This was the first time covering a Women's Tri-Fitness event for genex9, as it was the first time for competitor Susan Oda-Law as well.

"As expected the competition is tough, but the WTF competitors are very friendly and supportive of each other. I really like the WTF challenge because the skills and obstacle course really test you athleticism - speed, strength and execution.

"Being my first WTF, I am very happy with my first place in Fitness Skills and my 2 Top 20 finishes in the Dual Fitness and Optional rounds. However, I need to improve my time and practice on a course if I expect to get a top 3 finish," Oda-Law added. A veteran of Galaxy competitions, Oda-Law should definitely be someone to keep an eye on in future competitions.

The Grace and Physique round started things off and there was a fairly wide range of athletes that took the stage. The competition was also broken up into age groups: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 and 40-49. The criteria for the round include symmetry, feminine firmness, grace/poise and overall appearance.

In general the WTF competitions look for softer and less muscular girls than the NPC, but there were several more muscular competitors on stage. Sylvia Ferrero ended up winning the round and deservedly so. One aspect that many competitors need to work on to improve their scores is how they present themselves when walking and standing. It was evident that many had not practiced how they were going to present themselves on stage, and it reflected in their placements. It's always a shame to be placed lower simply because you did not know how to carry yourself to your best advantage.

Nicole Weeks, Colleen Park, Jennifer Mills and Tonya Beck also looked good, along with Lea Monteleone, Stephanie Wilkins and Sheri Horn.

The Obstacle Course had to be re-arranged because of a storm that blew through, so the Fitness Skills competition took it's place. The competition consisted of box jumps, bench press and a relay race. It was very intense with several of the girls sustaining slight injuries but pushing through. The determination and commitment shown by all the athletes was impressive as was the camaraderie that they had for each other.

Saturday morning was the routine round, with Gina Oakes performing flawlessly. Other solid routines came from Sandra Augustin who's energy was impressive along with a lot of pop in her hyperkinetic routine. Lynn Virant also was excellent possessing great stage presence and Shelia Law also had a solid routine. Amy Huber performed solidly and Jennifer Rosen showed some impressive tumbling and flexibility during her performance.

Unfortunately several competitors were plagued by technical glitches in the sound system and had to either re-perform their routines, or in the case of Mary Kusiak, was only able to do it to the interrupted audio. Kusiak injured herself during her routine and wasn't able to come back out when the audio was fixed.

The Obstacle Course was the final competition and it was a very hot mid-day sun that greeted everyone at Durango High School. This part of the competition was intense with the intense heat combined with the challenging course. However, that made for a perfect showcase of the determination and skills possessed by the athletes.

With each athlete allowed two runs, the magic time to beat was the one minute threshold. To be completed in that duration included a wall that had to be scaled, tires to be run through (but built out of rope), monkey bars, track hurdles, a rope wall that had to be scaled, a bar to duck under and finally a jump over another bar to clear and cross the finish line.

In the past there has been a relay competition as well. "I was looking forward to the team relay event, but due to the thunderstorm delay the event was cancelled. So, I think incorporating the relay team events as a regular venue would compliment team spirit and further the already positive sportsmanship amongst competitors," said Susan Oda-Law.

While several competitors hurt themselves, most completed it with determination and grit, some even walking the last few sections just to complete it. Overall, a very impressive display.

As the awards banquet finally came around, several taped-up athletes were ready to receive their hard-earned awards. Gina Oakes took the overall title with Tonia D'Anna winning Dual Fitness and Sylvia Ferrero winning the Dual Fitness Optional. The full list of placings is listed below.

Veteran competitor Lori Larsen started competing four years ago and had the following to say: "Finding this competition 4 years ago was one of the best things I have ever found in my life. I was searching for other women like myself, the ones that seemed absent in everyday life. The ones that lived a life of honor - the Warriors like myself. The ones who never quit, never became victims, never needed a man to fulfill their life but to join them in the 'journey of life' as an equal, yet different - to provide the essence of 'yinyang.' The ones who helped each other but were not a crutch. Not there to pull you up, but to scream 'Get up,' you can do it, finish it! I will be there if you really need me! The 'Helping Hand,' never the behind the hand statement kind of girl. This is the arena where I found them, and this is the arena of Life!"

As a whole, the Women's Tri-Fitness World Challenge was an excellent event, boosted by the impressive list of athlets in competition. While there were several technical glitches and timing issues, with several of those problems resolved, the event should continue to grow as a showcase of beauty and athleticism. Additional promotion and marketing could also help draw more fans to the event, which was mostly attended by family and friends only. Hosting an event of it's kind in Vegas should allow for more pull, and future events should capitalize on the excitement that Tri-Fitness brings.

"After losing over 40 pounds of fat since I started working out a couple years ago, I've been searching for a new way to challenge myself physically and mentally. The Women's Tri-Fitness is the most challenging competition for women I have found. You have to be a well-rounded athlete in this competition. The WTF is also the most empowering competition for women. We are regarded and promoted as ATHLETES. We support one another to reach our goals and become champions in our own right."

"This was my third WTF competition. I started with the World Challenge last year where I placed horribly (near the bottom in every event) but felt the accomplishment of just getting up on stage, out on the course, and getting through it all. My goal was just to do my best and finish the course. At the Nationals in February, I wanted to better my scores and run the course in under a minute, the greatest milestone of the whole competition. I scored well, and broke a minute. For the WTF World Challenge, I set my sights very high. I knew I had work to do. My physique needed work, I needed more speed, more strength, and mentally better focus. I had to get rid of the idea that I was not good enough to be called up on stage at the awards ceremony. I had to dispell the myth I created that I would never rub shoulders with the women I look up to in this competition. I wanted to place Top 10! I wanted to bring home a trophy. And with hard work and dedication the competition was over the moment I arrived in Vegas. I made it there. I felt good about how I looked and how I knew I would perform. I felt personal accomplishment and achievement in myself and that's all that mattered. Everything from there on out was a formality."

"It was gruelling. The 117 degree Vegas heat was unbearable. And all that I had worked hard for was coming to fruition. And in the end, I got to rub shoulders with the women I looked up to so much over the past year. I got to take home my two trophies. But much more valuable than that I made many new friends, renewed and strengthened past friendships, and did my best to talk to as many new faces as I could...women standing in the same shoes I stood in last year."

"I still have things to work on. My grace and physique is still my lowest score. And after discussing this with some of the new friends I made over the week in Vegas, I discovered that I probably still walk and convey an image of a fat person, remnants of my past. I will get consultations on walking, grace, and hair/make-up so that I can get rid of this still-fat-person walk, and learn to protray who I really am, inside and out. This will also help me in life with how I present myself to others, such as future employers."

"This whole competition can be compared to life, especially the obstacle course. Some obstacles are easy, some are difficult, some you have to go over, and some you have to go under, some are quick to overcome, and some are a test of patience and endurance. There's always a chance to look back on your performance and make improvements. And there's always next year."