Hardbody – Female Sports, Health and Fitness

IFBB Figure Pro Kathleen Tesori shares her thoughts on her Jacksonville Pro experience.

Improvements and Judging
I made my own prediction on how I would do after pre-judging.  After getting feedback, checking out the physiques backstage and thinking about my own performance I placed myself about 10th and ended up taking 13th. So as for me the judges were spot on and I was just fine with my placing. I improved two placings from the Phoenix show and this show had a much deeper line up.

I have a fair share of improvements to make… My legs and glutes needed to come in a bit tighter, my suit bottoms were big (every detail counts when competition is tight) and my posing was awkward and stiff.

I made major improvements from the Phoenix Pro and felt like I created an “awe” factor in the crowd so I completed two of my goals while at the show. I met many new competitors and got to hang with my friends which is MY favorite part about competing. Meeting the competitors and making a personal connections makes following the sport that much better!

For me following the sport of bikini and figure is like having a fantasy football team or something! I cannot wait to see what happens at the Olympia this year.

Cheat Meal
The night after the show I went to the Cheesecake Factory. For some this is normal but for me this was my first time. I had a few bites of two different flavors of cheesecakes (Red Velvet & Adams Peanut Butter) and they were both delicious. I have always hated cheesecake but both flavors were yummy. I returned home on Sunday, after a 12 hour travel day, I went out for some clean sushi but included a bottle of Saki!!!  I also ate a whole can of my favorite corn!

That is all she wrote for me – I see the weeks after competing as a “clean slate “ a “fresh start”. It is like completing a cleanse and I do not want to see all my hard work go down the drain in a few days.

Transition
Slow and steady… I am doing almost the same amount of cardio this week as I was doing just before the show. Each week I will keep adjusting the cardio sessions down until I get to my normal routine.  This helps my body adjust and allows me to keep the competition look.

This week I am doing two hard workout days and two days of fun classes. Each week I will add a workout back in until I get to my normal routine.  I like to get right back into the gym after a show.  I may not jump back into training right away but like to keep some type of routine going.  I am drinking tons of water and electrolytes to help my body recover from my water depletion.  I am staying pretty clean this week and each week will slowly add new items to my diet.

Post Competition Skin
I finally found a way to get the tanner off using www.bodybuilding.com. Baby oil, a bath and bath gloves are the magical ingredients!  The tanner does not come completely off but it gets to a color that is much better than not using the above ingredients. Wish I would have known about the baby oil trick sooner.

Hope you have enjoyed my journals.

Make it a great day!
Kat
www.kathleentesori.com

There are only two shows remaining before the 2010 Olympia. Next up for the bikini pros is the IFBB Tournament of Champions held on September 11, 2010. There are three qualifying spots up for grabs. We’ll be in attendance to cover the action next month.

Venue:
Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
4117 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

Host Hotel:
Radisson Westside
6161 West Centinela Avenue
Culver City CA 90230-6306
Reservations: (714) 635-9000 Fax: (714) 520-5831

Time:
Saturday, Sept 11th – 11:00am – Prejudging
Saturday, Sept 11th – 6:30pm – Finals

Competitors to date (As of August 20, 2010)
Dina Al-Sabah
Jennifer Dietrick
Sonia Gonzales
Michell Gullett
Rachel Labender
Cathy Miller
Christina Vargas

I ran across a blog on The Dallas Observer today and it’s a perfect example of a writer not taking the time to be accurate in his/her reporting. The author admits he’s never been to a bodybuilding competition and his ignorance shows. Here’s a small sample of what I’m referring to:

By late Saturday afternoon, I’d missed the “Hot ‘Fit’ Moms” competition, but just made it in time for the women’s bodybuilding finals. Called onstage by a white-suited guy brimming with Shooter McGavin sleaze, women from around the world took their turns running through elaborate routines that were equal parts yoga, striptease and gymnastics, in a series of moves to accentuate their unlikely contours. Ripping off a coat to start her routine, German woman woke babies in the crowd with the first beats of her driving techno backing music. An American bodybuilder danced to a club mix of “Over the Rainbow,” skipping onstage with a picnic basket and peeling off her clothes piece by piece, revealing a new Wizard of Oz character costume with each layer.

CJ and Bob backstage at the Europa Super Show.

I did get a chuckle out of Bob Cicherillo being referred to as Shooter McGavin (Happy Gilmore reference) but the author clearly was more interested in Bob’s coat than what he was announcing. There was no professional women’s bodybuilding in the show and the routines he’s referring to are those of Fitness competitors.

Shooter McGavin and KISS impostor.

I don’t know if the author was trying to be funny or just clueless by referring to the Europa Super Show as EuropaCon but I do kinda like the name. I shouldn’t be surprised that “mainstream media” would miss the boat on their coverage however a little ground work can go a long way.

Check out the thousands of photos from the Europa Super Show on Bodybuilding.com. Ron Avidan and I shared the photographic duties through out the weekend. We got ya covered front stage, backstage, the expo and more.

Ms. Olympia Fitness Champ Adela Garcia still has to carry her own boxes.
What up with that?

Yesterday the ladies took to the stage at the IFBB Europa Super show and there were a few surprises. The bikini top three will be Ali Rosen, Nathalia Melo and Amanda Latona. The show is between Latona and Melo who have the best butts in all of bikini. Melo was off her stride a bit from previous shows. Her upper body was a bit too lean, make-up slightly off and the posing we’ve grown to expect and love wasn’t on point. Latona stepped up her game and brought a smaller, slightly tighter physique from earlier in the year and I look for her to take the show. Ali Rosen has a pretty face and sexiness to her and will land in third. I’d still like to see her pose from the front when she comes out for her individual shots. We could see Bianca Binno in the 4th place position and if she does she’ll head to the Olympia. It looks like Monique Minton Ricardo could miss the top five in this show. The top three women are already qualified for the big dance next month.

Amanda and Ali go after Nathalia at the Europa Super show.

Fitness physique portion had Myriam Capes, Bethany Wagner, Shannon Meteraud and Alti Bautista in the first call out. I like Wagner’s physique the best with Meteraud in second. Alti showed she still has it after a six year absence from the Fitness stage. Myriam is in great condition and is in the third or 4th position heading into tonight’s finals. The routines are kicking off the finals at 2:30pm and I look for it to come down to Shannon and Myriam for the win.

Your guess is as good as mine on what was going on here.

The Figure portion of the show had a few surprises when the dust settled. Two of the favorites heading into the show may be absent from the top five. Mindi Smith was way off her mark and resembled nothing like Phoenix Pro or Figure International. She has six weeks to get her groove back if she hopes to be in the top five at the Olympia. Ava Cowan had hoped to improve upon her 4th place showing in Jacksonville but it won’t happen in Dallas. The judges appear to favor Terri Turner for the win in this show. If she does win which I believe she will, it will be her first pro victory. I like Alicia Harris for the win but it looks like she’ll take second. Teresa Anthony appears to have a lock on third place. Josie Zamora could slip into the 4th place spot and if she does she’ll be Olympia qualified since the top three already are. Monica Mark brought a smaller physique and is in the mix for a top five spot but not enough to get into the top three. This was a big show and a number of women showed improvements while others slipped. I saw a number of simply missteps like bad hair, bad make-up, poor tanning and bad suit choice. These may seem like little mistakes but they all add up and count towards the overall look and ultimately the placings.

Alicia and Teresa are gunn’n for number one but will likely settle for second and third.

We’ll see how it all shakes down in a few hours. I’ll provide a full contest report after tonight’s finals.

The fitness routines will kick things off at 2:30 pm at the Europa Super show in Dallas. Follow along on twitter @hardbodynews and @BBcomcontests.

Follow all the action from today’s prejudging at the Europa Supershow Dallas. Keep in mind that I am photographing the show while tweeting, which means I may misspell some things. I’ll do the best I can to keep ya updated & give you an inside look behind-the-scenes. I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and Hardbodynews through out the day. If you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and thoughts as they happen today.

Last night over 100 IFBB pros checked in for the Europa Supershow in Dallas. The prejudging begins at 2:00pm Central time today and it is going to be a monster show. The IFBB Bikini pros will start the show off, followed by the Men’s 202. The Fitness women will only be judged in their 2-piece swimsuit today and their routines tomorrow at the finals. I’ll be photographing the event and tweeting my thoughts and call-outs via follow @hardbodynews and @BBcomcontests. If you’re tweeting about the show use #EuropaTX as the hash tag.

Here are a couple photos from last night.

There are a number of nuns running around the host hotel for another event. It’s an interesting and amusing sight to say the least. The always entertaining Andy Haman was chatting it up with a couple of the lovely ladies and convinced them to hit a couple poses.

Andy & Michelle Haman hit a pose with the Catholic Nuns. Hilarious!

Alti is back on the fitness stage for the first time in 6 years.

Olympia Fitness Champ Adela Garcia representing Jug Nation!

This weekend 14 IFBB Fitness Pros are slated to take the stage at the Europa Super Show in Dallas, Texas. Last year Adela Garcia made her return to competition and took home top honors. Myriam Capes was the runner-up to Adela last year and will look to move up a spot this weekend. Can she do it? Let’s breakdown the women who will be standing her her way.

2010 Europa Super Show Competitor List & Hardbody Breakdown:

Alti Bautista - Alti last competed in 2007 but that was in figure. It’s been SIX years since she competed in fitness. Alti placed 7th at the 2004 Europa Super Show (it was called the Southwest pro that year). She tells me she’s ready to have some fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what she brings to the stage.

Sonja Bruce - Sonja turned pro at the 2005 Team Universe Fitness contest and has only one pro show under her belt. She placed out of the top 10 at the West Palm Beach Pro in 2007 but is back looking to improve upon that placing. We’ll see what she brings and how her physique looks with a little away from the stage.

Myriam “Mimi” Capes - Myriam has positioned herself as a top contender if she’s in shape. I give her mad props for improving her physique over the years. I remember seeing her compete in this show back in 2007 and thought she was a little bulldozer. She’s always had the gymnastic skills and performs a solid routine but her physique has held her back. She’s refined her physique and improved her routines… now the question is can she bring both to the stage at the same time? She wasn’t able to at the Fitness International but did redeem herself at the Europa Orlando. She’s one of the favorites this weekend and we’ll see if she can move out of the bridesmaid spot.

Regiane Da Silva - Regiane puts on one of the most entertaining routines and has some crazy skills. She’ll bring another kick ass routine to the stage but how will her physique look? If she can make the top call-out in the physique round look for her to be in the mix for an Olympia qualification.

Autumn Edwards – Autumn will be making her IFBB debut after turning pro at the 2010 NPC Jr Nationals. She’s one of the taller competitors in the show and has great shape to her physique. I’d like to see her have a different cut to her suit that she wore at the Jr Nationals and come in a bit tighter with her conditioning. Autumn has the potential to make an immediate impact in Fitness and I could see her landing in the top five.

Allison Ethier – Allison will make the trip down from Canada looking to leave with an Olympia qualification. She’ll have her work cut out for her and it will come down to how her physique looks. If she can get a top call-out in the physique round she’ll have a chance but if she’s not conditioned I don’t see her in the top five here. She’s improved since her debut at the Fitness International and can be a contender his weekend if her physique is conditioned.

Ryall Garber-Vasani – She was 9th at this show last year and will look to improve upon it here. She has a nice physique and if her routine has improved she could move up. Ryall may have been a little too hard last year but we’ll see what she brings this year and if she can improve her placing.

Cinzia Massaro-Clapp – This will be Cinzia’s IFBB debut and makes the long trek down from Alaska. I applaud Cinzia for the energy she brings to the stage in the beginning of her routines and she’ll need to maintain it throughout if she hopes to hang in the pros. She always starts strong but seems to get winded and run out of gas the last 30 seconds of her routine. I’m hoping we see a different routine than that of JR. Nationals and Team Universe. One could say well it helped her turn pro so why change it? Fair point. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t get the FEDEX package followed by chipmunk voices. I’m never a fan of when a competitor mouths the words to their music. We’ll see what she brings to the stage this weekend and how she matches up against the season pros.

Stacey McDowell - Last year she told me she was retiring (read the article here) but that didn’t last long. She competed earlier this year at the New York Pro Fitness and placed 10th. I always enjoy seeing Stacey’s display of flexibility but will have to find out why she decided to come back and compete. If she hopes to crack the top five here she’ll need to bring a tight, conditioned physique.

Shannon Meteraud - Don’t count Shannon out just yet. I was critical of Shannon last year at the Fitness Olympia and felt her physique looked tired compared to the other competitors. She’s taken the beginning of this year off from competing and is ready to show the rookies how things are done. Shannon was 7th at the Olympia and took top honors at the 2009 Atlantic City Fitness. This stage has been favorable to her in the past and is the one to beat heading into this weekend’s competition. When the first place name is announced on Saturday afternoon don’t be surprised if Shannon Meteraud.

Daniela O’Mara - This will be Daniela’s pro debut. Name not familiar to ya? It’s because she calls Australia home and many times competitors outside of the United States don’t get the same recognition as the stateside competitors. She competed at the 2010 Arnold Amateur (placing 4th) and in May was awarded her IFBB pro card. We’ll see how she stacks up against the competition here but I like the look of “Australia’s Fitness Princess”.

Traci Redding – We last saw Traci on this stage in 2008 where she placed 13th. She’s able to entertain the hometown crowd with her routines but her physique has hindered her in the pros. She’ll need to bring a streamlined body and a routine that is non-stop action to crack a top spot. Rest assured she’ll have one of the loudest cheering sections in attendance.

Kristina Rojas – Kristina cracked the top five earlier this year at the Orlando Pro Fitness and is looking to match and improve upon it here. She brings a tight, conditioned physique and at times can almost be too conditioned. If she brings a balanced physique with the high energy routine look for her to be a contender here. I like what she brings to the stage and should be in the mix of the top five.

Bethany Wagner – Bethany has one of the best physiques, and arguably thee best, in the competition if it’s conditioned. She has great shape and well balanced. This show will be extra special for her since her fiancé is competing in the 202 Bodybuilding division. I really like her physique and if her routine is on point she’ll be in the hunt for the title.

Follow all the action via twitter this weekend and use #EuropaTX for the tag throughout the weekend. I’ll be photographing the event and tweeting live.

The 2010 IFBB Europa Supershow Bikini lineup has seen a number of changes in the last few days. It looks like there will be 14 women competing in the show but we’ll have to see what the final list looks like on Thursday. This will be a competitive show with a number of women already qualified for the Olympia. It’ll be tough for any women not already qualified to crack the top three in this line up. It’s not impossible but it will be a challenge.

Competitor List & Hardbody Breakdown:

Bianca Binno - She made her pro debut last weekend in Jacksonville and looked great. She’s tall and doesn’t carry a lot of muscle but bikini shouldn’t have too much muscle. I like her Penelope Cruz look-alike-look and what she brings to the stage. She has a very swimsuit type of look to her physique.

Jennifer Dietrick – She was 8th at the Pittsburgh Pro Bikini and 11th at the Muscle Contest Pro Bikini. She has a nice physique and if she can bring better presentation than in her previous shows she could move up.

Janet Harding - If perseverance was awarded in bikini, Janet would be the recipient. She’s competed in nearly every bikini show and has yet to match her 5th place finish in Orlando. She ditched the BAM posing in Jacksonville but still landed in 14th. Can she crack the top five here? My swami crystal ball says no but I’ve been wrong more than once.

Safiya Johnson – The bikini division is definitely a better fit for Safiya’s body than fitness but she’ll need to tighten it up a bit to improve her placings. She was 15th in Jacksonville.

Amanda Latona – She’s one of the women already qualified for the Olympia. Amanda took care of business in her first pro show and the pressure is off going into this contest. She has one of the best butts in the IFBB and is without question one of the most stunning women in the bikini ranks. I’d like to see Amanda bring the stage presence she brought to the FLEX bikini model search contest. It had a bit more sass than she had in her pro debut. She has a little more muscle than some of the other women so we’ll see how that compares in this contest.

Brandy Leaver - Brandy has a baby about 8 months ago. Talk about a transformation! She notched an overall figure win to her belt in Tampa and went on to turn pro at the NPC USAs last month. She has a nice look to her and could be a top contender here. Brandy will make her pro debut on the same stage as her husband, Brandon Curry. Brandon will be competing in his second pro show.

Dayna Maleton – Dayna is one woman who is on the line of figure and bikini. She stopped training and ate junk food to prepare for her last competition. Why? Because genetically she’s gifted and puts on muscle easily. If she ate differently and trained like “normal” she’d likely have a competitive Figure physique. She’s back to try her hand at bikini. The issue with Dayna is her presentation. When she comes out on stage you can tell she is nervous and has a deer in the headlights look to her. If she can put the fears away and rock some confidence on stage she could move up.

Nathalia Melo – The Brazilian Bombshell has set the standard for bikini and remains undefeated. The thing that separates Nathalia from the rest of the competition is her presentation. She’s confident, sexy and not over the top with her posing. The energy she projects isn’t fake or contrived, it’s genuine and it comes across when she presents her physique. She has the face, booty and body for bikini. I look for Nathalia to leave with another win under her bikini and head into the the Olympia as the one to beat.

Nicole Moneer-Guerrero – Nicole will be making her pro debut after turning pro at this year’s Team Universe contest. She has a nice physique and good look to her. I felt her posing was a little much at the NPC Jr Nationals but she corrected that in New York and it paid off. She could be a top five contender here.

Monique Ricardo – Don’t recognize the name? It’s Monique “Momo” Minton. Monique has been in stealth mode the last few months and got married along the way. She’s already Olympia qualified and has the luxury of driving the the show from home. Look for a tighter, smaller Monique than you saw in California. Monique should be in the top spots but it won’t be easy.

Ali Rosen – Ali has been on a winning streak notching an overall win at the NPC USAs and then taking top honors at the Jacksonville Pro. She’s a pretty girl who presents herself in a sexy, cutesy manner. One thing that is a little different than other women is that she never poses straight on when she comes out for her individual poses. I asked her about it and she said she likes to show her best angles. I can’t argue with that but we never get to see her body from the front, only the side. She’ll face a different judging panel than in her last two shows so we’ll see how she fairs against some stiffer competition. Personally, Ali’s physique is a little too soft for my liking but we’ll see what the judges think on Friday.

Alea Suarez – Alea is the opposite of Ali. Alea comes in looking a little too hard. Her skin looks dehydrated on stage. I’d like to see her soften up a bit from Jacksonville and come in with a healthier look to her physique.

Sonya Vecchiarelli – Sonya made her pro debut in Jacksonville and had a few rookie mistakes. She’s a cute girl but it was lost on stage. Her overall presentation was a bit lackluster. Her hair, make-up and overall presentation needs to improve if she hopes to move up. If she can bring some sass to the stage, which she showed when she turned pro at the 2009 NPC Jr. Nationals she could move up. She has everything it takes to be in the mix but needs to put it together and present it on stage.

Nathalie Waples – Natalie is finding her groove since making the switch to bikini. If she can ramp up the energy and presentation this time around she’ll move up.

The top five will be very competitive. Will Ali make it three in a row? Can Amanda Latona top the charts for the first time in bikini? Can Nathalia remain unbeaten? We’ll find out on Saturday afternoon when the results are announced. Follow the action here and on twitter with the hash tag #EuropaTX – I’ll be photographing and tweeting under twitter.com/BBcomcontests

Here are the results from the IFBB Pro Contests held in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, August 7th, 2010.

2010 IFBB Jacksonville Pro Bikini

1. Alison Rosen
2. Jessica Paxson-Putnam
3. Jaime Baird
4. Jessica Jessie
5. Dina Al-Sabah
6. Alea Suarez
7. Vanessa Campbell
8. Diana Fields
9. Juliana Daniell
10. Kat Holmes
11. Bianca Binno
12. Khanh Nguyen
13. Michelle Adams
14. Janet Harding
15. Safiya Johnson
16. Dayna Maleton
17. Sonya Vecchiarelli
18. Amanda Marinelli

2010 IFBB Jacksonville Pro Figure

1. Candice Keene
2. Alicia Harris
3. Gennifer Strobo
4. Ava Cowan
5. Stacey Thompson
6. Josie Zamora
7. Katherynne Ramirez
8. Candice John
9. Ann Pratt
10. LaVonda Ezell
11. Teresa Anthony
12. Holly Beck
13. Kathleen Tesori
14. Elisha Archibald
15. Susanne Bock
16. Sue Upson
16. Tivisay Briceno
18. Kimberle Trowbridge
18. Taylor Condren
20. Viviana Casarubbia
20. Michelle Craven
20. Nicole Coleman
20. Brandie Gardner
20. Jennifer Hernandez
20. Catherine Holland
20. Sara Hurrle
20. Ines Jimenez
20. Danielle Kifer
20. Petra Mertl
20. Jennifer Migliacci
20. Joanne Murphy
20. Emily Nicholson
20. Mikaila Soto
20. Rosalind Vanterpool
20. Christina Vargas

I caught up with one swimsuit cover model and IFBB Pro, Jessica Paxson-Putnam to get the scoop on why she’s switching to bikini. Jessica is one of a few women who have decided to hang up their figure suits and give the new bikini division a try. Here’s what she had to say…

You’ll be competing in Jacksonville again this year but in bikini – why?
I have been competing in figure since ‘04 and have loved every minute of it, but when I heard about the new bikini division I couldn’t help but get excited. I have watched from the sidelines and I like what I have seen! I was ready for a change and just wanted to try something fresh, new, and exciting!

Has it been easier to prep for bikini vs figure?
Honestly, for me it hasn’t been. I’ve still had to diet and train just as hard. Getting in shape doesn’t come easy for me, so prepping for bikini really wasn’t easier at all.

What have you changed in your prep – training/nutrition wise?
My trainer (Mike Davies) and I have added more boot camp workouts, running, plyos, sprints etc.., which has been really fun for me. When I prep for figure I can’t do a lot of high intensity cardio because I worry about losing muscle in my legs. In bikini they are looking for a more overall toned physique, so I didn’t have to worry about that when I was prepping. As far as diet goes, I have done a more protein/fat/veggie diet. That seems to work best for me.

You received an invite to compete in the Figure International but opted to not to compete. Will you look to compete in the Figure International next year or submit for a bikini invite?
I guess that will depend on how I fare in bikini . I would love to stick with the bikini division because I am having so much fun with my training and am happy with how my physique is looking. If I do well, I would love to submit for a bikini invite to the Arnold.

What’s one thing you bring to bikini that other women don’t?
Oh wow, well… I don’t want to sound pretentious, especially since I haven’t even stepped on the bikini stage, but I will say that I am very happy with my presentation and stage presence. I have a dance/cheerleading/gymnastics background… so I am a performer. I love being on stage and I feel like that shows.

Which bikini competitor stands out to you and is the direction you like?
I think all of the top women (who have qualified for the Olympia) are great! I love Nathalia’s sass on stage and think Dianna Dahlgren has a beautiful, marketable look.

How long have you been sponsored by Optimum?
I have been blessed to have been sponsored by Optimum Nutrition and American Bodybuilding since 2005 when I turned pro.

Favorite ON product?
I am LOVING the new Platinum Hydrowhey!

When the results are announced at the Jacksonville Pro, where will Jessica Paxson-Putnam read?
Well, of course I would love to be the WINNER! . Nobody trains for second place , but we will see

Thanks Jess. See ya in Florida.

The 2010 IFBB Jacksonville Pro Bikini contest has a very competitive field. Michelle Adams will return to the stage for the first time in a number of years. She’s another cross-over from the figure division. Bianca Binno, the Penelope Cruz look-alike, will make her pro debut at this event. Late entrant, Sonya Vecchiarelli will also step on the pro stage for the first time. Last weekend’s USA winner Ali Rosen is competing as well. Eighteen women will take the stage this weekend in hopes of securing a qualification to the 2010 Olympia.

For more information on this show visit, dexterjacksonclassic.com.

The 2010 IFBB Jacksonville Pro is shaping up to be one of the toughest figure competitions of the year. For more information on this show visit, dexterjacksonclassic.com. Who do you think will win the show?

The next stop for the IFBB Pro ladies will be Jacksonville, Florida where IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Dexter “The Blade” Jackson puts on his promoter hat. This contest is shaping up to be a very competitive line-up in the figure and bikini division. It’s one of the last chances to get an Olympia qualification. There will be over 30 IFBB Pro Figure competitors and 10 more in the bikini division. The top five in the figure should be a very impressive group.

A few story lines to watch in this event. Ava Cowan, Sara Hurrle and Joanne Murphy will be making their IFBB Pro debuts. Stacey Thompson is making the switch from bikini to Figure. Michelle Adams will be back on stage for the first time in years but not as a figure competitor. She’ll be testing the water in the bikini division. Dina Al-Sabah is back looking to improve upon her Tampa showing. Bianca Binno will be making her pro debut. Jessica Paxson-Putnam will be making the switch from figure to bikini for this competition.

Here’s the unofficial competitor list as of today.

JACKSONVILLE PRO FIGURE
Teresa Anthony
Elisha Archibold
Holly Beck
Susanne Bock
Tivisay Briceno
Vivian Alejandra Casarubbia
Nicole Coleman
Taylor Condren
Ava Cowan
Michelle Craven
Brandie Gardner
Alicia Harris
Jennifer Hernandez
Catherine Holland
Sara Hurrle
Ines Jimenez
Candice Keene
Danielle Kifer
Petra Mertl
Jennifer Migliacci
Joanne Murphy
Emily Nicholson
Ann Pratt
Katherynne Ramirez
Mikaila Soto
Gennifer Strobo
Kathleen Tesori
Stacey Thompson
Kimmy Trowbridge
Sue Upson
Christina Vargas
Josie Zamora

JACKSONVILLE PRO BIKINI
Michelle Adams
Dina Al-Sabah
Jaime Baird
Bianca Binno
Diana Fields
Safiya Johnson
Amanda Marinelli
Dayna Maleton
Jessica Paxson-Putnam

This show is held next weekend in Jacksonville, Florida. Prejudging will take place on Friday August 6th and the finals are Saturday, August 7th.
Visit: dexterjacksonclassic.com for more information.

Check out the prejudging photos from the 2010 Europa Battle of Champions on FLEXonline.com.

Who do you think will win the Figure and Bikini? The call-outs in Figure left many wondering how the final placing would end up. We’ll find out this afternoon when the Finals take place at 2:30 PM EST.

Top four or battling for third?

Three women will qualify for the Bikini Olympia. Who will be odd woman out?

Follow the live coverage from the IFBB Europa Show of Champions Pro show today.

I will be tweeting from the event as well as photographing the action. I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and if you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and get my thoughts on the events as they happen today.

Photos posted from prejudging at FLEXonline.com. Check em out!

Tomorrow afternoon 24 IFBB Figure Pros will take the stage at the Europa Battle of Champions. There are a number of women who have a chance to crack the top five. This will be the first pro show where there is only one round, the two-piece swimsuit.

Terri Turner and Marcy Porter are already qualified for the Olympia. Terri will look to move up from her 3rd place finish at the New York Pro while Marcy will look to get back on track after slipping at the same show. Monica Mark will look to redeem herself after the showing she had at the Phoenix Pro and could be a contender if she is on point. The biggest headline of this line-up is the return of Mia Finnegan. Mia was the first Fitness Olympia champion and has been absent from the stage for quite some time. She said she is doing the show to get some practice before the Olympia. She will be competing in the Fitness Olympia but will try her hand at Figure for the first time. Candice Keene and JulieAnn Kulla will be ones to watch as they try to snag an Olympia qualification. Mickaila Soto will make her pro debut after graduating to the big league at the 2010 Team Universe. Kristin Nunn has been away from the stage for a few months and will look to get back in the swing of things here. Rachel Cammon took some time off from the stage and is back for another go-round.

We’ll see who brought the A-game when they take the stage for prejudging tomorrow afternoon.

Davana Medina was slated make her return to the IFBB stage this weekend but fans will have to wait. I’m told that due to personal circumstances Davana Medina has withdrawn from Hartford show. She will be making a decision as to where her IFBB Pro Bikini debut will take place. Check back to see where she’ll end up next.

I had her pegged as a top three contender. Who will move into that spot? We’ll see when prejudging takes place on Friday.

The competition schedule is in full swing and this weekend marks another IFBB Bikini event. Ten women are slated to compete in this weekend’s Europa Show of Champions and it is an interesting line-up. The obvious headline in bikini is 3x Figure Olympia Davana Medina returning to the stage but in the bikini division. ** UPDATE – Davana Medina has withdrawn from this show.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
Jelena Abbou - Beautiful woman who is back to bikini after a stint another stint in Figure at the New York Pro. I like her physique for the bikini division. Her biggest challenge will be the booty. Can she bring in a tight bottom to make it into a top three spot?

Dianna Dahlgren - Dianna sky-rocketed to the top of the fitness modeling world in a relatively short time. There’s no question she has the face and the booty but she’ll need to bring some of that 20 year old sass to the stage. In my opinion, she got the shaft in her first bikini contest with a seventh place finish but will redeem herself in Hartford. This will be her second IFBB show and I have her as a top three contender.

Diana Fields - Diana was 4th last week in Tampa and will look to improve on it here. She’ll have her work cut out for her though. Personally, I’d like to see Diana pose without opening her moth and gasping during every other pose. The photos don’t show how her physique is presented on stage but if she showcases her physique a little classier she’ll be in the mix.

Kelly Gonzalez - This will be Kelly’s pro debut after turning pro at the NPC Team Universe event. We’ll see how she fairs against a few “seasoned” bikini pros.

Janet Harding - Janet seems to be trying everything under the sun to move up into a top spot. She’s changed not only her posing but her suit with nearly every show she’s entered. While her stage presence has improved I still see the cards stacked against her in this line-up. I don’t want to say she can’t place higher but I don’t see her in the top five here.

Kat Holmes - Kat has improved her stage presence and presentation but still plagued by coming in tight enough in her bottom half. Can she bring a tighter physique here and move up? We’ll see if a week made any difference. She was 5th in Tampa.

Jessica Jessie - Another rookie making her debut. Jessica was the overall champ at the 2010 NPC Jr. Nationals and it was her stage presence that gave her the win. She’ll bring an improved physique to the stage and has the stage presence the judges gravitate towards. I look for her to be one of the top three at this show.

Tabitha Klausen-Leandri – Tabitha is one of the dark horses in this show. She placed 8th in her pro debut at the NY Bikini Pro. She has the looks and if she brings in a tighter booty and a new suit look for her to be in the top 5 at this show.

Davana Medina – The 3x Figure Olympia returns to the stage to try her hand at bikini. It will be interesting to see how she presents her physique and how her body compares as a bikini competitor. It’s a coin toss as to where she will finish but I’d go “heads” with her finishing in the top spots.

Natalie Waples - Natalie made the transition Figure to Bikini at the Tampa Pro and finished at the bottom of the pack. She will need to bring a better suit and some personality to the stage if she hopes to move up. I think she has a better bikini body than figure but will need to improve on the little details to place higher.

My Top Picks: Dianna Dahlgren, Jessica Jessie, Davana Medina, Tabitha Klausen-Leandri & Jelena Abbou.

Who do you have in your fab five?

I will be there covering the action for FLEX magazine, Bodybuilding.com, NPC NEWS and IFBBPro.com. Check back for updates throughout the weekend.

The IFBB Tampa Pro show brought quite a few surprises in terms of competitors and placings, but on the heels of Tampa, comes another 5 IFBB Pro Contests (2 for the men). Here is the tentative pro lineup (not final lists) for the 2010 Europa Battle of Champions, set for July 23-24, in Hartford, Connecticut.

 
2010 Europa Battle of Champions Figure

1 – Tivisay Briceno (USA)
2 – Rachel Cammon (USA)
3 – Melody Clere (USA)
4 – Jennifer DeJoya (USA)
5 – Ginette Delhaes (Canada)
6 – LaVonda Ezell (USA)
7 – Mia Finnegan (USA)
8 – Aleisha Hart (Canada)
9 – Caroline Hernandez (USA)
10 – Jennifer Hernandez (USA)
11 – Candice Keene (USA)
12 – Julie Ann Kulla (USA)
13 – Michele Mayberry (USA)
14 – Petra Mertl (Czech)
15 – Jennifer Migliacci (USA)
16 – Hazal Nelson (USA)
17 – Vicki Nixon (USA)
18 – Kristin Nunn (USA)
19 – Marcy Porter (USA)
20 – Katherynne Ramirez (USA)
21 – Mikaila Soto (USA)
22 – Laura Sutter (USA)
23 – Gina Trochiana (USA)
24 – Terri Turner (USA)

2010 Europa Battle of Champions Bikini

1 – Dianna Dahlgreen (USA)
2 – Kelly Gonzalez (USA)
3 – Janet Harding (USA)
4 – Kat Holmes (USA)
5 – Jessica Jessie (USA)
6 – Tabitha Klausen-Leandri (USA)
7 – Davana Medina (USA)
8 – Natalie Waples (Canada)

　
2010 Europa Battle of Champions Women’s Bodybuilding

1 – Lisette Acevedo (USA)
2 – Irene Anderson (Sweden)
3 – Helen Bouchard (Canada)
4 – Brigita Brezovac (Slovenia)
5 – Sarah Bridges (United Kingdom)
6 – Maria Calo (USA)
7 – Tazzie Columb (USA)
8 – Cassandra Floyd (USA)
9 – Skadi Seifert-Frei (Germany)
10 – Elizabeth Gomez (Mexico)
11 – Aurelia Grozajova (Slovakia)
12 – Mary Ellen Jerumbo (USA)
13 – Cathy LeFrancois (Canada)
14 – Wendy McCready (United Kingdom)
15 – Elizabeth Meza (Mexico)
16 – Tammy Patnode (USA)
17 – Rita Rae (USA)
18 – Daniela Sell (Switzerland)

Follow the live coverage from the Tampa Pro show today. I will be tweeting from the event as well as photographing the action. I’ll be tweeting under BBcomContests and if you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and get my thoughts on the events as they happen today.

The 2010 IFBB Tampa Pro officially kicked off today with a media/press conference. The 202 men’s bodybuilding weighed in and the ladies got a little show with Jose Raymond having to strip down to make weight. It was probably the most exciting part of the entire event. If promoters want to create more interest in pro bodybuilding I think they should make the bodybuilders strip down and weigh in like they do in the UFC or boxing. The competitors would likely be against it because at that level their bodies change dramatically from one day to the next. Which is even more reason to do it… XYZ competitor make look flat as a pancake at weigh-ins and everyone rules him/her out. Come show time he or she is carbed up and water depleted, looking like a different person.

Cathy speaking at the media conference.

The female bodybuilders are representing in a big way here and it will be a very competitive show. Whoever lands in the top five here should be very proud. Cathy LeFrancois is looking for another win, while Nicole Ball is rock’n a new hair cut and a couple more pounds from last year. Dayna Cadeau said she teamed up with fellow IFBB Pro George Farah for her prep and is ready to shock some people. Tina Chandler said she would be around 8 pounds bigger than last year and was looking it but in a good way. We’ll find out who has done their homework tomorrow morning at the prejudging.

Nicole Nagrani joins jug nation. Hell ya!

The bikini competition is relatively small with only 10 competitors in it but the top 3 spots will be tough. I’m still going with the young jugger, Nicole Nagrani for the win but she has her work cut out for her. Dina Al-Sabah is back and will be a contender. Kat Holmes was looking leaner than usual at the press conference and Jaime Baird is hungry for her first win. The bikini prejudging takes place tomorrow morning as well.

Team Bombshell is in the house, representing 1/2 the bikini field.

Check out all the photos on Bodybuilding.com. Follow the coverage live on twitter.com/BBcomcontests throughout the weekend.

This weekend will be another busy event for the NPC/IFBB. I have my bags packed and headed to Tampa for the Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships where 70 IFBB pros will take the stage. The event is promoted by Tim Gardner, who always takes great care of the athletes and those in attendance. There’s also a NPC show held in conjunction with this event that will take place on Friday evening. For more information on this show and how to purchase tickets visit: ifbbtampapro.com.

Those of you in the Michigan area will want to check out Figure Olympia champ, Nicole Wilkins-Lee’s Fitness, Figure & Bikini Classic. It will be held in conjunction with the Natural Michigan Bodybuilding Championships in Detroit, Michigan this Saturday. For more information on this show visit www.MichiganNPC.com.

Over 100 competitors will take the stage in Denver, Colorado this weekend at the 2010 Colorado Stage Championships. Promoter Jeff Taylor tapped Tokyo Joe’s at the title sponsor for this event and I’m bummed to be missing this event. Check out how you can purchase tickets to this event at www.ColoradoNPC.com.

Earlier in the month, I speculated that 3x Figure Olympia Champion Davana Medina was eyeing a return to the competitive stage. There’s no need to speculate any longer as her management, FMG, confirmed with me today that she is coming back. I had a chance to speak with Davana at the Team Universe contest and she hasn’t changed a bit since her days on stage, except a little less muscular. She’s teamed up with fellow Olympia Champion, Adela Garcia for her new bikini training.

3x Figure Olympia Champ Davana Medina and her manager, J.M. Manion.

The following press release was issued today.

FMG PRESS RELEASE
July 14, 2010 – Anybody who was at the 2010 NPC Team Universe Championships this past weekend in N.J. had an opportunity to see Figure pioneer & the only 3-time IFBB Figure Olympia champion Davana Medina enjoying the competition. Those that saw her realized she wasn’t just here as a spectator, she was hear to do some research. Everybody was asking her about those rumors of her comeback to competition. Davana didn’t let on then but we are here to confirm the rumors that Davana Medina is returning to the IFBB & will be making her return competing in the 2010 IFBB Europa Show Of Champions Pro Bikini in Hartford on July 23rd & 24th. And she has re-signed with FMG who had the great pleasure of managing Davana Medina’s entire NPC & IFBB career starting in 2001 until her retirement. Davana is also the first former FMG athlete that we have re-signed to work with.

Former FMG athlete & another IFBB Figure pioneer Jaime Franklin reconnected Davana with us at the 2009 Arnold Fitness Weekend. Initially we thought she might return in Figure but after lengthy discussions with Davana the new IFBB Bikini division seemed to be the perfect fit of what she was looking to accomplish.

Next was getting Davana a trainer to help her get on stage in 2010 to qualify for the inaugural 2010 IFBB Bikini Olympia. That trainer turned out to be her old friend, FMG athlete & 4-time IFBB Fitness Olympia champion Adela Garcia.

Adela stated, “I am honored and excited to be working with Davana as we go way back. Davana is an extremely hard working athlete & when she puts her mind into a goal, she goes after it all the way. When I was told about Davana returning to compete I reached out to her & ever since Davana & I have been talking about her returning into competition. I knew she wanted to compete again & once I knew she was game, I told her “Girl, I am your girl & we are in it to Win it”. You have 2 Olympia Champions mentality & all you create is fire to Win. Davana will step on that Bikini Olympia stage ready and O.F.F. Challenge is ecstatic to have her on board. Thank you so much for the great opportunity to be part of your new journey Davana. Thank you FMG for trusting me to bring her ready to do some damage.”

Look out because Davana Medina is back to rock IFBB Bikini the way she did IFBB Figure in the last decade!

To contact Davana Medina for appearances, endorsements, interviews & modeling, contact FMG at fitnessdivasproductions@verizon.net or via Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fitness-Management-Group.

This weekend ten IFBB Bikini Pros will take the stage in Tampa. Prejudging begins Saturday morning and the finals will follow later that night.

The show will be an interesting mix of competitors. Dina Al-Sabah will return to the stage for the first time since 2006. Those counting her out of a top spot clearly haven’t seen the physique she’ll be rock’n on Saturday. Jaime Baird will look for her first bikini pro win. She was third at the PA Pro Bikini behind Nathalia Melo and Sonia Gonzalez. Vanessa Campbell will make her pro debut one week after her NPC Team Universe class win. She edged out Bianca Binno by one point and will look to continue her winning ways in Tampa. Jessica Clay will try her hand at the bikini division after competing in fitness and figure in the NPC. We last saw her on stage at the 2009 Atlantic City Figure. Diana Fields will make her pro debut just weeks after turning pro at the 2010 NPC Jr. Nationals. Janet Harding continues to find improve her presentation and will be back for another crack at the division. Kat Holmes steadily improved in the earlier shows, if she brings in a tighter backside than Orlando she will be in the mix. Nathalie Mur is one competitor I’m not familiar with. She’s listed as competing from France and a search showed she was in the 2010 Arnold Amateur, so I’m not sure where/when she turned pro. If anyone has some insight, let me know. Nicole Nagrani is the 2010 NPC Team Universe Overall Bikini champ and should be a top contender in her pro debut. She’s a natural when it comes to presenting a bikini physique and if anyone is looking for a good example of how to pose, check her out. Natalie Waples will make the trip down from Canada to try her hand at the bikini division. She was always on the smaller side of the figure competitions and should be more in her element here.

My Olmypia qualifying predictions:
1. Nicole Nagrani – I’m going out on a limb and saying the rookie steals the show in her debut.
2. Jaime Baird – Jaime has the experience over the other competitors and should find herself at ease at this show. Look for her to be in the top three and challenging for the crown.
3. Dina Al-Sabah – Dina will be rock’n the hardbody and show why she’s a fan favorite. She has natural sex appeal and if she can present her physique to suit the bikini division she’ll be in the mix.

It will be interesting to see how everyone matches up in this show. Who do you like for the win and the Olympia qualifying spots?

The Figure One-Piece made its last stand at the New York Pro Figure. The following announcement was released today on IFBBpro.com.

From: IFBB Professional League
To: ALL IFBB FIGURE COMPETITORS
Date: Monday, July 12, 2010

Subject: IMMEDIATE ELIMINATION OF 1-PIECE SWIMSUIT ROUND IN PRO FIGURE

At the IFBB New York City Pro Figure on Friday July 9th, several members of the IFBB Professional League Pro Committee were on hand, including Chairman Jim Manion. A meeting was called that included a quorum to discuss the immediate elimination of the 1-Piece Swimsuit Round in the IFBB Pro Figure. This will take effect starting with the 2010 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships on July 17th. This was originally proposed to take effect at the 2010 IFBB Houston Pro Figure as stated on Advisory Notice from Tuesday, June 15th. All IFBB Pro Figure competitions from this date forward will only consist of one (1) round, the 2-Piece Swimsuit. This includes the 2010 Figure Olympia.

Please note there is no figure at this weekend’s Tampa Pro show, so the first show it will be implemented will be the Europa Super Show in Hartford.

The season is in full swing and there’s a competition every weekend. Next up… The IFBB Tampa Pro in where else but Tampa, Florida. I’ll be heading there on Thursday and covering all the action for Bodybuilding.com. This time around I’ll be tweeting under the twitter account @BBcomContests. Follow that twitter account and those of you contributing to the Tampa Pro coverage use the hashtag #tampapro.

Here’s the Tampa Pro Line-ups as of today. I’m certain these will change before show time. The 2010 Team Universe overall champ, Nicole Nagrani told me she will be entering this competition and could be an immediate threat to the top three. Vanessa Campbell who also turned pro at the Team Universe contest over the weekend also mentioned she’ll be entering the event.

2010 Tampa Pro Bikni
Dina Al-Sabah
Jamie Baird
Jessica Clay
Janet Harding
Kat Holmes
Nathalie Mur
Natalie Waples
*Nicole Nagrani
*Vanessa Campbell
*not confirmed as of yet

The women’s bodybuilding line-up is looking VERY competitive and should be one of the toughest shows of the year.

2010 Tampa Pro Women’s Bodybuilding
Lisette Acevedo
Irene Andersen
Nicole Ball
Mercedes Bazemore
Helen Bouchard
Debbie Bramwell
Brigita Brezovac
Myriam Bustamante
Dayana Cadeau
Candice Carr-Archer
Andrea Ferreira Carvalho
Tina Chandler
Beverly DiRenzo
Skadi Seifert-Frei
Aurelia Grozajova
Mary Ellen Jerumbo
Carmen Knights
Cathy LeFrancois
Nancy Lewis
Beni Lopez
Tracy Mason
Wendy McCready
Emery Miller
Jennifer Sedia
Daniela Sell
Antoinette Thompson
Gusmary Villalbos

Congratulations to Cheryl Brown for winning the IFBB New York Pro Figure. Dana Fallacara landed in the runner-up position her first time on a pro stage. Terri Turner notched her highest placing as a pro and secured an Olympia qualification.

2010 IFBB NEW YORK PRO FIGURE
1. Cheryl Brown
2. Dana Fallacara
3. Terri Turner
4. Josie Zamora
5. Gennifer Strobo
6. Gina Trochino
7. Meriza DeGuzman
8. Ann Titone
9. Marcy Porter
10. Candice John
11. Jelena Abbou
12. Tivisay Briceno
13. Chelsey Morgenstern
14. Jennifer Migliacci
15. Holly Beck
16. Michelle Mayberry
17. Jeni Briscoe
17. Christina Casoni
17. Nicole Coleman
17. Caroline Hernandez
17. Jennifer Hernandez
17. Juliana Malacarne
17. Angela Mraz
17. Marie Newman
17. Vicki Nixon
17. Katherynne Ramirez
17. Tammy Strome
17. Kimmy Trowbridge
17. Rosalind Vanterpool
17. Stacy Wig
17. Magdalena Wilk
17. Jennifer Woodruff

Tweeting live from the 2010 IFBB New York Pro and NPC Team Universe. I’ll do my best to keep you posted live via twitter as well as photographing the action. I’ve got my super fab new iPhone so will give it a try to see how the camera works for some tweet photos.

I’ll be tweeting under Hardbodynews and if you’re not on Twitter, you can stay on this page and refresh for the live call-outs and get my thoughts on the events as they happen.

One other way to stay tapped in is to follow everyone using the #TeamU tag for the event. Visit this web site to view a collection of people tweeting about the Team Universe contest.

An all-nighter is in the books sorting photos. It’s time for some coffee, coffee and more coffee. The Team Universe prejudging begins at 9am EST and the order is as follows…

Women’s Bodybuilding
Figure
Fitness Two-Piece
Masters Figure
Bikini

The class numbers breakdown like this for the ladies. As you can see Figure is dominating once again.

Figure A – 17
Figure B – 27
Figure C – 37
Figure D – 32
Figure E – 21
Figure F – 28

Masters Figure A – 13
Master Figure B – 20
Master Figure C – 15
Master Figure D – 19

Bikini A – 4
Bikini B – 11
Bikini C – 24
Bikini D – 16
Bikini E – 12
Bikini F – 14

Fitness Short – 7
Fitness Medium – 7
Fitness Tall – 6

Women’s Light – 8
Women’s Middle – 1
Women’s Heavy – 9

Tonight the Finals begin at 7pm EST and the order is as follows.
Fitness Routines
IFBB Figure One Piece
Women’s Bodybuilding & Awards
Figure Two-piece & Awards
Fitness Two-piece & Awards
IFBB Figure Two-Piece & Awards
Masters Figure Two-Piece & Awards
Bikini Two-Piece& Awards
Men’s Bodybuilding & Awards

Follow along as I tweet live from #TeamU under Hardbodynews.