Search Results for: ryall

2013 Arnold Brasil Fitness Results

April 28, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The inaugural Arnold Classic Brasil took place in Rio de Janeiro over the weekend and Ryall Graber-Vasani was crowned the Fitness champ for the first time in her pro career. Regiane DaSilva finished in second and Nicole Duncan in third.

2013 Arnold Brasil Fitness Results
1. Ryall Graber-Vasani
2. Regiane DaSilva
3. Nicole Duncan
4. Trish Warren
5. Fiona Harris
6. Allison Ethier
7. Diana Monteiro
8. Kizzy Vaines
9. Natalie Planes
10. Amanda Hatfield

Check back for out complete report and review from Brasil.

Men’s Bodybuilding results…

2013 Arnold Classic Brasil
1. Brandon Curry
2. Toney Freeman
3. Johnnie Jackson
4. Edward Nunn
5. Fred Smalls
6. Robert Piotrkowicz
7. Michael Kefalianos
8. Hidetada Yamagishi
9. Ronny Rockel
10. Baito Abbaspour
11. Mohamed Bannout
12. Fernando Noronha Almeida
13. Francisco Bautista

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results

2013 Arnold Classic Brasil – Pro Fitness Preview

April 27, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The Arnold Classic heads Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this weekend for its inaugural event in South America. The wildly popular Arnold Sports Festival is rooted in Columbus, Ohio where Jim Lormier and Arnold Schwarzenegger became partners on the event over a handshake. The event is part of a much larger project called “Brazilian Sports”. The weekend will feature a three-day expo with all the latest supplement companies, workout apparel, gym equipment and more.

The IFBB Fitness pros will take the stage on Saturday evening for prejudging and the finals will be held shortly afterwards. This is a rare schedule as the prejudging is often the night before or earlier in the morning. The women will share the stage with the IFBB Pro Bodybuilders.

The biggest story from Rio was that the reigning Fitness International Champion, Tanji Johnson would not be competing this weekend. Head Judge, Lee Thompson shared at the athlete’s meeting that Tanji had VISA issues and was unable to make the trip. This makes the competition very interesting.

2013 Arnold Brasil – IFBB Pro Fitness
1. Regiane Da Silva - Regiane has a high flying, fast-paced routine and her physique continues to improve with each show. Look for her to be a top contender for the title.

2. Nicole Duncan - We know what Nicole is capable of but lately she’s come up just a bit short. If Nicole brings a conditioned physique and her high energy routine that features incredible gymnastics and dance moves she’s a contender. Loads of potential in Ms. Duncan.

3. Allison Ethier – Allison has steadily improved her physique and her routine. If she brings a high paced routine with solid strength moves she could be in the hunt.

4. Ryall Graber Vasani - Ryall has moved up in the ranks and if she bring a similar look that she showcased in prior shows this year, she’ll be in the top spots. She has great strength skills and should be in the top callout in the physique round.

5. Fiona Harris - Fiona has the looks, the physique and now it’s a matter of putting it all together. The judges don’t often reward her routines as good as some feel they are. If she can wow the judges a bit more with her routine, she’ll be in the mix.

6. Amanda Hatfield - Amanda continues to chip away at the pro ranks. She has solid gynmastics and will look to move up in the placings. She’ll have her work cut out for her in this line-up.

7. Diana Monteiro - Diana is one of the more muscular and taller competitors in this group. She has the how stage advantage and is the lone Brazilian in the group. Diana has been up and down in her placings so it will be interesting to see how she fares here.

8. Natalie Planes - Natalie is the darkhorse in this line-up. She’s caught veterans on their heels and is a force to be reckoned with. She made her IFBB pro debut last year and left the winner. Since she’s already qualified for the Olympia, look for her to be relaxed and wow the crowd with her routine.

9. Kizzy Vaines will rock the blonde hair this time around and if she can nail her routine she’ll be in the top 5. If it’s too slow and she’s not at her best she’ll be on the outside looking in.

10. Trish Warren - Trish returned to the stage after having her first child. She more than held her own in the return when she competed last month at the Fitness International in Columbus, Ohio. Look for her to be in the top spots on Saturday night.

Check back for more information on the Arnold Brasil all weekend long.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Show Previews

Bethany Cisternino Wins 2013 FIBO Power Fitness

April 15, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Ten women competed in Cologne, Germany over the weekend in the 2013 FIBO Power Pro Fitness. Things played out as most expected but that’s not to say the competition wasn’t tough. Bethany Cisternino won not only the physique round but also the routine round. The win is the second in Bethany’s IFBB Pro career and reinforces her position as one of the divisions leading ladies.

Ryall Graber-Vasani tied with Regiane DaSilva but won the tie-breaker for second place. Regiane brought one of her best physiques to date and the look helped her be a contender heading into the routine round. She was second in the routine round and Ryall was third in the routine portion of the show. When the scores combined the two were a lock with 36 points each. Arizona’s Whitney Jones finished in fourth and Kizzy Vaines rounded out the top five.

2013 IFBB FIBO Power Fitness Results:
1. Bethany Cisternino
2. Ryall Graber-Vasani
3. Regiane DaSilva
4. Whitney Jones
5. Kizzy Vaines
6. Nicole Duncan
7. Diana Monteiro
8. Babette Mulford
9. Amanda Hatfield
10. Somkina Liudmila

Filed Under: Contest Results

Arnold Classic Brasil Debut

April 14, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 2 Comments

The first-ever Arnold Classic Brasil will take place April 26-28, 2013 in Rio de Jeneiro. Hardbody News will be attending this historic event and covering all the action as it takes place in Brasil. The event will feature IFBB Pro Men’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Fitness and a Strongman competition. The fitness competition will be highly competitive with many of the top pros, including this year’s Fitness International Champ Tanji Johnson, competing.

Arnold Classic Brasil Competitors:
Men’s Bodybuilding
Baitollah Abbaspour
Moe Bannout
Francisco Bautista
Brandon Curry
Toney Freeman
Edward Nunn
Michael Kefalianos
Cedric McMillan
Fernando Norunha
Robert Piotrkowicz
Ronny Rockel
Fred Smalls
Hidetada Yamagishi

Fitness
Regiane Da Silva
Nicole Duncan
Allison Ethier
Fiona Harris
Amanda Hatfield
Tanji Johnson
Diana Monteiro
Natalie Planes
Kizzy Vaines
Ryall Vasani
Trish Warren

Arnold Strongman
Hafthor Bjornsson
Mike Burke
Mark Felix
Jerry Pritchett
Brian Shaw

NEWS RELEASE
Arnold Classic Brasil to debut in April 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Arnold Sports Festival is coming to South America.

The first-ever Arnold Classic Brasil will be held April 26-28 in Rio de Janeiro and will feature IFBB Pro League men’s bodybuilding, a complete lineup of amateur bodybuilding events and a fitness expo.

Arnold Classic Brasil is a joint venture between Gov. Schwarzenegger, Arnold Sports Festival co-promoter Jim Lorimer, International Federation of Body Building president Rafael Santonja, and Savaget Promotions of Sáo Paulo, Brazil.

“We are very excited to take the Arnold Sports Festival model to South America in 2013,” Lorimer said. “The creation of the first Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid in October 2012 proved that there was great demand worldwide for the Arnold Sports Festival concept, and we look forward to continuing our globalization efforts in Rio de Janeiro next year.”

The Arnold Classic Brasil will feature professional men’s bodybuilding sanctioned by the IFBB Pro League and amateur contests sanctioned by the International Federation of Body Building. Additional sports and contests will be announced in the near future.

The Arnold Classic Brasil will partner with the Rio Sports Show, held annually in Rio de Janeiro, to create a health and fitness expo that will attract more than 35,000 attendees. The expo will feature the latest in equipment, sports nutrition, apparel and accessories. An accompanying “Fight Pavilion” will feature the latest in mixed martial arts and other combat sports.

Organizers hope the Arnold Classic Brasil will build on the success of the Arnold Sports Festival, which began as the Arnold Classic professional men’s bodybuilding competition in 1989 and has grown to include more than 18,000 athletes competing in more than 45 sports and events each year. The Arnold Classic Europe debuted in October 2011 and will return in October 2012.

The Arnold Sports Festival
The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest multi-sport festival in the nation featuring 18,000 athletes competing in more than 45 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports, and the 700-booth Arnold Fitness EXPO. The Arnold Sports Festival was founded in 1989 by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer of Worthington, Ohio. The Arnold Sports Festival attracted a record 175,000 attendees to Columbus over four days in 2012. The 2012 Arnold Classic Europe will be held Oct. 12-14 in Madrid, Spain and the 2013 Arnold Sports Festival will be held Feb. 28-March 3, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio USA. For more, visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

More Information www.arnoldclassicbrasil.com.br

Filed Under: Show Previews

2013 FIBO Power Germany Pro Women’s Fitness Preview

April 12, 2013 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Ten IFBB Fitness Pros will take the stage at the 2013 FIBO Power this weekend in Cologne, Germany. Competing outside of the USA can be a challenge for some competitors but with plenty of rest most adapt before show time. This is one of the few opportunities for the Fitness Pros to qualify for the Olympia by either winning or collecting points in the Olympia Point Series. We’ll see a mix of seasoned veterans and relative newcomers to the stage.

HARDBODY 411:
Bethany Cisternino – Bethany has one of the best physiques in the IFBB Pro Fitness divisions. If she brings a similar look to the stage that she did in Columbus, she’ll take top honors in the 2-piece round. She has a much stronger routine than in years past. If she’s far enough ahead of Regiane after the two-piece round, she should take top honors at the end of the night.

Regiane DaSilva - Regiane has the home turf advantage. She tends to fair better at European shows and her routine is like the Energizer Bunny… she just keeps going and going and… She’ll likely finish in the top spots but where is the question. She has the potential to win the show based on her routine but if she’s not in the middle of the pack heading into the routine round she could be in the 3-5 range.

Nicole Duncan - Loads of potential. Potential is a word that continues to be attached to Nicole. She has the ability to win the show if she comes in shape and brings a routine that is at the level we’ve seen her perform before. She wasn’t at her best conditioning for the Arnold last month and seemed a bit gassed during her routine. Nicole’s had a month to tighten things up and I look for her to be in much better shape and be in the mix for a top spot here. Redemption Road for this Georgia peach.

Ryall Graber-Vasani - Ryall has a good physique that continues to improve. If she can add more strength moves and perform a more fluid routine than in the past, she will be a contender. Look for her to be in the top half of the 2-piece round and then battle for a top spot in the routines round.

Amanda Hatfield - Amanda is coming off the Arnold where she was welcomed to the next level. She has the ability to hold her own and her gymnastic skills are amazing. If she brings a more poised and controlled routine to the stage and puts the jitters aside she’ll improve from her Columbus finish.

Whitney Jones - Whitney Jones closed out 2012 with a strong showing in the division and will look to pick up where she left off. The little details with Whitney are what will make or break her. Things like her tanning, presentation and not coming in too vascular and hard. It’s a balancing act with her physique and genetically she appears to always be vascular. She has strong skills in her routine and if she’s cleaned it up a bit and performs without little stumbles, she will be int he mix.

Somkina Liudmila - Somkina will have her work cut out for her at this show. She doesn’t have quite the physique that the others do in this line up so she’ll likely be playing catch up after the two-piece round. She has the ability to make up some ground in the routine portion of the competition.

Diana Monteiro - Diana is another competitor that often places better at European shows. She was third at the Arnold Europe and was second at the FIBO show in 2011. Look for her to be the dark horse to shake things up in the top five. She will likely be somewhere in the middle of the group in the 2-piece round but could move into the top five with a strong routine.

Babette Mulford - This will be Babette’s introduction into the pro league. She achieved pro status at the 2012 Team Universe and if she brings a similar look to FIBO she will hold her own. Little details could make the difference in the two-piece round like suit cut and posing. She flies high and really goes for it in her routine.

Kizzy Vaines - Kizzy is another competitor who could be in the top spots or the bottom of the pack and it all depends on what she brings to the stage. Again it’s the details that make the difference with her presentation and posing. She has the most insane flexibility in her routines and she’s coming off a 7th place finish at the Arnold. The show wasn’t her best but when she is at her best she’s a contender.

Saturday
Prejudging
4:30am eastern standard time

Finals
12:45pm eastern standard time

photo via Whitney Jones’ facebook.

Filed Under: Show Previews

Tanji Johnson’s Wait is Over – 2013 Fitness International Results

March 2, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

The Fitness International is a show that every fitness competitor dreams of competing in and few ever experience winning it. For nearly a decade, Tanji Johnson has been chasing the elusive Arnold title. She’s come close to winning a number of times but hadn’t until now. This year she put it all together and finally had the opportunity to shake Arnold’s hand.

Tanji positioned herself for the win by coming with a tight, conditioned physique. She’s been up and down with her placings in the physique round but this time she left no question in the judges’ eyes. She headed into the night show needing a solid routine performance in order to win and she did exactly that. It wasn’t Tanji’s best performance we’ve ever seen and she appeared to struggle a bit at times. It was still a good routine that included a number of strength moves mixed in with a little dance.

Oksana Grishina has become a fan favorite over the years. Her creativity and passion for fitness is obvious in every routine she performs. Every year Oksana brings an unique and interesting routine to the stage. This year was no different and left many with goosebumps. Oksana was in 4th place after the physique round and despite being better than in previous years, the physique round kept her out of the winner’s circle. Oksana was the unanimous winner in the routine round with her JOKER theme. It was full of strength, artistry and drama from start to finish. She continues to improve in the physique round and when it comes to the routines, everyone agrees she’s always one of the most memorable.

Bethany Cisternino brought a great physique to the show. A case could be made for her winning the 2-piece round but no shame in finishing in second there. Bethany was fourth in the routine round and is always improving her presentation on stage. She has incredible gymnastic skills and makes the most difficult moves looks easy. Bethany’s third place finish was well deserved and look for her to be a threat for the win in any show she enters.

Trish Warren bounced back from sitting out last year after the birth of her first child. Momma Warren proved that nothing can stop you if you’re focused and committed. Trish was 5th heading into the routine round and could have been a bit tighter in the physique comparisons. She brought a rock’n routine to the stage and the third place score helped her finish in fourth.

Regiane DaSilva brought another fast-paced, high flying routine to the stage and it helped her land in 5th. Regiane always scores a bit lower in the physique rounds and it leaves her playing catch up heading into the routine round.

2013 Fitness International Results
1. Tanji Johnson
2. Oksana Grishina
3. Bethany Cisternino
4. Trish Warren
5. Regiane DaSilva
6. Ryall Graber-Vasani
7. Kizzy Vaines
8. Nicole Duncan
9. Fiona Harris
10. Amanda Hatfield

View competition photos of all the competitors on bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Contest Results, News & Features

Ryall’s Road to The Arnold Review

February 28, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

IFBB Fitness Pro, Ryall Graber-Vasani shares her latest hardbody blog before stepping on stage at the 2013 Fitness International. Ryall talks about what it’s like being in just hours away from the show and reflects on her journey to get here.

Hi Hardbody fitness fans!
The time has finally arrived and The Arnold is here. I have just arrived in Columbus after a full day of travel and I SHOULD be exhausted but my adrenalin has already kicked in and I may notbe getting much sleep now! The host hotel is outstanding – ‘health baskets’ in our rooms with all kinds of samples and goodies as well as incredible athlete menu for the entire event. The organization around this event is truly world class. I can’t wait to see my fellow fitness family and soak up every moment of being at my first Fitness International. Pinch me! OUCH! Not a dream? This is my reality and I am truly living it. Feeling so fortunate, beyond grateful and so freakin’ amped for this experience.

To wrap up my Road to The Arnold, my final two weeks of prep has had some unexpected challenges. This particular time had to become a very self-focused period and demanded every ounce of energy I had to keep going beyond the pain and the fatigue and beyond what I had thought was the edge of my ability. However overcoming these obstacles has made this particular journey the most valuable competition experience for me yet. Overcoming adversity creates great strength and I am stronger than I was yesterday. So as I see it, as difficult as many days on my road to the Arnold were, something was not only learned but also achieved over the past two weeks. All of the hard hours I put in with the expertise of my choreographer Renzo and now I have it – my new routine is ready to rock! I’m beyond excited to perform it for the first time at The Arnold and I hope you will all love it!

I believe that to be successful in any pro sport requires a certain level of selfishness – just for a short period of time. These are the crucial, final moments that demand your utmost focus to optimally physically and psychologically prepare you for competition. It may be a few weeks or as short as a few days but these times are a must to achieve success. I don’t feel guilty about this ‘all about me time’ as I understand, for me, this is crucial. I am very grateful that during my ‘me’ time I’ve finally found the right core of people to surround myself with that truly understand (without judging) my dedication, discipline and total passion for competing in Fitness. Thanks to my amazing team of talented, positive and empathetic coaches, the support of my parents, who has always encouraged me to chase my dreams and who will be in Columbus this weekend watching me life my dreams; Very special. The positive energy from my Sister in Alberta, my special friends and fitness family (you know who you are) has been so uplifting and motivating. I thank each of you so much for your calls and messages over the last two weeks. And last but not least, CJ with CJ’s Elite Competition Wear who has generously sponsored my routine outfit and 2-piece for this weekend – she did a beyond killer job!

I’m ready and so honored to bring my best to The Arnold. Through many difficult days I have immensely enjoyed the challenges of this journey and I now plan to enjoy every single moment of my first-ever Arnold. AND every single moment of some cheesecake when it’s all over

Thanks for the support and for following my Road to The Arnold.

Here’ s to living the dream!
Ryall

One Week Out Training Video.

Check out Ryall’s website and give her facebook page a “like”. You can see her competition photos on bodybuilding.com. For more information on the Arnold Sports Festival visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com and use #ASF2013 in all your tweets.

Photo courtesy of Ryall Vasani.

- See more at: http://www.hardbodynews.com/?s=ryall#sthash.VoY9cILV.dpuf

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Road to The Arnold

Hardbody Training Video: Ryall’s Endurance Drill

February 3, 2013 by Hardbody Staff 1 Comment

Ryall Vasani’s Endurance Training for the 2013 Fitness International. Check out Ryall’s website and give her facebook page a “like”. You can see her competition photos on bodybuilding.com. For more information on the Arnold Sports Festival visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com and use #ASF2013 in all your tweets.

Filed Under: TRAINING, Videos Tagged With: endurance, ryall, training video

Ryall’s Road to the Arnold – Amping Up

February 3, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

IFBB Fitness Pro Ryall Vasani stops by to give us an update on her Fitness International prep. We’re under one month out from the big show in Columbus, Ohio. Read what Ryall’s up do and her hardbody state of mind.

Ryall Vasani – 2013 Fitness International Contender
Hi Hardbody fans! Anticipation is indeed building with less than 4 weeks to go until the Arnold Classic… I’m starting to feel excited now!

I had a very productive week in the gym. I’m still focused on building a wider back, fuller delts and calves and adding more volume to my outer quads. I’m very goal motivated – I’m go back to the drawing board after each competition to re-evaluate the feedback I received from my coaches, judges and fellow competitors. I use a training journal daily to keep me focused, on track and motivated to lift heavier than the week before. I’m currently consuming around 1800 calories/day and feeling really good with the fuel I have for the amount of training I’m doing. My last competition was just December 8th and since then I’ve stayed on track with my nutrition and training. It truly has become my lifestyle as I enjoy how I look and feel when I eat healthy. This has made ‘dieting for competition’ easier as I go – the more I live it the more it becomes a greater part of me and the less extreme my diet has to be for my preps. By staying in shape and not adding more than 5Lbs of body fat to my physique in the off-season works really well for me. Not to say I don’t enjoy the odd treat because OH YES I DO… I have a guilt-free indulgence when I feel I need it (usually every couple of weeks), however I’m very focused on keeping these moments in moderation and getting right back on track. Plus the more body fat I have the harder my routine practices are. It’s like flipping around with a permanent weight vest!

The past week my primary training focus has definitely been amping up the intensity of my routine. I find the endurance component is always my greatest challenge. 2 minutes straight of go-time – flipping, pushups, strength moves and holds (and doing them all with a smile!) taxes the cardiovascular system like nothing else. So in addition to skill training and routine practices (which happens 5 days/week) I’ve been doing 4 sessions/week of interval training with a variety of work to rest ratios to hit all three energy systems. I’ve also added an endurance drill after every routine practice and I’m telling you this is really hard to do AFTER a full routine session! There have been days I can barely finish these drills and I’m crawling across the floor in a pool of sweat to get it done – which is when I remind myself that if it was easy everyone would do it. I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. But I do believe you have to better than you ever thought you could be.

Here’s a clip from today’s crazy endurance drill.

Thanks for reading and for following my Road to The Arnold.

High-5!

Ryall

Photo courtesy of Ryall Vasani.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Road to The Arnold Tagged With: arnold, blog, fitness, ryall

Fitness Pro Ryall Vasani Road to The Arnold

January 28, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Ryall Vasani was born and raised in Canada but now calls Barbados home. She’s working on a new fitness routine for her first trip to the Arnold. Ryall shares how she went from placing last to becoming a top contender in every show she enters. Find out more about hardbody fitness pro, Ryall Vasani.

Ryall Vasani – 2013 Fitness International Contender

Hi Hardbody! It’s Ryall Vasani here bringing you my news as I prep for my first-ever Arnold Classic.

A Little Bit about Me:
I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada but now, this transplanted Canadian girl, call the sandy beaches of Barbados home. In 2007, I competed in my first fitness competition (I was living in Bermuda at the time working as a Dental Hygienist) and won both the Bermuda National Championships and the Central America and Caribbean Championships to qualify for my pro status that same year. And so the dream began!

Reflecting on my 2011 Season:
I had just come off my most exciting season to date. I took 10 months off after 2010 to rest and put on some muscle. My season started in Sept 2011 and I competed in five competitions between that time and December. My results were greater than I had ever imagined…I had finally found the right team of coaches and found my own balance with training to make a difference in where I had been placing in previous years. The highlight was indeed finishing 7th at the 2012 Olympia. It was magic. It was my first competition that I truly soaked up every moment (I am typically a bundle of nerves!) and enjoyed the actual experience of performing. My last competition in Miami ended on a high note with a win in the physique round and an overall 3rd place finish.

My 2011 season was the first season I realized that I’m not just competing to win, I’m competing because it’s a huge part of the person that I’ve become. The other realization I had last season was how powerful our minds are in helping us to achieve our goals. This was the first year I believed, in my mind, that I could be a champion. Having faith in myself, working harder than I’ve ever worked before and keeping a positive attitude every day (not just at competitions) were key factors for me being the best ‘me’ ever. Win, lose or draw – I showed up with a positive attitude and brought my best. You can’t quit if you lose (I placed last in a competition in 2010) – you’ve got to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and set a plan for the next event.

My Prep for the 2013 Arnold:
I am beyond excited, honored and so thankful to be competing in the 25th Anniversary Arnold Classic. My preparation is in full swing as I’ve just returned from a productive weekend training session in Miami with my choreographer Renzo. I’m working very hard on a shiny, new routine with improved skills and a lot of energy. I also spent a week in November in Spokane, WA training hand balancing with Steve Atlas. This year I’ve restructured my training to include more skill, endurance and routine work, as this was my weaker area last year. I want people to remember my routines, to see how much fun I’m having up there and for my performance to leave them smiling and saying WOW!

As for my physique, my coach Tad Inoue has my body on track and I’m feeling really well at this time (on days when I get enough sleep!). I was delighted to receive some positive feedback about my physique last season, so now I’m working on fine tuning some areas and bringing an improved package to the stage. This is a really nice change from always needing more muscle and spending 5 days/week on heavy lifting sessions!

My greatest challenge right now is trying to balance my nutrition and fitness consulting business with a full time competition schedule. Some days I feel like a hamster on a wheel and it’s all I can do to hold on. I really love my clients and my work as helping others achieve success has been the greatest part of my success. I never want to give this up, so I’ve had to slow down a bit – I’m not really Wonder Woman! I’m learning what I can handle as I go. I’m also realizing that the illusive word ‘balance’ is very difficult to achieve in this sport. I know my challenges are small compared to many and I keep this in mind every day when I wake up. Attitude is everything!

With less than 5 weeks to go until the big show I couldn’t be more excited. I love to compete and I love pushing myself to be the best I can be every day. I am living my dream. For me I’ve already won!

Thank you so much for reading and for all of your support.

With love AND lunges,
Ryall

Photo courtesy of Ryall Vasani.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Road to The Arnold Tagged With: arnold, canada, competitor, fitness, ryall, vasani

Top Fitness Competitor Myriam Capes OUT of Arnold

January 8, 2013 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

Canadian Fitness Pro, Myriam Capes has steadily refined her physique and honed her fitness routines into one of the best in the world. She’s a threat to the top spot in every show she enters. The 2013 Fitness International was looking no different. Until today. The folks at the Arnold Sports Festival first shared the news that Myriam has withdrawn due to injury.

myriam-capes

Myriam finished fourth at the 2012 Olympia. Behind only Adela Garcia, Oksana Grishina and Tina Durkin. On paper it looked like this year’s Fitness International could be between her and Oksana for the win however that battle will have to wait. Myriam’s powerful routines and incredible gymnastic skills will be missed. She finished 6th at the Fitness International last year, fifth in 2011 and 8th in 2010.

An unconfirmed report of an injured back is cited as her injury. If she recovers in time we could see Myriam at the 2013 Arnold Classic Brasil. Join us in wishing Myriam a speedy recovery and return to the stage.

Update: Myriam posted a statement on Facebook. While it’s in French some of you may understand it better than BING translated if for us. HA!

Je vous annonce officiellement que je ne compétionnerai malheureusement pas au Arnold Classic cette année suite à une blessure au dos. Rien de majeur ne vous inquiètez pas mais mon état ne me permet pas de me lancer à nouveau au travers d’une autre préparation. C’est après 12 années sans répris, plus de 30 concours Pro à mon actif dont 4 OLYMPIA et 3 ARNOLD que mon corps me demande un peu de repos!! Alors je me dois de l’écouter afin de revenir en force en septembre pour OLYMPIA afin de monter à nouveau sur le podium!!! Ou qui sait peut-etre avant étant présentement en traitement intensif avec les meilleurs thérapeutes!!! À suivre… Je vous tienderai informer!! Mimi xo

I announce officially that I do competionnerai unfortunately not at the Arnold Classic this year due to a back injury. Nothing major do not worry but my State does not allow me start again through another formulation. It is after 12 years without resumed, more than 30 competition Pro to my assets including 4 OLYMPIA and 3 ARNOLD my body a little rest wonder! Then I have to listen to him to return in force in September for OLYMPIA in order to reach the podium again! Or who knows maybe before being currently under intensive treatment with the best therapists! To follow… I inform you tienderai! Mimi xo
(Translated by Bing)

UPDATED 2013 Fitness International Field:
Fitness International (10)
Bethany Cisternino
Regiane DaSilva
Nicole Duncan
Ryall Graber-Vasani
Oksana Grishina
Fiona Harris
Amanda Hatfield
Tanji Johnson
Kizzy Vaines
Trish Warren

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features Tagged With: arnold, asf2013, canada, capes, competitor, fitness, fitness international, myriam

2013 Arnold Competitor Invite List Announced – UPDATED

December 21, 2012 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

One of the most anticipated events of December, besides what’s under the Christmas tree, is the Arnold invite list. Each year Santa comes a little early to a select group of IFBB Pros. The show is one of the few competitions that’s by invite only and to receive an invite is considered a huge honor in the industry. The competitions coincide with the massive Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

arnold-invite
We knew heading into this announcement that the 2012 Champions opted out of consideration this year. Nicole Wilkins would not be back in Figure, Adela Garcia in Fitness, Sonia Gonzales in Bikini and Branch Warren in Men’s Bodybuilding. What’s your thoughts on who made the list? Anyone not on here you hoped to see compete? Keep in mind they may not have submitted for an invite and why they were not selected.

2013 Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International, Figure International and Bikini International Official Invite Lists:

Arnold Classic (13) 
• Fouad Abiad
• Darrem Charles
• Toney Freeman
• Marcus Haley
• Dexter Jackson
• Johnnie Jackson
• Michael Kefalianos
• Cedric McMillan
• Ben Pakulski
• Edward Nunn
• Ronny Rockel
• Fred Smalls
• Hidetada Yamagishi

Ms. International (11)
• Brigita Brezovac
• Kim Buck
• Tazzie Colomb
• Angela Debatin
• Alevtina Goroshinskaya
• Elena Kava
• Iris Kyle
• Debi Laszewski
• Cathy Lefrancois
• Yaxeni Oriquen
• Jeannie Paparone
~~• Olga Puzanova~~ Withdrawn

Fitness International (11)
• Myriam Capes
• Bethany Cisternino
• Regiane DaSilva
• Nicole Duncan
• Ryall Graber-Vasani
• Oksana Grishina
• Fiona Harris
• Amanda Hatfield
• Tanji Johnson
~~• Melinda Szabo~~ – Withdrawn
• Kizzy Vaines
• Trish Warren

 Figure International (18) 
• Cheryl Brown
• Ava Cowan
• Heather Dees
• Olga Gallardo
• Mallory Haldeman
• Aleisha Hart
• Candice John
• Candice Keene
• Candice Lewis
• Kamla Macko
• Camala Rodriguez
• Giada Simari
• Nicole Sims
• Erin Stern
• Gennifer Strobo
• Alea Suarez
• Ann Titone
• Natalie Waples

Bikini International (18)
• Noy Alexander
• Jennifer Andrews
• Jamie Baird
• Tiffany Boydston
• Abbie Burrows
• Lacey DeLuca Lieto
• Tawna Eubanks
• Ashley Kaltwasser
• Lexi Kauffman
• Nathalia Melo
• Justin Munro
• Nicole Nagrani
• Noemi Olah
• India Paulino
• Jessica Paxson
• Yeshaira Robles
• Marcela Tribin
• Anna Virmajoki

VIP Ticket Packages and individual event tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com/arnold or 800-745-3000. Daily EXPO tickets are available for $10 in advance or $15 at the door of all Arnold Sports Festival venues. Children 10 and under free.

Arnold Sports Festival National Sponsors:
GNC, AEP, Animal, Bodybuilding.com, bpi Sports, BSN, EAS, Gaspari Nutrition, Jan Tana, MET-Rx, MHP, Michelob ULTRA, Optimum Nutrition, Supro, Twinlab and Vitamin Shoppe.

Arnold Fitness EXPO Sponsors:
Bodybuilding.com, Burn Machine, Dymatize, Europa Sports Products, Enforce Nutrition, Everlast, Fitview, Interactive Nutrition, ISS, Liquid Grip, Lonestar Distribution, MRI, MRM, MuscleDog, PROLAB and Proto Whey.

Arnold Sports Festival Local Sponsors:
AEP, American Airlines, Chase, The Columbus Dispatch, Gold’s Gym, Metro Fitness, Michelob ULTRA, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Nationwide, Qfm96, Ricart.com and Subway.

For more information, including schedules and hours of operation, visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

————-

PRESS RELEASE:
Dexter Jackson Aims For Record-Tying Fourth Arnold Classic Title

Six-Time Champ Iris Kyle, Oksana Grishina, Erin Stern, Nicole Nagrani Lead Women’s Fields

Dexter Jackson will gun for his record-tying fourth Arnold Classic title when he leads a field of 13 men’s professional bodybuilders the 25th Anniversary Arnold Classic at the 2013 Arnold Sports Festival.

Jackson, who will compete in Columbus for the 14th time, won the Arnold Classic in 2005, 2006 and 2008. A win in March would tie Jackson with the popular Flex Wheeler, the Arnold Classic champ in 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000. Cedric McMillan, making his Arnold Classic debut; Ben Pakulski, fourth in 2012; and Toney Freeman, fifth in the 2012 Arnold Classic Europe, are expected to challenge.

In the Ms. International, six-time champion Iris Kyle returns to the Veterans Memorial stage after sitting out 2012 due to injury. Kyle will be challenged by five-time winner Yaxeni Oriquen, last year’s winner, and Deb Laszewski, who finished second in 2012.

Five-time Fitness International champ Adela Garcia will not compete in 2013, leaving the door open for Oksana Grishina, Bethany Cisternino, Tanji Johnson and Myriam Capes to battle for the title among a field of 12. Grishina beat Garcia heads up to win the 2012 Arnold Fitness Europe, while Cisternino (fourth), Johnson (fifth) and Capes (sixth) will look to improve on impressive showings in 2012.

A new champion will also be crowned in the Figure International. Three-time defending champ Nicole Wilkins will not compete, leaving 2012 Arnold Figure Europe winner Erin Stern as the favorite among a field of 18. Candice Keene, Ava Cowan and Heather Dees all return after top six finishes in 2012, while Camala Rodriguez makes her Figure International debut after finishing second in the Fitness International in 2012.

Nicole Nagrani, winner of the inaugural Bikini International in 2011; India Paulino, second in 2012; Jamie Baird, third in 2012; and Nathalia Melo, fifth last year, lead a pack of 18 in the Bikini International.

Olga Puzanova (Ms. International), Melinda Szabo (Fitness International), Olga Gallardo (Figure International) and Ashley Kaltwasser (Bikini International) earned automatic invites in the IFBB Pro League events based on overall victories at the 2012 Arnold Amateur IFBB/NPC Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure & Bikini Championships.

The 25th Anniversary Annual Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International, Figure International and Bikini International contests will be held March 102 at Veteran Memorial and the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio during the Arnold Sports Festival. Visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com for more information and www.ticketmaster.com/arnold for ticket information.

The Friday and Saturday night shows in Columbus will have a slightly different look in 2013. The Fitness International, Fitness International and Figure International will be held on Friday, March 1, while the Arnold Classic, Ms. International and Arnold Strongman finals will be held on Saturday March 2.

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, News & Features

All She Does Is Win-Win-Win, Natalie Planes wins in Miami

December 11, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Heading into the final IFBB Fitness show of the year not many (if any) pundits were talking about Natalie Planes. Natalie flew under the radar heading into the IFBB Pro World Championships (her pro debut) but made her presence immediately known during the Fitness Routines. She was fourth heading into the routine round and won in convincing fashion on the judges’ score sheets. The routines count for 2/3 of the overall score and a solid routine propelled Natalie to her first win, in her first pro show. Natalie won the 2012 NPC Atlantic States and Team Universe before heading into this show.

Whitney Jones brought an improved physique to the stage and tied for second in the routine round, locked up a second place finish. Ryall Graber-Vasani, who many thought could win the show, had to settle for third. She was the unamious winner in the physique round but the judges didn’t favor her in the routine rounds which dropped her down to third. Fiona Harris was another contender who many thought could win the show but again the routine round plagued the Canadian and kept her out of the top spots.

Visit Bodybuilding.com for photos.

2012 IFBB Pro World Fitness Results:
1. Natalie Planes
2. Whitney Jones
3. Ryall Graber-Vasani
4. Diana Montiero
5. Fiona Harris
6. Nikki Venzara
7. Amanda Hatfield
8. Debbie Fowler
9. Jennifer Bishop-Kernaghan

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB Tagged With: fitness, jones, miami, planes, pro fitness, pro win

2012 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup Pro Fitness Results & Report

October 23, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

It’s taken Oksana Grishina a few years to reach the winner’s circle in the pro ranks but she’s managed to do it three times this year. She notched a win at the St. Louis Pro at the beginning of the year and then did what many thought was impossible by defeating Adela Garcia at the Arnold Europe show. One week later Oksana continued her winning ways with a win at the 2012 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup.

Oksana has always has amazing routines but the feedback from the judges was that it was “too slow” and there weren’t enough strength moves. I’d disagree that she didn’t have enough strength moves in her early routines, the fact that she performed them with ease is what many people often over looked. Early in her pro career she came in way too hard and overly conditioned for what the judges were looking for. She has refined her physique and it’s more in line with what the judges are looking for. She still needs to continue to work on creating the illusion of a small waist and would like to see her posing a bit different from the sides during the individual poses. Her routine is sic. It’s not stop action from start to finish. Look for her to have a new routine at the 2013 Arnold in March.

Bethany Cisternino has one of the best physiques in the pro league. She won the 2-piece round as expected and with an ever improving routine she’s always a top contender. If she can continue to improve her transitions, keep the tempo fast and add in a couple more strength moves she’ll be a threat for the win in every show she enters. Regaine Da Silva has more energy than 10 people combined when she performs her fitness routine. She gets the crowd into it and flies so high you swear she’ll hit her head on a stage light. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was how long it took her to get her “Fat suit” off. If you’re going to have props and wear a costume you have to make sure it isn’t distracting and can be removed without any trouble. Darrian Tissenbaum showed she has a tremendous future in the IFBB Pro ranks. Coming off a win at the 2012 NPC JR Nationals, she immediately established herself as one to watch. She still needs to refine her physique just a bit but overall a strong showing. She lights up the stage and demonstrates some crazy flexibility and dance moves in her routine. She was definitely one of the stand-outs of the show. I’d like to see her get an Arnold invite as one of the newbies to the stage in March. Ryall Graber-Vasani has been consistent throughout the year and I like not only her physique but also her routine. I would have place her a bit higher in the routine round and in second in the physique round. Narrowly missing the top five was Canadian rookie Fiona Harris. Fiona had a tremendous year form her Arnold Amateur performance until now. She just needs to streamline her physique a bit form the back and bring a routine that’s a little less cutesy and more powerful to demonstrate the high level gymnastic skills.

Tanis Tzavaras made her return after having a baby 18 months ago and Stacy Wright also made her return after having a baby just 7 months ago. Props to both of these women for showing that moms can be a hardbody after a baby.

Visit Bodybuilding.com for contest photos from this event.

2012 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup Pro Fitness Results
PLACE / NAME / 2-PIECE / ROUTINE / TOTAL
1. Oksana Grishina 5 / 10 / 15
2. Bethany Cisternino 4 / 18 / 22
3. Regiane Da Silva 18 / 12 / 30
4. Darrian Tissenbaum 12 / 24 / 36
5. Ryall Graber-Vasani 9 / 40 / 49
6. Fiona Harris 15 / 36 / 51
7. Amanda Hatfield 29 / 30 / 59
8. Debbie Fowler 24 / 54 / 78
9. Tiffany Robinson 34 / 50 / 84
10. Hollie Stewart 25 / 66 / 91
11. Amy Justice 43 / 60 / 103
12. Tanis Tzavaras 39 / 72 / 111
13. Brandy O’Donoghue 34 / 78 / 112
14. Stacy Wright 28 / 90 / 118
15. Kristina Rojas 44 / 84 / 128

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

2012 Ft. Lauderdale Cup Preview

October 20, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: IFBB, Show Previews

2012 Fitness Olympia Review & Results

October 8, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Adela Garcia has successfully etched herself into history as the most decorated IFBB fitness champion of all-time. She hasn’t been defeated since 2007 and shows no signs of slowing down. Adela beat out a very competitive line-up en route to her seventh Fitness Olympia title in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sixteen women competed in 2012 Fitness Olympia and fans were treated to an amazing display of strength, endurance and flexibility. See photos from the event here.

The Hardbody 411:
1. Adela Garcia - Adela was the odds-on favorite heading into the show and with good reason. You have to go all the way back to the 2007 Houston Pro to find a show she hasn’t won. She finished 3rd at that contest but hasn’t lost since. She was sidelined in 2008 by a knee injury but hasn’t let that stop her. Adela’s physique was on point and looked as sharp as ever at this year’s show. She struggled a bit in parts of her routine however her strength moves and endurance throughout were enough in the judges’ eyes to keep her retain her title. Will she be back for her 8th title next year? If I were a gambling man, I’d bet she will.

2. Oksana Grishina – Oksana has become a bit of a fan favorite over the years. She still struggles to find balance with her physique and posing but makes up for it in the routine round. Oksana was in 8th place heading into the final/routine round. She performed beautifully and won the routine portion, which counts for 2/3 of the final score. The performance launched her into the runner-up position.

3. Tina Durkin – Tina brought her best physique and routine to the stage and it paid off. She was at her best in the physique round (where she was second) and she really stepped up her game in the routine round. She looked like she was having fun on stage and you could tell she was confident with what she presented.

4. Myriam Capes – Myriam brought her best physique to date and showed that persistence and patience pays off. She has steadily refined her physique and it’s helped her become a contender in every show she enters. She brought a routine that showcased incredible strength however lacked the high energy, face paced entertainment the judges are drawn to. She did pick up the pace in the second half of the routine and if it was choreographed to be that fast-paced throughout she would have been higher.

5. Tanji Johnson – Tanji has become a bit of wild card in fitness. We never know which Tanji will show up. When she’s in condition and brings high energy to the routine round she’s a contender for the title. When she doesn’t she fades away from the spotlight. She was in good condition for the physique round, not great but good and held her own. She didn’t wow the crowd like she has in previous routines and it was a safe performance. Fans and judges have come to know Tanji to combine strength and dance along with entertainment. It was entertaining but lacked the strength moves judges are looking for.

6. Bethany Cisternino – Bethany has one of the best physiques in the fitness division, she can and has held her own on a figure stage. She brought a great look once again with her physique but didn’t quite match it in the routine rounds. She has the skill set and the ability to nail a top routine. She was in the middle of the pack with the routine round and she slipped to sixth. Bethany has the potential to be in the top three with a little routine refinement.

Others of note:
Ryall Graber-Vasani was the one competitor I thought should have been in the top 6. She brought a nicely conditioned and balanced physique to the 2-piece round. Despite the scores, I thought she had one of the better routines of the night. She had high energy, good strength moves and kept the pace throughout.

Jodi Boam didn’t seem like her usual smiley, upbeat self throughout the weekend. I had a chance to speak with her after the finals and she shared she wasn’t close to her best. She was happy to even make it to the show after suffering a knee injury. Hopefully the injury doesn’t require surgery and we see her back on her game.

Fitness Olympia photos & routine videos here.

2012 Fitness Olympia Results (scorecard below):
1. Adela Garcia
2. Oksana Grishina
3. Tina Durkin
4. Myriam Capes
5. Tanji Johnson
6. Bethany Cisternino
7. Ryall Graber-Vasani
8. Camala Rodriguez
9. Regiane DaSilva
10. Kizzy Vaines
11. Vanda Hadarean
12. Danielle Ruban
13. Jodi Boam
14. Fiona Harris
15. Nicole Duncan
16. Hollie Stewart

Fitness Olympia photos & routine videos here.

Filed Under: Contest Results, Olympia

Arnold Classic Europe Line-up & Preview

October 7, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

After hosting the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio for years, Jim Lormier and Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to expand the successful event. The second-annual Arnold Classic Europe will be held October 12-14, in Madrid, Spain. Many of the top IFBB Fitness & Figure Pros will compete this weekend.Can Erin Stern make it five wins in a row in the Division? Will Oksana Grishina notch another win to her professional resume or will Adela Garcia continue her winning streak? See who is in the show and ones to watch.

Fitness Preview:
Adela Garcia hasn’t lost a Fitness competition since the 2007 Houston Pro. Will she continue her winning ways this weekend in Spain? Don’t bet against her streak ending. Adela always comes in on point in the physique rounds. Adela wins the judges over with her strength moves in the routine rounds. The judging in Europe tends to differ slightly from the States in that a more muscular physique tends to prevail. This is a generalization but seems to hold true. This line-up is pretty close to what fans saw at the Olympia and if things follow suit look for Tina Durkin, Oksana Grishina and Tanji Johnson to be in the top spots. Regaine Da Silva will be one to watch as she is always a favorite in Europe. Jodi Boam is coming off a bummer Olympia, where she was injured. She’s modified her routine and had a chance to heal so will bring the spunky, upbeat energy we’ve grown to love. I like what Ryall brought to the Olympia stage and she has the physique and routine to land in the top five. Fiona Harris also has shown tremendous potential in a relatively short pro career.

Arnold Fitness Europe
Jodi Boam (Canada)
Regiane Da Silva (Germany)
Tina Durkin (USA)
Adela Garcia(USA)
Ryall Vasani (Canada)
Oksana Grishina (USA)
Fiona Harris (Canada)
Tanji Johnson (USA)
Diana Monteiro (Brazil)
Daniela O’Mara (Australia)
Camala Rodriguez (USA)
Danielle Ruban (Canada)
Kizzy Vaines (United Kingdom)

Figure Preview:
Erin Stern has been on a roll this year. She was second at the Figure International in March and since that show she hasn’t lost. She’s put together wins in Australia, Sarasota, Olympia, Sheru and will look to make it five in a row this weekend in Spain. Will she do it? Ya, she should and likely will unless something goes terribly wrong between now and Saturday. Look for Candice Keene to be standing next to her in the comparison and in the hunt for the top spot. Ava Cowan will look to bounce back from her Olympia showing. Larissa Reis should be in the top five as well. It will be interesting to see which competitor not residing in the USA will be in the top five. The judges will see a variety of physiques with some very muscular and others a bit on the softer side.

Arnold Figure Europe
Kati Alander (Finland)
Susanne Bock (Germany)
Cristiana Casoni (Italy)
Ava Cowan (USA)
Maria Jose Garcia (Spain)
Chelsie Gunderson
Candice Keene (USA)
Eleni Kritikopoulou (Greece)
Natalia Lenartova (Slovakia)
Gina Lona (Mexico)
Ljuba Pantovic (Serbia)
Paloma Parra (Spain)
Larissa Reis (Brazil)
Louise Rogers (United Kingdom)
Elvimar Sanchez (Venezuela)
Miriam Sanchez (Spain)
Giada Simari (Italy)
Erin Stern (USA)

LOCATION
Madrid Arena
Avda. de Portugal s/n (Casa de Campo)
28011 Madrid (Spain)

Arnold Fitness EXPO
Oct. 12-14, 2012

More info: http://www.arnoldclassiceurope.es/2012.php

Filed Under: Arnold Classic, Show Previews

RESULTS: 2012 IFBB Pro Valenti Gold Cup

September 9, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Congratulations to all the hard body women who competed in the 2012 IFBB Pro Valenti Gold Cup. Erin Stern locked in another pro victory en route to the Figure Olympia and Myriam Capes put the women of Fitness on notice with not only a new routine but also a more streamlined Physique. Myriam beat out Fitness International runner-up Camala Rodriquez for the win. Karina Nascimento showed why she’s one of the front runners in every Women’s Physique contest she enters, winning here. Yeshaira Robles won her first pro show in the bikini division and is a contender for an Olympia top 6.

Complete Results:
BIKINI
1. Yeshaira Robles
2. Lacey DeLuca
3. Marcela Tribin
4. Tianna Ta
5. Vida Guerra
6. Gemmalyn Crosby
7. Adriana Hill
8. Juliana Daniell
9. Aniedra Lynn
10. Jennifer Elliott
11. Cecile Palacios
12. Sarah LeBlanc
13. Lexi Kauffman
14. Bernadett Matassa
15. Jessica Fletcher

FIGURE
1. Erin Stern
2. Kamla Macko
3. Aleisha Hart
4. Andrea Cantone
5. Candice John
6. Tiffany Archer
7. Holly Beck
8. Tatiana Koshman
9. Tanya Etessam
10. Vicki Counts
11. Tivisay Briceno
12. Queren Pacheco
13. Vickie Borman
14. Laurie Schnelle
15. Elvimar Sanchez
16. Alessandra Pinheiro
16. Catherine Holland
16. Natalie Calland

WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
1. Karina Nascimento
2. Frances Mendez
3. Nekole Hamrick
4. Mikala Soto
5. Gloria Faulls
6. Karen Gatto
7. Erin Lawson
8. Jill Dearmin
9. Petra Mertl
10. Susan Salazar
11. Rose-Anne Duvigneaud
12. Michelle Bates
13. Christi Torborg
14. Antonia Perdikakis

FITNESS
1. Myriam Capes
2. Camala Rodriguez
3. Hollie Stewart
4. Kizzy Vaines
5. Ryall Graber-Vasani
6. Vanda Hadarean
7. Tiffany Robinson
8. Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams
9. Allison Ethier
10. Missy Farrell

Photos from the event available on NPCNEWSonline.com.

Filed Under: Contest Results

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Day Prejudging Report

September 8, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The first half of the 2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup is in the books. What went down in Sarasota, Florida during the pre-juding portion of the show? We’ve got you covered. Any surprises in the show? A couple. Read on to find out who is in the hunt for the top spots in each division.

Fitness:
As expected Camala Rodriquez and Myriam Capes would be in the first call-out. Camala should win this round in large part due to her structure and overall balance. She was in shape but not her all-time best. She’ll need to tighten up just a bit before the Olympia but we’ll see a much improved Camala at this year’s Olympia than we have in the past (or at least we should). Myriam Capes has totally changed her physique over the years. She brought her best look as a pro to the stage and should fair much better in the physique rounds with this look. I think she’s in a solid second place after round one. A bit of a surprise was Kizzy Vaines and Hollie Stewart in the first call-out. I would have Ryall Graber-Vasani and Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams ahead of the two of them in the two-piece round. The 2012 Overall NPC JR USA Fitness Champion, Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams brought her best physique in her career (pro or amateur) and showed promise in the division. She still has come refining to do but she’s come a long way even sine turning pro. Ryall was a solid third in my book as she was in shape and one of her best showings. Perhaps she could have been a little fuller but a great showing from my perspective. Back to Kizzy and Hollie. Kizzy could be a bit tighter with her conditioning and improved her posing, specifically with her arms I’d like to see modified a bit. Hollie’s color was a bit yellow/greenish and off. I wouldn’t have her in the first call-out this time. Allison Ethier not at her sharpest and will need to bring her best routine if she hopes to snag an Olympia qualification via the new points system. Vanda Hadarean will have one of the best routines tonight but is currently outside the top spots in the two-piece round.

The second round of prejudging will take place on Saturday which is the exciting round. The 2-minute routine counts for 2/3 of the overall score. Let’s see how things play out as we should see some shuffling in the final spots that differ from the 1st round.

Bikini
A number of hardbody women took the stage in the bikini division. A few rookies and a few veterans were on the same stage and compared to each other. It looks like the win will go to either Yeshaira Robles or Lacey DeLuca. In my opinion, it’s Yeshaira all day long. She is one of the few women who can present in a cute way and in a bat of an eye she hits a sexy look. The more important part is she has the physique. A nice, balance physique that is tight and firm. Lacey DeLuca is making her pro debut after burning things up in the amateur ranks. Her posing in the same every time she takes the stage, very rehearsed and some would argue if it’s not broke and you’re winning don’t fix it. Point taken. The judges seem to like the look she brings. I personally don’t see it as she is a bit too soft in the lower body to be compared for a win, especially the first time as a pro. Some fave her winning, I just happen not to be one of them. She has to be happy with her call-out. Gemmalynn Crosby brought her best look since being rewarded pro status. I’m not a fan of orange suits but it didn’t stop her from being in the top spots. Vida Guerra improved her look from her pro debut in California. This was her second show and while her physique improved, I’d like to see her go back to the stage presence she brought to the stage in Chicago. It almost seemed like something was on her mind that was making her angry. Whatever she was thinking I’d like to see her ditch and perhaps channel some Bob Ross’ “happy little tree” thoughts. When she smiles it’s a totally different energy to her.

Tianna Ta was in the top call-out and looked good. It wasn’t her best look as she was a little flat however it is much better than we’ve seen her in some previous shows. Marcela Tribin is also in the running for a top finish. She’s a beautiful woman who has good stage presence especially with her walk. That said I wouldn’t have her in the top spots simply because of her lower body. I’d like to see more size and muscle to her legs along with a tighter look. That said, it is her best showing to date and the judges are drawn to it. She’ll likely be top five. Adrianna Hill was good but right on the bubble of the top spots. Like to see her with a bit more personality on stage. Aneidra Lynn looked a bit too muscular compared to the women here in her debut. Jennifer Elliott turned pro at Jr. Nationals and this her pro debut, she was a bit off and needed to be tighter. Juliana Daniell is always beautiful on stage and while she wasn’t at her all-time best, it was still a look that, in my opinion, was a top 3 look. She’ll be outside the top five here.

Figure
As expected Erin Stern was front and center in the first call-out. Those of you who aren’t familiar with what they typically symbolizes… winning. Erin has a much improved look from the Figure International and showed the athletic, balanced physique fans and judges have grown to love. I’d like to see her posing from the back just a bit better but that is me trying to find something to critique. She’ll take this one in unanimous fashion on the judges’ scorecard, in my opinion. Second and third will be interesting to watch. Kamla Macko showed and even better physique than we saw in Tampa, where she finished second. She compares well to Erin as they are both tall and athletic. She has a tiny waist and is balanced. Aleisha Hart ditched her prep coach and it paid off. She brought her best look to date as a pro and came in much, much tighter. She’s in position to be no lower than third and it looks like she could finish in second. This is significant as she is looking to get as many points as possible for the Olympia Qualification Series. She ends up in second here and she’ll be a lock. If she gets third, well then it gets dicey and not a sure thing. Andrea Cantone will be in the top five and looks to be in fourth. She too will be looking for points and it looks like she’ll miss an Olympia qualification if things play out as they appear. We’ll have to wait and see. Candice John will be in the fifth place spot most likely and while not at her best, she was still a contender. She’ll need a bit better tan and a tad sharper come Olympia time in three weeks.

Tiffany Archer brought an improve physique and definitely her best look in recent memory. Holly Beck showed like fine wine she gets better with age and giving hope to women in the 45+ range. She looked very good and will finish in the top 10. Tatianna Koshman carries a bit more muscle than some of the other women and will not finish in the top spots here but has tremendous potential. She’s also a bit shorter and when compared to the taller women her physique matches up a bit different then it did to those in the Dallas Europa. A little streamlining to her physique and you’ll see her as a leading lady in the division. I like her look and what she could do in this division.

Women’s Physique
This is Karina Nascimento’s show to lose. She has “the look” of the division. A nice balance of muscle, femininity without taking it to the extreme. Pictures do not do this woman justice. When she poses she exudes sexiness and it’s not in a bad way but rather it captures your attention and you can’t help but keep looking at her physique. Frances Mendez has a nice balance to her physique and made an immediate impact in her pro debut. She should finish in second. Mikala Soto always seems to pose to whatever music is on stage during her individual presentation. She also likes to match her hair to her suit. She’s dramatically improved her physique over the year but was sweating up a storm and clearly not feeling well once the comparison rounds went on. She confirmed that she was sick and not feeling 100% she should finish in the top five thought.

Ton Perdikakis not at her best and needed to be a bit tighter in her legs, as she has in the past. Christi Torborg a bit too big in this division and will need to streamline her physique for future shows to be a contender. Erin Lawson made the switch from Fitness to Women’s Physique and it suits her well. She needs a bit more muscle and come in more conditioned but she has potential to be a contender. Nekole Hamrick looks like should could be as high as second but likely third or fourth in her pro debut. She turned pro at last weekend’s North Americans and has to be happy with her call-outs.

Finals take place at 3:30pm EST on Saturday. Check back for complete results from the show. You can see prejudging photos on NPCnewsonline.com.

Filed Under: IFBB & NPC, News & Features

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Women’s Pro Preview

September 4, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The IFBB Valenti Gold Cup is the last chance to qualify for the Olympia in every division except for Bikini and Women’s Bodybuilding (which has no remaining shows before the Olympia). Bikini has one more shot next weekend in St.Louis and Women’s but let’s focus on this show. This is the first time Patricia Valenti has held a show in Sarasota and she’s rolling out the red carpet for it. The IFBB show will have all divisions with the exception of open men & women’s bodybuilding. It will also showcase a number of NPC Hardbody men and women in the amateur event. Each of the pro divisions is very competitive. Let’s break it down.

HARDBODY 411

FIGURE
The figure competition is very competitive and there are a couple of women in the line up are hoping to land in the top five to gain more points in the Olympia Qualification Series. Erin Stern and Candice John are both qualified for the Olympia so the pressure is off them to qualify. The odds on favorite has to be Erin Stern. She added another win to her competition resume by taking top honors at the 2012 Australian Pro. I can’t see her losing this show unless she’s way off and we haven’t seen that from Erin since she was a rookie…many moons ago. Candice John has refined her physique and really come into her own but she’ll have her hands full to finish in the top three here. Look for Andrea Cantone to be in the mix as she’s been consistent this year with her conditioning and in the running for an Olympia qualification via the new points system. Aleisha Hart went back to the drawing board after her showing in Tampa and look for her to come in much tighter and improved from that show. The question is, will it be enough to place in the top ranks in this highly competitive show? Catherine Holland will look to get back in the mix of things but she too will have her work cut out for her. Tatiana Koshman made her IFBB Pro debut in Dallas and finished in third. She packs quite a bit of muscle but carries it well. If she brings down the backside muscle just a bit she’ll be a contender. There wasn’t much time to do any changes since Dallas but the only thing that could hold her back is her muscularity. The Dallas line up was a different looks with the physiques in the show, so we’ll see how she compares in this line up. Kamla Macko is my x-factor in this show and I think she could shake things up. She’s taller and has an athletic looking physique. She finished in 5th at the Tampa Pro in her pro debut and I look for her to be in the top spots here.

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Women’s Figure Competitor List
1. Tiffany Archer (Washington DC)
2. Holly Beck (Sarasota, Florida)
3. Vickie Borman (Barbados)
4. Tivisay Briceno (Memphis, Tennessee)
4. Natalie Calland (Hilliard, Ohio)
5. Andrea Cantone (Boston, Massachusetts)
6. Vicki Counts (Calumet City, Illinois)
7. Tanya Etessam (Davie, Florida)
8. Aleisha Hart (Ontario, Canada)
9. Catherine Holland (Charlotte, North Carolina)
10. Candice John (Trinidad)
10. Tatiana Koshman (Spring, Texas)
11. Kamla Macko (Brandon, Florida)
12. Alessandra Pinheiro (Brazil)
13. Laurie Schnelle (Sarasota, Florida)
14. Erin Stern (Tampa, Florida)

Ron “The Yogi’s” Picks:
1. Erin Stern
2. Candice John
3. Andrea Cantone
4. Tatiana Koshman
5. Aleisha Hart

Isaac’s Picks:
1. Erin Stern
2. Andrea Cantone
3. Aleisha Hart
4. Kamla Macko
5. Candice John

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BIKINI
The Bikini division could go a number of ways. We have women in the line up already qualified for the Olympia and others who are trying to lock in a high enough placing to land in the top Olympia Qualification Series. We also have rookie debuts that could shake things up. Who are the contenders? I like Juliana Daniell and Yeshair Robles’ physiques. They both have athletic looks and they present with class and a little bit of sexiness without being over the top. If I were a judge (and let’s be clear I’m not) these two at their best are in my top 5 in the Olympia. Tianna Ta is already qualified and will look to build some momentum heading into the big show. She’ll need to come in full on the bottom,without being too lean in the abs and relaxed with her posing. Marcela Tribin landed in the point totals at the Tampa Pro with a different line-up. She’s have a much tougher time this show. Lacey DeLuca will make her pro debut after lighting up the amateur stage. Ron has her winning the show and I don’t have her in my top five. Which way will the judges go? Vida Guerra will look to redeem herself after her California Pro debut. If she can bring back the look and posing she had in Chicago when she turned pro she’ll move up. Adriana Hill has the looks but needs to up her energy on stage to move up into the mix. Aniedra Lynn is making her pro debut but might be carrying too much muscle for this line up. Lexi Kaufman moved up to 6th at the Pittsburgh Pro after debuting at the Bikini International. I like her look and the energy she brings to the stage. It’s a tough show that could go a number of different ways.

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Women’s Bikini Competitor List
1. Gemmalyn Crosby (Phillipines)
2. Juliana Daniell (Atlanta, Georgia)
3. Lacey DeLuca (Ocala, Florida)
4. Jessica Renee Fletcher (Miami Beach, Florida)
5. Vida Guerra (Beverly Hills, California)
6. Adriana Hill (Plantation, Florida)
7. Lexi Kaufman (Dublin, Ohio)
8. Sarah LeBlanc (Houma, Louisiana)
9. Aniedra Lynn (Daytona Beach, Florida)
10. Brnadett Matassa (Ormond Beach, Florida)
11. Cecile Palacios (New York, New York)
12. Yeshaira Robles (Bronx, New York)
13. Tiana Ta (Worcester, Massachusetts)
14. Marcela Tribin (Columbia)

Ron “The Yogi’s” Picks:
1. Lacey DeLuca
2. Juliana Daniell
3. Yeshaira Robles
4. Tiana Ta
5. Marcela Tribin

Isaac’s Picks:
1. Yeshaira Robles
2. Julianna Daniell
3. Aniedra Lynn
4. Adriana Hill
5. Lexi Kaufman

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FITNESS
The Fitness division is my favorite in any show. This is a great group or routines and the fans in attendance will be in for a treat. Myriam Capes, Ryall Graber-Vasani and Camala Rodriquez are all qualified for the Olympia. Allison Ethier, Kizzy Vaines and Vanda Hadarean are all hoping to finish in the top five an collect enough points to head to the Olympia.

The Fitness division is judged by their physiques and their routines. Nearly two years ago the IFBB Pro League changed the scoring in Pro Fitness. The physique is to be 1/3 on the score (two-piece swimsuit) and 2/3 of the score will be the 2-minute Fitness Routine. The 2-minute fitness routine scores will be doubled.

Here’s how I would rank my top five in this line up for Physique…
1. Camala Rodriquez
2. Ryall Graber-Vasani
3. Myriam Capes
4. Tiffany Robinson
5. Vanda Hadarean

In Routines I would go:
1. Myriam Capes
2. Vanda Hadarean
3. Kizzy Vaines
4. Jackyln Sutton-Abrams
5. Camala Rodriquez

So where does that leave us? Great question. When the prejudging is finished we’ll have an idea of who is in the lead but it’s not indicative of the final outcome. Someone who is outside of the top 5 in physique could have an amazing routine and be in the top spots. Regardless of where any of these women finish, I’m glad to see them all take the stage as it’s the one division where people can all agree, it’s entertaining and amazing to watch.

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Women’s Fitness Competitor List
1. Myriam Capes (Quebec, Canada)
2. Allison Ethier (Quebec, Canada)
3. Missy Farrell (Ontario, Canada)
4. Ryall Graber-Vasani (St. James, Barbados)
5. Vanda Hadarean (Ontario, Canada)
6. Tiffany Robinson (Troy, Alabama)
7. Camala Rodriquez (Denver, Colorado)
8. Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams (Parker, Colorado)
9. Kizzy Vaines (Barnsley, United Kingdom)

Ron “The Yogi’s” Picks:
1. Camala Rodriguez
2. Myriam Capes
3. Kizzy Vaines
4. Vanda Hardarean
5. Alison Ethier

Isaac’s Picks:
1. Myriam Capes
2. Vanda Hardarean
3. Camala Rodriguez
4. Kizzy Vaines
5. Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams

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WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
The Women’s Physique division is one that has consistently showcased a variety of physiques. This weekend will be no different. Karina Nascimento has to be the favorite as she’s been victorious in the division already. The judges will have apples and orange in front of them when it comes the the differences in physiques and they’ll be tasked with finding a happy medium amongst the group.

2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Women’s Pro Physique Competitor List
1. Michelle Bates (San Diego, California)
2. Dayana Cadeau (Wilton Manors, Florida)
3. Rose-Ann Duvigneaud (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
4. Gloria Faulls (Blackwood, New Jersey)
5. Karen Gatto (East Meadow, New York)
6. Erin Lawson (Clarkston, Michigan)
7. Frances Mendez (Mobile, Alabama)
8. Petra Mertl (Czech Republic)
9. Karina Nascimento (Boca Raton, Florida)
10. Toni Perdikakis (Sparks, Maryland)
11. Susan Salazar (Honolulu, Hawaii)
12. Christi Torborg (Ormond Beach, Florida)

Ron “The Yogi’s” Picks:
1. Karina Nascimento
2. Petra Mertl
3. Susan Salazar
4. Michelle Bates
5. Erin Lawson

Isaac’s Picks:
1. Karina Nascimento
2. Susan Salazar
3. Toni Perdikakis
4. Gloria Faulls
5. Frances Mendez

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Visit: http://www.valentigoldcup.com for more info.

EVENT SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 7, 2012
9:00am – IFBB PRO WOMEN’S MEETING
9:30am – IFBB PRO MEN’S MEETING
11:00am – NPC CHECK-IN & COMPETITORS MEETING (MANDATORY)
3:00pm – IFBB PRO PREJUDGING
6:00pm – NPC PREJUDGING

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8, 2012
11:00am – NPC FINALS
3:30pm – IFBB PRO FINALS
6:00pm – AFTER PARTY @ CEVICHE

*Celebrate with your favorite IFBB Pros, officials, athletes and fans at Ceviche. 1216 1st St. Sarasota.
Check in with hostess to receive a complimentary drink ticket. Music and dancing on the 3rd floor.

See ya there! We’ll be covering the event all weekend. Check back for more updates.

Filed Under: IFBB & NPC, Show Previews

The Final Stretch: Olympia Qualification Series Breakdown

September 3, 2012 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

The IFBB PRO League introduced a new “Olympia Qualification Series” in March of this year and now is when things get very interesting. We have three shows remaining for Figure, two for Bikini and one for Fitness. The Women’s Bodybuilding qualifications and field is set. Since this is the first year for the IFBB Women’s Physique division, no points were kept. We’ll see if it’s added next year but that’s a conversation for another time. Let’s review the points-based system and how it works.

You win an IFBB Pro show and you’re in the Olympia. If you’ve already qualified for the Olympia and win a show, there is no “bump down” to second place. The new system awards points to competitors placing in 2 to 5 spots. These points are awarded at all IFBB Pro League competitions. The five competitors with the highest point totals will qualify to compete in the Olympia. No points are awarded for first, since they automatically qualify. Those placing in the top five at the Olympia will automatically qualify for the following year.

SHOWS & RESPECTIVE POINTS AWARDED
TIER 1 – ARNOLD CLASSIC
2nd – 8 Points
3rd – 7 Points
4th – 6 Points
5th – 5 Points

TIER 2 – SHERU CLASSIC, ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE
2nd – 6 Points
3rd – 5 Points
4th – 4 Points
5th – 3 Points

TIER 3 – NEW YORK PRO
2nd – 5 Points
3rd – 4 Points
4th – 3 Points
5th – 2 Points

TIER 4 – ALL OTHER IFBB PRO LEAGUE COMPETITIONS
2nd – 4 Points
3rd – 3 Points
4th – 2 Points
5th – 1 Point

It’s important to note the tier levels and points. In an event of a tie, it is my understanding the IFBB Pro League will then evaluate the tied competitors and base the tie breaker on highest finished in given show. Example: if to women are tied and Competitor A finished in second at the New York Pro but competitor B finished in 3rd at the Chicago Pro… Competitor A would win the tie breaker by finishing higher.

FITNESS
Let’s start with the easiest one to follow. Fitness currently has 11 women qualified for the Olympia. This weekend’s IFBB Valenti Gold Cup has 9 competitors currently in the line-up. A third of those women are already qualified for the Olympia. Let’s assume those three women finish in the top three spots. That leaves 2 points to one competitor and one to another. Myriam Capes, Camala Rodriquez & Ryall Graber-Vasani are in the Fitness Olympia but will they go 1-2-3 this weekend? That’s the million dollar question and one a few women are hoping doesn’t happen.

POSITION – NAME – POINTS
1 Ruban, Danielle 7
2 Harris, Fiona 6
3 Hadarean, Vanda 4
3 Vaines, Kizzy 4
5 Ethier, Allison 3
6 Bruce, Sonja 1
6 Frederick, Melissa 1
6 Sutton-Abrams, Jacklyn 1

Danielle Ruban and Fiona Harris are in given their current points. Even if the women below them in point were to snag 4 points, they would still remain in the top five. So let’s put those two aside and breakdown who in the top points are ones to watch. Vanda Hadarean & Kizzy Vaines are tied for the 3 & 4th place positions with 4 points. If either woman finishes in the top five they are pretty much in, not guaranteed but the odds are in their favor. Next is Allison Either sitting in 5th with 3 points. If she can land in the top 5 she should secure her spot. If not she could be on the outside looking in however it’s a long shot that it would happen. Sonja Bruce and Melissa Frederick are not slated to compete. That leaves rookie Jacklyn Sutton-Abrams with one point. If Jacklyn can finish in 3rd or higher she’s in. If she finishes in 4th and ahead of Allison in this show they would tie however Allison would win the tie breaker because she has a 4th place finish at the St. Louis Pro Fitness. Unless someone not listed placings in 2nd or 3rd this will be the scenario for the remaining 3 spots in the Qualification Series.

BIKINI:
This one gets a little tougher to breakdown since there are two shows remaining before the Olympia. The Valenti Gold Cup this weekend and the St. Louis Pro next weekend. The points could change for the Bikini division based on how things play out this weekend but as of current standings here’s what we’re looking at for possible contenders to finish in the top 5 points.

POSITION – NAME – POINTS
1 Chapman, Jennifer 13
2 Robles, Yeshaira 10
3 Munro, Justine 8
3 Maleton, Dayna 8
3 Matheny, Taylor 8
6 Tribin, Marcela 5

As it stands today Jennifer Chapman and Yeshaira Robles are locks for the Bikini Olympia an I can’t see either of them getting bumped out of the top five. That leaves Justine Munro, Dayna Maleton and Taylor Matheny in a three way tie fore the remaining spots. None of these three are entered in this weekend’s Valenti Gold Cup so their points look to stand at 8 heading into next week’s final show. That leaves Marcela Tribin as the X-factor in the current equation. Marcela is currently in 6th place with 5 points. If she finishes in second or third she would be in the Olympia. The other factor to remember in this equation are the women who are already qualified and in the show. Juliana Daniell and Tianna Ta are both qualified and contender for the top five this weekend. One other scenario that could play out are the rookies in this show. Should they or someone else finish in second this weekend they could set themselves up for an Olympia birth by matching that finish next week in St. Louis… two runner-up finishes would put them at 8 points and give them the nod in the tie-breaker. More to come on this division after this weekend.

FIGURE:
This is definitely the most interesting division to follow in the point series with a number of scenarios in play. There are three IFBB Figure shows taking place this weekend. We can rule out The IFBB Nordic Pro as none of the competitors will effect the outcome of the Olympia Qualification Series. Some one new will head to the Olympia but again that won’t change the points because even with 4 points there isn’t another show to move up.

POSITION – NAME – POINTS
1 Frahn, Allison 8
2 Waples, Natalie 7
2 Reis, Larissa 7
4 Brown, Cheryl 5
4 Cantone, Andrea 5
6 Hart, Aleisha 4
6 Montoya, Tamara 4
6 Sheppard, Kimberly 4
6 Haldeman, Mallory 4
10 Koshman, Tatiana 3

We can take Tamara Montoya out of the equation as she will not be competing this weekend in either show. Currently, Cheryl Brown is tied for fourth however is not slated to compete. This would keep her at 5 points however given the number of women in the top 10 that are competing this weekend, it would most likely not be enough to keep her in the mix. Allison Frahn enters the weekend as the point leader with 8. It looks like it WILL be enough to keep her in the the top five even if she finishes out of the top 5 at the Tournament of Champions. So that leaves 8 as the magic number. If you match that you’re in. Enter Natalie Waples and Larissa Reis. Both women sit at 7 points and tied for second. If either of the two finish in the top five they will be in. Even with a fifth place finish it would give one of them 1 point which would be enough to stay in the top 5 points. If either of them finish out of the top five (or both) they could still be in the mix but it gets more complicated. Andrea Cantone is next in the point total, currently sitting in 4th with five points. Andrea has a bit of an advantage over the other women as she will be competing at the Valenti Cup where there are fewer in the hunt for points. If she finishes in the top five then she’ll get points but she will need to be in the top three to lock in enough points.

Now this is where things get really interesting. Aleisha Hart, Mallory Haldeman and Kim Sheppard are tied for sixth. If either of them finish fifth or higher they will bump Cheryl Brown out of the mix. If they want a guaranteed spot in the Olympia they would need to finish in second, which would move the point total to 8 and guarantee a trip to the Olympia. A third place finish would give put them at 7 and a much stronger chance of getting in. Aleisha has a bit of an advantage as she is in the Valenti Cup and facing fewer in the top points totals. The long shot but still mathmatically possible to make it in is Tatianna Koshman. She is in 10th place with 3 points. If she finishes in second she would likely get in the Olympia with 7 points and the second place being an advantage in a tie breaker. If she is third or fourth there is still a chance albeit a slim one given the other scenarios.

The longest of all shots are with Kamala Macko and Tivisay Briceno. They both sit with one point and would need finish in second to have any chance at qualifying and even then 5 points will likely not be enough. Oh and two important women to note that will definitely play a role in how things shake out. Erin Stern is competing at the Valenti Cup and Teresa Anthony is in the Tournament of Champions. Both will will undoubtedly finish in the top five and are the favorites to win heading into the weekend.

Follow all of that? HA!

HARDBODY will be covering both shows and keep you updated on how things play out.

Filed Under: Olympia, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Results

June 19, 2011 by Hardbody Staff Leave a Comment

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Bikini Results

1. Shelsea Montes (USA)
2. Missy Coles (USA)’
3. Justine Munro (Canada)
4. Nina Luchka (Canada)
5. Dayna Maleton (USA)
6. Nathalie Mur (France)
7. Leigh Brandt (Canada)
8. Janet Harding (Canada)
9. Zara Pineda-Boorder (Canada)
10. Angela Leong (USA)
11. Samantha Morris (USA)
12. Michelle Lamb (USA)

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Fitness Results

1. Jodi Boam (Canada)
2. Myriam Capes (Canada)
3. Mindi O’Brien (Canada)
4. Michelle Blank (USA)
5. Ryall Graber-Vasani (Canada)
6. Laticia Jackson (USA)
7. Minna Pajulahh (Finland)
8. Crystal Heck (Canada)
9. Stacy Wright (USA)
10. Sherry Boudreau (Canada)
11. Kristina Rojas (USA)
12. Allison Either (Canada)
13. Carrie Ann Simmons (USA)
14. Sylvia Tremblay (Canada)

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Figure Results

1. Gennifer Strobo (USA)
2. Candice John (Trinidad)
3. Ann Titone (USA)
4. Julia Ann Kulla (USA)
5. Aleisha Hart (Canada)
6. Merideth Berthleson (USA)
7. Sarah Domiguez (USA)
8. Ginette Delhas (Canada)
9. Christina Mehling (Canada)
10. Magdalena Wilk (Canada)
11. Lea Berti (Canada)
12. Jill St. Laurent (Canada)
13. Natalie Waples (Canada)
14. Emily Nicholson (USA)
15. Serena Cooper (Canada)
16. Rachel LeBlanc (Canada)
17. Michelle Battista-McDonald (USA)
17. Lynsey Beattie (United Kingdom)
17. CeaAnna Kerr (Canada)
17. Ann Pratt (USA)

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Masters Figure Results

1. Tivisay Briceno (USA)
2. Susanne Bock (Germany)
3. Kim Seeley (USA)
4. Michelle Mayberry (USA)

2011 IFBB Toronto Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Results

1. Brigita Brezovac (Slovenia)
2. Nicole Ball (Canada)
3. Mah Ann Mendoza (USA)
4. Cathy LeFrancois (Canada)
5. Lyris Cappelle (Canada)
6. Melody Spetko (Canada)
7. Tammy Patnode (USA)
8. Aurelia Grozajova (Slovakia)
9. Sarah Bridges (United Kingdom)
10. Elizabeth Meza (Mexico)

Filed Under: Contest Results

IFBB FIBO Power Pro Fitness Results: Regiane Reigns

April 16, 2011 by Isaac Hinds 2 Comments

Regiane Da Silva took home gold at the 2011 FIBO Pro Pro Fitness event held in Essen, Germany. Her high flying routine is always full of crazy strength moves and this time was no different. She upset Camala Rodriquez, the favorite heading into the show and last weekend’s New York Pro Fitness champion. Rodriquez was relegated to third. Diana Monteiro made an impression on the judges by locking up second place in her pro debut. She was crowned the Arnold Amateur overall fitness winner last month.

A very impressive showing for the Brazilian fitness champion. That puts two rookies in the Olympia, both qualifying in their pro debuts. Last weekend, Michelle Blank locked up an Olympia birth at the New York Pro.

FIBO Power Pro Fitness Results
1. Regiane Da Silva
2. Diana Monteiro
3. Camala Rodriguez
4. Liudmila Somkina
5. Minna Pajulahti
6. Stacy McDowell
7. Ryall Graber-Vasani

Check out competition photos on www.team-andro.com

Props: team-andro.com for the lead photo.

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

FIBO Power Pro Fitness Photos & 2-Piece Callouts

April 16, 2011 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Round one is in the books at the 2011 FIBO Power Pro Fitness and your guess is as good as mine as to who will finish on top. The callouts hint to Regiane Da Silva winning the 2-piece round with Camala battling for second. Regiane certainly has one of the best routines in this line up but I wouldn’t have pegged her winning the physique round. There does tend to be a trend in European shows that favor the more muscular physiques. We’ll see how things shake out after the routine rounds.

Competitor Line Up:
1. Regiane Da Silva
2. Ryall Graber-Vasani
3. Stacy McDowell
4. Diana Monteiro
5. Minna Pajulahti
6. Camala Rodriguez
7. Ludmila Somkina

1st Call Out:
Regiane Da Silva
Camala Rodriguez
Diana Monteiro

2nd Call Out:
Ryall Graber-Vasani
Stacy McDowell
Minna Pajulahti
Ludmila Somkina

3rd Call Out:
Stacy McDowell
Diana Monteiro
Ludmila Somkina

Final Call Out:
Camala Rodriguez
Stacy McDowell
Ryall Graber-Vasani

See photos from the 2-piece round on www.team-andro.com. The finals will be held in just a few hours and we’ll see who is crowned the Fibo Pro Fitness Queen.

Props: Team Andro for the lead photo and Shawn Ray for the callouts.

Filed Under: IFBB

Hardbody Fitness Preview: IFBB Fibo Power Pro

April 12, 2011 by Isaac Hinds 2 Comments

This Saturday, April 16, promoters Ed and Betty Pariso will host the FIBO POWER Pro Championships. The event is one of the last remaining IFBB Pro Fitness events of the year. Three Olympia qualifications are up for grabs and two women currently in the line up are already qualified. The field isn’t the deepest but it will still be competitive.

Hardbody Preview:

Regiane Da Silva – Regiane has some of the craziest fitness moves in the pro league. She brings a ton of energy to the stage and her routines are always action packed. Look for her to bring that same high flying energy to the stage once again. She should score high in the routine round and look for her to be in the middle of the pack for the physique round.

Ryall Graber-Vasani – Ryall is coming off a 13th place finish at the New York Pro and will look to improve here. She has a solid start to her routine but it falls off a bit at the end. She’ll likely perform the same routine as we saw in New York. She continues to improve each year and at the end of the day that’s what every competitor hopes for.

Tanji Johnson – Tanji chose not to defend her New York Pro Fitness title she earned last year but will look to collect another win this weekend. She’s the odds on favorite to take the show. I can’t see Tanji losing this show unless something drastic happens with her physique or a major blunder in her routine. It will likely be between her and Camala for first in the physique round and when it comes to the routines I don’t see anyone beating Tanji. Tanji will not be competing in the event.

Stacy McDowell – Stacy was at the bottom of the pack in New York and in large part to her physique score. She wasn’t at her best but will have a week to tighten up and improve on her conditioning. She still has some of the freakiest flexibility in the industry and will put that on display this weekend. If she better conditioned physique she’ll move up, if not she’ll be out of the money once again.

Diana Monteiro – Diana was the 2010 IFBB World Fitness Champion and calls Brazil home. She has a good deal of muscle on her frame, but carries it well. She has good strength moves in her routines and the key will be putting them together to compete at the pro level. Diana won the 2011 Arnold Amateur overall Fitness title, which qualified her for IFBB Pro status in Brazil. We’ll see what she brings to the stage her pro debut.

Minna Pajulahti – Minna made her pro debut at the 2010 Ft. Lauderdale Cup and finished in 14th. She’s had a few months away from the stage and will look to move up in the pro ranks here. She has the tools to do so and it will come down to an improved routine and refined physique in order for her to do so. We’ll see what package she brings to the stage in her second pro show.

Camala Rodriguez – Camala is coming off a win at the New York Pro and carries some momentum into the show. She’ll have her work cut out for her in toppling Tanji for the win. She could feasibly win the physique round without much argument from anyone. I think she still needs some work on her routine in order to best Tanji but anything can happen. I see Camala in the runner-up position but we’ll see what she brings to the stage in Germany. ** Look for Camala to take top honors here but be pushed by Regina.

Liudmila Somkina – Russia’s Liudmila Somkina will look to put herself on the map at this show. She carried a good deal of muscle in the 2009 World Championships and it could be too much if she brings a similar look to Germany. I can’t see her cracking a top spot unless she brings a refined physique and a clean routine to the stage. We’ll find out what she brings on Saturday.

Predictions:
I see the top three spots and Olympia qualifications going like this…
~~1. Tanji Johnson~~
2. 1. Camala Rodriquez
3. 2. Regiane Da Silva
3. ???

What do you think Hardbody peeps? Can Camala or anyone else keep Tanji from another pro win?

Event: FIBO POWER Pro Championships

Date: Saturday, 16th April 2011

Venue:
Colosseum Theater Essen
Altendorfer Str. 1
45127 Essen
Germany
www.colosseumtheater.de

For more information on the show visit: pro-championships.com. Bodybuilding.com will be representing at FIBO so if you’re attending the event stop by the booth and meet some of the crew. See who will be attending FIBO and more on bodybuilding.com.

Filed Under: IFBB

IFBB New York Pro Fitness Results

April 9, 2011 by Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

Camala Rodriquez was the favorite heading into the 2011 NY Pro and she delivered. Bethany Wagner finished in the runner-up position and the stand-out rookie, Michelle Blank took third. All three women are now qualified for the Fitness Olympia in Las Vegas. Check back for full recap.

IFBB New York Pro Fitness Results:
1. Camala Rodriguez
2. Bethany Wagner
3. Michelle Blank
4. Kristina Rojas
5. Jodi Boam
6. Stacy Wright
7. Carrie Simmons
8. Nicole Duncan
9. Hollie Stewart
10. Sylvia Tremblay
11. Victoria Larvie
12. Allison Ethier
13. Ryall Garber-Vasani
14. Tamee Marie
15. Stacy McDowell
16. Venus Nguyen
17. Melissa Frederick

Filed Under: Contest Results, IFBB

New York Pro Fitness Preview

April 9, 2011 by Isaac Hinds 2 Comments

Seventeen women have stepped up to compete in the 2011 New York Pro Fitness. This will be the last chance for women to qualify for the 2011 Fitness Olympia, in the United States. Two more shows remain but are outside of the states. A number of the field will be making their pro debuts and it’s exciting to see what they bring to the pro scene. Jodi Boam is an exciting new-comer out of Canada and one to watch in the routine rounds. Carrie Simmons will bring the New York crowd to feet with her routine if it’s anything like her Team Universe performance. Camala Rodriquez and Bethany Wagner are the two favorites heading into the show based on their previous performances and standings in the big leagues. They were both in the top 6 at the Fitness International, both have pro wins and it could be a showdown between the two of them. Can anyone upset them? Absolutely but we won’t find out until tonight. Here’s my opinion on the field and some things to look for with each competitor.

HARDBODY BREAKDOWN:

Michelle Blank – Special agent Blank is competing in her third fitness show EVER and first as an IFBB pro. She took some time off since turning pro at the 2010 NPC JR Nationals. If she tightened up her back side & refined her physique she’ll have a solid debut. Look for a little more muscle on her from last year.

Jodi Boam - One of the Canadian contingents, Jodi will be making her IFBB Pro debut. Typically, Canadian competitors bring more muscle and conditioning to their first show than others in the US. That’s because more muscle is needed in order to turn pro. She is a skilled gymnast & look for her to bring a rock’n routine. The question will be where she’s positioned in the physique round. She was crowned Canada’s youngest fitness pro & brings a lot of energy to the stage.

Nicole Duncan - Nicole is always in the top with her routines and is one of the best performers in the biz. If she can nail her conditioning and come in with a tighter physique she’ll be in the mix for a top spot. She’ll bring the house down tonight with her routine, let’s hope she brings a physique to match and make things interesting.

Allison Ethier - Allison continues to improve and is right on the bubble of being in the mix. Look for her to be in the top two call-outs today and if she has a clean routine she’ll be in the running for a top five spot.

Melissa Frederick - Melissa recently competed in the Figure division and held her own. If she has a solid routine that will move her up in the mix of things. She’s another that continues to improve.

Ryall Graber-Vasani - Ryall brings a ton of energy to the stage and she’s another that is on the bubble and could move up or down depending on her routine. She works with Fitness Champ, Adela Garcia on her prep so look for her to be at her best here.

Victoria Larvie – Victoria has all the skills to do well in the division. She’s an accomplished gymnast and it shows in her routines. She’s young and her physique just needs some muscle maturity to hang with the top girls in that round. If she comes in her best condition and nails her routine she’ll move up.

Tamee Marie – Tamee is one of the taller women in the division and packs a lot of muscle on her frame. She’s pretty balanced and it’s needed to fill out her tall frame, the key is not being “too hard” in her conditioning. When she performs her routine it’s like running of the bulls in Spain. All out, fast and furious. I’d like to see her be a little less angry and aggressive in her routines. I always cringe when shooting it as she comes out so aggressive it looks like she might over-exert. If she’s refined things she’ll have a strong showing.

Stacy McDowell – Stacy is back again. She was injured. Then she retired and now she’s back competing. Flexibility is her strong point but she is towards the bottom of the pack in the physique rounds. It’s been awhile since Stacy has been able to put a strong routine and conditioned physique together. She’s done it before, so she’s certainly capable of it. Let’s see what she brings today.

Venus Nguyen – She turned pro on this stage last year with a second place finish in the A class. Venus was 11th in her pro debut at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. The little details, like hair, suit choice and presentation can help Venus move up. She is a solid performer and if she comes in a bit tighter and with a better suit than her debut you’ll see her move up.

Camala Rodriguez – Considered the favorite by most and rightfully so. She has pro victories under her belt and finished 4th at the Fitness International last month. She brought in a tighter, smaller physique and it helped move her up as a top pro. The look she brought to the Arnold stage is one she’ll need once again. I look for her to be in the top 2 for physique and with a solid routine she could win. Her routines continue to evolve and she usually spot on with her mandatory moves.

Kristina Rojas – Always smiling ear to ear, Kristina has great stage presence and always brings high energy with her routine. We’ll see what her and Adela Garcia put together this time around. Look for her to be in the mix for a top five spot if she comes in with a tight physique.

Carrie Simmons - Carrie will be making her pro debut and her routine will be one to watch. She loves performing and it shows throughout. She has the ability to draw the audience in and hams it up. Carrie brings a good deal of muscle to the stage and we’ll see how it compares to the others in the physique round. Look for her to bring the crowd to a roar tonight with her routine.

Hollie Stewart - Hollie has sic skills in her routine and always has a smile on her face. She’s been up and down and will forever be known as the girl who fell off the back off the stage at the West Palm Beach show. It’s good to see her back on stage and rock’n The Big Apple

Sylvia Tremblay - Sylvia is bringing her Arnold routine to the stage but with some refinements. She’s a performer and continues to have fun with things. We’ll see where she compares in the physique rounds but look for her to be in the top ten here.

Bethany Wagner – Bethany is the other top contender, at least on paper, at this show. She finished 6th at the Fitness International and has found her groove in the division. Look for the physique round to be between her and Camala and it could come down to who has the better routine for the win. She was the 2010 Europa Dallas champion and has the potential to collect a win here.

Stacy Wright – Stacy is another woman who brings a good deal of muscle to the stage. If she’s refined her routine since last year’s Team Universe win she could have a memorable debut. It will be her first time being compared to some of the best in the world and we’ll find out how she matches up today.

For More info on the show:
Tribecca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY

Phone: (516)933-1111
Email: steve@bevfrancis.com or bev@bevfrancis.com
http://bevfrancis.com/contests/schedule

Filed Under: IFBB

2011 New York Pro Fitness Line Up

March 23, 2011 by Isaac Hinds 13 Comments

There’s only one remaining pro fitness event in the United States to qualify for the Olympia. The number of competitor entries to date is disappointingly low and could mean this is the last time we’ll see pro fitness in New York. As of today only 12 women have sent in their contracts to compete. It sparks the conversation, where are all the fitness pros and why aren’t they entering? I’m sure those who haven’t entered have their reasons or excuses however you want to look at it. At the end of the day it won’t matter if more women don’t enter. It’s sad because the pro fitness routines are the most entertaining part of the show, in my opinion.

2011 IFBB Pro Fitness Competitors:
Michelle Blank
Jodi Boam
Allison Ethier
Ryall Graber-Vasani
Victoria Larvie
Tamee Marie
Stacy McDowell
Camala Rodriguez
Kristina Rojas
Carrie Simmons
Sylvia Tremblay
Stacy Wright

Props to the women who have entered. The show will serve as a pro debut for Michelle Blank, Jodi Boam, Carrie Simmons and Stacy Wright. The top three from last year’s event, Tanji Johnson, Trish Warren and Bethany Wagner have not entered the event and no word if they will. We’ll see if more women enter the event as we still have 3 weeks until show time.

For more information on this show and the NPC STEVE STONE NY METROPOLITAN visit BevFrancis.com.

Filed Under: IFBB

2010 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Pro Results

November 21, 2010 by Hardbody Guests 7 Comments

2010 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Figure Pro Results

1. Kristal Richardson – USA – 7
2. Ava Cowan – USA – 10
3. Candice Keene – USA – 15
4. Alicia Harris – USA – 19
5. Gennifer Strobo – USA – 27
6. Emily Nicholson – USA – 33
7. Petra Mertl – Czech – 37
8. Elizabeth Earhart – USA – 39
9. Candice John – Trinidad – 40
10. Lenay Hernandez – USA – 52
11. Ginette Delhaes – Canada – 54
12. Natalie Revajova-Lenartova – Slovakia – 57
13. Ann Titone – USA – 68
14. Tina White – USA – 73
15. Teresa Gillian – USA – 76
16. Tessa Wood – USA – 77
17. Aleisha Hart – Canada – 78
17. Ann Pratt – USA – 78
19. Tinamarie Bloomfield – USA – 80
19. Viviana Casarubbia – Argentina – 80
19. Raechelle Chase – New Zealand – 80
19. Caroline Hernandez – USA – 80
19. Charmayne Jackson – USA – 80
19. CeaAnna Kerr – Canada – 80
19. Georgina Lona – Mexico – 80
19. Amanda Marinelli – USA – 80
19. Teresita Morales – USA – 80
19. Elvimar Sanchez – Venezuela – 80
19. Susan Salazar – USA – 80
19. Mavis Tozzi – USA – 80

2010 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Bikini Pro Results

1. Nicole Nagrani – USA – 6
2. Justine Munro – Canada – 9
3. Nathalie Mur – France – 15
4. Jennifer Andrews – USA – 21
5. Missy Coles – USA – 24
6. Nicole Guerrero-Moneer – USA – 30
7. Lindsey Morrison – USA – 38
8. Zara Pineda-Boorder – Canada – 39
9. Khanh Nguyen – USA – 47
10. Nicole Coleman – USA – 51
11. Desha Rodriguez – USA – 55
12. Samantha Morris – USA – 57
13. Gemma Williams – United Kingdom – 63

2010 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Fitness Pro Results

1. Kizzy Vaines – United Kingdom – 11 – 20 – 31
2. Nicole Duncan – USA – 20 – 12 – 32
3. Tina Durkin – USA – 9 – 38 – 47
4. Ryall Graber-Vasani – Canada – 10 – 46 – 56
5. Allison Ethier – Canada – 32 – 42 – 74
6. Deana Martinez – USA – 45 – 74 – 119
7. Tamee Marie – USA – 25 – 102 – 127
8. Michelle Craven – USA – 37 – 92 – 129
9. Michele Mayberry – USA – 37 – 118 – 155
10. Sylvia Tremblay – Canada – 59 – 104 – 163
11. Venus Nguyen – USA – 70 – 100 – 170
12. Kary Odiatu – Canada – 74 – 98 – 172
13. Debbie Fowler – USA – 58 – 122 – 180
14. Minna Pajulahti – Finland – 52 – 134 – 186
15. Donna Jones – Australia – 72 – 122 – 194
16. Peggy Sue Barber – USA – 75 – 136 – 211

Filed Under: IFBB

2010 IFBB Ft. Lauderdale Cup – Fitness Preview

November 16, 2010 by Isaac Hinds 1 Comment

This weekend marks the last contest IFBB contest of the year but at the same time, it’s the first qualifying show for the 2011 Fitness Olympia. This is an important show to pay attention to as it’s the first show that will implement the new rule changes in the IFBB Pro League. The new rule places more emphasis on the 2-minute Fitness Routine (2/3 of the score). The routines will also include four mandatory moves… Pushup (of any kind), High Kicks, Straddle Hold and Side Split.

This show has a number of angles to watch. There are a few women competing for the first time as pros and a couple of comebacks. There’s no clear cut favorite for this contest which makes it even more interesting to follow.

The HARDBODY Breakdown:
Peggy Sue Barber – Peggy Sue Barber may not be a name many of you are familiar with unless you’re in the Michigan area. Admittedly, I needed to do a bit of research to find more about her. Peggy Sue turned pro at the 2002 Team Universe Fitness as Peggy Sue Crawford by winning the Medium height class. It’s been a few years since she’s competed so it will be interesting to see how does. Welcome back!

Michelle Craven - Michelle has been at the bottom of the pack in the world of IFBB Figure since turning pro in 2008. She’ll be making the transition to her first pro fitness show at this contest. Michelle has enlisted the help of Fitness International & Fitness Olympia Champ, Jen Hendershott for her choreography. If you’re going to go big why not enlist the help of one of the best? I think she’ll find more success in the Fitness division than she’s seen in Figure. Props for putting together a routine and making the move.

Nicole Duncan - Nicole has one of the best routines in the IFBB and should be one of the women who benefits from the new rule change. She’s always impressive with her twists, turns and tumbling but her conditioning has held her back in the past. She’ll still need to be in shape to hang in the physique department but look for her in one of the top spots. Don’t blink or you may miss one of her many impressive moves.

Tina Durkin - Tina was 7th at the Fitness Olympia this year and will look to get back to the Olympia stage with a top three finish. She’s been as high as 3rd as a pro and will look to match or improve it. Tina brought a better routine to the Olympia than she did to the Fitness International. She benefited from a solid physique so it’ll be interesting to see how the rule change effects her placing.

Allison Ethier - Allison will make the trek from Canada and look to move into an Olympia qualifying spot. She started the 2010 year off with a rocky performance at the Fitness International but has battled back and been consistently in the top 6. She’ll be in the upper 1/2 of this line up and we’ll have to see if she can move up into a top three spot.

Debbie Fowler – Debbie will be making her IFBB debut. She turned pro in her first NPC national show (the 2010 NPC Jr. Nationals) and will look to find similar success as a pro. She was a consistent as an amateur and a welcome addition to the pro ranks.

Ryall Graber-Vasani - Ryall was 7th at the Europa Super Show in Dallas and will look to improve in Florida. She has the potential to be in the top five and could be a contender if she brings a solid routine.

Donna Jones – Donna has been part of the competitive landscape for some time. She had a career high at the 2008 Atlantic City with a sixth place finish. It will be a challenge for her to be in a top spot here but if her routine is solid don’t rule it out.

Tamee Marie - Tammee will be making her IFBB pro debut at this contest. Many women know her as one of the top suit makers in the business. Tammee’s biggest challenge will be to not over perform. She comes out with a ton of energy and a lot of power with her routine. If she can harness that energy she’ll have a successful debut.

Deana Martinez – It’s been a few years since we last saw her compete. She was the runner-up in the 2006 All-Star Fitness Pro and went on to compete in the 2006 Olympia. Deana turned pro at the 2004 NPC Nationals by winning the overall fitness title. She has an incredible physique and should be one of the tops in the physique round (if she brings what she did in ’06). Deana went by Deana Lee if you’re confused by the name. It’ll be good to see her back. She’s my dark horse to shake things up in this contest.

Michele Mayberry - Michele has been trying her hand in the Figure division lately and with minimal success. She has the potential to hold her own here and most of it will come down to the little details of her presentation. Hair, make up, tanning have been things that in my opinion held her back from moving up a spot or two. It’s good to see her back in the fitness division and I think she’ll find more success here than she did in Figure.

Venus Nguyen – Venus will be making her pro debut after turning pro at this year’s 2010 NPC Team Universe. We’ll see how she fairs in her debut. The rule change could benefit her with more emphasis on the routine round.

Kary Odiatu – Kary is another season fitness pro. She’s been competing since 1995 and been up and down in her placings as an IFBB pro. It’s been a few years since we last saw the Canadian fitness pro compete. It will be good to see her back on stage and how the time off suited her. Welcome back Kary.

Minna Pajulahti – Minna will be making the trip from Finland to compete this weekend. She brings a good deal of muscle to the stage and it’ll be interesting to see how she compares to the other women in this line up. Minna’s last competition outing earned her 2nd place at the Arnold Amateur contest. That placing earned her IFBB pro status in Finland and this will be her pro debut.

Sylvia Tremblay - Sylvia has been in the middle of the pack in her last two contests. She’ll look to move into a top spot here and could with the new emphasis on the routines. She made her pro debut at this year’s Fitness International where she placed 13th and her last contest was the Dallas Europa where she landed in 7th. Another Canadian competitor who will look to leave with an Olympia qualification.

Kizzy Vaines - Kizzy is the defending Ft. Lauderdale Cup champion. She came out of no where last year to take the top spot. Her incredible flexibility is impressive to watch when it’s implemented in a routine that flows. The routine Kizzy did last year at this contest left everyone with their jaw to the floor. She’s since changed her routines and that haven’t matched what she brought to this stage last year. If she can bring a similar routine to the stage again she’ll have a good chance at repeating. If we see routines like those in the last couple of shows she’ll be on the outside looking in.

As you can see this fitness event has a number of cool story lines and will be exciting to see who lands on top. On paper… Tina Durkin, Nicole Duncan and Kizzy Vaines could be considered the favorites as they each competed in the Olympia this year. Can one of the rookies keep them from returning to the stage? How about the many comeback ladies, might one of them find their way into the top three? We’ll find out this weekend.

Follow all the action here on hardbody and on twitter throughout the week. This will be one fitness event not to miss. For more information on the show visit ftlauderdalecup.com. If you’re in the area be sure to check this show out. Shannon and Kristen do a tremendous job with this all women’s event.

Filed Under: IFBB

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