Pro/Am Contests Blog

A hearty congratulations are in order for IFBB pro bodybuilders Kai Greene and Cathy LeFrancois for winning the 2008 New York Pro this weekend!

Get contest photos and full results right here on Bodybuilding.com:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ny_ifbb_08_rev.htm

And kudos to Isaac Hinds for taking such wonderful photos! 

I am back at the hotel downloading and processing photos before heading back to the finals. My man Will Dawg is in Boise uploading the photos. Check them out on the main NY PRO page. The 202 class is between David Henry and Kevin English. I’d give the not to David Henry as he seems a bit more complete from head to toe but English gives him a run for his money and is in better condition from the waist down. Jason Arntz looks like he’ll be in third with Charles Dixon in fourth. This is Charles’ IFBB Pro Debut and he looks good. His conditioning is what is holding him back from moving up a few placings but still looks good.

The women’s top three look to be Dena Westerfield, Cathy Le Francois and Rosemary Jennings. I’d go with Cathy first, Rosemary second but Dena I didn’t have in the top three. I actually had her fifth behind Jeannie Paparone and Debi Laszewski. Jeannie looked very good with great conditioning. Debi also looked good and was poised on stage. Dena looked good and improved as she posed in her conditioning, perhaps that is what the judges saw and rewarded her accordingly. Annie Rivieccio looks to be in sixth place. Tina Chandler had a nice debut and could tell was nervous as she posed. If she polishes her posing she could move up. A little off in the conditioning but not by much she looks to be around 7th place.

The men’s show was no contest. It’s Kai Green and everyone else. I’d go with Ronnie Rockell in second, Craig Richardson in third with David Henry fourth and Kevin English fifth. Is that how it will play out? Eh, probably not. Ben White could sneak into the top five but he was bigger off stage with his mouth than he was on stage. Some of the 202lb guys looked bigger than him. Craig Richardson looked great but faded a little bit as he went on. He has a very pleasing physique though and one that is in line with the Dexter Jackson/Phil Heath look. He’s not quite there in terms of conditioning but still a great showing for him. Kai Green will pose last tonight and should bring the house down. We’ll see.

The finals start tonight at 7pm EST.

I’ll be keeping everyone updated here on the Pro/Am blog this weekend from New York. My flight was delayed leaving Denver due to the stormy weather NYC is experiencing. Surprisingly, we didn’t land that much behind schedule despite leaving 45 minutes behind schedule. I had the fastest cab ride to Manhattan, ever. The cabbie took a few different routes to avoid traffic and it shaved about $25 off the usual fare. When I got out of the cab the first person I see was Robin Chang from AMI who heads up the Olympia.

Robin told me Bodybuilding.com’s own Bob Chicherillo was stuck in Atlanta. Ah, gotta love direct flights! I am checked into a great hotel - the Millenium Hilton which overlooks ground zero. This is where I typically stay when traveling to New York as the rooms, while small (as are most in NYC) are built for business travelers. There is a giant flat screen tv and the rooms are well kept. The hotel was rebuilt after 911. Below are a couple shots from my hotel room - I’m on the top floor looking directly into ground zero.

The men weighed in tonight but due to arriving late I didn’t make it to see who will be in the 202 Class. Tomorrow morning the action starts in the Big Apple around 11am EST. My man Grif and Will are in Boise and the three of us are going to be rock’n the blogs and photo updates for you. Check back tomorrow for more info. I’m off to meet up with IFBB Pro Figure diva Tara Scotti and her husband Dominic for dinner.

Cheers!
Isaac

This is going to be an awesome show - IFBB Men’s 202 and Under.

I really am curious to see who will be at the top!

Go to the Bodybuilding.com IFBB Forum to see what everybody is talking about :

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=107659801

Click Image To Enlarge.

I received this message from Top 5 finisher at the 2007 New York Pro Figure contest this past weekend, Jessica Paxson-Putnam, and I’m posting it here with her permission:

"The New York Pro was a great experience. I had a blast meeting some great girls and competing with them. I would by lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed with my placing since I won last year, but I am still very happy with making the top five.

I just did not come in looking as good as I did last year. I have not had a full off-season due to photo shoots and I came in smaller and a little flat.  I still came away from the experience feeling like a winner with all of the many blessings my husband and I have had come our way. 

I am taking time off to work on my physique and will possibly apply for the 2008 Arnold.

Thanks for all your support! God bless!”

Jess
http://www.myspace.com/jessfit

Note: Check out more 2007 New York Pro Figure coverage here.  You can also read Jessica’s pre-contest comments here.

1. Zivile R.
2. Shannon Meteraud
3. Jennifer Gates
4. Chaundra Coffey
5. Jessica Paxson-Putnam

Zivile was on the money and I’d say this show is her. She is stunning and caught my eye before she even made it on stage. Anyone saying the girls outside of the USA aren’t getting looked at, she proved that wrong - although I guess she is living in NYC now. Overall I felt the judging was fairly balanced and the only big surprise was Zivile, but she deserves to be in the top 3.

I was surprised that Jeanette fell out of the top 5 and Jessica Paxson-Putnam may be on the outside looking in on the top 5 as well. Jennifer Gates had a great Pro Debut and will definitely be top 5, just a question of where. Brianna Tindall turned it on and moved up a few spots in the 2 piece, she looked great.

If I were judging I’d have it:

1. Zivile Raudoniene
2. Chaundra Coffey
3. Jennifer Gates
4. Brianna Tindall
5. Jeanette Freed
6. Jessica Paxson-Putnam
7. Melissa Frabbriel
8. Shannon Metraud
9. Jelena Abbou
10. Cheri Lewis

I believe it will go more like:

1. Zivile Raudoniene
2. Chaundra Coffey
3. Shannon Metraud
4. Jennifer Gates
5. Jessica Paxson-Putnam
6. Melissa Frabbriel
7. Brianna Tindall
8. Jeanette Freed
9. Jelena Abbou
10. Cheri Lewis

Either way there will be three new qualified competitors added to the Olympia line-up.

Zivile Raudoniene

Chaundra Coffey

Shannon Metraud

The two piece is going much the same. Your top figure pros tonight are zivile, Shannon,Chaundra and jennifer gates. I’d move jennifer up into the top three. jessica the defending champ may find herself out of the top five. She is on the bubble. Brian tindall moved up in this round. Chaundra, jennifer and zivile have the best shape. Jelena will move into the top ten and is improved from the jan tana. Valerie haines is making her pro debut. She looks good but needed more oil and a little soft in her lower body.

back out Melissa Frabbiele, jennifer gates, Shannon meteraud, jessica paxon-putnam, zivile and Chaundra coffey. I like zivile, meteraud and coffey from this group.

Melissa Frabbiele and jeanette join group. Next jeanette, brian tindall, valerie haines and Cheri lewis. Next stephanie Collins, monica hoyer, Elizabeth white-lamm and Petra mertl.

The npc fitness is over and the pros are onstage now. Lots of good physiques. Chaundra coffey, Shannon meteraud and zivile raudoniene are in the top callouts. Zivile is the surprise here. Next jennifer gates, jessica paxon- putnam and Jelena abbou.

The Eagle has landed and the Colorado contingency is nestled into the host hotel safe and sound. Momma PR, and soon to be a mom beyond her PR Team, Carla Sanchez had to stay back in Denver because she is due with her first child soon. A video with the PR Team at the airport will be posted soon. The team was sporting "NY JUICY GIRL" t-shirts which apparently is the new cool thing to be wearing. I didn’t get that memo. My seat was next to the Figure A class diva, Liza Kampstra, and it was quite an entertaining flight. The trip consisted of me drinking margaritas, her eating smelly chicken bits, while we watched MUSCLE WEEK on ESPN. The featured show was Sumo Wrestling and it was fairly amusing. Any time you think you’re holding too much water or just a lil too fluffy, watch sumo wrestling and you’ll feel much better.

Check-in took place last night but didn’t lend itself to taking photos due to the small room. Tonight around 4:30pm is the competitor’s meeting, where I will begin taking photos. New York’s weather is less humid than year’s past and it’s quite comfortable. I saw Carl "The Muscle Chef" with his star competitor Nancy Fuentes. Nancy looks great and tells me she is tighter than at the King Kamali show with she swept through a couple weeks ago.

This A Class is going to be the class to watch. Huong Arcincas, Monica Mark, Liza Kampstra, Nancy Fuentes, Jennifer DeJoya, Meriza DeGuzman, Karin Hawkins, Shelly Rego, Desha Rodriguez and more. I’m betting that two of the above list will be IFBB figure pros the end of this weekend. Who will it be? We’ll soon find out.

I’ll be doing a photoshoot with Krissy Chin again today. We shot in Chicago and she was great. I have a few other shoots set up with various people throughout the weekend. It will be a busy one, but should be fun.

Check back for more updates.

Make sure you check back here throughout the weekend for Team Universe/Figure Nationals & NY Pro Figure coverage.

The weekend is starting out with some interesting twists already. I went to check-in online and turns out I didn’t have a flight reservation. A few phone calls later and using up my miles, I have a flight to NYC out tomorrow and will be at check in tomorrow night.

I have a few photo shoots set up as well as the contest coverage from the show. I will be using out my new iPhone to keep you posted here on BodySpace as things happen at the show.  Good luck to all the competitors.

I received this message from IFBB Pro Figure competitor and recent Flex Magazine Cover Girl Jessica Paxson-Putnam, and I’m posting it here with permission:

"The New York Pro is one week away and I am very excited to step back on-stage!

Jessica on the cover of Flex Magazine, June 2007.

I am hoping to reclaim my title, but just to be able to get on that stage with so many great girls is a blessing in itself.

I am praying for all the competitors and I can’t wait to see y’all in New York! God Bless!”

Jess
http://www.myspace.com/jessfit

Note: Check out her husband’s thoughts on his upcoming contest, too!

Here the tentative Pro Figure competitor list for the IFBB New York Pro Figure contest on July 14, 2007.  Thanks go out to man-handsome Isaac Hinds for this list. 

1 - Allegro, Marie - USA
2 - Collins, Stephanie - USA
3 - Frabbiele, Melissa - USA
4 - Freed, Jeanette - USA
5 - Gates, Jennifer - USA
6 - Gonzalez-Leandro, Celeste - Spain
7 - Haines, Valerie - USA
8 - John, Candice - Trinidad
9 - Lewis, Cheri - USA
10 - Meteraud, Shannon - USA
11 - Metrl, Petra - Czech Republic
12 - Mishina, Irina - Russia
13 - Raudoniene, Zivile - Lithuania
14 - St. Laurent, Jill - Canada
15 - Tindall, Briana - USA
16 - White-Lamm, Elizabeth - USA

"Special" interviewer Special Ed who has gained a certain level of fame with the Muscle Mob, has lent his considerable and special interviewing skills to Bodybuilding.com at the recent 2007 New York Pro Men’s competition.

Watch seven of his interviews with pro and amateur athletes at the show, here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2007nyp_edvideos.htm