We’re LIVE from the Stafford Centre in Houston, Texas for the 2011 NPC Texas State and IFBB Houston Pro. Follow al the action here and on our facebook page from the event. Those of you on twitter, you can follow the live updates via twitter.com/hardbodynews, twitter.com/MusclePhone and twitter.com/BBcomcontests. Joining in the coverage? Use the hashtag #TXstate and #HoustonPro for the event in all your tweets. You can see what everyone is tweet’n about with that tag by checking out hashtags.org/TXstate and hashtags.org/HoustonPro.

Over 200 hardbody men and women will take the competition stage this weekend in Houston, Texas. The 2011 NPC Texas State will be held in conjunction with the IFBB Houston Pro. This is a special weekend for a new competition in the IFBB… IFBB Wheelchair Bodybuilding. This event alone is worth the price of admission. The men competing in this event are an inspiration and a reminder that we should never have an excuse for staying fit. The newly crowned Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath will be guest posing at the finals. Visit thompsonmusclecontest.com for tickets and additional information.

 

The HARDBODY 411:

IFBB FIGURE:
The IFBB Figure competition has 24 women registered to compete and it will be a competitive show. This is one of the few remaining shows where the top three finishers will qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Next year only the winner qualifies for the event.

The Figure Contenders:
Jelena Abbou continues to streamline her physique for the Figure division. Look for her to bring her tightest, smallest physique to date. If her booty is down in size, which I think it will, look for her to be in the mix. She’s a top model and looks to be a top competitor.

Teresa Anthony is the one to beat in my book. Teresa has worked her booty off, literally, and become one of the top physiques in the Figure division. I like the look she’s brought her last two shows and if she does it here I see her as your winner. Teresa has one win under her suit and looking to make it win number two.

Krissy Chin has improved her physique over the years and should be a contender here. Look for her to be in the hunt for a top three finish.

Alea Suarez successfully made the switch from bikini to figure and found herself in the 2011 Olympia. She’ll look to make a return trip and has a chance to do so at this show. I like how Alea has polished her presentation, become more relaxed on stage and continues to refine her physique.

Natalie Waples was an Olympia participant and will look to do so again. She’s up and down in her placings and could be in the top spots or on the outside looking in. We’ll have to wait and see how she compares to the other women.

I really like the look of Ginette Delhaes and would like to see her in the mix a bit more. She’s been bringing a better look with each show but always seems to be on the outside of the top spots. We’ll see where she fairs this weekend.

A number of fitness competitors have entered the show and I think it’s a smart move, why not try to qualify if you’re already in shape? Props to them for showing up and helping make this a good show. Agree with the top picks or will someone else be in the hunt for a top three spot not mentioned?

IFBB PRO BIKINI:
There are only a disappointing nine women entered for this event. Which means 1/3 of the field will qualify for the Olympia. It’s a fairly stupid move, in my opinion, for more women not to be at this event. Next year only the winners qualify for the Olympia and there’s only a handful of shows left where the top three qualify. Props to the women who were smart enough to enter this event.

The Bikini Contenders:

Barbara Bolotte is a hottie with a body that is contender in every show she enters. I look for her to be in the top callout and compared for a top spot. She competed in the Olympia and will look to make her way back again next year.

Tawna Eubanks will be making her pro debut in her home state of Texas. She’s continued to improve her physique and if she has the muscle to compare with the pros look for her to be in contention.

Roya Tehrani will look to improve from her pro debut and I see her being in the top three at this show if she does. She turned pro by winning the overall title at this year’s Team Universe.

Christina Vargas has one of the craziest work schedules and if she can find time to rest her body and come in poised with her presentation look for her to be in the hunt. She finished in the top three at the Phoenix Pro and will look to do so again here.

Potentials:
Gabriela Cardosa won her class at the 2011 Arnold Amateur and calls Brazil home. She’ll be one of the taller competitors on stage and will tower above most of the women here. It will be her pro debut and we’ll see how she stacks up. She could be the surprise of the show.

Skye Taylor made her pro debut last weekend in Florida and will try her hand at round two. I like her overall look and she could be in the mix here.

Nicole Moneer-Guerrero has fun on stage and had her best finish in her pro career last week with a fourth place finish. She looked good however I wouldn’t have her in the top five on my scorecard. We’ll see where she finishes here with a different set of judges. Of course she’s looking to move up one spot to head to the Olympia.

Janet Harding has been more selective in her shows this year and with the added rest her body could be better than ever. Janet’s come a long way since her early shows but will have her work cut out for her at this show.

Nicole Coleman has shed a ton of muscle and really brought her physique down since her figure days. The biggest thing for her will be her presentation. She has a tendency to “angry pose” where she over does each move. If she can relax and pose with a little more poise she’ll move up.

DATE / TIMES:
Friday, Oct 14, 2011 7:00 pm – Check-in, weigh-in, & meeting at the Stafford Centre
(No late weigh-ins)
Saturday, Oct 15, 8:00 am – Check-in and prejudging
Saturday, Oct 15, 5:00 pm – Night show check-in, live judging, and trophies

LOCATION:
Stafford Centre
10505 Cash Rd.
Stafford Tx. 77477
Stafford Centre directions

HOST HOTEL:
Courtyard by Marriott
12655 Southwest FWY
Stafford Tx. 77477

FRIDAY Competitors Meetings:
NPC Athletes Meeting
7 pm Stafford Centre

IFBB Athletes Meeting
7 pm Marriott Courtyard

SATURDAY AM PRE-JUDGING SCHEDULE
(National Qualifier)

NOVICE WOMEN ( one class )
OPEN WOMEN ( one class )
NOVICE MEN ( Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight )

OPEN MEN ( Bantamweight, Lightweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Super Heavyweight )

IFBB Pro Wheelchair

MASTERS WOMEN ( over 35, over 45 )

MASTERS MEN ( over 40, over 50, over 60, over 70 )

TEEN MEN

MEN PHYSIQUE (Class A, Class B )

FITNESS ( two – piece )

FIGURE TEEN

FIGURE ( Class A, Class B )

FIGURE MASTERS ( over 35, over 45 )

BIKINI TEEN

BIKINI ( Class A, Class B )

BIKINI MASTERS ( one class )

IFBB Pro Figure
IFBB Pro Bikini

2011 IFBB HOUSTON PRO FIGURE / BIKINI

FINALS
2011 NPC TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN FITNESS ROUTINES

IFBB PRO WHEELCHAIR ROUTINES / CONFIRMATION SCORING

TEEN MEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

IFBB PRO WHEELCHAIR AWARDS

TEEN WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS / AWARDS

TEEN WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS / AWARDS

NOVICE MEN BODYBUILDING
LIGHTWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
MIDDLEWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS MEN BODYBUILDING
over 40 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 50 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 60 ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN BODYBUILDING
over 35 ROUTINES / AWARDS
over 45 ROUTINES / AWARDS

NOVICE WOMEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

OPEN WOMEN BODYBUILDING
ROUTINES / AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
over 35 AWARDS
over 45 AWARDS

WOMEN FITNESS
AWARDS

MASTERS WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS / AWARDS

MEN PHYSIQUE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS

OPEN MEN BODYBUILDING
BANTAMWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
LIGHTWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
MIDDLEWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT ROUTINES / AWARDS

WOMEN FIGURE
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL TURNS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS

WOMEN BIKINI
INTRODUCTIONS / MODEL WALKS
CLASS A AWARDS
CLASS B AWARDS
CLASS C AWARDS

IFBB WOMEN BIKINI AWARDS
INTRODUCE ATHLETES, INDIVIDUALLY, TWO-PIECE SWIMSUITS, ACKNOWLEDGE AUDIENCE WITH A HAND WAVE, AS EACH ATHLETE COMPLETES HER INTRODUCTION, THE ATHLETE WILL THEN WALK TO DESIGNATED DIAGONAL, ONCE ALL ATHLETES ARE ANNOUNCED, AWARDS ARE GIVEN WITH ENTIRE BIKINI CONTINGENT ON STAGE, WHEN TOP FIVE ATHLETES HAVE THEIR AWARDS, GIRLS DISSOLVE INTO CLOSEST WING, TOP FIVE REMAIN ON STAGE FOR PHOTO

IFBB WOMEN FIGURE AWARDS
INTRODUCE ATHLETES, INDIVIDUALLY, TWO-PIECE SWIMSUITS, ACKNOWLEDGE AUDIENCE WITH A HAND WAVE, AS EACH ATHLETE COMPLETES HER INTRODUCTION, THE ATHLETE WILL THEN WALK TO DESIGNATED DIAGONAL, ONCE ALL ATHLETES ARE ANNOUNCED, AWARDS ARE GIVEN WITH ENTIRE FIGURE CONTINGENT ON STAGE, WHEN TOP FIVE ATHLETES HAVE THEIR AWARDS, GIRLS DISSOLVE INTO CLOSEST WING, TOP FIVE REMAIN ON STAGE FOR PHOTO

NPC BIKINI OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC MEN PHYSIQUE OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC FIGURE OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC NOVICE MEN OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION
NPC OPEN MEN OVERALL COMPARISON / PRESENTATION

The IFBB Houston Pro Bikini had a relatively small turn out and I’m surprised more women didn’t throw their heels into the mix. The show had good lighting, a great venue and it was a chance to qualify for the 2011 Bikini Olympia. Promoter Lee Thompson put on a top notch event and one that deserves more support from the pros.

The Hardbody Breakdown:

The Texas cutie with spunk and sass, Shelsea Montes cruised to her first IFBB Pro Bikini win. I’ve seen her a bit tighter with her conditioning but she was the clear winner in this line up. She was confident, comfortable and presented with ease. Shelsea has come a long way since turning pro and proved that the little details like hair, makeup and presentation can really help a competitor shine.

Natalie Pennington has exotic good looks however I wouldn’t have had her in the top three. It’s nothing personal against her as she does have a nice look from the front. When you turn the competitors around Natalie doesn’t have much a booty. Personally I would have had her in 4-6 range as I feel a competitor should be competitive from the front and the back. She ended up in the runner-up position and will head back to the Olympia next Fall.

Vanessa Prebyl presented her best look to date and it earned her an Olympia qualification. I would have had Vanessa in second but there’s no shame in third. She has a good look and presented her physique better than she had in the past. Job well done.

Michelle Lamb ditched her Detroit Pro suit for a much better one and it definitely helped. She’s one of the smaller competitors on stage and has a great backside. Fourth place was a justifiable spot fo her in this line-up. If she can put on a little size to her frame and continue to refine her presentation she could crack the top three.

Barbara tied with Michelle for fourth but was relagated to fifth in her pro debut. I would have placed Barbara in third and contending with Vanessa for a second place spot. She had the looks and body to do well in the pro ranks. She had one of the best booties, if not thee best, in the entire show. Could it have been a little tighter? Sure but I still would have her in the top three. Look for her to be in the mix for any show she enters.

Beth White improved from her previous outings and was competitive here. If she presents her physique a bit better with more poise and confidence she could move up.

Janet Harding. Oh Janet, what do we do with you? She’s persistent and has entered more pro shows than any other competitor. Will she ever crack the top 3? Probably not but she continues to bring her best and if she’s having fun reaching her own personal goals then rock on.

Khanh has a great physique and has found a suit cut that conceals her often over-powering boobs. I’m not sure there’s much more she can do to improve and it will be a constant battle for her to crack the top spots. It’s no knock on her it’s just a testament to how competitive the bikini division has become.

Visit Bodybuilding.com for contest photos.

IFBB Houston Pro Bikini results:
1. Shelsea Montes*
2. Natalie Pennington*
3. Vanessa Prebyl*
4. Michelle Lamb
5. Barbara Bolotte
6. Beth White
7. Janet Harding
8. Khanh Nguyen

*Olympia Qualified
** Tie

The 2010 Houston Pro Figure turned out to be a showcase of future figure stars and veterans alike. When the dust settled it was Courtney West who proved to have no problems in Houston.

The 2010 Houston Pro Figure line up had women sport’n a little more muscle than we’d seen in prior shows. Courtney West, Teresa Anthony and Monica Specking were in a tight race for the top spot. The show ended up being decided by one point with Houston’s own Courtney West getting the nod. I don’t think you’d get many arguments from those in attendance if Teresa would have left with her first pro win. Teresa’s conditioning was a little sharper than Courtney’s but both looked worthy of the top call-out. Courtney showed an act of kindness rarely seen in an industry often filled with selfishness. She donated her entire winnings to help fight Breast Cancer.

Monica Specking showcased great lines, a tiny waist and was still on point coming off her overall win at the NPC Nationals, just one week prior to the contest. She has the best shape in the entire line up and continues to improve. I look for her to get an invite to the Arnold (Figure International) as past NPC National champs have in the past. She proved she can hold her own in the big league and qualified for the Olympia her first time out.

Rounding out the top five were Katina Maistrellis and Kim Sheppard. Katina was in top form and narrowly missed out on a return spot to the Figure Olympia. Kim Sheppard made her pro debut on the same stage she earned pro status. Look for her to be a contender to the top five every time she enters. She’s balanced, poised and has a great look.

IFBB Houston Pro Figure Results:
1. Courtney West
2. Teresa Anthony
3. Monica Specking
4. Katina Maistrellis
5. Kim Sheppard
6. Amy Vetter
7. Carin Hawkin
8. Krissy Chin
9. Rosalind Vanterpool
10. Raechelle Chase
11. Sandie Ward

Check out photos from the show on Bodybuilding.com.

Follow all the action from 2010 NPC Texas / IFBB Houston Pro. I’ll be covering all the action live from the Stafford Centre and give you an inside look at the event. If you’re in the Houston area, come on out and join us. Visit ThompsonMuscleContest.com for ticket info.

I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and Hardbodynews. Ron will be using @RonAvidan. Those of you tweeting about this weekend’s event, use the hashtag #Houstonpro. You can see what everyone is writing about related to the Houston Pro at hashtags.org/houstonpro.

If you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and my opinions through out the weekend. We’ll also be posting photos on our Facebook Page throughout the weekend.

COMPETITOR Lists:

IFBB HOUSTON PRO FIGURE:
1 – Anthony, Teresa
2 – Chase, Raechelle
3 – Chin, Krissy
4 – Maistrellis, Katina
5 – Sheppard, Kimberly
6 – Specking, Monica
7 – Vanterpool, Rosalind
8 – Vetter, Amy
9 – Ward, Sandie
10 – West, Courtney

IFBB HOUSTON PRO BIKINI:
1 – Bolotte, Barbara
2 – Harding, Janet
3 – Lamb, Michelle
4 – Montes, Shelsea
5 – Nguyen, Khanh
6 – Pennington, Natalie
7 – Prebyl, Vanessa
8 – White, Beth

The IFBB women are back on stage for the first time since the 2010 Olympia. Today’s Houston Pro marks the debut of a number of women and they could be a dominant force. This is the first 2011 Olympia qualifying show of the year and the pressure will be off for six women (the top three in each division qualify for the ’11 Olympia).

This show will be a good one to watch as there are no big “names” in the line up. This makes the show a little more interesting as you never really know who will be on their game and be in the mix.

In Figure,  Teresa Anthony is coming off an impressive showing at the Olympia. She narrowly missed the top six and is looking to get a qualification here. She’ll be an x factor here depending on what package she presents on stage. If she’s on the money like Vegas, she could be the one to beat. Raechelle chase made the trip from New Zeland and has been on a new diet. We’ll see if it pays off later today. Krissy Chin is coming off an Olympia showing and looking to return to the big dance next year. She’s refined her physique with the help of trainer Kim Oddo over the last few months and continually improving. Katina Maistrellis has the luxury of competing in her home town, which makes things far less stressful for show time. She’s qualified for the Olympia before and will look to once again. Rosalind Vanterpool has a great physique but carries a lot of muscle, will she hear a similar story once again? Sandy Ward will have her work cut out for her in this line up.

While half of the field has been on stage a number of times the other half will be hitting the pro stage for the first time. Kim Sheppard was on the same Houston stage a few weeks ago where she turned pro at the JR USAs. Monica Specking is wasting no time getting in the big leagues. She took home the overall Figure crown at last week’s NPC Nationals. Amy Vetter won her height class but lost the overall to Monica last week in Atlanta. She’ll look to avenge her loss and make a name for herself in the IFBB Pro League. Courtney West was the overall winner at the NPC USAs earlier this year. She too has the luxury of competing in her own backyard and should have quite the crew cheering in the audience.

Typically the NPC National Figure winner has done better in the pro division over the NPC USA Figure champ. Will this hold true today as Monica and Courtney square off against each other? We’ll find out today.

IFBB HOUSTON PRO FIGURE:
1 – Anthony, Teresa
2 – Chase, Raechelle
3 – Chin, Krissy
4 – Maistrellis, Katina
5 – Sheppard, Kimberly
6 – Specking, Monica
7 – Vanterpool, Rosalind
8 – Vetter, Amy
9 – Ward, Sandie
10 – West, Courtney

I’m surprised more bikini pros didn’t throw their heels in the mix of this show. It would be a perfect opportunity to qualify for the Olympia and enjoy the holidays. Khanh, Natalie and Shelsea are all coming off the inaugural Bikini Olympia. I like Shelsea “six-pack” Montes in this line-up as she has some of the best sass and a body to match. The rookie, Barbara Bolotte has a great look and I could see her landing in the top three here. She won her class last week at the NPC Nationals and will be one to watch today. Janet Harding gets the award for the most bikini shows in a year. I lost track of how many shows Janet has done. What will she bring to the stage this time? Michelle Lamb has one of the best bikini butts in the Pro division, the problem in Detroit was her suit. If she brings a different suit and filled out a little bit she could be in the mix here. Khanh Nguyen struggled earlier in the year to get in the top spots but found her groove heading into the Olympia. Her biggest issue was concealing her large boobs. She has a good physique and with the right suit cut too much boobage won’t be an issue. Natalie Pennington has an exotic look but her issue is from the backside. Her booty is a little flat and in this line-up she’ll have an uphill battle to get in the top 3. Vanessa Prebyl has a nice physique and if she can bring confidence to the stage and in her presentation she’ll be a top contender. Beth White found success in the NPC and will look to match it here. This will be her second pro show.

IFBB HOUSTON PRO BIKINI:
1 – Bolotte, Barbara
2 – Harding, Janet
3 – Lamb, Michelle
4 – Montes, Shelsea
5 – Nguyen, Khanh
6 – Pennington, Natalie
7 – Prebyl, Vanessa
8 – White, Beth

Next week I’ll be heading to the NPC Texas State Bodybuilding, Figure, Fitness and Bikini Championships in Houston, Texas. The event will also play host to the 2010 Houston Pro Figure & Bikini Championships.

When:
October 23, 2010

Pre-judging: 9am
Finals: 6:30pm

Where:
Stafford Centre
10505 Cash Road
Stafford, Texas 77477

Special Guests:
IFBB Pros Victor Martinez & Stacey Thompson

For more information visit: thompsonmusclecontest.com

DOWNLOAD THE PHOTO ORDER FORM (PDF). Bring this with you to the show.

As of October 13th this was the list for the IFBB Pro competitions. Ladies, SEND IN YOUR CONTRACTS! This is a chance to qualify for the 2011 Olympia and a great venue to do it at.

HOUSTON PRO FIGURE:
Teresa Anthony
Raechelle Chase
Krissy Chin
Katina Maistrellis
Courtney West

HOUSTON PRO BIKINI:
Michelle Lamb
Beth White

Erin checks in one more time before the finals to share her thoughts from how things went this morning. This is a great look at what happens before, during and after prejudging. She shares what she was thinking and a few details most never know about… until now.

AUGUST 29, 2009 – Showtime
So, the internet is back on. Thanks goodness, my hands were getting tired typing on the micro-keyboard!

I was very nervous for my one piece. I have been trying to fix my back pose and don’t know if I got it right on stage. The call-outs went well and I think I’m in the top five!!! We all go backstage for the two piece. I feel so much more comfortable in my two piece and I’m starting to settle in. I get word that my make up looks dark and muddy on stage and I scramble to figure out how to fix it. I grab a wet wipe and take off all of the foundation and put it back on…still splotchy!! The girl there doing make up is awesome and even she can’t figure out what the heck I’ve done.  She tries to powder my face and it gets muddier. OMG!!!! (Here comes the part where simple issues become bigger problems when you’re depleted). I just threw more bronzer on top and tried to focus on getting ready for the two piece round.

We’re all lined up and I’m excited again. All of the girls look so gorgeous and some of us giggle about trading abs, shoulders, etc. Before walking out, I take a deep breath and remind myself to walk slowly, turn slowly, and hold my poses…”it’s not a race..”

I got first call out! We turn and turn, and my left leg starts to fall asleep as we hold our poses on the side of the stage. I think, “what if my leg gives out when I start to walk.”  Thankfully, it doesn’t I take a quick sneak peak at the other girlsand wonder what they’re thinking as they stand, smiling too.

Well, pre-judging is over, and I’m starving! Even though we’ve been here for a few hours, it went by so quickly. We all go backstage to pack up and head out to get a little rest until the night show. I meet up with my sister and we’re on the way to H-E-B for some sushi and caffeine!!!!

Talk to you soon!!

This gives you an idea of what it’s like to be a top contender at an IFBB figure show. Erin was excited to get some food in her tummy and shared her excitement in the pizza aisle of the grocery store.

Teri Turner has a front row seat for the action taking place at the IFBB Houston Pro. Checking in via her iphone, here’s how she breaks it down. Teri reports in saying it looks like the show is between Heather Mae French and Erin Stern. When asked which one she’d pick for the win Turner responded with, “I love them both. They both look really good.” I told her she isn’t running for political office and needed to pick a winner. When pressed for an answer she said, “I’d have to go with Erin then.” She also noted that, “Krissy Chin looks her best yet.”

We’ll see how things play out tonight but the top spots belong to:

• Erin Stern
• Heather Mae French
• Krissy Chin
• Merzia DeGuzman
• Katina Maistrelles
• Rosa-Maria Romero
• Tivisay Briceno
• Nicole Pitcher-Scott

Our roving photographer in Houston, Teri Turner snapped these pics of rookie Christina Vargas. Christina turned pro earlier this year at the NPC Jr. Nationals and is making her IFBB debut today in Houston. Check out the abs on her…

We continue to tail along with IFBB Figure Pro Teri Turner as she makes her way around Houston. Check out the latest photos.

Teri tells me she is front and center for the show. The pros will take the stage this morning for the prejudging. Stay tuned to see how things shake out.

Leave it to Erin and Dewy to find a blinged out armadillo. The duo continue to explore Houston and shared these pics.

Erin takes the stage today in hunt of her first win. We’ll see if posing with the blinged out Armadillo was good luck or a curse on the rising figure star.

IFBB Teri Turner continues her adventures in Houston and has allowed us to tail along. She shares a few more photos from her day.

Stay tuned as Teri provides more tailings and a few tales from Houston.

Teri Turner was roaming around last night and found new IFBB Figure Pro Candice Houston on a bike. Houston is appropriately making her pro debut in where else? Houston, Texas. Candice was finishing her last cardio session when Teri caught up with her.

Turner has dubbed her fellow rookie “Can Dance” for reasons unknown… maybe it’s because Teri dances like Elaine on Seinfeld and is envious of her skillaz. Speaking of… Turner does have an uncanny resemblance to Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Check back for more Turner Tailings from Houston. If you run into Teri ask her to do the dance.

The final competitor list for the IFBB Houston Pro Figure contest is in via IFBBpro.com. Twenty-one women will hit the stage this Saturday but only three will qualify for next month’s Ms. Figure Olympia. Who do you like for the top spots?

2009 IFBB HOUSTON PRO FIGURE LINE UP
Susanne Bock
Tivisay Briceno
Krissy Chin
Michelle Craven
Meriza DeGuzman
Heather Mae French
Sabrina Gibson
Candice Houston
Allison Jones-Williams
Jacqui Jarrett
Katina Maistrelles
Petra Mertl
Karen Mullarkey
Hazal Nelson
Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Rosa-Maria Romero
Sherlyn Roy
Denise Starling-Steele
Erin Stern
Laura Stutter
Christina Vargas

Post your top 5 in the comments below and if you get them in EXACT order we’ll ship you off a prize package with various supplements. All entries must be in BEFORE 8am (CST) Saturday morning. If there are identical picks for top five the first one to post wins.

This weekend’s Houston Pro Figure contest marks one of the last chances to qualify for the Figure Olympia. Three women will qualify for the Olympia in Houston. The list continues to grow and I look for a couple more to jump in before it’s all said and done. As of August 21st, this is the official list from IFBBpro.com…

Susanne Bock
Tivisay Briceno
Krissy Chin
Michelle Craven
Heather Mae French
Candice Houston
Jacqui Jarrett
Katina Maistrelles
Petra Mertl
Karen Mullarkey
Hazal Nelson
Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Rosa-Maria Romero
Denise Starling-Steele
Erin Stern
Laura Stutter
Christina Vargas
Allison Williams

Candice Houston and Christina Vargas will be making their pro debuts, wasting no time jumping into the pro ranks. Christina turned pro at the NPC Jr. Nationals in June, while Candice achieved pro status last month at the NPC USAs. Stand-outs, at least on paper, have to be Heather Mae French and Erin Stern. Both women have been on top of their game lately but have completely different physiques. Krissy Chin has also steadily moved up her placings and will most likely be a contender at this show again. Another IFBB Figure Pro who has been in the mix lately is Rosa-Maria Romero. Don’t be surprised if you see her in the top callouts as well this weekend.

The numbers continue to increase for next weekend’s IFBB Houston Pro Figure contest. Tony Blinn from IFBBpro.com shared the newest list with me today. This is shaping up to be a solid line-up. Christina Vargas is wasting no time jumping into the pro ranks coming off her class win at the NPC USAs last month. I know more women will enter this contest and I look for it to be over 20 competitors come show time.

Official competitor list as of today:
Susanne Bock
Krissy Chin
Michelle Craven
Heather Mae French
Jacqui Jarrett
Katina Maistrelles
Petra Mertl
Karen Mullarkey
Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Denise Starling-Steele
Erin Stern
Christina Vargas

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern isn’t content with a runner-up position. While she was beyond ecstatic to qualify for the Olympia and place second behind a very good Jessica Paxson-Putnam, she wants more. Erin tells me she will be entering the Houston Pro Figure show with her sites set on the number one spot. You have to admire the competitive spirit Erin brings to the stage and the look she continues to refine.

Erin has to be considered a top contender going into this show but anything can happen. There are currently only 8 competitors slated to compete but look for his number to increase before show time.

My good man Tony Blinn over at IFBBpro.com has posted Houston Pro photos from the figure one and two piece competitions. Check out the competition from the lense of photographer, Mark Mason. Mark is a good guy out of the upper west side of the United States. He does work on his own as well as for bodybuilding.com.

Did you miss the action that went down earlier this month in Houston? Check out the photos on the IFBB web site to see a bit of what you missed. It sounds like we’ll be seeing another showdown in the heart of Texas next month when Tracey, Shannon and Erin (the top three in Houston) all return to the Europa Super show.