Following a contest, sometimes I like to sit back for a couple of days and let the event sink in before I pen my observations. This year's IFBB New York Pro had a lot of facets to it that are not normally part of my scope, so I needed to digest and assimilate what had happened.
First off, it was interesting that the competitive mix of the show was a bit streamlined. Bodybuilding shows have grown so much with the various divisions that a promoter has to now choose what Divisions he's going to showcase if he expects the show to end on the same day it started. Right now the IFBB is home to Pro Men's Open Bodybuilding, Men's Under 202 Bodybuilding, Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini. That's six divisions requiring both a prejudging and finals. There's simply not enough hours in the day nor eyeballs on the judging panel to make it through 12 separate exhibitions in one sitting. When you consider that the Figure girls have to switch from one piece to two-piece suits, that number rises even higher. Because of this, promoters Steve Weinberger and Bev Francis hold the New York Pro devoid of fitness and figure (they host an IFBB Pro Fitness at the NPC New York Metropolitans and an IFBB Pro Figure at the NPC Team Universe). This year the New York Pro hosted Men's Open Bodybuilding, Men's Under 202 Bodybuilding, Women's Bodybuilding, and Bikini.
The first thing such a mix espoused was the incredible diversity in body type when moving from bikini to women's bodybuilding. It was actually kind of strange to watch the bikini girls strut and gyrate on the stage in teeny tiny bikinis overflowing with jiggly soft body parts and overstuffed bikini tops, and then move to muscled-up ripped women hitting poses. The dichotomy was almost surreal, yet it was an interesting look into just how diverse a woman's physique can be. While I'm talking about overstuffed bikini tops, I think these bikini girls should realize that entering a bikini competition two weeks after they get their boobs done might not be the best idea. Some of these girls had boobs so new they were stuffed under their neck. Not a good look. It's clear that some bikini girls take the sport very seriously and train and diet and put out a fairly toned and acceptably athletic package. Others look like they don't train at all and rely on plastic surgery and "stimulants" to put it together. Thankfully the judges seem to be picking the athletic types and relegating the beer tub girls back to the beach bar bikini circuit. I'm still not convinced that bikini should be considered a physique sport complete with a pro card, but the addition of the division makes the show a lot more interesting.
Women's bodybuilding captivated my interest more this year than any in the last 15 because for the first time
in all that time I prepped someone for the show. I figured enough time had passed since I contributed to a near on-stage catastrophe, and since I'm going around mocking certain gurus, I thought I should throw my hat back into the contest prep arena and prove I'm not all talk. I mean if you're going to pass judgment you better be adept at the task at hand; right? So, when brand new IFBB Pro Sheila Bleck asked me to dust off my coaching bag and get her ready for the New York 
Pro, I agreed. With stellar genetics like hers it would be a good place to start back up. Sheila worked like the champion she is for the last 16 weeks and ended up bagging second place, losing to Kathy LeFrancois by one measly point. I've gotten tons of remarks from people all over the world assessing the show that told me they thought Sheila should have won. While that's nice to hear, we're both happy with second and the Olympia qualification.
Men's 202 was also a show in which I had some interest because of three competitors whom I call friends. While Kevin English 
commanded first place in the contest, I think his reward should more be associated with the fact that the guy actually was able to make weight. I see Kevin every day at the gym and am astounded at the weigh this guy carries off season and how much he has to diet to make it into the class. A week out Kevin was 227 and shredded. How in the hell was he ever going to lose 25 pounds - none of it fat - in one week? However he did it, no one can tell me it was pleasant. The guy suffered only slightly less than if he had spent the last week in Auschwitz. So, mad props to Kevin. Having said that, I know by his methods that after he made weight, Kevin loaded back up and I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't somewhere between 215 and 220 on stage. I think if you're going to compete in an under 202 class then you ought to be under 202. Not suffer to make weight and then load up and compete at a much higher weight while other competitors are legitimately in under the cut-off. Second place finisher Jose Raymon looked like a little giant up there; totally perfect from head to toe with no weak points. And the guy can squat 405 for 30 reps five weeks before the show like he did to win our Bros vs Pros III Squat Challenge. This is an under 202 bodybuilder! Kevin should eat and compete in the open at 230. He'd do damage and make more money. Leave the 202 class for the guys who weigh 202 or under ON STAGE. I was also happy to see my buddy Jason Arntz pull it together and take third place with his adorable 18 month old daughter in the front row. That was cool and nice feel-good moment. Jason, Jose and Kevin are all going to the Olympia.
The men's open was a real nail biter. Going in, the focus was all over Toney Freeman. This show was his to lose and he did. But fourth place? It's going to take me a long time to get my brain around that one. Having said that, I think Toney keeps making the same mistake. He looked his best when Dave prepped him and that's what he needs to do the next time around - have Dave Palumbo get him ready. It's just so frustrating to see a guy as good as Toney fall short by one percent. This time it cost him three places. Roelly Winklaar on contest day was my pick for the win. After I saw him at prejudging I knew this cat had it in the bag, and at the end of the day that's just where he ended up - in first. No argument there. This really impressed me because it was clearly a case where the best guy won regardless of any degree of hype or political rumors of affiliation or anything else that gets conspiracy theorists burning the midnight oil. This guy deserved the win and he did.
Overall, Steve Weinberger and Bev Francis put on another great show. I think the way they organized this year's event, with the divisions, was the best New York Pro yet. It's also great that they own the Powerhouse Gym in Syosset that seems to draw everyone in like Gold's Gym in Venice did back in the day. In the week leading up to the New York Pro I ran into Dennis James, Dennis Wolf, Kai Greene, Hidetada Yamagishi, and Toney Freeman. That place is a veritable who's who of the bodybuilding elite and the destination for any musclehead visiting the east coast. It's really no wonder they put on the best show on the east coast.
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