Things will heat up this weekend in Culver City, California as 27 IFBB Figure Pros take the stage in hopes of not only bragging rights but also an Olympia qualification. While the list below isn’t final it’s a good indicator as to who we’ll see in the event. There’s no clear cut favorite for the win which will make for an interesting show.

Based on previous outings, we could see these women in the mix… Victoria Adelus continues to refine her physique and if she comes in full she could be in the mix. Krista Dunn could fair a bit better here than in other shows as she carries a fair amount of muscle and many of the women in this line up do as well. Wendy Fortina had success earlier this year at the Governor’s Cup and will look to be in the top spots once again here. If she brings a similar look she could. Allison Frahn wasn’t at her best at the Detroit pro but a couple of weeks have passed since then and she should come in better here. She always seems to be in the mix here so don’t be surprised if she’s in the top five once again. Monica Labriola has a great physique and a bit shorter than some of the others here. She’ll need to come in a bit tighter than others and could be in the top spots if she does. Michele Mayberry has been all over the map in her placings but brought a nice look last year. We’ll have to see what she brings this year. Laurie Schnelle found a nice balance in Pittsburgh and the judges took a liking to it. This will be a different set of judges and different line up so no telling if she’ll find similar results. She does have a solid physique that can hang though.

If you’re a gambler then you’re likely to wager on the contest being between Camala Rodriquez and Francine Sablan. Camala was recently married and if that didn’t disrupt her prep you’ll see her in the top call-out. Francine Sablan has the home turf Cali advantage and likely a bit more determined than others. She was snubbed on an Arnold invite and this will be the first time we see her on stage this year. If she brings the look she did last year she’ll be in the hunt for the win. The big question is if she will come in sharp enough her first time back on stage.

2013 IFBB California Pro Figure
Victoria Adelus
Leah Berti
Clarissa Castaneda
Krista Dunn
Dawn Fernandez
Wendy Fortino
Allison Frahn
Maria Garcia
Cristina Gedang
Erin Harding
Rose Hendricks
Elizabeth Jenkins
Christine Kluger
Monica Labriola
Georgina Lona
Michele Mayberry
Julie Mayer Hyman
Queren Pacheco
Alessandra Pinheiro
Tiffany Radzwill
Camala Rodriquez
Francine Sablan
Jill St. Laurent
Laurie Schnelle
Tamara Sedlack
Michelle Shepherd
Bojana Vasiljevic

More info visit musclecontest.com and use the hashtag #CALPRO in all your tweets.

The first IFBB Pro qualifier will take place on May 18, 2013 in Charleston, South Carolina. Over 450 National Physique Committee (NPC) competitors are expected to compete. Promoter Tres Bennett always takes great care of the competitors and the venue, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, is one of the best. It’s such a great venue that Bonnie Raitt and Jason Aldean will be performing in it the night before.

Those checking into the host hotel, take note that parking could be challenging on Friday night because of the concert. The venue is across the parking lot from the Embassy Suites hotel, which makes it convenient for competitors. The area around the venue continues to grow. There are numerous restaurants, a Super Wal-mart, shopping and more all with-in a five minute drive. The venue is about 10-15 minutes from the airport, which is also convenient. If you have some extra time head into Charleston and enjoy some amazing seafood. The character of the city is rich in history and worth visiting.

The show will be dominated by the Bikini, Figure and Men’s Physique divisions. Sadly, there looks to be fewer than 10 total fitness competitors entered in the show. It’s unfortunate to see these numbers so low as one of these women will leave with IFBB Pro status. Another sign of the times and the change that is happening is the Women’s Bodybuilding division. There were only TWO (2) female bodybuilders entered in the competition. There is no pro card for the division but still, it’s very telling what’s in store for the division. When competitors don’t enter, women can’t expect promoters to continue to add it to their shows.

Expect to see around 40 Women’s Physique competitors. Making the transition from Figure to Women’s Physique will be Kelly Diffenderfer. She’ll be one to watch in this division on Saturday.

Over 120 women will compete for pro status in the Bikini division and it’s always a competitive group. There will be six height classes and the winners of each class will be compared for pro status. Three of the six will be awarded pro status. Some shows each class winner and even the top two achieve pro status but this one you’ll need to win not only your class but also be one of three in the overall comparisons. The C and D class typically have the largest turn out and this year will likely be the same. Sundae Marshall, Patrice Lee-Seyon and Kadie McDuffie are potentials in the C class. Names like Hayley Davis, Trang Grider, Siliana Gaspard, Michelle LaCost and Paige Hathaway will likely all be in the D Class and ones to watch. Keep an eye out for Whitney Wiser in the E division and Callie Bundy in the F class. Tina Elias and Asia Mendoza are also two contenders in the F class.

The same holds true for the Figure competition and well over 100 women will compete for pro status. Camille Clarke has a unique look and continues to improve her physique in the F Class. Look for the 2012 NPC Music City Muscle Classic overall winner, Ecko Johnson in the F Class as well. She came up just short of pro status at last year’s NPC Nationals and has the potential to win the whole show this weekend. Familiar names like Michelle Moody and Tara Zito will be in the hunt of the E class. Brooke Merritt and Lacy Smith could be contenders in the B Class. Lacy Smith has really improved over the last year and was the overall figure champion in Sacramento earlier this year.

We won’t know who is in the show until late Friday night so there could be any a number of women who enter and could be your next IFBB Pros.

PHOTOS AND VIDEO
If you’re looking for official video of the competition you can purchase it through Mark “Money” Mason. Official NPC stage photos can be viewed and purchased through LIFT Studios.

WHERE:
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5001 Coliseum Dr. North Charleston, SC 29418

WHEN:
FRIDAY MAY 17, 2013
Location: CONVENTION CENTER

ATHLETE CHECK IN / WEIGH IN
9:00AM-11:00AM or 5:00PM-7:00PM
MEETING ROOM 6 AND 7

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

SATURDAY MAY 18, 2013:
Location: PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
DOORS OPEN TO PUBLIC 8:00AM

PREJUDGING: 8:30AM
FINALS: 6pm

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

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

*THESE TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

The women of the IFBB Pro Women’s Physique division will be back this weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana. The show was added late to the schedule and little mention has been made about the contest. Despite the lackluster promotion for this pro event, twelve women are listed to compete.

Last year’s stand out Karina Nascimento will be on stage for the first time this year to see if she can pick up where she left off in 2012. Karin Hobbs will look to get back in the winner’s circle and should be a top contender. Jennifer Robinson tends to fair better in the southern shows and could be in the top spots here. Venus Nyguyen was in the top placings in California last month but will have her work cut out for her in this lineup. If Toni Perdikakis comes in tighter with her conditioning, specifically her lower body she could be a contender. Sheilahe Brown will be one to watch as she’s one of the bigger competitors in the division. She’ll either be at the top or very bottom.

2013 IFBB Optimum Pro Women’s Physique
Candrea J Adams
Evageline Belton
Sheilahe Brown
Tycie Coppett
Samantha Hill
Karin Hobbs
Karina Nascimento
Venus Nguyen
Toni Perdikakis
Jennifer Robinson
Joele Smith
Lindy Waid

The IFBB Pro League will head to Detroit, Michigan for the 2013 Powerhouse Classic. The event will feature Figure, Bikini and Men’s Physique. The three divisions that seem to be the most popular and drawing the most entrants as of late. This weekend has strong numbers and should be a competitive show.

FIGURE
Heather Nappi appears to be making the switch from Bikini to Figure for the first time. Look for seasoned veterans to be in the mix for the top spots… Monica Specking, Gennifer Strobo and Allison Frahn have to be the favorites at least on paper. Look for Dana Ambrose, Natalie Waples, Vicki Counts and Chikonda Mseka to also be contenders. Patty Zariello also showed she can be a contender with her showing last week in Pittsburgh.

2013 IFBB Powerhouse Pro Figure
Dana Ambrose
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz
Summer Bernard
Corinna Booth
Rebecca Book
Chaya Boone
Tammy Bravomalo
Vicki Counts
Allison Frahn
Kenyatta Jones Arietta
Monica Labriola
Julie Mayer Hyman
Chikonda Mseka
Heather Nappi
Kiana Phi
Nina Richter
Nicole Sims
Monica Specking
Gennifer Strobo
Katerina Tarbox
Sarah Venturini
Natalie Waples
Patty Zariello

BIKINI
Bikini has a a competitive group with Courtney King leading the way. She has the momentum heading into this show and will be the one to beat. Ashley Kaltwasser and Stacey Alexander will also be in the mix as they were two and three in Pittsburgh. Francesca Yuml has a unique look that could get the judges attention. Sandi Forsythe and Jessica Renee have the potential to be top five if they come in at their best.

2013 IFBB Powerhouse Pro Bikini
Natalie Abrhiem
Stacey Alexander
Maria Annunziata
Rachelle Dejean
Sandi Forsythe
Heather Gonyea
Ashley Kaltwasser
Courtney King
Vladimira Krasova
Noemi Olah
Jessica Renee
Janet Lynn West
Jaclyn Wilson
Francesca Yumul

The event will also play host to the Men’s Physique division. Look for Michael Anderson and Anton Antipov to be the leading contenders in this line-up.

2013 IFBB Powerhouse Pro Men’s Physique
Michael Anderson
Anton Antipov
Angel Cordero
Deniz Duygulu
Dean Fazzolari
Michael Ferguson
David Gonzalez
Robert Grote
David Herskovitz
Ian Lauer
Chris Mercadel
William Sullivan
Collin Wasiak

For more information visit:
http://powerhousegym.com/events-i-992.html

The IFBB Figure ladies will take the stage today at the Pittsburgh Pro. The competition will be fierce and the show is anyone’s for the taking. We’ll see a combination of seasoned veterans and rookies making their pro debuts.

Dana Ambrose has consistently been in the top five since turning pro, look for her to stay in the mix here. Candice John has been up and down in her placings and will all come down to how conditioned her physique is whether she stays in the mix. Monica Labriola may not be the tallest competitor on stage but she can hang with the best of them. Gen Strobo will look to get back into the winner’s circle and return to the Olympia. She just needs to come in full and not look too hard in the process. Ann Titone has refined her physique over the last few months and positioned herself as a leading lady in this line up. If she brings a similar look as she has in the past count on her being in the top spots. Patty Zariello showed promise in the division last year and could move up from her previous showings if she matches the look she had when turning pro. Jessie Hilgenberg will be one to watch, she stands out with her short blonde hair and as long as her arms and shoulders are too overpowering she could be in the mix.

Swann Cardot and Corinna Booth will look to make their presence known in the pro division. The two will be the rookies on this stage but have the potential to look like seasoned vets if they are at their best.

Follow all the action on twitter with #pittpro and #paPro hashtags.

2013 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Figure
Pittsburgh, PA – May 4, 2013
Dana Ambrose
Summer Bernard
Corinna Booth
Tammy Bravomalo
Swann Cardot
Lauren Cascio
Krista Dunn
Dawn Fernandez
Melissa Frederick
Jessie Hilgenberg
Elizabeth Jenkins
Candice John
Monica Labriola
Amy Pugllise
Julie “DJ” Rengert
Ninamarie Richter
Satrice Rigsby
Agnese Russo
Laurie Schnelle
Danielle Sereluca
Gennifer Strobo
Katerina Tarbox
Ann Titone
Yoko Washington
Tanya Weinle
Sarah Venturini
Patty Zariello

The IFBB bikini pros are back on stage this weekend in Pittsburgh. The line-up is a very competitive one and there’s no odds-on favorite for the win, which should make for an interesting show. Who will show up on their game and who will miss the mark?

Those of you who follow Hardbody know we’re not going to take the easy route and say everyone looks amazing. Yes, all of these women do look great and that’s why they are pros. When you cut the crap and get down to it, there’s a few physique that stand out from the rest and are ones to watch this weekend.

THE HARDBODY 411
Stacey Alexander made the trip from Cali and tends to be in the mix on the West Coast, will she find similar fortune on the East? Gigi Amurao is always in the top 10 contention and if she brings in slightly smaller legs than Daytona she’ll be a contender. Maria Annunziata finished in the top 5 in Orlando but will need to have a better tan and tighter lower body to match that finish. Ashley Cronly Leblanc found her groove at the end of 2012 and will be on stage for the first time this season. Will she be rested and ready or need to clear out the competition cobwebs?

Yarelis Gonzales has the potential to win this show and be a star in the pro bikini division but will she be in shape? She’s her own worst enemy and being a shorter competitor she needs to come very tight or will way look off. We haven’t seen her since December so who knows what she will bring to the stage. Ashley Kaltwasser has an athletic physique and should be a contender, it’s the little details like hair, make-up and tanning that could hold her back. Pollianna Moss has positioned herself as a contender in every show and if she matches the look she had in Daytona she’ll be in a top spot.

Yeshaira Robles is always a contender and the perfect blend of cute and sexy on stage. Look for her to be in the top spots. Aly Veneno will get a true test this time around. She’s been in the top five her last couple of shows but this is a much tougher line-up. If she’s on point she can hang but any misstep and she’ll be on the outside looking in. Lastly, Nicole Witbeck could be a contender. She’s been competing in a number of shows so it will either help her find her groove or take its toll on her body.

The show takes place on Saturday, May 3, 2013 in Pittsburgh. Follow the hashtag #pittpro on twitter and check back here for updates throughout the weekend.

2013 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Bikini:
Natalie Abrhiem
Stacey Alexander
Gigi Amurao
Maria Annunziata
Kelsie Burgin
Becky Clawson
Ashley Cronley Leblanc
Rachelle Dejean
Lacey DeLuca
Cassandra DuBois
Jennifer Elliott
Heather Gonyea
Yarelis Gonzales
Ashley Kaltwasser
Vladimira Krasova
Michon Leddy
Pollianna Moss
Natalie Pennington
Jessica Renee
Yeshaira Robles
Lynn Sambuco
Melissa Sayles
Anna Starodubtseva
Aly Veneno
Nicole Witbeck

The IFBB Pro League is in action once again this weekend and the competitors are showing up in a big way. The newest division to the pros, men’s and women’s physique, are blowing up with entrants. Perhaps it’s because of the addition to the Olympia but whatever the reason, props to them. Over 80 competitors have sent in their contracts to compete at the IFBB Europa Show of Champions in Orlando, Florida.

The event is held in conjunction with a NPC event, growing expo and countless other events. Ed and Betty Pariso continue to grow this event and look for this to be one of the most competitive shows of the year in the Women’s Physique division. Patricia Mello is coming off a win at the LA Grand Prix and the pressure is off her to qualify for the Olympia. She’ll face a much tougher line-up here ad will have her work cut out for her on a repeat. Courtney King will look to move into the winner’s circle in the bikini division after a second place finish in her pro debut. The one to watch that many didn’t seem coming at the Battle on The Beach show is Nicole Witbeck. She has a great bikini body and should be in the top spots if she looks the same as last month.

The Men’s Physique and Men’s Bodybuilding 212 will also be part of the IFBB competition. For more information visit www.europaexpo.com.

2013 Europa Show Of Champions Pro Bikini
Maria Annunziata
Maura Bouchard
Danielle Carr
Jennifer Dawn
Lacey DeLuca
Jennifer Elliott
Ashley Kaltwasser
Courtney King
Nathalie Mur
Sabrina Nicole
Noemi Olah
Jessica Renee
Aly Veneno
Ashley Wade
Nicole Witbeck
Brittany Young
Francesca Yumul

2013 Europa Show Of Champions Pro Women’s Physique
Candrea Judd Adams
Rachel Baker
Evangeline Belton
Cinzia Massaro Clapp
Kristina Curci
Jill Dearmin
Melissa DiBernardo
Amanda Dunbar
Asha Hadley
Amanda Harris
Janet Koehler
Anne Marie Lasserre
Patricia Mello
Frances Mendez
Tiani Norman
Tammy Patnode
Antonia Perdikakis
Audrey Presson
Alecia Rankovic
Danielle Reardon
Jillian Reville
Jennifer Robinson
Leonie Rose
Jill Rudison
Stacy Simons McDowell
Mikaila Soto
Danielle Soucek

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

The IFBB Women’s Physique Division will make its 2013 debut this weekend in Los Angeles, California. The division is the newest addition to the the IFBB Pro League and as this year progresses we should see it develop a bit more than last year. Last year was the first season for the pro division and every show featured a variety of physiques. We saw Figure competitors moving up in size and bodybuilders trying to downsize. Fitness competitors no longer wanting to take a beating on their physique with the routines also tried their hand at the division.

Generally speaking, the Figure pros moving up with a bit more size came out on top. The direction the division headed was a figure competitor with more muscle. This meant more size than a figure competitor but maintaining good shape, balance and symmetry. You’ll also see women who have healthy looking skin and a feminine look place better. This weekend will help set the direction for the division.

Sara Hurrle will not be back to defend her title and will be making her 2013 debut at the new Colorado Mile High Pro show in June. Patricica Mello was runner-up last year and will be looking to take the top spot this year. Look for Tycie Coppett, Karin Hobbs (formerly Kimura) and Jill Rudison to be in the hunt if they are all in shape. Toni Perdikakis can be in the mix if she comes in conditioned as well. Don’t rule out a strong finish by California girl Venus Nguyen either.

IFBB Pro Women’s Physique Competitors:
1. Debbie Barrable (Alberta, Canada)
2. Tycie Coppett (Johns Creek, Georgia)
3. Susan Graham (Paso Robles, California)
4. Keri Ann Heitzman (Portland, Oregon)
5. Karin (Kimura) Hobbs (Boise, Idaho)
6. Anne Marie Kam (Eugene, Oregon)
7. Anne Marie Lasserre (Australia)
8. Leon Leonard (Sacramento, California)
9. Patricia Mello (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
10. Venus Nguyen (Irvine, California)
11. Antonia Perdikakis (Cockeysville, Maryland)
12. Janessa Roy (Manitoba, Canada)
13. Jill Rudison (Venice, California)
14. Stacy Simons McDowell
15. Michelle Trapp
16. Elizabeth White Wilson

NPC prejudging begin at 10am and the IFBB will likely start around noon California time. The show will also feature the IFBB Men’s Physique division. The Men and Women’s Physique Division will be held during the Olympia Weekend for the first time, so every competitor is out to win or finish with points in the Olympia Point Series.

For photos from last year’s show click here.

2012 LA GRAND PRIX RESULTS:
1 Sara Hurrle
2 Patricia Mello
3 Sabrina Taylor
4 Karina Nascimento
5 Stacy McDowell
6 Joele Smith
7 Carrie Simmons
8 CeaAnna Kerr
9 Trish Wood
10 Venus Nguyen
11 Marina Lopez
12 Kris Murrell
13 Donna Jones
14 Tonia Moore
15 Mascha Tieken
16 Irina Veselova

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.

The inaugural Battle on the Beach takes place this Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida. This women’s only event will showcase some of the rising stars in the NPC and IFBB bikini ranks. The NPC portion will feature bikini, fitness, figure and physique. The IFBB portion will feature only the IFBB Bikini division. Ten pros have signed up to compete and while it’s not the biggest line-up of the year it will be a competitive show. Pollianna Moss and Nathalie Mur have both competed at the Olympia but will have their work cut out for them against rookies like Courtney King. Aly Veneno is on a mission for her first pro win and could be the one to beat.

The HARDBODY 411:

2013 Battle on the Beach IFBB Pro Bikini
Gigi Amurao - Gigi turned pro at the 2012 North Americans and wasted no time getting into pro competitions. She finished third in her IFBB debut at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup and followed that up with a fifth and seventh place finish. She’s had a little bit off time off since her last show and it should suit her well. Look for Gigi to be in the top call-out and in the mix for a top three spot here. View her contest photos here.

Maura Bouchard - Maura will be making her IFBB Pro debut after a successful run in the NPC ranks. She successfully petitioned for her IFBB Pro card based on her amateur placings. Maura’s biggest challenge will be coming in full and not looking too stringy. She can look a bit too thin in the mid-section so if she’s able to bring a physique that’s full she will hold her own on this stage. View Maura’s contest photos here.

Courtney King - Courtney will be making her IFBB Pro debut this weekend and has the potential to be one of the rising stars in the pro division. She’s cute and bubbly on stage but not over the top. If she put on a little bit of muscle since last summer and comes in with a fuller look she’ll be in the top spots. Courtney turned pro at the 2012 NPC USAs in Las Vegas. Keep your eye on her, she’ll be one to watch in the months ahead. View Courtney’s Contest photos here.

Michon Leddy - Michon continues to improve her physique from show to show. She has yet to crack the top five but as long as she keeps improving, that’s progress. Michon’s biggest challenge is bringing her backside in tighter. If she can bring a tighter booty and present with a little more curve from the back she could improve on her placings. View Michon’s photos here.

Pollianna Moss - Pollianna turned pro at the 2012 NPC JR USAs and made an immediate splash by winning her pro debut at the Toronto Pro. She’s been in the mix of each show since and was 13th at the Olympia. She’s a shorter competitor with a bit more muscle than others in this line-up. It will be interesting to see how she compares to others as the muscle could either hurt or help her in this show. View Pollianna’s contest photos here.

Nathalie Mur - Nathalie is one of the taller competitors in this group and will be making the trip all the way from France. She’ll need to come in a bit tighter with her conditioning than we’ve seen her in the past. She has the potential to be in the top spots but it will come down to her conditioning and if she presents with confidence. We saw her take the stage with confidence early in her competition career and she’s the one of the only competitors in this line-up to compete in the Olympia. View Nathalie’s photos here.

Jessica Renee - Jessica has a great look and the potential to do well. She was 15th at the 2012 Valenti Gold Cup but a case could be made for her to finish much higher. This will be her second pro show and if she brings a similar look to the stage she’ll be a contender. Jessica will make the trip up from Miami Beach and look for her to be in the top spots. View Jessica’s photos here.

Aly Veneno - Aly was fifth in her IFBB Pro debut last December. She’ll be a likely contender for the top spot at this show. She has a balance physique and isn’t short on confidence when she takes the stage. The only thing she’ll need to watch is not “over posing” with excitement. The has an advantage of the show being in Florida and will be able to avoid airport stress. View Aly’s photos here.

Ashley Wade - Ashley has a healthy, fresh look and catches your attention from the moment she steps on stage. She turned pro at the 2012 NPC Nationals and was in 8th at the World’s Pro in December. If she can bring her legs in a little bit smaller and her glutes a bit tighter she’ll do well here. She has muscular legs which can slightly hurt her placings against the less muscular women. View Ashley’s pics here.

Nicole Witbeck - Nicole will make the trip from California to compete in her second pro show. She’ll be the lone blonde in the line-up and will look to improve upon her 15th place finish at the Muscle Contest Pro Bikini. She turned pro at the NPC USAs and doesn’t have a lot of stage time due to turning pro in her first national show. If she can bring a tighter lower body from her pro debut she’ll be in the mix. View Nicole’s contest photos here.

HOTEL / VENUE:
600 North Atlantic Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 255-4471
plazaresortandspa.com‎

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

FRIDAY
NPC ATHLETE CHECK-IN & REGISTRATION
4:00pm – 8:00pm
Plaza Resort & Spa

SATURDAY
IFBB PRO ATHLETE CHECK-IN & MEETING* *This is the only required check-in & meeting for IFBB Pro competitors
9:30am
Plaza Resort & Spa

NPC ATHLETE MEETING – If you miss this meeting YOU WILL NOT COMPETE!
10:00am
Plaza Resort & Spa
Room TBA

BATTLE ON THE BEACH PRE-JUDGING
*Contest starts with IFBB PRO BIKINI pre-judging
11:00am
Plaza Resort & Spa
Plaza Real Ballroom

RED CARPET PRE-SHOW GALA
5:00pm
Plaza Resort & Spa
Lobby to Plaza Real Ballroom

BATTLE ON THE BEACH FINALS
7:00pm
Plaza Resort & Spa
Plaza Real Ballroom

More information: http://www.npcbattleonthebeach.com