2011 IFBB Jacksonville Pro Preview

This weekend in Jacksonville, Florida Gale Ellie and 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson play host to a NPC and IFBB Pro event. The show is held in a great venue and always a well run event. The women’s IFBB pro competition will be one of the last chances to qualify for the Olympia. Defending Olympia Champion Erin Stern will be competing in this year’s show and it’s one of the rare opportunities fans can see her compete other than the Arnold and Olympia.

The HARDBODY Breakdown of the Jacksonville Pro show. Three Olympia qualifications are up for grabs in each division. It is possible that we see a fourth person head to the Olympia in the Figure division since there are three women already qualified for the big dance. If I was a gambling man I’d say who ever finishes in fourth will head to the Olympia because of that rule.

IFBB FIGURE:
Tiffany Archer - She missed the top five last weekend and was relegated to 6th. If she finishes in the top five here, I’d consider it a win. This is a tougher line up than last week though so we’ll have to see how she matches up.

Stefanie Bambrough - Cute woman but struggles to come in conditioned. If she matched the physique she brought when turning pro she could be in the mix but we have yet to see her nail it as a pro when it comes to her conditioning.

Michelle Bates - Michelle is one of the taller competitors and with Erin Stern in the show I think it could help her. She has a nice look and many times looks to big next to some of the shorter competitors. She has yet to get inside the top 10 as a pro but I could see her doing it here.

Holly Beck – Holly has the pressure off her as she qualified last week in Hartford. She’ll have her work cut out for her to return to the top three here but look for her to be in the top five.

Sherma Dillard-Del Tergo - Sherma competed in this show back in 2008 and finished in the dreaded 16th position. We’ll see what she brings to the stage this time around and she’ll need to be much improved in order to hang in this line up.

Catherine Holland - It’s been some time since we’ve seen Catherine on stage. She’s switched up her training and is working with a new trainer. Will the results of this switch up be prevalent this weekend?

Tara Hollingsworth - Tara earned her IFBB Pro card at the Master’s Nationals in Pittsburgh last month and will waste no time competing as a pro. If she tweaks her posing a bit from that show it could help her. We’ll have to wait and see how she matches up with the seasoned vets.

Candice Keene - Candice was second earlier this year at the Europa Orlando, a show many people felt she should have won. I look for her to be in the first call-out and in the mix for a top three spot. The only way she’s not top three is if she comes in off. I don’t see that happening but one never knows.

Petra Mertl - Petra has steadily improved and will look to move into the top five spots here. It won’t be easy and I see her being in the middle of the pack when it comes to placings here.

Kristen Nagrani – Kristen is already qualified for the Olympia and showed she can hang in the big leagues. I look for her to be in the top five here and wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in the money placings. I have her sitting in third and if Keene comes in off she could leap her for the runner-up position.

Vicki Nixon – Vicki keeps coming back and gets an award for persistence. That said I think she’s in the deep water here and will have to strive for being her personal best as her award.

Marie Ann Newman – Marie Ann could make run for the top three if she brings a tight backside. I see her finishing in the top five but cracking the top three will obviously be her goal. She could technically head to the Olympia if the top three are already qualified. It’s highly possible we see her on the Olympia stage if she finishes in fourth behind Stern, Keene and Nagrani which I see happening.

Marie Pierre Ripert - Marie will need to come in way tighter and sharper than her last couple of outings if she has any chance of cracking the top 10 here. I don’t see her in the mix of a top call-out but we’ll see what she’s done in her time away from the stage.

Erin Stern – Unless something drastically goes wrong this is Erin’s show to lose. She’s the defending Figure Olympia champ and her physique is in a league of it’s own. I don’t see her scoring anything but straight ones. My money is on Stern for the win as she warms up for her Olympia title defense in a few weeks.

Gina Trochiano – Gina was in the top five last week and will look to return and move up here. She has the ability to hang in the top call-out if she hits her posing and her conditioning is on. She’ll have her work cut out for her to get into the top three but don’t rule it out.

Patrice Vignola – Patrice will make her IFBB debut after earning pro status at this year’s Team Universe contest. I don’t see a top five finish in the cards for her but never say never

I’m going with the following as my top three predictions.
1) Erin Stern
2) Candice Keene
3) Kristen Nagrani

I’m surprised the field for this show isn’t at least twice the size given the number of IFBB Bikini pros in the mix now. While it’s not the largest line up, it will be competitive. Here’s how I se it going down.

IFBB BIKINI:
Jaime Baird – Jaime has found her groove and will make the drive from Orlando to compete in her first show since her victory at the Pittsburgh Pro. I look for Jaime to leave Jacksonville with her second pro victory and head into the Olympia with some momentum.

Deborah Denio – Deborah will try her hand at Bikini after competing as a Figure pro. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen her on stage so who knows what type of physique we’ll see this weekend. She competed in Figure back in 2004 and 2005 but was out of the money there. She finished out of the top spots years ago and will have a challenge to be in a top spot here. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings back to the stage.

Kristin Gomes - Kristin has competed in the Figure division so we’ll see how she fairs in her switch to bikini. I don’t see her in the top call-out but hey anything is possible.

Marissa Renee Lee - Marissa turned pro at the 2011 Team Universe and has a great look. I could see her being a contender in the top five if she brings the same look she did when she turned pro. She could be the dark horse to shake things up in the show.

Lisa Lutz – Lisa turned pro at the 2011 Team Universe event and this will be her pro debut. She trains with IFBB Figure Pro Nicole Wilkins and she’ll hope some of her mentor’s mojo will rub off on her. I see her finishing in the top five and challenging for the top three.

Dayna Maleton - Dayna isn’t on the “official” list but I’m told will be competing. She has one of the best booties in the bikini biz and has steadily found her mojo on stage. When she presents calm, cool and collected she’s great. I like the look she brings to the stage and if she can leave the nerves behind look for her to be in the mix for a top spot. I look for her to be in the first call-out challenging for a top three finish.

Nicole Moneer-Guerrero - Nicole has polished her posing since turning pro and tightened up her physique along the way. She’ll need to be at her all time best from the back side to finish in the top three here.

Samantha Morris - Sam has struggled with coming in tight enough to hang in the top spots. We’ll see if she can come in tighter here and if she doesn’t she’ll be relegated to out of the top five.

India Paulino - India was a little off at her IFBB Pro debut a few weeks ago. If she can bring her swagga back she’ll be in the top three here. I think she’ll do it and head to her first Olympia.

Tianna Ta – Tianna narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympia at the Tampa Pro. She’s brought a tighter, rounder booty to the stage and ditched the shakes she showed earlier in her bikini competitions. I look for her to be in the top three and challenging for the top spot.

I’m going with this as my top three in the bikini division..
1) Jaime Baird
2) India Paulino
3) Tianna Ta

Prejudging will take place on Friday evening in Jacksonville and the finals will be Saturday. Visit dexterjacksonclassic.com for more info on the show and check back for coverage throughout the weekend.