Show Previews

2012 IFBB FLEX Pro Fitness Preview & Hardbody Poll

February 13, 2012 By Isaac Hinds 2 Comments

The first IFBB Pro Fitness event is days away and the line up is one of the most competitive we’ll see all year. It will be interesting to see how the women approach this competition as a number of them will be competing in two weeks at the Fitness International. The most decorated fitness competitor of all-time, Adela Garcia will look to continue her winning ways while others look to begin a reign of their own. Let’s break down the 11 competitors who will take the stage this Saturday in Santa Monica, California.

I sincerely hope we see the judges reward the routines and follow the rule change that was implemented at the end of 2010. It’s my opinion that we didn’t always see the best routine rewarded last year. All too often the woman with the best physique score ends up placing higher than they should in the routine round. It’s not always the case but if we see the best routines awarded those who win the physique rounds may not win the whole show. It makes it more exciting from a media and fan perspective not knowing who will win until the routines are finished. The fitness routines are the closest thing to showing athleticism the IFBB Pro League has and we’ll see some of the elite perform this Saturday.

2012 IFBB FLEX PRO FITNESS COMPETITORS:
1. Jodi Boam - This Canadian youngster put herself on the map, at least in the pro ranks, last year. She has one of the strongest routines in the competition and continues to refine her physique. She’s without question one of the rising stars in the division. Jodi was 8th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia and will be a contender at the FLEX PRO.. I’d like to see her bring the confidence and strength she did when she competed at the New York Pro. See Jodi’s competition photos here.

2. Myriam Capes - Mimi has changed her physique over the last few years from a little tank to one of balance. It’s common to see Canadian competitors enter the IFBB Pro ranks with more muscle than the judges prefer. This is because they have to pack the muscle on in order to achieve pro status in the Canadian ranks. When I first saw Myriam compete I thought she’d struggle in the pro ranks because of her physique. She proved me wrong and has positioned herself as one of the leading ladies in Fitness. She was third at the Fitness Olympia and will be a contender here. She has one of the best routines and I like when she shows off her strength and gymnastics in her routine. See Myriam’s competition photos here.

3. Bethany Cisternino - Bethany has one of the best physiques in this line up and if she’s in shape she will be in the first call out. She has impressive gymnastic skills and her routines continue to improve. If she brings her best to the stage she’ll be a contender here. I could see her winning the physique round and then it’s all down to how she performs her routine. She was 7th at the 2011 Fitness Olympia. See Bethany’s competition photos here.

4. Allison Either - Allison has been up in down in her placings as a pro. She’s finished in the top five but yet to move up higher than fifth. She continues to streamline her physique and her routines are improving. She’ll have her work cut out for here in this line up and if she finishes in the top five, I’d consider that a successful debut to the 2011 season. She has the moves in her routines to do well, it’s just a matter of them all being choreographed in a successful manner. See Allison’s competition photos here.

5. Adela Garcia - Adela is coming off another Fitness Olympia win and it’s been years since she’s finished out of the top spot. She was sidelined in 2008 with what many thought would be a career ending injury. Adela battled back and has won 8 shows in a row. Can she make it 9? If you ask her she will say of course chico. Adela will be in the top callout for the physique round and then we’ll see what she brings to the routine. It will likely include some Latin flare and her flying around the stage. She’s definitely the one with a target on her back and the one every competitor is looking to take out of the winner’s circle. See Adela’s competition photos here.

6. Oksana Grishina - Oksana has become one of the industry’s favorites amongst fans. She always performs a creative routine and last year we saw her showcase the “Avatar” themed routine. She’s struggled in the physique rounds over the years. She used to come in way too muscular and hard. Oksansa has managed to balance her physique and give the illusion of a tinier waist. She’ll be in shape and we’ll await what routine she has in store for the 2012 season. She performs moves with such ease that people often overlook the difficulty. Some of the naysayers said her routine was too slow for the pro ranks but that’s not the case any more. She’s got a chance to move up from her 5th place Olympia finish. See Oksana’s competition photos here.

7. Paula Gulman-Williams - Paula turned pro at the 2011 NPC JR USA. She’s wanted a chance to compete against the best in the world of fitness and now she has her chance. She definitely brings energy to the stage when she performs. This will be her IFBB Pro debut and nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool to kick off your pro career. I don’t see Paula cracking the top five here but we’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage. See Paula’s competition photos.

8. Tanji Johnson - Tanji has been the bridesmaid more times than she likely cares to count. It used to be a question of if Tanji would be in shape for the show but she’s been consistent over the last few years there. She brings an entertaining routine to the stage most of the time. Many people weren’t big fans of her “save fitness” routine with the telephone booth but they did enjoy the STOMP routine. If she brings a solid routine and a conditioned physique to the stage she could take over the number one spot headed into the Arnold. It would certainly make for an interesting Fitness International if she does. Look for Tanji to have the eye of the tiger and she looks move out of Adela’s shadow. See Tanji’s competition photos here.

9. Michelle Mayberry - Michelle has been up and down and all over the map in her placings. She has had trouble with her tanning in the past but looked to have figure that out in her recent outings. She’s also showed that how you wear your hair can make a difference in how you stand out from the competition. She has a balance physique and if she can crack the top five here it will be a successful show for her. It won’t be easy given the competition but it will be good to see her back on the fitness stage. See Michelle’s competition photos here.

10. Camala Rodriquez - Camala is a bit of an “X-Factor” in this show. She’s been in the winner’s circle before and then other times she’s out of the top spots. Which Camala will show up in California? She’s been working under the eye of Mike Davies and we’ll have to see if that makes a difference in her physique. When she comes in conditioned she has the physique to hang in the top spots. If she has too much muscle or not in shape she’ll be on the sidelines of the top call-out. I’d like to see her incorporate more of her dance background into her routines. She’s been a dancer for David Guetta but you’d never know it from her routines. We’ll have to wait and see what she brings to the stage as she could be in the top spots or the bottom of the pack. See Camala’s competition photos.

11. Sheri Vucick - This will be Sheri’s pro debut and she has the potential to make an immediate impact on the pro ranks. She was a champion in another organization dating all the way back to 2003. This mom of two will make the trip to Cali in hopes of continuing the success she found at the 2011 Team Universe, where she achieved IFBB pro status. She was the overall champ at the ’11 NPC Emerald Cup and the Team Universe. I liked the routine she brought to the stage last year and she’s a welcome addition to the pro ranks. See Sheri’s competition photos here.

We’ll be there covering the action and you can follow the call-outs live and commentary on twitter. The hashtag will be #FLEXPRO for the show, so use that when referring to the show and following the coverage. Prejudging and Finals are on February 18, 2012. For more information on the show visit flexprochampionships.com.

Filed Under: IFBB Flex Pro, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Florida Pro Bikini Preview & Poll

December 8, 2011 By Isaac Hinds 2 Comments

The final IFBB Pro show is just days away and it’s shaping up to be a hotter than the Miami temps. This weekend several IFBB Pro Bikini competitors will share the stage with some of bodybuilding’s biggest legends. Despite the name of the show being “World Masters” don’t be confused – the women are not master’s competitors. The favorite on many people’s predictions (until a weekend ago) was third place Olympia finisher, Dianna Dahlgren. She has since withdrawn from the competition due to illness.

A case could be made for a number of women in this line up to crack the top three. This show is significant because it is the last show where the top three women will be qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympia. Next year a new rule has be adopted where only the first place finisher will be qualified to compete in the Olympia. So who will crack the top three and get a piece of the $20,000 purse? Let’s break it down.

The Hardbody 411:
Theresa Bryne - We haven’t seen Theresa on stage since her pro debut at the 2010 Sacramento Pro. She cleaned house while she was in the NPC ranks with wins at the NPC USA and Emerald Cup. She had a less than stellar finished (9th) in her debut so we’ll have to see what she brings to the stage and if she can improve upon that.

Jennifer Chapman - Props to Jennifer on wasting no time getting into the pro ranks. She’ll be making her pro debut after turning pro just a few weeks ago on the same stage at the NPC Nationals. Jennifer has streamlined her physique and found her groove. She’s coming off the high of turning pro and will look to continue it here. This will be her 7th show of the year and as long as she didn’t fall off the wagon with her diet since turning pro, she’ll be a contender.

Missy Coles - Missy has been up and down in her placings and has gone from second to 16th. She managed to fix the tanning issues she had in the past, which hindered her in some shows. It’s hard to say where she will finish in this line up as she could be in the top callout or in one of the last ones. I’d probably have her in the second call-out in this group.

Juliana Daniell - Juliana found her stride early this year and has risen to one of the more popular bikini pros. She has an athletic physique and when she isn’t over-thinking her posing she’s on the money. I like the package she brings to the stage and if she brings the look she did to Pittsburgh and New York you’ll see her in the top spots.

Kim DeArcangelis - Kim has found success off the stage as a lawyer and will look to bring some of that fierceness to the stage this weekend. She made her pro debut at this year’s Iowa Pro where she finished 8th. It will be tough for her to crack the top five here but never rule anything out. As long as she poses in a relaxed manner she’ll be able to hang in this line up.

Brittany Gaylord - Brittany has continued to improve and refine her physique since making a return to the stage. Brittany competed in the Fitness division (under her maiden name Brittany Thorsch) before taking time off to have a child. She finished 9th at the Sacramento Pro and will look to crack the top 10 again here in hopes of sliding into the top five.

Bernadett Matassa – Bernadett toned down her posing and it helped move up at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. I’m not sure the short hair works for her but she has a nice physique. We’ll see if she can move up into the top 10 for the first time here.

Heather Nappi - Heather had a strong pro debut with a 5th place finish but then slipped to 10th at the Iowa Pro. This will be her third show as a pro and will look to return to the top callout. She can do it but this is a pretty tough line up. I see her right on the bubble and could potentially be in the top five.

Khanh Nguyen - Khanh is back and she’ll look to crack the top five here. She was one of the first masters competitors awarded in the bikini division and she has a great physique. The issue with Khanh is out of her hands. She comes in consistently in shape and presents herself well. It’s simply that the competition has continued to improve and each show she enters featured stiffer competition than the last. This will be her fifth show of the year. She’s coming off a 13th place finish at the Iowa Pro.

Figen Oezdemir - Figen is a competitor I’m not familiar with other than she calls Germany home. It’s always a crap shoot with competitors competing in the USA for the first time. Many times the competitors do what their countries ask of them however it doesn’t always fit the USA model. We’ll see what she brings to the stage in what I believe is her pro debut.

India Paulino - India is coming off a win at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. She was at her all-time best, at least in my opinion, when she placed 6th. She’s the one to beat at this show and I look for her to collect another first place check. The only thing that makes me laugh and cringe is the ending of her individual posing. I swear she is going to break a hip if she snaps the “tick-tock” back and forth any harder. She follows it with a lil giddy up kick. It fits her sassy personality though so she’s able to get away with it where most women couldn’t.

Yeshaira Robles – Yeshaira is my dark horse who could shake things up in this show. She won her class and was my pick for the overall at this year’s Team Universe competition. This will be her pro debut and will have one of the best bikini booties in the show. If she can present with poise and confidence look for her to make a name of herself in the pro ranks.

Tianna Ta - Tianna has improved greatly from a year ago. The challenge she has is being lean on the upper body but not tight enough in her lower body, particularly when she turns to the back. She’s found her groove with her posing and now if she can bring a tight booty to the stage she could be in the hunt for a top spot. This will be her 6th show of the year and her highest finish was 4th. She’s coming off a 6th place finish at the Iowa Pro.

Brittany Tacy - Brittany has an athletic physique and a great look for the bikini division. This will be her third pro show since reaching pro status at the NPC USA this summer. She narrowly missed the top 3 at the Titans Grand Prix where she finished 4th. Look for Brittany in the first call-out and posing it out for a top three finish.

My (Isaac) Predictions:
1. India Paulino
2. Juliana Daniell
3. Brittany Tacy
4. Yeshaira Robles
5. Heather Nappi

Yogi’s Predictions:
1. India Paulino
2. Juliana Daniell
3. Brittany Tacy
4. Tianna Ta
5. Theresa Bryne

Prejudging and the finals take place this Saturday in Miami. Follow along on twitter with the hashtag #flpro. For more information and tickets to the show visit: http://www.jarkasgym.com/ifbb.html

Filed Under: IFBB Florida Pro, Show Previews

Hardbody 411 on The IFBB Florida Pro Bikini

December 4, 2011 By Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

There’s one chance left for the women of the IFBB Pro Bikini division to qualify for the the 2012 Olympia (this year) and it takes place on December 10, 2011. Promoter, Jarka has put up huge prize money for this event ($20,000) for Bikini alone. There are currently 12 women signed up to compete in this event but look for a few more to be added this week. Top 3 Olympian, Dianna Dahlgren has pulled out of the show due to an illness which leave the door wide open on who will be crowned the champ. This is a significant show to note as its the last competition where the top three will qualify for the Olympia. Beginning in 2012, only the winner of each show will qualify.

2011 IFBB Florida Pro Bikini Competitors:
Theresa Bryne
Missy Coles
Juliana Daniell
Kim DeArcangelis
Brittany Gaylord
Bernadett Matassa
Heather Nappi
Khanh Nguyen
Figen Oezdemir
India Paulino
Tianna Ta
Brittany Tacy

Schedule of Events:
Friday, December 9, 2011 – (Eden Roc Hotel)
4pm Bikini Meeting
4:30pm Master Meeting
5pm Press Conference Meeting-Masters

Saturday, December 10, 2011 – The Fillmore
10am – Sports & Fitness Expo
11am – Prejudging Bikini & Bodybuilding
Meet the Pros – immediately following prejudging
7pm – Finals

Event:
The Fillmore Miami Beach At the Jackie Gleason Theater
1700 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Get tickets: http://www.fillmoremb.com/index

Host Hotel:
Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach
4525 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33140 USA

More Info: http://www.jarkasgym.com/ifbb.html

Filed Under: IFBB Florida Pro, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Iowa Pro Bikini Preview & Poll

November 10, 2011 By Isaac Hinds Leave a Comment

This weekend marks the second to last chance for IFBB Bikini pros to qualify for the the 2012 Olympia, at least this year. Next year IFBB Pros will need to win a show in order to qualify for the big dance but at this show the top three women will be qualified to compete in Las Vegas next Fall. Seventeen women have signed up to compete and while there are no super-star names in the line up, it is a competitive one. This is the first time we’ve seen Pro Bikini in Iowa and promoter Jack Titone tells me it won’t be the last. Let’s break down the competition.

The Hardbody 411:
Only Vanessa Campbell is qualified for the 2012 Olympia in this line up so she’d be the logical winner, right? Not so fast. Here’s the skinny on this weekend’s competitors. Vote for who you think will win below.

1. Jennifer Andrews – Jennifer has been up and down in her placings since turning pro. She was just inside the top 10 at the Bikini International and won the St. Louis Pro in March. She slipped 12th at the Dallas Supershow and then the dreaded tied for 16th at the Olympia. Where will we see Jennifer finish at this show? She has the potential to be in the top five but will need to come in on her A game to return to the Olympia stage.

2. Vanessa Campbell – Vanessa has found her stride and continues to improve at the end of this season. She’s coming off a second place finish at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup and the pressure is off to return to the Olympia stage. She switched up her bikini suit and has been on point with her physique and presentation. I look for her to be in the hunt for her first pro win.

3. Kim DeArcangelis – This will be Kim’s pro debut and if she brings a tight backside she could fair well. It won’t be easy to crack the top spots but she found a winning combo at the Masters Nationals to achieve pro status. We’ll see how she stacks up in the big league.

4. Jennifer Dietrick – One thing you can give Jennifer props for is she’s persistent. She’s looking to improve on her 14th place finish at the Titans Grand Prix a few weeks ago and should move up here. She has a solid booty and if it was simply a booty contest she’d be in the top spots every time. Unfortunately, it’s not and she’ll have her work cut out for her to crack the top five.

5. Diana Fields – Diana has enlisted the help of bodybuilding guru Hany Rambod for her training. She was one of the first women to turn pro and her physique is playing catch up in terms of size and proportion. She’s improving and at the end of the day if you’re improving that’s the real name of the game.

6. Trina Goosby – Trina will look to crack the top five for the first time in her pro career. She’s coming off a 9th place finish at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup and will need to be a bit tighter with her conditioning than she was there if she wants to be in the hunt.

7. Candyce Graham – Candyce has a sic physique. If she doesn’t “angry pose” she’ll be in the mix. I’ve seen her pose where she over exaggerates her poses and sometimes has a scowl. If she smiles, chillaxes and presents in a calm, controlled manner she’ll have a chance at the top three.

8. Christie Marquez – Christie had her best showing at the Tijuana Pro a few weeks ago where she finished in 4th. She was 10th at the Titans Grand Prix and if she can land in the top ten here it will be a successful showing for her.

9. Christy Merritt - Christy landed on the fast track to success in 2010 going from a local show, to winning the JR USAs, qualifying for the Olympia and competing at the big show. Christy has yet to crack the top five this year and she’ll look to do so here. Many times it depends on who Christy is on stage with as to how she compares. This show she should be in the top two call-outs.

10. Nicole Moneer-Guerrero – Nicole got a whole lotta love at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup where she placed fourth. She slipped to sixth at the Houston Pro and I see her finishing somewhere in that spot again here. She’s a top 10 contender but needs a bit more booty to hang in the top spots at least in my opinion.

11. Heather Nappi – Heather finished in fifth at her pro debut. She has a nice physique and look to land her in the top cal-lout. I’m not a fan of the legs spread wide pose and when she does this I think it detracts from her backside. Heather should be in the mix at this show.

12. Khahn Nguyen – Khahn is a a rockstar. Despite missing out on the top spots she continues to come back and do her best. If shows were judged on comedic ability, she’d be the winner every time because she’s hilarious. Unfortunately, it’s a physique competition and while she has a great physique it’s not one that the judges seem to favor in the division. What can she do to improve? Not much except continue to bring her best. It’s a testament of how competitive pro shows can be. She has turned competing into some modeling work so there is a silver lining to competing and not winning.

13. Tianna Ta - Tianna has been in the top five her last three shows however an Olympia qualification has avoided her. She did make it to the 2010 Olympia with her 4th place finish at the Pittsburgh Pro. Can she make it into the top three? She can but it won’t be a walk in the park. She’s improved her stage presence and become much more relaxed on stage which was needed. She used to shake on stage and that’s long gone. If she has a tight booty and brings confidence to the stage, she can be top three. IF she let’s nerves get the best of her and isn’t tight from the back side, no O for her.

14. Roya Tehrani – Roya won the 2011 Team Universe and jumped into the pro competition right away. She finished 5th at the Phoenix Pro and dropped to 8th at the Houston Pro. Roya has to come in tighter in her lower body and change up her posing if she hopes to make it into the top three. When she poses with her legs spread wide and apart it’s not flattering and makes her hips look bigger.

15. Michelle Trasey-Hutton - The twins are back again. Michelle finished in a respectable 7th place at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup, her pro debut. She tends to pose with borderline over the top enthusiasm. Many times you will see the “hair whip” where she flips her hair with a snap of the neck. I’m not a fan of it but she definitely has fun with it. One thing you can count on is she’ll be smiling from ear to ear.

16. Kristie Trasey-Winter - Kristie tied with her twin sister for 7th at her pro debut and I guess that speaks to her physique as it compares to her sister. I give her the nod over her sister based on her presentation and I think she has a bit more balance physique. The sisters will battle it out once again this weekend.

17. Cristina Vujnich - Cristina has a nice physique and one of the few women who can rock the short hair and look sexy. The only issue that I go back to with Cristina is she tries too hard to be sexy sometimes on stage. The myspace face and sometimes goofy facial expressions can be distracting. If she smiles, presents with confidence and rocks it sans goofy face she’ll be in the hunt for the top three. She finished in second at the Phoenix Pro and will becoming off a 15th place finish at the Olympia. I hated her Phoenix suit but loved her Olympia one.

Isaac’s Predictions:
1. Candyce Graham
2. Vanessa Campbell
3. Cristina Vujnich
4. Tiana Ta
5. Heather Nappi

Ron’s Predictions:
1. Cristina Vunjnich
2. Vanessa Campbell
3. Tiana Ta
4. Roya Therani
5. Candyce Graham

Event info:

When:
Prejudging 10am / Finals 6pm
November 12, 2011

Where:
Davenport, IA

The River Center convention center
136 E. 3rd Street
Davenport, IA 52801
563.326.8500

For more information on the show and to get tickets visit: npcmidwest.com/iowa. The show will also play host to a n IFBB Men’s 2012 Bodybuilding show and a large NPC event.

Filed Under: IFBB Iowa Pro, Polls, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Kentucky Pro Figure Preview, Poll & Predictions

November 2, 2011 By Isaac Hinds 1 Comment

The 2011 IFBB Kentucky Muscle Pro marks the last chance for the women of the figure division to qualify for the 2012 Olympia, at least for this season. Starting in 2012 only the winners of the show will be qualified for the Olympia so this is the last chance to go top three and head to Vegas. The line up for this show ended up being pretty deep and 21 competitors are slated to compete. The only competitor qualified in the field is Gen Strobo who qualified with her second place finish at the 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup. Cheryl Brown will not be defending her title so a new Kentucky Champion will be crown on Saturday, November 5th.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
The favorite heading into this show has to be Gennifer Strobo given that she’s the only one qualified and has won pro shows in the past. That said, Gen is not unbeatable. If she doesn’t come in full she’ll look like a string bean on stage and will battling for a top five. I don’t see her outside of the top three but she’s not a lock for the win here.

Candice Lewis is a competitor who I think has the shape and structure combined with stunning good looks to be a leading lady in the Figure division. I have her in my top call-out and in the top three. We’ll see if the judges agree but judging by the response from fans on facebook and twitter they definitely like her look for the division as well.

Candice John has streamlined her physique and it landed her on the Olympia stage. Look for her to be in the hunt for a top spot in this show and battling for a return trip to the Olympia.

Chelsey Morganstern got a whole lotta love at this show last year when she ended up in second. This year she hasn’t faired as well. She’s a pretty woman but we’ll have to see if it was beginners luck or if this crew of judges are fond of her look again.

Charmayne Jackson was just outside the top five earlier this year at the Europa Super show. She could be a top five contender here.

Chikondi Mseka is a competitor who I had much higher on my score card than where she finished at the Ft. Lauderdale Cup. She’s the 2011 JR USA Champ and in her pro debut (Ft. Lauderdale Cup) placed 10th.

Kristen Nagrani positioned herself as a contender this year and made her way to the Olympia. She’ll look to repeat and head back to the big dance. She could be in the mix here.

There’s no clear cut top three at this show which will make it interesting to follow. We will unfortunately NOT be in attendance and unsure of who will be covering the event.

WHEN:
November 5, 2011

WHERE:
Kentucky International Convention Center
221 South 4th Street
Louisville KY, 40221

TIME:
9:30am – Doors Open to the General Public
10:00am – IFBB Pro Figure Prejudging
11:30am – NPC Prejudging
7:00pm – IFBB and NPC Finals

MORE INFO:
www.kentuckymuscle.com

Filed Under: IFBB Kentucky Pro, Polls, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Sacramento Pro Preview, Predictions & Poll

November 2, 2011 By Isaac Hinds 3 Comments

Only three IFBB Pro Bikini competitions remain on the 2011 calendar and this weekend one will go down in Sacramento, California. Eleven hardbody bikini women will take the stage in hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Olympia. The top three will go to the big dance in Las Vegas. The defending champ, Amanda Latona will look to make it two wins in a row and hold onto her title. Tiffany Marie Boydston qualified for the Olympia with a third place finish at the Titans Grand Prix. The Vegas duo are the only ones qualified in the line up.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
1. Narmin Assria – Narmin made her pro debut at the Titans Grand Prix and held her own with another top five finish. She’ll obviously be gunning for a top three finish here. Can she do it? Yep but it won’t be easy in this line up. I have her my top five fighting for a top three spot.

2. Sandra Augustin turned pro in Fitness and will be competing in bikini. I can only assume that she’s doing this show since she lives in Sacramento. Always an energetic and lively women, Sandra will have her hands full cracking the top five here but bet on her having fun in the process.

3. Tiffany Marie Boydston - Tiffany’s birthday wish came true when she qualified for the Olympia on her birthday a couple weeks back at the Titans Grand Prix. I look for her to be in the top five but can she return to the top three? This will be a more competitive line up than she faced in Culver City so we’ll have to see.

4. Mary Jo Cooke-Elliott - Mary Jo battled back from an illness and finished in 11th at this year’s MuscleContest. She’ll look to move up now that she has the swing of things in the bikini division since making the switch from Figure.

5. Tawna Eubanks - I like the look that Tawna brings to the stage and think she has a great BIKINI body. She made her pro debut at the Houston Pro where she finished fourth. I had her in my top three and disappointed that she didn’t get the nod I thought she deserved. She’ll face some tougher competition and a different set of judges here so we’ll see how she fairs.

6. Diana Fields made her return to the competitive scene at the Tijuana Pro and finished at the bottom of the pack. She’ll make a run at it again here and will see how she fairs. You never know with a different set of eyes on you where someone like Diana may end up.

7. Brittany Gaylord returned to the stage at the Titans Grand Prix and many were left wondering WHO DAT? Those of you who have been around awhile and in the industry will remember her as Brittany Thorsch, the fitness pro. Brittany turned pro at the 2005 NPC USAs. She’s since married and had a baby. Now that she is back in the swing of things look for her to bring a better presentation and physique than she did in Culver City.

8. Many Henderson made the switch from Figure and still carries a good deal of muscle. She’s one of the shorties in the IFBB Pro league and it’s a balancing act for the shorter competitors. If you come in too soft it can look like you’re out of shape but come in too lean and you risk looking jacked. She wasn’t at the bottom of the pack but some where in the middle of the Titans Grand Prix. I look for her to be in a similar spot here.

9. Amanda Latona is obviously the one to beat. She took some time off but you wouldn’t know it when she took the stage at the Titans Grand Prix. Amanda picked up where she left off and left win another pro victory. She’s shown she is beatable however I don’t see it happening here unless she decided to hit the local fro-yo shops since her last competition. She’s the returning champ and I look for her to hold onto her title once again.

10. Natalie Pennington was in the top three at this show last year and don’t be surprised if she does once again. She presents a look the the judges favor and I look for this show to be much the same. I don’t mind her look from the front however when she turns to the back I’m left wondering where her booty is at. In the comparison rounds don’t be surprised if she standing next to Amanda Latona and when they turn to the back take not of the booty difference.

11. Talia Terese is looking to find her groove in the pro ranks since winning the NPC USAs in July. She improved to 6th place at the Titans Grand Prix and is a stunning woman. She’ll look to get in the hunt of things here and back to a top contender status. If she brings the look, confidence and presentation she did to USAs she can be a threat. If she doesn’t she’ll be in the middle of this pack.

Our West Coast correspondent Ron “Yogi” Avidan will be covering the action and tweeting @ronavidan the call-outs. One thing of note is that Sandi Williamson will be head judging this show which is a great opportunity for the up-and-coming NPC women and also the pros. Sandi is your go-to woman in the division and when she gives you advice it’s best to put it into action.

Ron’s Predictions:
1. Amanda Latona
2. Talia Terese
3. Narmin Assria
4. Natalie Pennington
5. Tiffany Bodyston

Isaac’s Predictions:*
1. Amanda Latona
2. Natalie Pennington
3. Narmin Assria
4. Talia Terese
5. Tawna Eubanks

*NOTE: It’s not necessarily how I would judge it based on previous shows however it’s how I see it potentially going down. These are subjective and just opinions. Don’t get your panties in a bunch if you’re not in the mix. Who will be closer to predicting the top five… Yogi or Isaac? We’ll find out on Saturday.

When:
Saturday, November 5, 2011

Time:
Prejudging – 9:30am
Finals – 6pm

Where:
Crest Theatre
1013 K Street
Sacramento, CA

More information:
www.npcsacshow.com

Filed Under: IFBB Sacramento Pro, Polls, Show Previews

2011 IFBB Border States Pro Figure Preview

October 28, 2011 By Isaac Hinds 1 Comment

This weekend 17 IFBB Figure pros will head to San Diego, California for the Border States competition. Promoter Jon Lindsay always does a great job with his pro shows that are held in conjunction with a National Qualifying NPC event. Our West Coast correspondent Ron “Yogi” Avidan will be in attendance and keeping us updated on the action. Things get started at the Scottish Rite Event Center at 11am with the prejudging and the finals will begin at 6:30pm.

The Hardbody Breakdown:
This is one of the last IFBB Figure competitions where the top three women will qualify for the 2012 Olympia. Teresa Anthony and Jami DeBenard are already qualified so we could potentially see one additional woman qualify in this line up.

Leading Contenders:
Teresa Anthony has found her groove and don’t look for her to slow down here. She’s coming off a win at the Houston Pro where she narrowly defeated Jelena Abbou. Look for her to be in the top call-out and compared for her third pro victory and second win in a row. She’s also the defending champion and looking to retain her title.

Krissy Chin came close to qualifying at the Houston Pro and many felt she was at her all-time best, or close to it. She should be in the hunt once again but cracking the top three won’t be a walk in the park. Look for her to be in the top five but where is the question.

Jami DeBenard has been on a roll since turning pro at the 2011 NPC USA. She’s already qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia with her third place finish at the Houston Pro so the pressure is off her to land in the top three. She’ll of course be gunning for her first pro win. The judges like what she’s bringing to the stage and look for her to be in the top call-out once again.

Candice Lewis made her pro debut at the 2011 Ft. Lauderdale Cup and showed tons of potential. She was the overall winner at this year’s Jr. Nationals and has the genetics to be a contender in the pro division. Her lower body needed to be a little tighter, specifically her quads to match her upper body at her debut. If she comes in tiny bit tighter in the lower body, don’t be surprised if you see her in the top three.

Potential Contenders:
Jaime Cash may not be a name that you are familiar with however Jaime Meade might be. We interviewed her back in 2008 before she turned pro, if you missed it check it out here. She’s since left her goats behind, been remarried and ready to hit the pro stage again. She was 14th at the 2010 Phoenix Pro, her IFBB debut. She has the genetics to do well but we’ll have to see how the time away from the stage has served her.

Crystal Chiles was 6th at this show last year and if she comes in a bit tighter from behind she could be in the hunt here. I look for her to be in the first or second call-out and the potential to be in the hunt for a qualification if she’s on the money.

Meriza DeGuzman-Ciccone is shown on the poster as a co-emcee so she might be joining her husband Pete at the microphone after she ditches her posing suit at the finals. Meriza has been up and down in the Figure division and has yet to crack the top five in her last few shows. She’s one of the shorter competitors will could work against her in this line up. At times she comes in too hard and it hurts her. That’s the tricky part of being a shorty. If you come in too soft it can often make you look out of condition to the taller women, come in too lean and you look jacked. We’ll see what she brings this time around.

Allison Frahn continues to get favorable call-outs however I gotta say I don’t see it. It’s nothing personal however when you see striations in a figure competitor’s glutes I don’t think that should be rewarded. She was fifth at the Houston Pro but you’ll see a different set of judges at this show. We’ll see where she fares but don’t be shocked if she is in the first call-out or two.

Natalie Waples was left out of the call-outs in Houston when she should have been in the top ten. Unfortunately for her she has a 16th place finish on her resume at no fault of her own. She should finish in the top 10 here and could potentially be in the hunt for the top five. She’ll have her work cut out for her to get into that top three and return to the Olympia but never say never.

Competitor of Note:
Rosalind Vanterpool has a sic physique however it’s often “too muscular” for Figure. She’ll likely be told the same thing here unless she’s stripped some muscle off. She’s someone who I think could come in how she has at previous shows and do well in the upcoming IFBB Women’s Physique division.

We’ll see how things turn out on Saturday October 29, 2011. For more information and tickets visit MuscleContest.com.