Props to Ed and Betty Pariso for stepping up their game this year. The Expo moved to a smaller spot in the Dallas Convention Center and it is MUCH, MUCH better. They laid carpet on the floors between the sponsor booths which may not seem like a big deal but makes a huge difference. It cuts down on the noise and brings everything together.

The lighting for the stage was improved greatly and it made a huge difference in not only the photos but also how the judges could see the competitors. The background changed from previous years as well as the Orlando show, which was a welcome one in my eyes. There seems to be plenty of shuttles going to and from the hotel to the venue.

While the pro prejudging did last a long time, it was because of the sheer number of pro competitors. I’d LOVE to see the one piece suits removed from the pro ranks. It seems like a waste of time for the judges and spectators alike. You can’t hide anything in the two piece and it has made the NPC shows go much quicker.

I like that the finals start early this afternoon and we should get finished at a decent time. Visit bodybuilding.com for photos throughout the day from prejudging and the finals.

The IFBB Figure ladies took the stage last night and it is a tight battle for the top five. There was no real showstopping physique in this show, which made for a few challenging comparisons.

Figure comparisons in Dallas.

Based on the call-outs and comparisons last night it looks like Jenny Lynn will take home top honors. She was definitely improved from Jacksonville but still not to the winning form she was as Ms. Figure Olympia. We’ll see if she can continue to refine things and bring her best physique to date in Vegas. Many in the audience felt Krissy Chin brought the best package to the stage and I wouldn’t argue much. She was at her best and the change in hairstyle from Jacksonville was a good one. Her physique was best I’ve seen her as a pro and will most likely land in the runner-up position. This would be her best placing as a pro and her first trip to the Olympia stage. The third place spot looks to be locked up by Meriza DeGuzman. I’ve seen her tighter from behind but this is the best we’ve seen her on stage this year and it should be enough for an Olympia qualifying spot.

The remaining spots are a crap shoot on how they will go. You have Alicia Harris who looks good and continues to find her stride in the pro ranks. I like her looking hard but the judges knocked her down for that look. Her posing from the back needs a bit of work as one shoulder is always up. It’s her first year and she’s doing well. Look for her to be somewhere in or near the top 5 here. Siobhan Tewari has a great physique with a tiny waist. She is definitely a standout in the lineup and I see her in the top five tonight. Amy O’Neil looked much improved from her pro debut and found herself in the mix of a top five spot. She may be just on the outside looking in of it but a good showing for her.

Katina Maistrelles made her debut here and should find herself in the top ten but not quite there for a top five spot. Alicia Marie also made her debut and look for this to be her last figure show. I look for Alicia to take the rest of the year off and move into the bikini division next year. I could be wrong but don’t rule it out.

There were a number of competitors who came in way too hard and weren’t in the top callouts because of it. Those of you doing Houston… I wouldn’t use this show as a measuring stick. The judges can only judge what is in front of them and overall the look here will not, in my opinion, do well in other shows. Again, just my opinion.

MY TOP SIX PICKS: (based on the call-outs)
1. Jenny Lynn
2. Krissy Chin
3. Meriza DeGuzman
4. Siobhan Tewari
5. Alicia Harris
6. Amy O’Neil

Check out the prejudging photos on bodybuilding.com of the comparisons and individual shots. The finals will take place this afternoon and we’ll see how accurate I am in my picks. Check back here for more info and follow the results on TWITTER @hardbodynews.

The big fitness story out of Dallas, Texas this weekend is the return of Adela Garcia. The IFBB Fitness Pro has been absent from the competitive stage since the 2007 Ms. Olympia due to a knee injury.

Adela flying high in Dallas.

FITNESS PREJUDGING
It had been nearly two years since she was on stage but you wouldn’t know it by the way she took the stage. Sporting a new hair color and the tiny, tight package we’ve grown to love. Adela had the look of determination on her face and there was a slight look of fear at the beginning of the 45 seconds. That quickly went away when she shook her booty to a solid performance. I look for Adela to be in the top 3-4 in the 45 second routines and will most likely win both physique rounds. There was a slightly noticeable difference in Adela’s injured leg, particularly from the back but it won’t be enough to keep her out of the top spot tonight. The question will be how it stacks up next month at the Olympia.
Bethany Wagner brought an improved look to the stage and pushed Adela in both the one and two piece. She had a balanced physique and it was one of her better showings in the physique rounds. Her 45 second routine fell a little flat in my opinion and could ultimately knock her out of the top three where I think she sat after the physique rounds.

Myriam Capes looks to be in a good position going into tonight’s show to be top three again. I had her in the 3-4 position in the physique rounds and top 2-3 in the 45 second routines. She’s got a little swagger to her on stage and she impressively refined her physique over the last couple years. Her routine has some incredible difficulty and I look for her to land in second tonight.

Nicole Duncan is in the driver’s seat for an Olympia qualification. I have her in the 3-4 position in the physique rounds and 3-4 in the 45 second routines. If she nails her 2 minute routine tonight I see her nabbing the 3rd place spot. She brings good energy to the stage and is a solid performer. Remember the two routine rounds count for 1/2 the overall score so it can make or break a competitor.

Michele Mayberry could sneak into the top 5 as she brought a whole new look to her physique and had a solid routine. This is the best I’ve seen Michele look on the pro stage.

Jo Marriner will win the 45 second routine round, at least from my perspective. She has incredible control over her moves and pulls them with ease. Her only downfall is her physique isn’t at the level of the others here. Jo always has a good time entertaining and knew coming into this that she probably wouldn’t match up in the physique rounds but more than makes up for it in the routine rounds. Her winning the routine rounds could cause some problems for others who faired well in the physique rounds.

The rest of the pack…
Kristina Rojas was definitely in shape and flexed her quads a bit too much, something I think head judge Sandy Williamson will advise her not to do in the future. She had a solid routine and will be in the top 6-8 spot. Maggie Blanchard came in waaaay too hard and will find herself at the bottom of the pack because of it. Speaking of being too hard I spoke with more than one judge who said the competitors were too hard at this show. Those of you planning on competing at the Atlantic City show, do NOT come in shredded at least in my opinion. Nita Marquez debuted and it wasn’t her best showing but she brought solid energy in the 45 second routine. Mandy Polk has yet to find her stride as a pro. She didn’t come in conditioned and her routine wasn’t at the level it needs to be, in my opinion. I hope she can team up with someone on her diet plan and return to the form she had as an amateur.
The finals will take place this afternoon and we’ll see who comes out on top. Going into tonight this is how I would have my top 5, based on routines AND physique rounds.

MY TOP FIVE PICKS
1. Adela Garcia
2. Myriam Capes
3. Nicole Duncan
4. Bethany Wagner
5. Michele Mayberry

Check out photos from the physique rounds as well as a few 45 second routine round photos on bodybuilding.com. Props to Ed and Betty Pariso for improving the lighting, which makes the competitors look much better.

**Note these are only my opinions and not necessary how the judges of the show will see things.

Tonight the IFBB Pros will take the stage in Dallas, Texas for the IFBB Europa Super show. First, all athletes will check-in at the host hotel (Grand Hyatt) and get their competitor numbers. The action gets started tonight at 6pm CST at the nearby convention center.

I arrived yesterday afternoon and reminded that I strongly dislike the Dallas airport. Things are spread all over the place and it’s easy to get lost, but then again that’s me when I haven’t had enough sleep. I get spoiled with the Denver weather and no humidity. Those of you coming to Dallas get ready for a hot, humid one today as it’s set to be around 95 degrees. The people are friendly at the host hotel and I have to chuckle when asked, “Where ya’ll from?” The host hotel is nice and the rooms are clean with comfortable beds. The only downside to the host hotel is their restaurant or lack there of. It’s to be expected that hotel food is going to be overpriced but this hotel prides itself on fried, fast things at least in my opinion. I did have a nice chicken quesadilla that was quite tasty and only $8 vs $14 for a burger.

I heard from a few competitors. Some are ready to rock and others were stressed because of delayed flights and getting in late. Stay tuned for updates on here as well as Twitter @hardbodynews. Photos from the event will be posted on bodybuilding.com after prejudging tonight.
Good luck competitors!

Hardbody.com approved make up artist, Laurie St. Michael will be in Dallas for the Europa Super Show this weekend doing hair and makeup. If you’re competing and looking for someone who is top notch, she’s your girl. When I spoke to Laurie today she told me she had three opening left for the show. Laurie’s worked with many of the top pros and is one of the most accommodating people you will find.

If you’re interested in Laurie’s services EMAIL HER HERE and tell her HARDBODY sent ya.

The final competitor lists are in for the Europa Super show. Thirty-two women will take the stage for Friday night’s prejudging. Three Olympia qualifications are up for grabs in each division.

Who will take home a qualifying spot and find themselves in next month’s big dance? Let’s hear your predictions. Anyone who gets the top five in exact order will get a hardbody gift pack loaded with goodies.

Competitor lists as of last week:
FITNESS
Maggie Blanchard
Myriam Capes
Nicole Duncan
Adela Garcia
Stefanie Irick
Laticia Jackson
Amanda Marinelli
Nita Marquez
Jo Marriner
Michele Mayberry
Leslie Rae Newton
Mandy Polk
Kristina Rojas
Siene Silva
Bethany Wagner

FIGURE
Tivisay Briceno
Tonya Burkhardt
Krissy Chin
Michelle Craven
Meriza DeGuzman
Consuelo Rojas Figueroa
Alicia Harris
Jacqui Jarrett
Jenny Lynn
Katina Maistrelles
Alicia Marie
Amy O’Neil
Cynthia Sharp
Siobhan Tewari
Sue Upson
Rosalind Vanterpool
DJ Wallis

We’ll be there covering the action all weekend. Follow updates here and on Twitter @hardbodynews.

Look for more women to be added to the Europa Super show figure lineup when it’s all said and done. Three women have contacted me and informed me they would be entering the show. Alicia Harris, Amy O’Neil and Krissy Chin. This certainly mixes things up and adds more depth to the contest. Stay tuned for the final list of competitors which should be out soon.

This weekend the IFBB Figure and Fitness ladies will take the stage again in Dallas, Texas. The top three in each category will qualify for the Olympia.

Adela Garcia will be on stage for the first time since the 2007 Fitness Olympia. We’ll get a look at her physique and see how she’s recovered from her knee injury. Amanda Marinelli competed in the Jacksonville figure as her IFBB debut but will make her fitness debut at this show. Also making their fitness debuts will be Nita Marquez and Jo Marriner. Both women bring solid routines to the stage and will be fun to watch. Nita is a firecracker and brings a very animated and energetic routine. Jo Marriner will undoubtedly wow the crowd with her amazing strength and gymnastic abilities. Make sure you’re in attendance for the routine rounds at this show because there will be some great ones. You can’t forget about Myriam Capes who also has an incredible routine and is already qualified for the Olympia with her placing at the Orland Pro earlier this year. Nicole Duncan is another contender with a balanced physique and solid routine.

Alicia Marie and Katina Maistrelles will be making their pro debuts in the figure competition. Alicia turned pro at Team Universe last year while Kat took her class at NPC Nationals. Meriza DeGuzman will look to take down the competition and qualify for the Olympia while Jenny Lynn tries to find her stride again. The field is fairly evenly matched going into this show with no odds-on favorites to take the top spots. This should make for an interesting show.

Competitor lists as of last week:
FITNESS
Maggie Blanchard
Myriam Capes
Nicole Duncan
Adela Garcia
Stefanie Irick
Amanda Marinelli
Nita Marquez
Jo Marriner
Michele Mayberry
Leslie Rae Newton
Kristina Rojas
Siene Silva
Bethany Wagner

FIGURE
Tivisay Briceno
Tonya Burkhardt
Michelle Craven
Meriza DeGuzman
Consuelo Rojas Figueroa
Jacqui Jarrett
Jenny Lynn
Katina Maistrelles
Alicia Marie
Siobhan Tewari
Sue Upson
Rosalind Vanterpool
DJ Wallis

We’ll be there covering the action all weekend. Follow updates here and on Twitter @hardbodynews.

Thanks to Richard “cheese” from bodybuilding.com for getting a few videos posted from Dallas. He’s been working like a madman to post several videos Ron Avidan and I did at the Europa Supershow. Check them out on bodyspace.com

Will Monique Minton turn pro this weekend? She stands a great chance of nabbing one of the top two spots. She’ll be battling Alicia Marie again in the tall class. Keep your eye on Monique you’ll be seeing her in the magazines very soon.

Individual photos of each competitor are featured on the homepage of IFBBpro.com. The ladies continue to be featured on the site and thanks to Mr. Ben Weider and Tony Blinn for their continued efforts online.

Bernadette shines at the top.

Some individual shots of each fitness competitor are on IFBBpro.com. Thanks to Tony Blinn for the continued coverage of the females in the industry.

Looking for the full results from the weekend’s competition? Click on over to IFBBpro.com where my man Tony Blinn has posted them for the world to see. Congrats to all who dieted for this show.

Jennifer Sedia made her debut tonight and was in top form. Great symmetry, good conditioning and nice muscularity placed her in the top callout. She is in a tight race for the win with last week’s Tampa Pro winner, Nicole Ball. Nicole looks good but next to Sedia she loses ground in her symmetry. I’d give Sedia the win tonight and Ball in second. Klaudia Larson is in great condition and has some crazy bicep peaks. I’d give her the nod for third. I liked Benni Lopez’s overall look.

The heavyweight was between two women and every one else. Sherry Smith should receive the top spot as she was the most conditioned and balanced competitor. Kim Perez has awesome shape, tiny waist, great back but lacks hamstrings. These two were above and beyond the rest. Look for Annie Riveccio in third.

The competitors completed their check-in and are getting all dolled up for tonight’s prejudging. Shannon was gimping around and will be competitor #35 for the Figure. Her and Tracey Greenwood were horsing around as usual. I chatted a bit with Paola Almerico and she looked noticeably different in the face, much healthier look to her than I’d seen in any of her previous shows. Jelena Abbou had her game face on and is looking to qualify for her first Olympia this weekend. Amy Peters was in the house and ready to take the stage her home state of Texas. The competitors will go over to the venue around 4pm.

The two stooges horsing around at check-in.

There are tons of other events happening at the hotel and the place is a mad house. The rooms are nice but kinda funny. I need a ladder to get into the bed but the dresser drawers are built for midgets. The breakfast buffet was a bit pricey at $16 but had a healthy menu which is helpful. It was stupid humid here yesterday but today it’s cloudy and rainy. Many people have had delayed flights and while the rain has stopped for now it’s still extremely cloudy.

That’s it for now. Check out a few photos on Bodybuilding.com in a couple hours from the check-in and make sure you catch the webcast tonight.

Fitness that is. Shannon sustained a knee injury about a week ago and has been trying to let it heal. She had hoped to topple Tracey Greenwood this weekend but it wasn’t meant to be. Shannon will instead compete in the Figure competition where she was the winner last year. Yes, Shannon will now be defending her figure title in Dallas. Rumor has it Greenwood has a few voodoo dolls that she is taking out her Olympia competition one by one – no truth to it of course. When asked Shannon how it felt she told me, “it sucks”. She was given the go-ahead to compete in the figure competition late last night from Chairman of the IFBB Pro League, Jim Manion. Shannon will look to qualify in figure this weekend and if she does she’ll have the luxury of doing fitness or figure at the Olympia. The only competitor who has qualified in tomorrow’s lineup, to date, is Paola Almerico. Stay tuned for more info from Dallas throughout the weekend.

No, she won’t be competing this weekend however fans of Jen Hendershott can meet her this weekend at the Isatori booth. Jen will be on hand for the Europa Super show to not only work but will be on the receiving end of an award. If you’re interested in meeting one of the top IFBB fitness pros in the biz you can find her at the expo on Saturday.

There is going to be a major shake up in the fitness and figure competition at this weekend’s Europa Super Show. Stay tuned for complete details in the morning.