TEEN CHAMP!
This weekend was the weekend of MY show! This was the very first show I had ever wanted to do, for what ever reason had until now, never gotten to it. This show was the most fun yet and went GREAT! I entered in two classes as always, and as always set my cross hairs on the teen class, using my second class, MENS NOVICE (SHORT) as no more than extra stage experience. There were only three teens in this one, each one a strong opponent. Only one of them was a first timer so we were all right on with the posing and experience and this made it exciting.
To start from the beginning, one of the best parts about this was that along with my family, my best friend and training partner “EJ” (look for him next year) and girl friend Carly attended with me, and the three of us shared and apartment room. I followed a strict diet for the final week written out by Shane Giese, which kept my carbs up my sodium moderately low, and involved drinking A LOT of water up until 7:00 pm Friday night. With some intricate tweaks made believe me when I say I peaked PERFECTLY! I could NEVER have asked for more perfection. My tan was on, and I was dry and hard as a ROCK! I was excited. We arrived to the show after getting lost at about 9:00am. I was a little nerved at times but was able to relax myself every time, and kept my cool to the point were I nearly fell asleep backstage. I was number 43 out of the male bodybuilders plus another 40-50 female competitors who were u first so I had a lot of time backstage. All of the teens were taller than me (naturally J) and despite baggy attire, appeared pretty muscular. This got me a little nerved up from but I reminded myself it was all in my head and I was ready.
THE STORY
I was the last teen to get undressed since I make it a point to stay relaxed as long as possible, not to mention it is an intimidation factor to appear care free and relaxed while all your opponents are pumping up. My mind games began again once I started checking out my competition. One kid in particular I could tell was bigger than me in his upper body, but I was sure as long as I was “on” I could beat him… IF I was on. But there was one teen in particular that I was worried about, since he had seemed to be pretty conditioned. He was about the same weight as me and a little taller so size wouldn’t be an issue, I was just hoping my condition was on, since I felt he could be equal or better once he got a pump.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: At this point I had not seen my condition since 7:00 am, when I was starting to turn on (coming onto my peak) but was still retaining minimal water. Anybody who competes knows how easy it is to miss his or her peak, whether it is too flat, or not hard enough, or holding too much water. Since then I had been fully covered and had no way of knowing. After eating some raw honey, rice cakes, one Niacin pill, and a little bit of chocolate for vascularity, I did a quick pump with my hoodie on to get my temperature up, I began removing my jacket, hoping I would see what I was hoping for… I was ON!!! I had yet to even take off my T-shirt. I could tell just by my arms I was PERFECT! EXACTLY where I wanted to be, if not better. My skin was grainy, hard as a rock, and completely dry. I had veins bulging out everywhere! Veins I never saw unless it was after a workout, and this was before my real pump! I even had veins streaking out across my upper chest, shoulders, and legs let alone arms and abbs! I also looked FULL! My confidence went through the roof at this point. I actually caught myself smiling and had to ground my self by saying “its not over until its over”. Before I knew it, the teenage class was up. We hit it hard, and I felt great. They had me in the center for the mandatory, which generally indicated placing since the judges put the top competitors in the middle so they can compare the rest around them. After the prejudging I was instantly bombarded with texts from my friends saying I did great and that I had it. I had some time so I visited my fam. in the audience. They all said the same thing that I had it, but I kept telling them “not until tonight”.
THE WAR!
After about three classes it was time to go up again for the Men’s Novice class (short). HERE IS THE TWIST: In most cases the novice class is the easiest one of the classes since it consists of beginners. BUT this show was different. This show offered a Men’s Debut class, and a couple of them based on height. Because of this, all of the beginners entered in that division, turning the novice class into the equivalent of a Men’s Open. I was not told until I was backstage that the Novice classes in this show were notoriously competitive to the point that most men in it did not cross over into a second class since this was such an intense challenge. This was proven to be true since Sully (promoter) had to combine the three different height divisions of the novice class into two since there were so many competitors. By canceling out the middle height class and dividing it amongst the short and tall, this left me with guys two inches taller than me. I didn’t stress it thought, the teens was my main objective, and this class was just for fun, and extra stage time.
While I waited for the Novice to be up, I spent about 15 minutes getting a last minute posing lesson from an off season NATURAL nationals competitor, Moe (apologies, did not get last name). As solid as my posing is compared to most, he helped me make some MAJOR tweaks that I believe helped me big time in this beast of a class I was about to compete in. It was time. Let me tell you, that this showed me exactly how hard of a sort bodybuilding is. I have done wrestling, boxing, and numerous other sports and this topped them.
I was up against 10 grown men, but was not stressed I was just in this class for fun, just to see what I could do so I was smiling. But MAN for those of you who have never competed or have only competed in classes with no more than 5 competitors, you do not know to what extent body building can HURT. Being my second time up, getting late into the morning, or possibly noon at this point, I was dying. I was way dehydrated, beginning come to the end of my carbohydrate energy supply and just overly tired. The judges had us hitting the symmetry round, and holding each pose for SOOO long. Just when I was happy that were at the end of the symmetry round, they have a few of us switch positions. This happened a few times. By the time we hit the mandatory posses I was cramping up. My abbs were beginning to strain and I was darn near gasping for breath. When they had us turn to the back I was relieved that I could relax m abbs, but my lats began cramping. Then my legs and even my feet began cramping. The class was so tough they had us hit the more uncommon posses. At one point they asked us all to present and flex out right hamstrings. Mine were looking GREAT this year, but as soon as I stuck my leg out, I felt a Charlie horse! I didn’t care I had trained too hard to give up and let myself and everybody else down; I smiled and flexed HARD ignoring the pain completely. Looking at videos it did not look like I was struggling at all so I hid it well.
When we were done I was done. I was soo exhausted and sweating like crazy; I went and laid down backstage. I texted my dad, and girlfriend telling them to come back stage so I could hear how I did. The whole time I was up there and backstage I felt like the smallest one. I felt like everybody else was way bigger than me and more conditioned especially being grown men. I was not discouraged since I was just in this class for pure fun. I was surprised when everyone told me I looked great. Only the top five in the class place and receive trophies though so despite the compliments I did NOT think there was a single chance of me even placing.
RESULTS:
My routine went well and actually had people out of there seats at certain points. I incorporated some dancing, and popping and locking. Later it was time for awards. The teen class was the first up out the men’s. The way they did it at this show was instead of lining the compotators up on stage and announcing the order, they kept everyone behind the curtains and called you out as they called your placing. Since the top five finishers place every one of us was going to get a trophy, and I was in it for fun, but this time I wanted first! The most intense moment was when it came down to the final two. Me and one other teen, the one I had stated earlier had beaten me in over all upper body size. “And the second place trophy is awarded to… after the longest pause I talked myself into accepting second place. “Number… 67”. I had to double-check my number due to astonishment as my opponent walked out onto the stage. “And the teen age winner of the 2009 Spirit of America is; Number 43, Nick Wright!” The crowd went insane. I nailed my signature posses and did some abb vacuum, and abb rolling posses for the fans and headed on back stage with the “big boy” in my hand. Some of the competitors including the nationals’ competitor who had helped me early congratulated me and said he had known I had it.
SURPRISE
It was time for the Novice class. I was positive I would not crack the top five, and almost considered just getting dressed and skipping it, but figured I’d be a good sport and head back stage anyway. It would be fun regardless. All ten of us were gathered behind the curtain just waiting for the order to be called. I was so sure I was not going place out of all those incredible competitors I began reflecting on my win, and not even paying attention. In fact I stopped paying attention it took me three calls to hear my name being called onto the stage! Even after they got my attention I at first thought maybe we were doing some last minute pose down for whatever reason until I actually saw the trophy set down in front of me. EVEN AT THIS POINT I still did not believe I place. Thinking maybe they were awarding everybody I still had no idea what place I had just receive until I herd them call for fourth place after me. I had won FIFTH PLACE out of TEN GROWN MEN! I was in shock, amazement, and ecstasy. My whole family was in an uproar. I was so excited. My friends and family had predicted that I’d place at least 4th or 5th but I had not believed it one bit. Looking back at the pictures and videos I am amazed at how good I looked compared to them. I had beaten out 5 grown men, and can plainly see why. Everything workout out EXACTLY as planned and better. I give it all to God. My biggest show of the year and career went picture perfect.
I won the teens class, and cracked top five placing in a huge class I originally didn’t think I had a chance at. This was the best experience of my life. I am now dieting for another OCB show in a out a month. A big thanks to all of you who supported me through out the years. Could not have done it without you, or www.Bodybuiling.com!
