Womans figure

[RUBICON19]

I see that the judging must be changing. The girl that one the USA's in Vegas was MUCH softer than the rest of the girls. Hmmmmmmmm.. Maybe the rumors of change are true..

[Karrie]

Randy,
I assume you are talking about the new NPC criteria for the figure girls?/. The girl that did win was much softer than the other girls. I have been reading about it on Mayhem. I feel bad for the girls b/c it is so hard for them to pin point what the judges want. I just read on Mayhem that the new trend that seems to be appearing for judging are, the girls who are taller and tend to be more mesomorph. I think figure is the hardest to compete in right now....too many girls...and it appears the judging criteria, as far as NPC, keeps changing. #smileyonsoapbox4jy#

[RUBICON19]

It keeps changing in every org. The last show Jen did, they made it a point to tell the girls that a BBer type physique would not be rewarded and the girl taht one was a crossover from BBing. Go figure..... No pun intendid.. Its nuts. The poor girls need something to shoot for.

[beckie]

Yep,the IFBB are really good at confusing their athletes. The criteria keeps changing competition to competition. We need a statement at the beginning of each season defining the 'look' they want ,not the half season change that happened just recently-confuses the H*** out of everyone. Better consistency in judging is also required and maybe an audit of judging scores!

[Fatbiceps1]

I really don't think the NPC will ever actually stick to one guideline. My wife has been competing for 5 years and I have seen so many different shapes and sizes win shows. Randi has been told that she needs to add muscle one year, she does that, then the next year she is too big. She cuts back a little and now she isn't muscular enough. I have seen her, along with a few other girls get completely screwed by the judging. They'll place top 2-3 in one show, come into the next one the exact same way and not place. Randi won her class last year at the NA's and then goes into Jr. USA's this year, same condition and size, and doesn't place. We finally decided it isn't worth the money and heartache trying to figure the judging out. The NPC won't be getting her $75 plus entry fees anymore.

[GerryT]

The ladies are at a tremendous disadvantage. I've seen shows where the each of the figure class winners were all different types. Sends out a negative message to the competitors and audience. Consistency in setting standards and then judging by those standards is sorely needed.

Even BB, women are asked not to be as hard and ripped any more. It has to be difficult and frustrating for these ladies as they prep for a show. No wonder there seem to be less women BBs around.

[beckie]

I don't think all federations are like this! Most of the Nabba and INBA judging down here is fairly consistent. Nabba wants lean and hard and so does INBA at the top level....
Maybe some of the ladies should change federations instead of giving up on competing??

[GerryT]

True, Beckie. I like NABBA's approach to figure. Lean, and somewhat muscular and hard but not as much as a BB. And there is a presentation round where they can do artistic poses (not like a BB). More interesting and consistent.

[Intensity]

Agree with you Fatbiceps1 and Gerry! As a Fitness competitor, Marie-Eve has been competing against the same girls, in the same federation 3 weeks in a row… and guess what, the results were completely differents! Number 1 spot was nuber 7 the week after…. Number 9 was number 2 in the second show, etc! And the more incomprehensible thing is the kinds of physique rewarded: #1 spot had no muscles (never trainned in her life), #2 was very muscular and lean (almost a bodybuilder), #3 was muscular but with a high bodyfat, etc… Have you said Perception?