Gopher State Classic 2015 Results

In this post:

• Run down of the day
• Figure placing and video’s
• Bikini placing and video’s
• Judges comments
• Score sheets
• Having fun
• In the end….
• Credits

See also

• Competition Guide Articles
• Contest Prep 2015
• Weekly Updates

Over a week after my contest this year, as I am trying to stick to a reverse diet, AND, though I am in the gym or getting in my workouts 6x per week still,  it is really nice not having the pressure to HAVE to be working out or have to eat a certain way. I was in the gym every day and making healthful food choices all  before I even got into bodybuilding. With the cut phase comes the pressures, struggles, goals, and the doubts. The constant push to bring your best to the stage, to improve and to be better than last year.

The show was fun. Christine Bongiovanni runs a great show which adds the excellent experience.

Two nights before the contest, I found that my shoes I wore last year were breaking down. The straps were cracked and being held together by a flimsy reinforcement piece.

I first tried white electrical tape until a fellow competitor FB messaged me to say she had a new pair of shoes, my size that she was going to return- PERFECT! For $30, they were mine Friday night! I added a few strips of rhinestones with e3000 glue and viola… shoes with a little sparkle.

The morning of the show, we got up about 5:30 AM, the husby put a 2nd coat of competition tan on.

See: DIY Competition Tan – No Prob!  for info and a video

and

Your Competition Tan – What to Expect 

Than I did my hair and make-up and was out of the house by 7:45 to drive to the venue which was about 35 minutes away.

 

After fighting traffic to get into downtown Minneapolis,  I just barely made the athlete meeting:

After the athlete meeting, we all just set up shop in hallways waiting for our class to go out.

Last year, I did 3 shows and took home 3 trophies (all 3rd and 4th places). This year I did 1 show and took home 3 trophies. Only because I could enter more classes being 35 years old. AND, I entered figure and bikini.  woot! Keeps the show moving along and more fun.

See Divisions Explained for a more detailed explanation on figure and bikini. Also see Competition Articles. 

Figure

 

Figure Open 35+ : 5th Place

Figure Open: 2nd Place

 

Shortened video:

 

Full length video:

 

Bikini

Bikini 35+: 4th Place

   

 

Shortened video:

Full length video:

 

Judges Comments

We are allowed to contact 1 judge from the panel to ask for feedback. As I did, this was my message:

Score Sheets

What do these numbers mean? How can I get a 10 in one figure class and a 26 in another? What do those numbers even mean?

well I will tell ya… from what I gather…

The judges have to score quickly. Instead of having a set of criteria on paper that has to be scored, the judges simply use their awesome knowledge and experience to take all the criteria into account in their head. On paper, the judges will rank each competitor in the “place” they feel each belongs such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. Then, the highest and lowest score is trashed and the rest of the numbers are added together. The person with the lowest number wins.

If ten judges rank you as first place, you will get a score of 10. If ten judges rank you as 5th, 7th, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 5th, 6th, 5th, 4th 3rd, – The 2nd place and 7th place are discarded and the rest of the numbers are added up to 41, and that is your score.

The more people in a class, the higher the number will be for competitors that won’t place.

Having Fun!

Goofing around, meeting fellow competitors and chatting is one of the best parts of the whole, long ass 13 hour day. By 9 pm, I feel like I have known many of these gals and some guys for more than just a Saturday.

 

 

 

My photo ops with IFPA Pro Chuckwumah Anwah have become a tradition as every show- competing or not. 😀

A little photo op below with Fred “biggie” Smalls the guest poser! totally awesome performer!

In the end…

Just sitting here thinking about the weekend and the journey that got me there. From the very first thought of competing to a second season and a 4th show, it sure has been fun. The best part of it all is meeting some pretty fabulous, supportive, fitness oriented people. This sport certainly has its challenges, the ups and downs along the way, the emotional mind F*** of it all, but some how, we keep getting back on the roller coaster for that one thrill of being on stage- ripped, lean, tanned and oiled.

I was going to compete in the Mr & Mrs Natural Show May 15-16 but I decided not to. My body build is too in-between divisions right now in that my shoulders need to be larger to be more competitive in figure and my body is a bit too muscular and not shaped well for bikini. So, knowing that I may do okay but not amazing, I am going to hang my suits up for the season and ditch the gallon jug….. And just enjoy living the fit chick life until next year. 🙂

Credits!

Thank you’s have to go out to Allison MacArthur of Elite Presentation for her fabulous posing sessions,  Andrew Brightman (@builtbybrightman) for getting me through the last few weeks of my prep as well as reversing out of it, to my Mom for the fabulous competition suits, and to my Husband, family and friends for supporting me the entire way… AND to my kiddo’s for putting up with my irritability from a 15 week caloric deficit! Those little buddies would just laugh at me un-phased. Rascals. 😀

On to reverse dieting… joy!!!! not.