A look at the Orlando Line-Up.

The Europa Super has concluded and the photos are being uploaded to the folks in Boise (bodybuilding.com is where you can see my photos from tonight). I’ll give you my top five predictions and a break down of how I saw it. The fitness isn’t over just yet as the women will be preforming their two minute routines and it counts as 1/4 of the overall score. Going into the night show this is how I see things going down and again, just my opinion.

FITNESS TOP 5 PREDICTIONS:
5. Mindi O’Brien – Mindi I have in fifth for the physique rounds but I have her in second for the 45-second routine. Depending on the scores and how the judges saw it she could be as high as 3rd. I don’t see her placing higher than that but hey stranger things have happened.

4. Erin Riley – Erin is a kick ass performer with a raw, edgy vibe. She’s definitely a rocker when it comes to the routines and I have her in 4th for the routine round. I have her in third for the physique rounds based on how the judges positioned them. Personally, I feel her physique needs to be streamlined a bit. She carries a good deal of muscle and building muscle isn’t her problem. I think her physique needs to come down in size, particularly her back. Get away from the hardcore lifting (which is cool and I dig the power lifting stuff) but not needed at this point. Again, just my opinion.

3. Tina Durkin – Tina I have in second for the physique rounds. She looks a little fuller than she did in New York. It will come down to where she places in the routine rounds. She could be as high as second or as low as 6th in my book. I have her in a solid third going into the final round.

2. Mariam Capes – This Canadian cutie has totally transformed herself from when I saw her first perform at the 2007 Europa Super show in Dallas. I have her in third for the physique rounds and I have her winning the routine round. It’s definitely a battle between her and fellow Canadian, Mindi O’Brien for the 45-second round. Her physique has come a long way in the last two year and her routine shocked the hell out of me. She did a standing backflip like it was no big deal. She held her strength moves as if to add extra emphasis of her abilities.

1. Shannon Meteraud – The fitness momma is back for win number two. I was impressed with Shannon’s 45-second routine and her flexibility. I have her in third for the routine round behind the two Canadian standouts. It was pretty clear the judges have her smack dab in the middle for callouts and will win the physique rounds. Shannon looks to have this one in the bag if she has a solid two-minute routine.

There were some physiques that looks like they belonged as light-weight bodybuilders in the fitness division. There were a couple women who were too skinny or over-dieted, a couple who look like they needed to diet and a few that were middle of the road.

FIGURE TOP 5 PREDICTIONS:

5. Erin Stern – Erin improved her presentation and some of the finer details from the Arnold. She ditched the crown and changed up her heels. She also looked like she stripped a little muscle off since March, not much but a little. I like her physique and I’d put her in the 5th place spot based on callouts. I could see her moving up into a top three spot in a future show.

4. Inga Neverauskaite – We haven’t seen Inga in awhile but she came back looking better than ever. She’s making a run at the top three but I think she is in a solid 4th here. Inga has a good look and I’d have her in third from the read poses but 4th in the front. I’d like to see her compared to 5-7 instead of just the top 3. Great showing by her at this show.

3. Monica Brant – I had Mo in second in the one piece but I have her in third in the two piece. Why? I’m going off from call outs and comparisons. Mo doesn’t have the same detail in her back as the others in the first call out. I could see her getting a few 4th place votes because of it. We’ll see where the judges place her but I see her as high as second or as low as fourth. It looks like Mo will once again not take top honors in a Figure competition.

2. Nicole Wilkins-Lee – She looked great and I have her in a solid second. She might get a couple third place votes but I don’t see her placing any lower than third. Could she win? Anything is possible but I don’t see it this time. You can’t help but continue to look at her when she is on stage. A natural beauty who holds her own in tremendous fashion. A return trip to Vegas (the Olympia) looks like it’s in the cards for Nicole.

1. Heather Mae French – I see Heather winning her first pro show in clear fashion. This is the best I’ve ever seen her look and I’ve seen her compete in a number of shows. YEARS ago Heather was competing in NPC fitness and was a tiny little thang. She’s far from the most muscular but she has added some muscle to her well structured frame and found a winning combination to her conditioning. Heather should take home top honors tomorrow night as well as a qualifcation to compete in the Figure Olympia.

A few random figure thoughts…
Candice Keene is close to a top 5 finish and looked good. She could hold her own in a top five position in future shows. I have her in 6th or 7th. Valerie Haines was at her all time best and will be in the 6-9 spot. I would have liked to see her suit fit a bit different from behind to show her booty and hips a bit better. Great symmetry and she really shined in the two piece. Rachel Cammon had a solid debut and will land in the top 10. She too looked better in her two piece. I would have liked to see her just a bit fuller and if she enjoyed a little meal tonight, she will end up doing just that tomorrow night. No offense to the other women in the second callouts in both 1 and 2 piece rounds but I didn’t see them in those spots. The top five I don’t have much argument with beyond the 6-8 spots it starts to become a toss up. Natalie Waples making her debut seemed better suited for the bikini division as she looked smallish next to the other women. She has a great physique but just not the same level of muscle the others have. Hopefully, the pros will adapt the NPC rule change and just go with the 2 piece as the physiques can’t hide and most of the women looked better in them tonight.

Some women looked like they should hang up the suit and call it a day. Now it’s not my place to say when anyone should stop competing but some of the women’s physiques left me wondering how they turned pro. Overall though it was a solid line-up and a presentable top three heading to the Figure Olympia.