Embarrassingly it has been some years since I attended USA bodybuilding competition. Frankly it was called Mr. America the last time I attended. As you know, as author of Bodybuilding Program Zone, I have been hanging around this sport for over 30 years. Raising a family deterred my competitive participation in the sport but never my training. No exaggeration, I do not take more than a week from training each year. That has been consistent for the last 30 years. The gym jocks would say I am committed, while a psychiatrist would say I need to be committed. That is dedication and passion, I have for the sport.
Anyway, attending the 2006 USA National Bodybuilding Competition rekindled my love for the competitive side of the sport.
I particularly like this level of competition because many competitors still have either not chosen to or have not have done enough HGH and insulin which have resulted in today’s the humongous guts that totally screw up the aesthetics of physiques. It is hard for me stomach (no pun intended) what has been lost at the Professional level since Arnold’s day. And the women competitors using the same drugs, well they might as well be guys with girl's name.
The USA competition was fantastic.
With 116 competitors in 7 classes (Batamweight, Lightweight, Welter Weight, Middleweight, Light Heavy, Heavy and Super Heavy Weight), the field is packed with competitors to make both prejudging on Friday night and competition well worth the price of the tickets by event organizer Jon Lindsey. It was run with precision, no down time, organized and continual flow of bodybuilders across the stage.
Just in case you don't know how a contest works here's a broad overview. The night of prejudging, each class is assessed and judged. All competitors are instructed to perform compulsory poses for comparison to their peers. At the end of the prejudging session, the top 15 physiques in each class are chosen as well as the 5 top physiques in the order of placement. In other words, the class winner is chosen but not announced. You have to come back to the Finals on Saturday to see that.
At the Finals on Saturday, though all competitors will walk on to stage only the top 15 will be called back to perform personal posing routines to their music. In theory, if it was too close to call in prejudging, some additional points will be awarded during the finals that could rearrange the winning order though normally not. After the fifteen pose, the final 5 are called back out and trophies awarded starting with position 5 and working to number 1.
Now after you pick the winners in each of seven classes, the first place winner in each class compete for the overall title of 2006 NPC USA. Pro Cards will be handed to the top two winner in the Overall competition. This by the way is the only real judging going on the night of Finals. If you don't see this coming, imagine Batamweight winner Fernando Abaco at a 125 lbs (est.) trying to ace out Super Heavy Weight Omar Deckard at 255 lbs. It just ain't gonna happen. Size does matter and the big guys from the Super, Heavy and Light Heavy classes have the greatest chance of winning the Overall.
Omar Deckard 2006 NPC USA Champion
As expected the top two winners were Omar Deckard first place and Mike Ergas, Heavyweight, second place. Both were worthy of their positions. Omar had an especially well balanced physique with aesthetic lines and a small waist. This is quite a feat for guy that weighs 255 lbs on stage.
Scott Jameson and Omar Deckard (2006 USA Winner-255lbs)
I had a chance to meet Omar the next morning at the pool photo shoot. What a good guy. He was not puffed up about his success in the sport and was willing to talk as long as time permitted to this fan. Expect to see Omar on the front cover of all the major muscle mags in the next month.
Omar has been competing in USA and other National Level competition since 2000 and tonight was his night. I know you are tired of hearing me say "sweat eventually hardens to muscle" but it is true. Omar spent countless hours in the gym while not taking the top spot in national level competition until now. He never gave up. I expect to see Omar the Olympia some year.
The competition also includes entertainment from the audience. I have never heard such screaming and coaching (like the competitor can hear) from family and friends. Enthusiasm lifts the overall enjoyment of the event. Also the audience contain past winners, past competitors taking a year off or future competitors. I saw John Shamburger, 2004 National Teen competitor eyeing the competition in anticipation of his eventual debut.
In the lobby, competitors hang around prior to their turn on stage and I bumped into Dan Decker and Mark Elperding. Dave Henry was manning the Muscletech booth. I stopped, talked and got a photo with Dave. Dave is friendly, charismatic and sports a broad smile. Dave's physique is very aethetic, muscular and vascular. He looked really good even in his street clothes even though this was not his contest night.
Scott Jameson and Dave Henry
Embassy Suites was the designated hotel for bodybuilders and fans. The nice thing about staying here was that I met and talked with many of those that were in the competition. I interview heavy weight contender, Dan Decker here. What a great guy with perhaps the best proportioned and symmetrical physique at this competition.
I talked with Mark Elperding at length on the shuttle ride down to the competition. Mark was a nice guy. I am starting to get the impression that bodybuilders haven't lost their ability to talk to their fans as so many other sport have done.
I met Tamar El-Guindy, 5 th in Light Heavyweight. Tamar is from Egypt and friendly like other I have met. He is short guy that was just plain shredded. Oh the miracles of modern nutrtition.
Tamar El-Guindy
2006 USA Photos-by Scott Jameson
Don't miss next year's USA competition in Las Vegas the last weekend in July. I know "I'll be back."
All photos by Scott Jameson are property of BodybuildingProgramZone. You may post or link to these on your site provided you credit www.bodybuildingprogramzone.com.
Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott
This article is property of Bodybuilding Program Zone and may not be reproduced without written permission from Scott Jameson. Besides it wouldn't be right....Scott
Contestant Results below with photos links to Graphic Muscle
