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There’s been some confusion on whether or not the Arnold Amateur event is a National NPC qualifier or not. The Arnold Amateur is only a national qualifying event for the Bikini division. IT IS NOT a national qualifier for fitness, figure or bodybuilding.
March 15, 2010 (Denver) — Performance Ready, one of the nation’s top fitness, figure and bikini competitive teams, has a team member who is fighting for more than a fit figure—she’s fighting for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLC) Woman of the Year campaign. This honor is presented to the woman who raises the highest amount of funds for the LLC during a 10-week campaign.
Last March, Denver resident Ashley Erickson’s husband, Mike, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at just 26 years old. After six months of treatment, Mike is now in remission, and Ashley is working to support Mike and others with leukemia and lymphoma to raise funds to find a cure.
“When Mike was diagnosed, our lives were changed in a matter of seconds, as we went from two healthy people in our 20’s planning our wedding, to preparing ourselves for the hard road of cancer including chemotherapy and radiation treatment,” said Ashley Erickson. “As a candidate for the LLS Woman of the Year campaign, I agreed to this challenge to help fight the blood cancers that have personally affected our family. I want to raise funds to help LLS in its efforts to find a cure for blood cancers and to assist patients and families, like ours, battle this disease.”
Erickson’s goal is to raise $60,000 toward the campaign, which runs through May 14, 2010. She has planned a few events to help raise funds, including:
• Denver Cocktail Party: On March 25 from 7-10 p.m. at Sushi Hai, 3600 W. 32nd Ave, Denver: For a $10 entry fee to be given directly to LLS, guests will enjoy a silent auction, drink and food specials, DJ entertainment and a fun night with friends.
• Final Four Bracket Challenge: Calling all basketball lovers—for a $20 entry fee you will enter into the challenge and the winners will be eligible for prizes. Participation options: send an email to ALB014@hotmail.com to obtain your bracket. Brackets due March 16th.
• Denver Canvas and Cocktails: April 13th at 6:30. Come join us for a night filled with painting and cocktails in Cherry Creek. For $40 you will get your canvas, paint, and a drink to start the night off right. To sign up, please visit: http://www.canvasandcocktails.com.
For more information about Erickson’s campaign, or to donate online, visit: http://rmt.mwoy.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=AERICKSON.
About Performance Ready
Carla Sanchez, C.S.C.S. (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) Pro, is lead trainer and owner of Performance Ready. A former Denver Broncos cheerleader, personal trainer and three-time recipient of the Colorado NPC Trainer of the Year award, she coaches and advises each Performance Ready team member through individualized training programs, diet planning, pre-contest preparation and ongoing team workouts, camps and seminars.
Performance Ready team members are regularly active within the community, participating in activities such as a Toys for Tots drive; a backpack drive for school children; Easter basket delivery to children at The Children’s Hospital; and the Komen Denver Race for the Cure. For more information, please visit www.performanceready.com.
Anyone know which figure competitor this is? She’s currently in the TMZ.com Blonde Bombshell contest.
This weekend the NPC Utah kicks things off with their 2010 Top Form Classic. I’ll be in attendance photographing this event. If you are attending or know someone who is please leave a note in the comments form below or email me, ISAAC@HARDBODY.com.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Dennis Wolf will be guest posing and he’s just weeks out from taking the stage at the 2010 NY PRO. Show info is below and for more information visit: NPCUTAH.com.
March 19th, 2010
Mandatory Weigh Ins & Height Check 3:00pm – 7:00pm West Valley Gold’s Gym
Dennis Wolf Meet and Greet 3:00pm – 7:00pm West Valley Gold’s Gym
March 20th, 2010
Mandatory Competitors Meeting 8:00am – 9:00am Cottonwood High School
Pre-Judging Admission 9:00am Cottonwood High School
Pre-Judging 9:30am Cottonwood High School
Finals Admission 5:00pm Cottonwood High School
Evening Finals / Dennis Wolf 6:00pm Cottonwood High School
Venue Addresses
Cottonwood High School 5715 South 1300 East – Salt Lake City, UT
Gold’s Gym West Valley 3491 West 3500 South – West Valley, UT
For sponsorship or booth space, please call Steve at (801) 687-6409.
Top finisher at the Figure International (6th), Larissa Reis checked in and shared the following note.
Larissa Reis at the 2010 Figure International
I’m very happy and blessed to place in the top 6 in my first Arnold Classic because I come from Brazil and I’m fairly new to the pro show in the US. I missed seeing girls competing from all over the world at the Arnold Classic because I know that there are a lot of girls from other countries who have the ability to compete at a high level. It’s difficult to compete here because it’s expensive if you don’t live in the U.S. and also difficult to be here without all of the proper documents. But nothing is impossible if you have a dream. I came here speaking very little English and I didn’t have any money, but I have been fortunate to have wonderful people around me to support me and help me to become a professional. This year has truly been a blessing; I just recently got a contract with the best company in the world, Nutrex. I’m so happy to have an amazing sponsor. I’ve lived here since 2007, and I feel like I’m representing all the girls, not only from Brazil, but all over the world. That’s why I put the dreads in my hair during the Arnold Classic. I wanted to be like Avatar to represent that I am connected with all of the girls all over the world.
Please feel free to check out my website www.larissareis.net.
See more Figure International photos of Larissa here.
Hello everyone. I Hope everyone is doing great!
I was on a shoot over the weekend for FLEX magazine. Saturday night I went to Sephora and bought eye cream. I thought eh, I might need this one day even though I have never tried or used it! Well thank God I bought it! I woke up Sunday morning and BOOM… PUFFY EYES! EEEK! I’m so glad I bought it. I’m adding this to my list of essentials. Pick up Depuffing Eye Cream By Benefit, it works!
xoxo
DD
What do you think ladies will you be getting a pair?
Female bodybuilders Lauren Powers and Jayne Trcka appear in the newest Lady Gaga video. Download “Telephone” on iTunes. It’s a little bizarre but would you expect anything less from Lady Gaga?
Turn your clocks AHEAD one hour tonight before going to bed. Spring ahead, fall back.
We’re taking a little time to rest and recover from last weekend’s madness. The posts will be few over the weekend but hey we all need to re-charge the life batteries once in awhile. Get out and enjoy the weekend Hardbody peeps.
The IFBB Pro League has the Fitness International women featured on their homepage. Thanks to Tony Blinn for graciously displaying my images on the site from this event. Check em out here.
This is hilarious! The folks at Muscle Milk are doing it once again and this time it’s a rap with manatees and spring breakers. Their Sexy Pilgrim video went viral and gained a great deal of attention, will the Spring Break It Down do the same?
I love it.
Check out springbreakitdown.com to download a coupon and a MP3 of the song.
I ran across these via Sasha Brown, a NPC competitor who is heating up the amateur figure ranks. Pretty handy for competitors and those of you on the go. Check em out.
Ziploc® Zip’n Steam® Microwave Cooking Bags combine the taste and nutritional benefits of steam cooking with all the convenience of your microwave.
Each bag has patented vents that allow food to be steamed under pressure so that it is cooked thoroughly and evenly for quick, healthy, delicious meals.
* Ideal for steaming fresh or frozen vegetables, potatoes, fish, poultry and more.
* Each bag holds 2–3 servings.
* Microwaveable (use as directed).
* No cleanup—simply toss the bag and mess away!
* Microwave cooking means quicker, easier meals.
* Each bag is printed with useful guidelines for cooking times.
You followed Andrea Watson’s journey into her pro debut and now she shares the aftermath.
Wow! It’s taken me almost a week to recover from this past weekend. Geez, I haven’t competed since last May and I forgot how hard this sport is on our bodies! Currently, I feel like a 90 year old woman with a bad tan, swollen ankles, and a bloated belly.
Well, this weekend I was filled with lots of emotions: stress, happiness, sadness and defeat. I’ll get right down to the nitty gritty… When I was standing on stage and didn’t get first, second, or third call out during prejudging I was like, wait a minute… did they forget that I was up here? Did they not see me? It was the most horrible feeling I’ve felt in awhile. I started thinking, What did I do wrong? Was my posing off? Does my booty still look like Beyonce’s? How am I going to recover from this? I went back to my room and was totally tore up inside with a million different emotions! I had never been defeated before.
Brian, my sister Jaynie, her best friend Jane and my coaches gave me quite the pep talk on how amazing I looked, how far I have come and how proud I should be. I was among the best of the best… IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! These women had been competing for years…and me? Less than a year! Most of them had already been to the Olympia, placed first in pro shows and had been at the Arnold before. I started putting things into perspective and I felt much better. Shoot, I looked damn good and there wasn’t anything leading up to that day that I could have possibly done to bring a better package to the stage – that day.
Now, this put me in a better mood and I was actually looking forward to the night show. I was totally thrilled when they called me out with the second group that evening. As I was standing on stage for the finals I debated on whether or not I should reach out and grab Sylvester Stallone and Arnold’s butts (since they were right freakin in front of me) but then I had visions of the secret service men tackling me down and dragging me off stage… now, that would not be the way to be remembered at your pro debut!
As I look back at this past weekend I have two choices: Option 1 – I can let this feeling of defeat eat away at me, feel sorry for myself and half ass the next five weeks of training (my next show is the Europa in Orlando) and come up with excuses of why I can’t do this…or why I can’t do that…. OR, Option 2 – I can look at this as an opportunity to improve myself spiritually, mentally, and physically….DING, DING, DING. Folks, it looks like I’m going with Option 2!
A champion doesn’t always win every fight or battle. A champion continues to get up when they’ve been hit hard, when they are exhausted and when they feel like they have nothing left to give. In my mind, I will always be a winner, a fighter, and a champion because I have and will continue to pick myself up when life decides to throw its little curve balls at me. I can’t sit around and wonder why, or what if – no, sometimes in life we don’t understand God’s plan; however, at the most unexpected times He shows us why.
Hey, being ranked number 9 in the world isn’t too shabby!
So, just because I didn’t come in first place, does that mean that I’m not a champion? I’ll let you decide….
Check out this image of Dianna Dahlgren in the newest Muscle & Fitness issue. Double-D shows how to look fit and sexy. Nice job Dianna!
Dianna provides our weekly modeling tip of the week. Look for Dianna on stage later this month at the MuscleContest Pro Bikini show.
Thanks to Andrea Wilson for the assist on the image.
If you didn’t see the Ms. Fitness International Fitness Routines, you can check them out on Bodybuilding.com until the end of the month. The final placings don’t always reflect what the fans like and that’s ok. We all have our favorites and for a variety of reasons. A few routines were great, many had a few missteps and a couple were well a bit lackluster. I spoke with a number of the women and they mentioned the floor was slippery. My hope is that next year the female bodybuilders go on after the routines. The posing oil from the female bodybuilders was prevalent on stage despite a cleaning crew attempting to wipe it up.
Check em out the full routines here.
Reebook Germany gets into the mix. These booties do not get the hardbody seal of approval. Sorry. They are smaller than the average booty I’m sure but they’ve got a ways to go before they’re hardbody. 
J.M Manion caught up with Sonia Gonzales as she heads into the first IFBB Pro Bikini show in New Zealand. Sonia talks about her switch to bikini and her role as the IFBB Pro rep for the new bikini division.
New Zealand Promoter Moe El Moussawi chats about the first IFBB pro bikini show and more with Sonia Gonzales.
The first IFBB Pro Bikini contest in the United States is quickly approaching. We’ll be there covering the action and reporting on the event. The competitor list continues to grow and it’s shaping up to be a great lineup. If you’re not on the list and plan on competing, send in your contract NOW. The sooner we know who is in the event the better we can do at profiling competitors and generating more interest in this event.
Event Details:
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
Culver City, CA
Prejudging: 11am
Finals: 6:30pm
More info visit: www.musclecontest.com
IFBB Pro Bikini Competitor List:
Dianna Dahlgren
Jennifer Dietrick
Sonia Gonzales
Carol King
Leigh Lingham
Christie Marquez
Natalie Pennington
Zhanna Rotar
As I pack and prepare to leave for Cabo for my wedding, I am checking things off my packing list. Even though we are staying at an all inclusive resort, don’t think that is going to mean I am not bringing my essentials. This weeks tip is to “Always be prepared!”
Regardless of where you are headed or what you “think” will be available, you must always be prepared with your dry, “can’t ever go wrong” essentials such as your protein powder, almonds, and healthy bars! Preparation is the key to success! Hey, did you know that the reason oatmeal tastes so good in Mexico is because they use cream instead of water to prepare it? Yes, that is why I always leave the house prepared and ready with my healthy essentials! You never know what you are getting into, especially when leaving the country!
Gina Aliotti
IFBB Figure Pro
Check out some of the madness from the After-party in Columbus.
Things heated up as the night went on.
As we unwind from a whirlwind Arnold Classic, check out the thousands of photos from the events, expo and more. We’ll be sharing contest reports and a number of other things from the weekend. You can see the photos on Bodybuilding.com from the weekend.
I don’t know whether to laugh or shake my head or maybe both… One of the biggest attractions of the weekend was Snookie from MTV’s reality show, The Jersey Shore. Anywhere she went a mob of people followed.
Snookie at the Arnold Expo
It’s that time of the week again. Muscle & Fitness Hers cover girl, Dianna Dahlgren shares another Monday Modeling Tip.
This week: CASTINGS and CALL BACKS
It is most important to be prepared when going to a casting or when you receive a callback! You want to be prepared at ALL times! Make sure you have your portfolio, comp cards, business cards, agent/ manager information, availability, etc. ALL HANDLED. What happens if you get a call back then you are booked for the shoot date? No point in going then! Always get details from your agent or manager, or point of contact on what the job is. If its a sporty job, then go casual and make sure to have a sports bra and shorts so they can have a better idea of your body. If its a business booking, then go in slacks, button up and heels! Remember appearance is always important!
Good luck everyone!
xoxo
dd
It’s been a crazy busy weekend in Columbus so we’ll chill things out a bit today with UNKLE’s “In A State”. Relaxing…
Back the the rock’n tunes of ACDC. Congrats to all the Champions that were crowned this weekend in Columbus. Some roads were longer than others. Jam out to “It’s a long way to the top” to kick your Sunday off.
Like the 2009 Figure Olympia, Nicole Wilkins-Lee continued to impress the judges with her physique, and won the 2010 Figure International in Columbus, Ohio. Erin Stern looked awesome placing second, while Heather Mae French took third. Mindi Smith, who two weeks earlier, won her first pro contest in her IFBB debut, took 4th.
Here are the complete Figure International results.
1. Nicole Wilkins-Lee ($16,000)
2. Erin Stern ($10,000)
3. Heather Mae French ($8,000)
4. Mindi Smith ($5,000)
5. Felicia Romero ($3,000)
6. Larissa Reis ($2,000)
7. Monica Brant
8. Kristi Tauti
9. Andrea Watson
10. Rosa-Maria Romero
11. Monica Mark-Escalante
12. Latisha Wilder
13. Candice Houston
14. Cristiana Casoni
15. Kim Tilden
15. Krissy Chin
16. Sherlyn Roy
17. Alicia Harris
18. Angela Mraz
