bragging rights as the Ft. Lauderdale Cup Champion. While the IFBB Pro competition will be one to watch, so will the NPC portion of this event. Some of today’s top pros got their start on this stage. Reigning Bikini Olympia, Nathalia Melo won this show in it’s inaugural year. This is the only all female weekend in the NPC and IFBB. There are slated to be over 150 NPC competitors sharing the stage with nearly 50 pros.
The Hardbody 411:
FITNESS:
This is one stacked line-up and just short of the Olympia and Arnold Sports competition it might be the most competitive of the year. Oksana Grishina has established herself as the one to beat after a runner-up position at the 2012 Olympia and a win at the Arnold Europe last week. She always has a great routine and it will be the physique round that could prove to be her biggest challenge. Bethany Cisternino should take top honors in the physique round and if she can showcase her strength moves in the routine round look for her to be in the top spots. Ryall Graber-Vasani has a great physique and solid routine. The judges haven’t rewarded her as high as I think she should be placing but we’ll see how she fairs here. Fiona Harris is another competitor that has kind of flown under the judge’s radar but one to watch with loads of potential. Darrian Tissenbaum will be making her pro debut and the pirate routine is always full of non-stop action. Stacy Wright is making a routine after the birth of her first child. Regiana Da Silva will leave you a bit dizzy just watching her routine as she flies all over the place and has some sick flexibility and strength.
FIGURE:
Candice Lewis is coming off a win at the Houston Pro and has established herself as one of the break out stars this year. She was at her best in Houston and the only question is how will her body hold up? Look for her to be in the top spots and the one to beat. Kamla Macko could give her a run for her money. She put herself on the map with her runner-up placing at the Sarasota Pro, finishing second to the would be Figure Olympia Champ, Erin Stern. Alicia Harris won this show last year and if her conditioning is on point she’ll be in the mix. Smiley Harris should be in the hunt if she’s in shape. Agnese Russo is a bitter of a sleeper pick in this line-up. She made the switch from bikini to Figure and more than held her own last week in Houston. The biggest factor in this show will be Camala Rodriquez. Camala fared well in the physique round when competing in the Fitness division however her routines were not on the same level as her physique. She wisely made the move to Figure for this show and could be a threat for the title. It will be interesting to see how she compares to the others. Natalie Waples will look to get back in the hunt for a top spot and her placings have been up and down over the course of the year. Patty Zariello will look to move up into the top five after her debut last week where she was just on the outside. Krista Dunn will look to make her presence known in her pro debut. Krista’s biggest challenge will be not looking too conditioned or overly muscular. Dani Ronquilo will also be making her debut after a string of show in the amateur ranks this year. The other x-factor is Candice John. The Trinidad beauty has the potential to be top five and a threat for the top spot.
BIKINI:
The line-up may not be the biggest of the year but it could be one of the most interesting to watch. There’s no “big name” in the show so to speak and by that I mean top five Olympia finisher. The favorites have to be Lacey DeLuca and Yeshaira Robles. The two went head to head in Sarasota and Yeshaira came out on top. Personally, I love Yeshaira’s look and she’s one of the few competitors who has an athletic, toned physique and presents with class. She’s able to be cute and with a flip of the hair she can strike a sexy look. Lacey brings a bit softer physique in the lower body and her biggest challenge will be her lower body compared to her upper. Adriana Hill is another stunning competitor and her biggest challenge is presenting with confidence and not a nervous look. Gigi Amurao is making her debut and has great stage presence, her biggest challenge will be her legs not looking too muscular on stage. Monique Gantt made her debut in Houston last week and without a doubt has one of thee best booties in the IFBB. That being said, it’s her biggest hinderance as well. She’ll be loved for her asset in photoshoots and modeling however the judges will likely tell her it needs to come down in size. If she can pose her backside without it looking too large and in charge she could be in the top five here. Gemmalyna Crosby is up and down in her placings and her biggest downfall, in my opinion, is her orange suit. Orange doesn’t pop on stage and tends to blend in too much with her physique.
Check out photo coverage on NPCnewsonline.com, bodybuilding.com and musculardevelopment.com. If you’re following along or contributing on twitter use the hashtag #FLCUP.
