Pro/Am Contests Blog

Check out Bodybuilding.com’s full contest coverage from this competition right here.

2009 NPC California State Results. Check out the results from the 2009 NPC California State Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championships here. [ View 2009 NPC California State Results ]

2009 NPC California State Photos Check out the pictures of the 2009 NPC California State.  See pictures of contestants, crowds and competition! [ 2009 NPC California State Photos ]

Check out Bodybuilding.com’s full contest coverage from this competition right here.

2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Results. Check out the results from the 2009 IFBB California State Pro Figure Championships here. [ View 2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Results ]

2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Check out the pictures of the 2009 IFBB California Pro Figure.  See pictures of contestants, crowds and competition! [ 2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Photos ]

Today is the day the 2009 IFBB California Figure Pro got underway.

There is a huge list of competitors at this event and will have some really tough competition.

The show has already started so keep up with the action as hardbodynews tweets the event action.

IFBB Figure Pro 1st Callout: Heather Mae French, Sonia Gonzales, Meriza Deguzman, Kristi Tauti, Rosa Marie Romero.

Follow hardbodynews  on Twitter right here.

The Three Stooges Make Their California Pro Predictions

My fellow “experts” stooges, Ron “Yogi” Avidan and Lonnie Teper have challenged me to predict the top five for this weekend’s California Pro. I’d have better luck playing the lottery than picking a top five in this line up so we’ll go with just the winner. Since Lonnie will be the emcee of this show and Ron will be there photographing, they didn’t want to fear for their lives for leaving anyone out (despite their challenge to me). The great thing about this show is that any number of women could win and find themselves in the top five. Only the top three will qualify for the Figure Olympia. Now for the winning picks…

Ron changed the tune of his fiddle diddle when he saw that the Denver Dream’s Heather Mae French entered. Originally Ron was going with Sonia Gonzales but says, “after carefully analyzing the situation I am going to take Heather as she’s just great. She looks good and I predict a win for her. Too bad the Nuggets can’t win in LA.” Okay Yogi, Thanks for that babbling response which does make some sense for once. Kinda.

Now onto the elder of the group, Lonnie “still hanging” Teper. Lonnie is predicting a win for Sherlyn Roy. When pressed for why he is going with Sherlyn he commented, “It’s simple-she won my Junior Cal in 2006, and  Sherlyn is a special guest (along with Michael O’Hearn) at my show on June 20, so gotta stick with the home girl.” I can appreciate that prediction, not bad but you and Yogi are out to lunch.

My prediction? Well Heather Mae French is on a roll. She lost by one point in Orlando and I had her winning the show from my seat was her best pro showing to date (in my opinion). She could definitely come in and win this show. However, I’m going with Sonia Gonzales for the win. She’s had some time off since the Figure International and I look for her to come in better this time around.

When you break it down on paper, these could definitely be your top three competitors battling it out for the title. They finished 7-8-9 at the Figure International with Heather placing the highest followed closely by Sonia and Sherlyn. Last year, Heather was the runner-up in this show narrowly losing to Felicia Romero.

Who do you like for the win or are the stooges off and someone else will win?

[ Vote Here ]

2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Competitors List!

The California Pro Figure takes Place May 23rd in Culver City, CA.

Jane Awad
Macey Boudreau
Deanne Brown
Natalie Calland  
Nadya Castellas
Krissy Chin
Becky Clawson
Lorena Cozza
Meriza DeGuzman
Jennifer DeJoya
Celeste Gonzalez
Sonia Gonzales
Alicia Harris
Carin Hawkins
Catherine Holland
Crystal Lowery
Amy Lee Martin
Michele Mayberry
Tanya Merryman
Kristin Nunn
Amy O’Neil
Rosa-Maria Romero
Sherlyn Roy
Laura Sutter
Kristi Tauti
Natalie Waples
Karen Williams
Georgina Lona
Heather Mae French

2009 IFBB California Pro Figure Competitors List!

The California Pro Figure takes Place May 23rd in Culver City, CA.

As of May 5 these competitors will be battling it out on stage for the California Pro Figure.

Macey Boudreau
Deanne Brown
Krissy Chin
Meriza DeGuzman
Jennifer DeJoya
Celeste Gonzales
Sonia Gonzales
Alicia Harris
Carin Hawkins
Catherine Holland
Crystal Lowery
Michele Mayberry
Tanya Merryman
Kristin Nunn
Amy O’Neil
Rosa-Maria Romero
Sherlyn Roy
Laura Sutter
Natalie Waples

2009 IFBB  California Pro Figure
May 23, 2009
Culver City, California

Competitors as of 4/27/2009

Deanne Brown
Meriza DeGuzman
Carin Hawkins
Catherine Holland
Michele Mayberry
Kristin Nunn
Amy O’Neil
Natalie Waples

Congrats to IFBB Figure Pro Felicia Romero for winning tonight’s California Pro show!

Here are the Top 5 results:

1) Felicia Romero
2) Heather Mae French
3) Kristi Tauti
4) Huong Arcinas
5) Darlina Brown

Congrats ladies! 

UPDATE:  Full results now in:

1st. Felicia Romero*
2nd. Heather May French*
3rd. Kristi Tauti*
4th. Huong Arcinas
5th. Darlina Brown
6th. Heather Green
7th. April Fortier
8th. Hazal Nelson
9th. Andrea Dumon
10th. Michele Mayberry
11th. Meriza DeGuzman
12th. Zhanna Rotar
13th. Angela Terlesky
14th. Petra Mertl
15th. Waleska Valle
16th. Nicole Pitcher-Scott
17th. Stacy Clary
17th. Maria del Figueroa Consuelo Rojas
17th. Nancy Georges
17th. Celeste Leandro Gonzalez
17th. Yamanaka Kiyoko
17th. Anna Larsson
17th. Leslie Morris
17th. Kirsten Nicewarner
17th. Tammy Strome
17th. Masae Tagami

*top 3 qualify for the 2008 Figure Olympia.

To read some great live coverage from this show, check out:

http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=1431

Meriza DeGuzman will be competing today.  Here is a pic of her 3 weeks out.  She should do very well!

This weekend over twenty IFBB Figure pros will make their way to the west coast for super promoter Jon Lindsay’s IFBB Cal Pro. The event will be held Saturday in Culver City, CA at 11am. This is the third pro figure show of the year and the second since a letter was sent out from the prez, Jim Manion. The letter directed the pros to tone it down on the extreme conditioning and overpowering shoulders. While there is a great deal of buzz about what the judges are looking for, it’s pretty simple in my opinion… Come into the show looking healthy, athletic, muscular, feminine without a dry and hardened look you will be fine. The IFBB Pittsburgh Pro was a good example of what is being rewarded. It’s not a drastic change like many are trying to make it out to be and not an excuse to slack on the diet if you’re a competitor.

Three women will qualify for the Olympia at this show and the door is wide open on who will prevail with the title. Past winners of this show have been Elaine Goodlad in 2004, Mary Elizabeth Lado in ‘05, Christine Pomponio-Pate in 2006 and Sonia Adcock last year. As you can see the past four winners are all beautiful competitors who have been successful in their careers. I’ve put together my short list on who could be the next winner, at least as I see it…

People have asked me why I haven’t been doing predictions this year, so what the hell let me throw out my top 5. Do these predictions mean anything? No. Will any one but the winner be happy with how I handicap the show? Probably but hey it’s figure and all these pros look great at this level so I am going to go out on a limb and break it down as I see it.

5. Huong Arcinas - This shorty will make the trip down to from Norther California in hopes of qualifying for the Olympia. I have her in the top 2 call outs without much question unless she’s been eating cheesecake since Pittsburgh. She might look like a mini-me competitor in street clothes but when she steps on stage she stands tall with the other pros. I love her physique and think she is balanced from top to bottom. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone with better calves in this show and while it’s not a bodypart contest I do feel she has one of the most complete packages.

4. Heather Mae French - She narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympia at her last show and brings the look the judges are after. She brings a balanced physique and has refined her physique since turning pro at Jr. Nationals a couple years ago. This blondie calls Colorado home and should find herself smiling when her name is called in the top call-out. She could move up and find herself in an birth to the Olympia but she’ll have to bring her A game.

3. Heather Green - HG is always smiling on stage and brings a great look to the stage. She missed the top five at the PA Pro but the added time to diet and bring her legs in a bit should be a good thing for her. Heather had a successful 2007 by turning pro and ending up on the Olympia stage. I like her look and easily see her in the top five at this show.

2. Meriza DeGuzman - Keep your eye on “butterfly”. I call Meriza “Butterfly” not only for her exotic beauty but also the way she used to flutter her eyes on stage. While photographing her on stage, it seemed every shot I snapped had her eyes closed. Meriza has dramatically improved her stage presence and has added a bit of size to balance her physique. She’s another shorty like Houng but it won’t stop her from walking tall with the others. Look for her in the first rounds of comparisons on Saturday morning.

1. Felicia Romero - She won the Jan Tana last year and deservedly so. She’s a beautiful gem out of Arizona that brings beauty combined with a toned, muscular, feminine physique. 2008 has already served her well by gracing two covers in the fitness industry and my magic 8-ball shows more success ahead. If I was a betting man for this show I’d put my money on Felicia. Anything can happen on show day and she’ll have her work cut out for her but she is my pick to prevail.

Others to keep an eye on that could shake things up… Celese Gonzalez Leandro - she is making the trip from the Canary Islands and is a beautiful woman. She graced the Olympia stage last year and could be in the mix if her physique is on. Andrea Dumon could be in the mix if she is dieted down and not too drawn in. Andrea is a good competitor and when she is on, she’s good. Don’t count her out of the top comparisons. Darlina Brown is already qualified for the Olympia from her showing last year and she really came into her own at the Sacramento and Kentucky Pro shows. Darlina brings a nicely balanced physique to the stage and could be in the mix.

Good luck to all the competitors this weekend and remember to HAVE FUN! You’re sporting some of the best physiques in the world and the IFBB is proud to have you part of their organization. Stop and smell the roses and enjoy the sunny skies of Cali.

Complete list of competitors:

Huong Arcinas
Darlina Brown
Stacy Clary
Meriza DeGuzman
Andrea Dumon
Maria del Figueroa Consuelo Rojas
Heather Mae French
April Fortier
Celese Gonzalez Leandro
Nancy Georges
Heather Green
Yamanaka Kiyoko
Anna Larsson
Michele Mayberry
Petra Mertl
Leslie Morris
Hazal Nelson
Kirsten Nicewarmer
Nicole Pitcher-Scott
Felicia Romero
Zhanna Rotar
Tammy Strome
Masae Tagami
Kristi Tauti
Angela Terlesky
Waleska Valle

I received this email from IFBB Pro Figure Competitor Heather Green yesterday, and am reposting it here, with permission, for your reading pleasure.  Enjoy!

"Hi Richard,

Thanks for the congratulations, I had a really great time in Pittsburgh!  Everyone was very accommodating and the show was well organized so things ran smoothly which I always appreciate.

The callouts at prejudging were a bit confusing for me, and I walked out of there not knowing at all where I had placed.  I was really psyched to learn later that I placed 6th.  In my opinion the competition was extremely tough and the element of mystery that came along with "the letter" had a lot of us guessing.  I tried to keep it soft for this show, and I could only chuckle when I got the feedback from the judges.  "Your legs were a little too soft.  Just tighten up a bit…"

Amy Fry, Nicole Wilkins & Heather Green @ 2008 Pittsburgh Pro.

I think they know what they’re looking for, I just may have a hard time finding the balance.  I’ve got Mike Davies helping me prepare for the California Pro in a few weeks and I’m confident he’ll bring me in with the right combination.

Thanks, have a great night!” 

~Heather

Sonia Adcock took a solid win at the Cal yesterday. She was the number one call out through the day so it was pretty easy to know where she would place.

And there was more than just Pro figure but also a real quality NPC contest. Take a look right here at the Cal Pro/Am page for results and photos.

You can also check my BodyBlog for more goins on around this holiday weekend including the next two days at Muscle Beach Venice! Thanks and keep coming back!

Your top 5 from the California Pro Figure:

1. Sonia Adcock
2. MaryJo Cooke
3. Felicia Romero
4. Cheri Lewis
5. Chastity Slone

As I stated earlier, I need to stick with the female predictions as I was pretty dead on with the exception of Felicia Romero.

It looks like your top five in figure will be:

1. Sonia Adcock
2. MaryJo Cooke
3. Cheri Lewis
4. Felicia Romero
5. Chastity Slone

I was fairly accurate in my predictions if this shapes up to be the top 5. I think I’ll stick to the women predictions as I suck at the men’s predictions.

1 Sonia Adcock
2. Mary Jo Cooke
3. Zhanna Rotar
4. Chastity Slone
5. Sherri Lewis