Heath Wins In Colorado !!

[Tim Wescott]

Top 5:
1. Phil Heath
2. Darrem Charles
3. Dave Henry
4. Marcus Haley
5. Bill Willmore

[Tim Wescott]

Final placings:

1.Phil Heath
2.Darrem Charles
3.David Henry
4.Marcus Haley
5.Bill Wilmore
6.Rodney St. Cloud
7.Gary Strydom
8.Troy Alves
9.Jason Arntz
10.Johnny Moya
11.Thomass Benagli
12.Migel Fihlo
13.Edson Prado
14.Kai Greene
16. (tie) Martin Kjellstrom/JoJo Ntiforo

From flexonline.com

[Tim Wescott]

Phil Heath shines in his pro debut


Written by: Shawn Perine

It doesn't happen often in the sport of bodybuilding, but when it does, it's nothing less than magical. In his professional bodybuilding debut, Denver's Phil Heath not only took the title of 2006 Shawn Ray Colorado Pro/Am Classic Champion, he also etched an indelible image into bodybuilding's storied history.

Regardless of a tremendously partisan hometown crowd, Heath turned skeptics into believers and left believers agog. Comparisons to Flex Wheeler's 1993 Pro debut echoed throughout the Colorado Convention Center shortly after Shawn Ray and company presented Phil with his $25,000 winner's check. The comparison is in no way over-the-top. At 5'9" and hitting the stage at less than 220 pounds, Phil gave the impression, as did his predecessor, of a man much larger. When he posed his body seemed to inflate from a fire within. It is very, very hard to find flaws in the 26-year-old's physique. And to think, he's only been bodybuilding for four years.

Second place finisher Darrem Charles looked terrific and battled Phil pose for pose in a spirited top five posedown. He promises to bring the same stellar package to New York, determined not to let this disappointing loss set him back.

Third place was nailed down by David Henry, who appeared even harder (if that's possible) at the night show than he was during the day's prejudging. His back shots are stupefying and his front ones are barely less.

Fourth place went to Marcus Haley, who was tight as a drum and exuding the aura of a man at peace. It's hard to imagine a happier or more grateful bodybuilder.

The final winner's circle spot went to Big Bill Wilmore, who was the most massive man in a very aesthetic top five lineup.

Kudos to Shawn Ray, Jeff Taylor and Vyotech for putting on a terrific weekend. The Colorado Pro/Am production is a high water mark in professional bodybuilding promotion. We look forward to next year's event, same city, same venue.

[Tim Wescott]

Prejudging report

Two men and two men alone stood centerstage at the finish of the prejudging of the Shawn Ray Colorado Pro Bodybuilding competition. The judges had spoken, and the message was clear: It is between Darrem Charles and Phil Heath for overall honors.

Both men were in their all-time best condition. Darrem was considerably larger than we've seen him before, but with his usual super-crisp conditioning. His first appearance onstage drew audible gasps from the Colorado Convention Center crowd. Phil looked like the second coming of Ken "Flex" Wheeler. He was dry, hard, full and sporting some of the shows most beautiful lines. Each man had their supporters, although hometown hero Heath certainly brought the largest cheering section of any competitor.

Dave Henry may very well be at his all-time best as well. He seems to have added a bit of mass to his upper body, yet has lost none of his trademark sharpness. His back never ceases to amaze. It actually has more detail and contours than most guys' fronts. Dave looks to be very solidly in third at this point.

Denver has been abuzz with talk of the returning Gary Strydom these past three days. At 6'1" and a reported 270 pounds the 1986 Nationals winner looked mighty impressive standing relaxed in the lineup. He is as big and full as ever, with better conditioning than previously. But when he posed the drama of his improbable comeback petered out quickly. He seemed to have difficulty hitting all but his side chest shot and often rushed his poses and fiddled with them while his fellow competitors held their own steady. It could be ring rust. Hopefully he'll have fine-tuned things by the time he reaches New York next week.

While the top three placings are all but filled, spots four through six are open to speculation. As it looks right now, Marcus Haley could have fourth place tied up. He's very hard and has one of the best backs in the show. Rodney St. Cloud's vastly retooled physique makes a strong case for keeping Marcus out of the #4 position though. With his controversies of two years ago behind, the New Yorker has been able to concentrate on his training and the results are impressive. Bill Wilmore has brought incredible conditioning to the show and should be rewarded handsomely for his efforts.

Troy Alves seems to be the odd man out for this show. From the front he looks great- heroic to say the least. From the back it's the same old story- the one Troy himself is tired of hearing himself: He's smooth below the waist. Win, lose or draw however, the story of Troy Alves' never ending battle to meet IFBB standards is one of the more compelling this sport has to offer.

A man whose name isn't household, but deserves to be, is Thomass Bengali of Italy. The guy is a modern-day equivalent to Milos Sarcev, who happened to be his trainer a few years back. His physique is strictly old school in the best sense: Great lines, fantastic proportions, nice posing (for the mandatories that is) and good coloring. The slight layer of water he's holding is all that is keeping him from top six consideration, and a case could be made that even that should not keep him out of the money.

[GerryT]

I think Art Atwood was the last one to win his pro debut in 2002. Phil looked great. Super conditioning (what a back!), and it looked like a battle. As always, Darrem was on target.

4th and 5th for Haley and Wilmore in their debuts was also impressive. And 7th for Gary Strydom after a long absence wasn't bad either. Looked like a terrific show.

[str8flexed]

troy alves really bombed

[Tim Wescott]

Very dissapointing about Troy.

Hope he fares better at his next outing.

[QuietBob]

I think you said it earlier, Tim, and what I'm so impressed with about the show--no distended guts. Hope that's the direction things are going in... but I doubt it!

[Intensity]

quietbob said:

I think you said it earlier, Tim, and what I'm so impressed with about the show--no distended guts. Hope that's the direction things are going in... but I doubt it!

Look at the top 3... the sport goes in the right directing in my opinion! Something to do with the arrival of the new bodybuilding organisation? At least, it may be an inciting to the IFBB to listen to what their custumers want... who knows?

[bodyfx]

I would have given it to Darrem over Heath.