Note: This reporter was backstage throughout much of the competition, so the usual depth of commentary will be somewhat lacking since it would not be fair to make comments on all of the athletes from a different perspective than on-stage.
So another year in Vegas brings the NPC USA Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships to town. Like no other place, Vegas just seems to be the perfect place for any bodybuilding show, and this year proved no different.
The USAs continue to grow with over 200 women competing in the various classes, and the competition in most classes of all the competitions was pretty impressive. The fitness women kicked things off with prejudging on Friday night.
With more opportunities for fitness athletes to turn pro than bodybuilders, there were a lot of new faces, as well as some well known veterans. The routines seem to be getting less focused on pure gymnastics overall with many of the top former gymnasts having already turned pro. The physiques though, have continued to improve.
The short class was won by well known favorites Alti Bautista, who deservedly earned her pro card as well as Jennifer Cook. Fifth place finisher Nita Wilson definitely should get the award for "Most Enthusiastic" as she got on stage for her routine encouraging the entire crowd to get into it. The diminutive Wilson had more than enough energy to get the crowd fired up, and her positive energy was noticeably passed onto the audience.
The middle class pro cards were swept by a pair from Arkansas. Sharon Christian has one of the best aesthetics and a solid routine, while Lori Kimes excelled with a spot-on routine, full of strength moves and impressive tumbling. Kimes routine seemed to be the best in the class, but Christian's aesthetics edged the harder Kimes' physique.
Kimberly Lyons had the best outfit with some angel wings attached to her back at the beginning of her routine. She has amazing stage presence and should definitely be primed to earn her pro card soon.
One competitor in the medium class had to widthdraw after the first round of prejudging, and that was Kimber Leigh. The 40-plus year old Arizonan had completely separated her hamstrings from the bone, so it was quite impressive that she was even able to stand and do quarter turns during the 2-piece round on Friday evening.
In the tall class, it was a new JM Manion signing that took the class, as well as the overall title, although the scores were tied with that of second place finisher Tracey Greenwood. Greenwood's strong physique helped her out place Nicole Caballer and Amy Haddad. Local twins Lea and Sara Waide improved this year and should be two to watch. Californian Cathy Nordyke was tied in 16th place but has a promising future and should move up the ranks.
Caballer should earn her pro card too, and the East Coast fitness competitor has an intense stage presence and moxie to boot. Overall, the fitness competition remains tough, although some of the routines are not as exciting from a lessened focus on gymnastics routines, although that is for the better. However, it would be good to see more emphasis on strength moves and flexibility. Of course when you get down to it, it's hard to tell what the judges are looking for the most.
With the bodybuilders, the competition was similarly tight. The lightweight class was probably the weakest but stacked with a lot of veterans as well as the extremely charismatic Shannon Rabon. Rabon has amazing stage presence and an incredible smile, to compliment her very aesthetic physique. Although not too hard, her lines and the way she presents herself on stage make Rabon a favorite to win the class in the future.
Veteran Pam Kusar finally took the class after competing at the national level for years. San Jose, California's King Raub had one of the more entertaining routines and with a little more polished and balanced physique will move up in the rankings. Tricia Travis was shredded but her conditioning probably led to her lower placement as structuraly and muscularity-wise she looked good.
In the middleweight class, Mah-Ann Mendoza finally won the class and also earned her pro card by taking the overall. However, it was a close competition with Tonia Williams looking incredible after coming down from the heavyweights and looking huge and tight throughout. It was arguable that Williams could have taken the class, although ultimately, the judges awarded Mendoza the class.
Long time competitor Dawn Riehl looked good, but fellow veteran Michelle Ivers was even more impressive competing again as a middleweight, but she placed a disappointing fourth. Fellow Californian Angie Slavagno took fifth and looked quite impressive. Her shoulders are impressive, but somewhat overpower the rest of her physique. With improvements to balance out her physique, the young Chico resident should contend for the middleweight title in future competitions, although the class will remain quite competitive.
One change in the judging this year was the addition of actual judging during the evening finals. This can be seen as good or bad, and the feedback is mixed so far. For one thing, it requires competitors to hold their conditioning longer, but also allows athletes to move up more in the evening. However, with judging inconsistencies, it should be noted that the additional judging round can also further confuse the final placings.
The heavyweight class was perfect evidence of this, as the top five were so close that one judge changing their results could have mixed up the top five completely. In the end though, it was Collette Nelson who took the class. Although her legs were not up to par with the rest of the top five, she was able to take the class, with only four first place votes out of 11. Her upper body is always impressive, and her new look was quite glamerous, but her legs were definitely lacking.
Hawaii's Michelle Tuggle took second with a physique that was streamlined, but balanced. Each of her individual bodyparts was excellent, although put together, they didn't look quite as nice as Beth Roberts who took third.
Roberts had perhaps the best overall physique. From top to bottom, she was tight, and as a poser, she is one of the best at hitting shots and displaying her physique. Formerly a middleweight, the added muscle looked incredible on her, and if she competes at Nationals, Roberts will be someone to keep an eye on.
In fourth was Kelly Felske who looked incredible, followed by Sherry Smith in fifth place. Smith made significant improvements over her last competition and her stage presence and presentation was incredible.
In the end, the USAs seemed to provide as many questions as answers, but the caliber of competition was impressive and shows that both bodybuilding and fitness continue to grow.
Since the commentary was lighter in this report than usual, I've posted all the photos take which are on Ofoto. Select any of the links below to check out the galleries:
Results:
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Overall: Mah-Ann Mendoza*
Lightweights
1) Pam Kusar
2) Shannon Rabon
3) King Raub
4) Tracy Mason
5) Tricia Travis
6) Jessica Hodroff
7) Stephanie Starr
8) Connie Everton
9) Deborah Barnes
10) Terri Hopkins
11) Margaret Negrete
12) Maureen Bydalek
13) Trish Hamashin
14) Cheryl Ross
15) Lola Ruiz
16) Annette Costa
Middleweights
1) Mah-Ann Mendoza*
2) Tonia Williams
3) Dawn Riehl
4) Michelle Ivers
5) Angie Slavagno
6) Sury Nieves
7) Pamela Wentz
8) Jeannie Paparone
9) Carolyn Bryant
10) Yolanda Martinez
11) Charlene Steeves
12) Theresa Annecharico
13) Debby Lyn Vorves
Heavyweights
1) Collette Nelson
2) Michelle Tuggle
3) Beth Roberts
4) Kelly Felske
5) Sherry Smith
6) Tatianna Butler
7) Lori Emory
8) Jayne Trcka
9) Lora Ottenad
10) Gwendolyn Malone
11) Leigh Ann Ross
12) Sherry Michel
13) Yamile Marrero
14) Carla Haug
15) Mary Prencipe
* earned pro card
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Fitness
Overall: Jenny Lynn*
Short Class (under 5'2")
1) Alti Bautista*
2) Jennifer Cook*
3) Bebe Giraldo
4) Stacy Jensen
5) Nita Wilson
6) Stacy Wig
7) Renee Masi
8) Penny Johnson
9) Laura Baca
10) Stephanie Wilkins
11) Nancy Sorenson
Medium Class (5'2" to 5'4½")
1) Sharon Christian*
2) Lori Kimes*
3) Bethani Terrell
4) Kimberly Lyons
5) Dana Maurer
6) Kiersti Zenker
7) Peggy Sue Crawford
8) Patrica Mayberry
9) Michelle Marciante
10) Heather Provoe
11) Trisha Rich
12) Patty Gardner
13) Crystal Lynne Hill
14) Stacy Moore
15) Makensie Brainard
16) J. Kelly Letter
17) Crystal Valerio
widthdrew due to injury: Kimber Leigh
Tall Class (over 5'4½")
1) Jenny Lynn*
2) Tracey Greenwood*
3) Nicole Caballer
4) Amy Haddad
5) Bridgette Newell
6) Stephanie Jones
7) Lea Waide
8) Sara Waide
9) Christina Golden
10) Luciana Bell
11) Carla Walburn
12 tie) Carla Cosey
12 tie) Jayme Knight
12 tie) Tammy Brazile
12 tie) Elizabeth Maurice
16 tie) Cathy Nordyke
16 tie) Sue Faacks
18) Melissa McCarty
19) Ingrid Mayer
20) Soumaya Wilmore
21) LaGretta Ambrose
22) Dawn Gilbert
* earned pro card
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