NZ women bodybuilding will it die to???

[AllenNZ]

I have cut and paste this for the women bodybuilders to not let this happen here in NZ

AllenNZ wrote:Ok Outlaw i hear with your show this year you will not be running women bodybuilding class as you have said it’s not worth it. Well i know that there were 3 or more women that wanted to come over from NZ to do that class. From what i have seen is that women bodybuilding is not the in thing in AUS. Can you answer this for the women bodybuilders.

I will catch with you at your show in Bendgo

AllenNZ

---------------------------

From Outlaw:

Women's Bodybuilding is dead in the water over here mate.

There have been some massive debates about it with everyone searching for answers, but none of us has a solution for it.

In a nutshell, women are refusing to compete in Women's Bodybuilding competitions.

Many of them have trimmed down and gone on to compete as Figure competitors just to get some competition.

Coral Moody and Melita Jagic were two of our best Physique competitors.

Coral has had enormous success in Figure and Melita is about to compete in her first Figure comp very soon.

Both cited lack of competition for their decision to switch to Figure.

A good example was the recent Aussie Pro show.

There were only two Physique girls competing in the amateur All States competition and both of them came from NZ.

Last year the NABBA Aust Women's Bodybuilding class attracted only one competitor, (she placed third at my CCI show that year too).

She travelled all the way from QLD to WA only to find out that no other women could be bothered.

I think Women's Bodybuilding will be gone in the next 5-10yrs.

Already promoters and federations are questioning whether it is worth doing anymore.

Rumour has it that one federation will only hold a National Women's Bodybuilding class as there are not enough competitors for the State shows.

It makes pretty good sense as every female bodybuilder qualifies for the Nationals as they are usually the only one in their class.

On another Aussie forum site, we attempted to list the current top 10 female bodybuilders in Australia.

I think we got to about 3 before we all gave up, with someone even bringing up the name of a deceased competitor!

Just last week I was asked to find a big muscley Physique girl who was in shape for a TV sketch, I couldn't name anyone.

I'm disappointed for the Kiwi girls who wanted to do my show, but I have recommended that they do Mark Ryan's Southern Hemisphere comp which is about a month before my show.

I believe they are now going to the Gold Coast show instead.

I have championed Women's Bodybuilding in Australia for years, but I have now come to realise that it is a waste of time, the women are not supporting it.

I look forward to meeting the NZ team in Bendigo this year.

I'm sure you will have a great time.

Thanks for the support.

[Outlaw53]

When you find the answer please let us know.

We are all very disappointed with the state of Women's Bodybuilding over here in Australia.

Something that I have noticed is that all of our female bodybuilders are old, (no disrespect meant lol).

Most are well into their 40's or pushing 50.

There is no new blood coming through.

Once the current batch of competitors retire, thats it, Women's Bodybuilding will be retired too.

[Small]

Once the current batch of competitors retire, thats it, Women's Bodybuilding will be retired too.

possibly in Australia

theres a few junior girls in the US (il post up links to their vids later) whos bodies are fukn crazy and huge (bigger than most NZ junior men) so i dont really see it dying, esp as America is the mecca of bodybuilding.

perhaps its a case of whats deemed suitable in society, and many woman in Australia see a bikini/fitness body as something to aspire to to have. I dont think it will ever die completely as you suggest.

[Outlaw53]

Once the current batch of competitors retire, thats it, Women's Bodybuilding will be retired too.

possibly in Australia

theres a few junior girls in the US (il post up links to their vids later) whos bodies are fukn crazy and huge (bigger than most NZ junior men) so i dont really see it dying, esp as America is the mecca of bodybuilding.

perhaps its a case of whats deemed suitable in society, and many woman in Australia see a bikini/fitness body as something to aspire to to have. I dont think it will ever die completely as you suggest.

Don't be too sure on how well it's going in the US mate.

They to are struggling over there too.

The IFBB Pro Ms Olympia is run during the Expo part of the Mr Olympia show, you can watch it for free.

This recent plea from Tim Gardner indicates that all is not well.

“I just word from Tim Gardner that there will be no FBB at the Tampa show in August. I know a few of our members where looking to do their pro debuts. Stay strong ladies.” - Isabelle Turell-Stamper

2010 Tampa Pro: Tim Gardner asking for Donations to Save Women’s Event

March 25, 2009 by Muscle and Brawn

Tim Gardner is asking for donations to help save the women’s event at the 2010 Tampa Pro. The women had to be dropped from the 2009 ticket, due to lack of sponsorship. To donate, please contact Tim via the information in this forum post. Donations are being accepted via Paypal.

To Tim's credit, he has got a strong response and has been able to secure enough money to run this year's show, but you can't keep begging for money every year, sooner or later you passion & enthusiasm will be drained.

[gmm]

It may be dead in Australia but I get a feeling that it is starting to 'buzz' again here in NZ. Last night at the Nabba Asia Pacific comp the Physique women well outweighed the figure girls. In fact, there were no open figure competitors at all.

Last year I competed at the NZFBB Sth Islands and Nationals. At the Sth Island comp my class was disappointing in terms of numbers. However, the overall competition made up for it - bloody hard competition (Karen Kelly is pretty awesome). In the break we had Jo Stewart guest pose.....again very cool.

Onto the 2008 Nationals -not at all a disappointment! 8 competitors in my class (Novice Physique) and the overall comp was a full on pose down between Michelle and Ra .....so I reckon it's just getting going here in NZ. The likes of Jo Stewart, Billy Kain (spelling?), Mandy Matherson, Anita Albrecht, Lisa Baily, Ra, Michell Heggie and the girls I competed against (sorry luv.me.oats and Nicki can't remember your full names) have made girls like me realise that there is a place for body women's building in NZ. As for globally the two Europeans who cleaned up the Arnolds are phenonemal!!!!

I admire the figure girls but have absolutely no desire at all to head down that track....it's just not me (and no I am not a 'sheman' or whatever it's called). I'm not even a tom boy, but have been involved in serious sport my entire life. So if i have an option of doing a class which will allow me to grow shitloads of muscle (while still looking feminine) or only so much and having to wear high heals and rinestones.....the choice for me is obvious...physique all the way.

I know of a number of girls just starting out in NZ who are looking to take physique as far as they can and hence, we will keep NZ physique alive for a bit longer. Should it not exist, I wouldn't be involved.... I'd go back to big mountain skiing.

From a spectator point of view, when Mike (husband) isn't competing, the main reason I go to competitions is to see the physique women classes. Even when I wasn't into bodybuilding myself, I was awestuck at the women's physique class and that was what I went to see - because for once people were applauding women who 'built muscle' (and the dedication it took). My friends who have absolutely nothing to do with bodybuilding all noted that they much preferred to physique class to the figure one as they didn't 'get' high heals, rinestones and muscles (pretty down to earth girls mind you). So I think there is more to come in female bodybuilding yet... but I guess we will have to wait and see.

If you are reading this and trying to decide between figure and physique (and you have the genes to do either) I say do physique. Shock people at how feminine you can look whilst still having hard, lean muscles and enjoy training hard and heavy every day.

Ok...... so that's my rant for now as you can see this has hit a bit of a nerve :wink: See what poor Mike has to live with...... :twisted: And I'm not even dieting!

[Outlaw53]

Awesome post gmm!

I wish it was like that over here, damn - 8 competitors just in a Novice class!!

We'd be lucky to have 8 competitors for the entire year!

I can only echo what gmm has said, keep the flame burning you Kiwi girls, because it's just about snuffed-out in Aust.

[musclenz]

Agree with you ggm that the Ladies are hear to stay. There was a good respesentation on Sat night & both Suzie Patrick & Rowena Marcaida looked great with good muscularity & definition but not over the top with size. Maybe things have moved on from the mass of Iris Kyle into a slightly fuller more balanced & feminine look, I dont know. I am a mere male & I dont proclaim to know what women want, but I still think there is a role for the female in the physique classes.

[michaelk]

We are very fortunate over here that there have been a number of physique ladies of late (Ra, Jo, Gretchen, Mandy to name a few) and Billie, Siobahn and Johann Allen who have all been very muscular and equally feminine that has supported the sport in nz. The easy access to AAS overseas has ruined a lot of beautiful female physiques....glad that hasn't happened in NZ (to the same degree) although there are some cases:(

This could be a path to resolve the issue in Aus, heavily penalise those ladies that lose femaninity. After all it is WOMENS bodybuilding, the excessive use of MALE hormones obviously seems counter to that philosophy.

As to the rhinestones and high heels, I have to add it's confusing that judges can be distracted by a male bodybuilder wearing an earing or necklass, when some of the figure costumes must be blinding up close. I'd like to see the class during the day show stripped of the decoration, treat the competitiors as athletes not christmas trees. The gymnasts at the Olympics seem to get by without bejeweled leotards.

Just my thoughts.

[musclenz]

We are very fortunate over here that there have been a number of physique ladies of late (Ra, Jo, Gretchen, Mandy to name a few) and Billie, Siobahn and Johann Allen who have all been very muscular and equally feminine that has supported the sport in nz. The easy access to AAS overseas has ruined a lot of beautiful female physiques....glad that hasn't happened in NZ (to the same degree) although there are some cases:(

This could be a path to resolve the issue in Aus, heavily penalise those ladies that lose femaninity. After all it is WOMENS bodybuilding, the excessive use of MALE hormones obviously seems counter to that philosophy.

As to the rhinestones and high heels, I have to add it's confusing that judges can be distracted by a male bodybuilder wearing an earing or necklass, when some of the figure costumes must be blinding up close. I'd like to see the class during the day show stripped of the decoration, treat the competitiors as athletes not christmas trees. The gymnasts at the Olympics seem to get by without bejeweled leotards.

Just my thoughts.

=P~ :grin:

[Sakura]

We are very fortunate over here that there have been a number of physique ladies of late (Ra, Jo, Gretchen, Mandy to name a few) and Billie, Siobahn and Johann Allen who have all been very muscular and equally feminine that has supported the sport in nz. The easy access to AAS overseas has ruined a lot of beautiful female physiques....glad that hasn't happened in NZ (to the same degree) although there are some cases:(

This could be a path to resolve the issue in Aus, heavily penalise those ladies that lose femaninity. After all it is WOMENS bodybuilding, the excessive use of MALE hormones obviously seems counter to that philosophy.

As to the rhinestones and high heels, I have to add it's confusing that judges can be distracted by a male bodybuilder wearing an earing or necklass, when some of the figure costumes must be blinding up close. I'd like to see the class during the day show stripped of the decoration, treat the competitiors as athletes not christmas trees. The gymnasts at the Olympics seem to get by without bejeweled leotards.

Just my thoughts.

=P~ :grin:

LOL, musclenz! He meant see them without the rhinestones and other bling, not see them stripped naked.

[Outlaw53]

This could be a path to resolve the issue in Aus, heavily penalise those ladies that lose femaninity. After all it is WOMENS bodybuilding, the excessive use of MALE hormones obviously seems counter to that philosophy.

I guess if we could find any women to compete then we could start penalising them, but for now we'll take whatever we can get!

Most of our Physique women are just competitors who are too fat do Figure, so their trainers put them in Physique because they are "too big" for Figure.

Except for 1 or 2 good ones, the standard of female Physique competitors is really struggling over here.

I like the idea of making them strip off for the Pre Judging though, very creative mate. :grin:

[autechre]

I think the death of female bodybuilding has been "coming" for about the last 20 years in the US, but it's still rolling along.

There have been some who have moved down (in terms of muscle) to figure, but a lot are just naturally too big and want to take their physique to its potential.

I have to say I was surprised at the Nationals at the numbers and the quality of the physique girls. All of them looked feminine while packing some great muscle.

I hope all of those girls continue to improve & compete. It should make for some seriously good competition!

[nate225]

I personally think it all started to turn to sh*t on the international scene almost 20 years ago, after the move to freakishly big / hard woman. Let's be realistic and recognise that the general public aint ready to see woman that look like Mark Anderson in a bikini! :nod:

Cory Everson, Rachel McLish were fantastic from 1980 -89, unfortunately following that Kim Chizevsky & Lenda Murray were the beginning of a trend that lead the sport to the dismal state it is in today. The year Carmen Cotter (NZL Pro) placed 2nd in the Jan Tana it seemed the judges apparently favoured a slightly softer more feminine look, however the following year it swung back in the opposite direction and into the era of Iris Kyle.

Hardly surprising that the lack of sponsorship and profile of the sport followed, and hence woman moving to the figure classes for competition.

IFBB & the real NABBA need to, in my humble opinion, look at the long term strategy for female physique and adjust standards accordingly. Go the freakshow 4%BF woman with more mass than the NZFBB mens winner and lose audiences & sponsors, or chose a more realistic physique that retains feminity.

Nate

[luv.me.oats]

Damn shame that, I was keen to do the Bendigo show myself.

Hopie some high calibre competitors are on the Gold Coast, am not flying all that way for nuffink.

And yes, How good was Rowena (Magandang Babae) at the Australasians over the weekend, awesome - a credit to the Pinoy community.

Funny that, no figure girls class - outweighed by the Physique women, too good!

[Outlaw53]

Damn shame that, I was keen to do the Bendigo show myself.

Hope some high calibre competitors are on the Gold Coast, am not flying all that way for nuffink.

And yes, How good was Rowena (Magandang Babae) at the Australasians over the weekend, awesome - a credit to the Pinoy community.

Funny that, no figure girls class - outweighed by the Physique women, too good!

Sorry about that Ms Oats, Women's Bodybuilding is just not getting the numbers over here.

My show only has 6 classes, so I need to make sure I get an average of around 6 per class just to break even.

I have already dumped Jnr Men & First Timers Men in my attempt to find the perfect mix.

I just spoke to Mark Ryan and he's got one or two girls who should give you a run for your money in QLD, it will be an awesome show!!

Mark sent me a few pics of you, pretty hardcore look baby, very impressive.

If you can get yourself rock-hard and shredded I would be interested in doing a shoot with you the day before the show, (Sat) if you're up for it.

It will just be a small profile in HCAM, nothing too flash, but we don't get many Physique girls over here, so I'd hate to miss an opportunity.

It will be with Dallas Olsen who is one of our best photographers, probably at Mark's gym, (Industry).

Let me know if you are keen.

[Android]

Just spoke with her last night in the gym, she's looking bigger and better than last November (probably got best traps I've seen on a chick in a while too).

Totally agree with you Outlaw53 she's got a great physique, it's a real hardcore bodybuilder look...she's works hard

[AllenNZ]

Outlaw you should come over to NZ to look at some of the comps and do some interviews with the competitors for your magazine. I have a spare bed if you are keen as i go around to a lot of the shows here taking pix.

AllenNZ

[biggurl27]

Just spoke with her last night in the gym, she's looking bigger and better than last November (probably got best traps I've seen on a chick in a while too).

Totally agree with you Outlaw53 she's got a great physique, it's a real hardcore bodybuilder look...she's works hard

Hell yes I got update pics from luv.me.oats yesterday, awesome improvements and will come in bigger and leaner this year \:D/ :clap: very impressive

[Outlaw53]

Outlaw you should come over to NZ to look at some of the comps and do some interviews with the competitors for your magazine. I have a spare bed if you are keen as i go around to a lot of the shows here taking pix.

AllenNZ

Thanks for the offer but HCAM is just an Aussie magazine.

We don't feature any of the IFBB Pros or competitors from other countries.

We are very low budget so there is no chance of us spreading into different areas or countries.

If competitors from overseas compete on our shores then I will feature them in the mag, but HCAM is not available in shops overseas due to prohibitive costs involved.

No doubt I will feature many of you guys when you come over for the Southern Hemisphere or the CCI.

You always bring strong teams over.

Does Peter Hardwick still do his local NZ magazine?

I quite enjoyed it.

[AllenNZ]

The last time i saw one of Peters NZ Bodybuilding magazine was about 2 years ago and yes they were very good. I will catch up with him soon to see if he is still going to run with it again.