The Reality of A Bodybuilding Show
https://stingreyclassic.com/
Polynesian Muscle Mayhem 2019 Natural Bodybuilding
https://www.worldnaturalbb.com/inbf-polynesian-natural-muscle-mayhem/
What is a Bodybuilding Show?
To put things plain and simple. A bodybuilding show is where individuals come to compete after spending extraneous months of dieting, training, and supplementation to step on stage against each other in their respective classes ( which I will go into a bit later.) and compete for first in their division and shoot for an overall 1st within their respected class. These Athletes/ Normal people will drop body fat down to single digit percentages. Mainly 4-5% amongst men and 10-12% amongst women. The spectacle is a sight to watch as each contestant dials in to look muscular and defined. Along with their posing routines all contestants really pour their heart and soul into this sport regardless of their first time or 20th time. A lot of sacrifices are made amongst each individual as they steer through a dark tunnel allowing themselves to basically go through famine and starvation from anywhere from 12 weeks to 32 weeks. ( I for one am a competitor so I can attest to all this.) Now there are two types of shows that I have listed here today which I will dive into. One is the Stingray Classic NPC show and the other is the INBF/WNBF Polynesian Muscle Mayhem.
Stingray Classic NPC Sanction
For starters the Stingray Classic is held at the Sheraton Waikiki Ball Rooms on a Friday in usually Mid April. The show its self has been going on for quite some time here in Hawaii. I do not know the specifics unfortunately but I have had the pleasure too compete in this contest twice. Both times under the Men’s Physique division. This show is actually one of the larger ones amongst the community here on the island. Which I have seen the turn out to be about little under 300 contestants. Seats amongst spectators have been sold out before. Which rules out the opposing shows later in the year. Also being one of the first shows in the year ( it used to be the only first show of the year ) not many contestants will continue a prep or restart a prep for the later shows. Which leaves a great ” New Years Resolution” for most since January 1st marks a 16 week mark for contestants to enjoy their holidays to gain a little excess body fat only to trim it all off for the contest. The show it’s self is ran rather smoothly. As the years have gone by they get a little better each year in it’s entirety. Lastly this Sanction is not a drug tested event on contrary to many beliefs.
Polynesian Muscle Mayhem INBF/WNBF
The Polynesian Muscle Mayhem is a rather smaller show that’s been on Island for about 5 years now. Usually held in the Pikake Room at the Blaisdel on a Satruday. The federation it’s self has been around for 30 years now and this specific federation is a drug free natural show. All Contestants are to go through a lie detector polygraph test ( I can attest to this). The test is quite extensive as you are strapped into a respiratory monitor that wraps around your chest, a motion sensing pad you sit on, a blood pressure monitor on your right arm, two electrode monitors on your left palm and a blood oxygen monitor on your left middle finger. You are then not just asked a series of questions but also to lie to multiple questions to verify that you do in fact have a response to what a response on their monitors that you did indeed lie. This whole testing takes places the day before the contest and lasts about 45 minutes. Then if you are to place first in your respected class you’re to have a drug test immediately after winning. When I say immediately I mean immediately. You are given a cup the moment you step off stage in the back and are to provide a sample to be sent over to the labs to verify that you have not used any banned substance under the WADA banned substance list. This show is very well ran and the owners who run the show really know what they are doing in regards to not just pertaining to the audience but to the athletes who are basically dying on stage. Being a drug tested show this is a must see event as surprisingly not a whole lot of the community knows about this spectacle. For those looking to compete for the first time ever and don’t know anything about bodybuilding or what a show is like to compete in. I highly suggest starting with this show. Going in as a natural you have a very even playing field against your competition and from what I’ve noticed you will make more connections and friends in your class at this type of event.
Morning Show and Night Show
So all bodybuilding events have a morning and a night show to them. The morning show is where contestants will wake up rather early to get their pre judging done. Pre judging will determine their placings for the entirety of the show and no one will be notified until the night show. Needless to say the entirety of the show is important but the morning tends to be the most crucial for most unless you’re coming in first in your division. Then at the night show you will do a pose off against the other first places winners in your division. After the morning show most contestants will eat a good amount of food and 9/10 times look better then when they first got on stage in the morning. Which is a topic for another post but just note sometimes being a spectator you might notice subtle changes in contestants bodies changes if you stick around for the morning and night show. For most NPC Sanctions this is an all day event sometimes leading too 10pm and starting at 10am. With the INBF things tend to be a little shorter and more bearable. As for this specific show it went from 10am- 330pm. As a contestant this is just amazing to say the least and you don’t have to feel like you’re dying longer than 8 hours versus the 12 hours. Now that is just this particular show. I cannot attest for the others in the mainland.
Judging Criteria
Placings are determined from usually anywhere from 5 judges to 8 judges who all score each individual based off of their respected federation/sanction’s guide lines. The scores are then after tallied up amongst the 5- 8 judges during the Pre judging in the morning. Later to have the contestants come back during the night show where the awards and placings are then announced as the contestants step on stage one last time. If you are curious to what the judges are looking for you will have to go to the links I have posted with the pictures and find the individual class criteria to what the judges are looking for. Which in later posts I will go in detail so feel free to stay tuned.
The Spray Tan
So all contestants will how ever need to get a spray tan the day prior to the event. The stage lighting is so bright in order to have your vascularity and definition shine you need to be rather dark. Even if you are dark you will still need to get a spray tan. Hate to break that to you but it is what it is. Getting 2 coats is usually the normal for most individuals but I highly advise tanning naturally before the show if you can. That is if you want to save a little bit of money so you don’t have to get multiple coats. Here is the sucky part of all of this. YOU CANNOT SHOWER UNTIL AFTER THE SHOW IS OVER. You are going to sleep in the tan and wake up hopefully not rubbing off too much of the coat otherwise you might need to get a touch up before the show. That isn’t too normal but just hopefully you aren’t tossing and turning in your sleep. I cant tell you how much I actually extremely dislike this part of the entirety of a show. Personally I tend to be an advocate of showering in the morning, after the gym and at night. So not being able to shower until mid day and sometimes by night really bothers me. The things we contestants tend to do for this sport..
Wrapping Things Up
Needless to say both shows are a spectacle to see and there are actually 2-3 more shows on island. I just wanted to dabble in the more common shows to elicit a vicarious appeal to those that have not competed yet or who are considering watching in the near future. Unfortunately the Polynesian muscle mayhem is over for this year but that doesn’t mean you cant watch it next year. Then for those who are interested this Friday 4/19/19 is the stingray classic. Just be prepared to watch these shows it does cost a bit anywhere from $20- $70. ( The cheaper the ticket the further back your seat will be for NPC sanctions). (INBF is sometimes held at a flat rate of $20). Most individuals will spectate the Night show due to the awards being announced then versus the morning. But if you are looking to compete I highly advise watching the morning and night show to get a better idea of what the environment is like Until next time you guys! Peace.
Steven Personius 