NEW NABBA Class

[AllenNZ]

I see that NABBA have a new class for men it's called

Mr Fitness Model

Who will be doing this class as there is one or two I know that would love to do it. And no it's not a mastake go and look on the 2009 entry form.

[luv.me.oats]

woo hoo, I'm liking the sound of that.

[Darwinstef]

I've heard Gym Junkie is pretty keen . Those 19 inch calves would look good at the bottom of a spandex unitard :pfft:

[gym junkie]

I've heard Gym Junkie is pretty keen . Those 19 inch calves would look good at the bottom of a spandex unitard :pfft:

yea we could do a cuples, ill be the chick :shock:

hell i dont no about this fitness and model class aye, sorry to all that thinks its bodybuiling but to me its far from it.

[nate225]

I see that NABBA have a new class for men it's called

Mr Fitness Model

LMAO - really? Isn't Athletic bad enough.........

Maybe a Mr Skin & Bones category could be introduced..... :pfft:

I always thought of BBing in its purest form being Physique Men & Physique Women. Surely the 'most muscular', 'most lean', 'most symmetrical' are terms that measure & define a body builder.

As much as I like the Womens fitness / sculpting type classes, I never considered them bodybuilding in the true sense of the word (although this takes nothing away from the competitors and their achievements).

Mens Athletic really changed the emphasis, and as much as I'm sure some people enjoy this, it goes well away from the 'most muscular', 'most lean', 'most symmetrical' ideal I thought was BBing.

A Mr Fitness Model is going to take the cake for sure, maybe Brett Fairweather or some of the 80's male aerobic champs could make a comeback :pfft:

Call me old fashioned but Ronnie Coleman is a bodybuilder, a 70 kilo 30-year old man who has no aspirations of being huge or shredded is not.

Nate

[biggurl27]

I'm with luv.me.oats on this one, more fine specimens to perv at is all good :nod:

[nate225]

I'm with luv.me.oats on this one, more fine specimens to perv at is all good :nod:

BG you'd break a Mr Fitness Model quicker than a $20 vibrator! :grin:

[biggurl27]

OH gee thanks Nate haha I think you will note I said "perv"

[Matrix]

I always thought of BBing in its purest form being Physique Men & Physique Women. Surely the 'most muscular', 'most lean', 'most symmetrical' are terms that measure & define a body builder.

As much as I like the Womens fitness / sculpting type classes, I never considered them bodybuilding in the true sense of the word (although this takes nothing away from the competitors and their achievements).

Mens Athletic really changed the emphasis, and as much as I'm sure some people enjoy this, it goes well away from the 'most muscular', 'most lean', 'most symmetrical' ideal I thought was BBing.

A Mr Fitness Model is going to take the cake for sure, maybe Brett Fairweather or some of the 80's male aerobic champs could make a comeback

I agree and disgaree Nate, With reference to the Athletic Class, the criteria for winning and doing well is (among other things)'most lean', 'most symmetrical' etc. only Mass Physique is de emphasised. However if two athletic competitors are evenly matched in the other areas(symmetry,shape,proportion,leaness etc) then Mass is the deciding factor.

People either love or hate it but the Athletic and the Classic Class help keep competitor numbers up and the sport growing IMO.

Interesting that you mentioned most lean, because IMO Athletic Class competitors are usually at least as lean as Physique class, especially in the Novice Category from what I have seen.

Also, What class would multiple Mr O Frank Zane be competitng in if he were competing today. He was 3x Mr O and I am sure was considered a real Bodybuilder, despite being the least massive pro of his era.

As for the sports model class, maybe they are putting that in with an emphasis on their routine, similar to similar classes around the world.

That doesn't mean the competitors cant have outstanding physiques. Doesn't Will Garrick compete in that class overseas and he went to the Natural Olympia and placed third in his class I think.

[Android]

I think BB shows will be much better received and have greater numbers with new classes like this.

I think there are surfers around with greater bodies than some competitors in the athletic class and I really mean that. Don't take that to heart if you're in this class, surfers are out there several times a week working out too and lean all year round. But there's got to be place where all of these fine physiques can be judged against similar bodies and somewhere to show off their hard work and dedication...a BB show, why not where else can they do it?

Now if Overall mens winner was from one of these classes that would be a different story, imagine a 75kg Mr New Zealand. But a BB show can be an 'event' with body sculptors of all shapes and sizes it doesn't really matter.

What probably matters to the organisers is that the event encompasses as wide range of competitors (thus supporters) as possible and that's smart thinking if you want bigger shows....although to rant on here I would say larger numbers detracts from the show in two ways:

1. as a spectator I've been bored silly at 70+ competitor shows just takes too damn long.

2. as a competitor it's cramped enough backstage with 50 competitors in some of the places they hold comps in.

Anyway, bring it on I say. I would have entered these classes a long time ago if they had them as I rose from 68kg upwards so they serve a purpose for bodybuilders as well.

[luv.me.oats]

send em round BG and my way - back stage, will be most happy to assit wtih any speedo adjustmetn and dream tan application.

[Darwinstef]

People either love or hate it but the Athletic and the Classic Class help keep competitor numbers up and the sport growing IMO.

Without the athletic class I would never had a go at competing. Not all of us are huge to begin with and its a good way to get involved. Thats not to say I don't have aspirations to go beyond that but we all have to start from somewhere..

[deeepsouth_nz]

Yes Nate, sorry but I defy you to find some of the top guys in Athletic that arent incredibly lean and symmetrical. Less mass for the sake of mass is the critical factor there although as I think Matrix said, if two people ar evenly matched it will often come down to the greater mass of the two, all other things being equal. And not saying that all the Athletic guys are totally natural BUT against those guys totally juiced up its a no-show these days.....the Frank Zane type physiques of this world (whether he used or not) would struggle footing it today. I like having Athletic and trying to preserve some of the ideals of symmetry and proportion that used to be such a big thing in this sport.

Mr Fitness....Im not so sure we really need another category as it is getting somewhat watered down at this point. YES, good to encourage people into the sport who may not have otherwise and they may keep building moving onto athletic and then physique. BUT I too have been fraustrated backstage at shows and in the audience by the umpteen ladies classes there seem to be nowadays....

ds

[nzmusclemonster]

Mr Fitness....Im not so sure we really need another category as it is getting somewhat watered down at this point. YES, good to encourage people into the sport who may not have otherwise and they may keep building moving onto athletic and then physique. BUT I too have been fraustrated backstage at shows and in the audience by the umpteen ladies classes there seem to be nowadays....

ds

It will be yet another category where who ever enters is guaranteed a first place trophy.

[Matrix]

Re: Androids post ,Interestingly, Daniel Hibbs is the current Mr NZ and he probably weighs around the 75kg mark and looks great.

With regard to some surfers etc having better bods, yes I agree completely, there are many guys with great physiques who don't and will never compete. You only have to walk into a busy gym on a monday night to see some guys with amazing physiques and or wicked potential that have no abitions of ever donning the banana hamock!

From my experience, though and from what I mentioned previously is that alot of these guys also look better(all be it smaller) than many physique competitors IMO. Alot of guys compete in sloppy shape. Sure they are bigger than the guys in Athletic, but alot of guys, especially Teens and Novice physique guys turn up looking like they haven,t even dieted. Many guys would rather look like a ripped athlete or Athletic competitor than this.

Personally, i'm in the same boat as Darwinstef, Without the Athletic Class, I would probably never have trained for comps. Some guys use it as a stepping stone to physique, some want to achieve a top level in this class. I don't thinks it makes them lesser Body builders, they are just training to meet a different criteria and in many cases making the most of factors like age, genetics, the choice to be drug using or not etc.

Look at the guys in the 50,s and early sixties (Reeves etc) great physiques that would probably only be athletic today. Doesn't mean they were lesser bodybuilders IMO.

Large numbers at comps can be tuff on competitors and audience a like, however the big numbers are mainly at the Nationals and as long as they(the organizers) run a tight ship and stagger the backstage usage I don't have a problem with it. Better too many than too few.

No one enjoys watching a show with only one person per class do they?

[Optimass]

Its all a bit camp really. If they want to have a beauty pagent why not organise one. This kind of class sounds no different --- where only the genetically gifted will excell... at least body building is a measure of an individuals growth and development.

Athletic and Classics classes are certainly good for the sport - Didn't Jamie Cameron compete and win the NZ Athletic? He'd scare the shit out of some open / elite competitors these days.

Perhaps they NABBA should be looking at ways to encourage more participation in classes than trying to raise numbers by increasing classes.

Lame. :roll:

[Small]

Alot of guys compete in sloppy shape. Sure they are bigger than the guys in Athletic, but alot of guys, especially Teens and Novice physique guys turn up looking like they haven,t even dieted.

while i agree with the inital phrase of this quote, your latter comment is a gross exaggeration-and quite frankly an unfair assumption.

most, if not all, catagories have poor competitors; its just the numbers in these suggested catagories, possibly being limited, tend to mean those competitors get the placings hence are the ones we see. doesnt necessarily mean they deserve the titles, but they turn up when others don't. Though, you cannot deny the notion that there are some gems in these catagorys most certainly too.

[Outlaw53]

Perhaps they NABBA should be looking at ways to encourage more participation in classes than trying to raise numbers by increasing classes.

Lame. :roll:

Well said mate!! Best comment for the entire thread.

NABBA shows here in Aust are starting to be known as trophy presentations.

Every NABBA show has 27 classes.

Do the maths folks - you would need 81 competitors just to fill out the first 3 placings in each class.

The fact of the matter is there are not enough competitors to fill all these classes, it's ridiculous.

NABBA shows get around 40 - 60 competitors on an average, some as little as 20-30.

We just sit in the crowd and watch each competitor win or place, it's terrible.

On the odd occasion that we get a line-up of 6 competitors we think it's Xmas!

The crowd gets noisy and everyone is happy because they are coming to see what they paid to see - a contest.

The IFBB have 10 classes per show and average around 40-50 competitors, it's much better.

Don't get me wrong, this is not an anti-NABBA post, I probably like NABBA more than the IFBB but I'm shattered at the way NABBA is heading over here - trophies for everyone.

[Matrix]

Small, I agree with you about their being some gems in the mentioned catagories, that is always true and it wasn't my intention to imply that all or even the majority of these guys are out of shape. Every catagory can have people that look impressive and every catagory can have others that miss there mark. I am not making an assumption, merely stating my opinion. Thats why in most of my posts I state as such.

My opinion, however is based on my observations from competing and attending shows.

Some competitors look at the Athletic Class as a bit of a joke e.g small, lean guys and certainly there are people that fit that description. However to be fair from what ive seen at many shows, some guys in physique get big(especially Novice and Teens) but dont seem to bother about getting lean enough to showcase there size. Leaness is judged equally in both classes(physique and Athletic) and is, like it or not part of todays modern standards(as is increased size and leg development for Physique competitors).

Perhaps many guys who get leaner easier but struggle to get real big gravitate to Athletic more and guys who get big easier yet have to work harder to lean out feel more at home in Physique.

Are you sure those numbers are correct Outlaw, from reading posts recently, i thought it was about the same for each Fed? Sorry are you referring to NZ NABBA or Aus? If its Aus then I dont know what the numbers are like.

[Android]

Re: Androids post ,Interestingly, Daniel Hibbs is the current Mr NZ and he probably weighs around the 75kg mark and looks great.

Yeah I should have qualified that with a height to mean a small thin guy winning Mr NZ bodybuilding title. Was just number I plucked for a 6' guy.

I agree about some bad turnouts but always remember how difficult it was to get on stage in a competition that is not team-like. Without going along to the club physical BB clubs free workshops and contest preparation and finally the show I would have either not gone up on an NZFBB or NABBA show at all, or I would have seeked advice from other gym-goers and turned up looking average and been in the category of people you speak of.

I think Novice class is a great class to turn up looking like crap tbh, the term Novice says it all

[Outlaw53]

Are you sure those numbers are correct Outlaw, from reading posts recently, i thought it was about the same for each Fed? Sorry are you referring to NZ NABBA or Aus? If its Aus then I dont know what the numbers are like.

Yep, absolutely.

These are Aust figures that I am referring to, not NZ.

I'm just a dumb Aussie, so I don't much about the NZ side of things but over here it is becoming a joke.

Quite often they put 3 classes on stage at once just to make it look like a big class.

None of us know what the f*ck's going on, all we know is that all 3 guys will recieve a first place trophy.

[Small]

I am not making an assumption, merely stating my opinion. Thats why in most of my posts I state as such.

No where do you state that this is an opinion. And there is no room for assumption on here, as your comment is clearly aligned with certain groups and outlines very certain ideals

Alot of guys compete in sloppy shape. Sure they are bigger than the guys in Athletic' date=' but [b']alot of guys, especially Teens and Novice physique guys turn up looking like they haven,t even dieted.

and it most certainly does sound like you are calling out the majority of the competitors in these two suggested classes.

I'm not trying to have a dig at you, I just feel, everyone bleats on about how bodybuilding needs more competitors; and how we need to foster the future of this sport

good to encourage people into the sport

some bad turnouts

The fact of the matter is there are not enough competitors

but your [Matrix] comments are discouraging to those who want to get up there and give it a go. Okay, i agree there should be a basic standard adhered to, or tried to be achived-not just a walk in off the street-but then again if you give these competitors consructive criticism rather than just slagging them as fat, it might help to promote the sport as one thats not so hater based, and foster future champions [i mean, if they're young and into the sport then they must have a determined vision].

As we all know, bodybuilding is a sport of time; and it takes time to build muscle, and shed fat. Hence the younger the competitor [or the competitor who has spent less time training] will be at a typically the lesser standard. This doesn't mean they shan't compete-it jsut means their tropheys are to a lesser degree fought for than those in larger classes.

I feel it unessecary to purge all over the young guys making the hard climb up the hill; which you seem to have conquered?

However to be fair from what ive seen at many shows, some guys in physique get big(especially Novice and Teens) but dont seem to bother about getting lean enough to showcase there size. Leaness is judged equally in both classes(physique and Athletic) and is, like it or not part of todays modern standards(as is increased size and leg development for Physique competitors).

I would like to touch on this comment also as I feel size is important if not more so than leaness. God forbid the teen/novice mens classes become aligned with ripdness and we get all these taller, naturally lean competitors that win over a heavier bulkier boy. Because that bulkier boy may be still be in prep for Nationals-the age ol trick of qualifying to compete later. The sport is called Bodybuilding, not bodyleaning. Size > Leanness.

This is one of teenage Men competitors in a class you claims to be fat.

17, 71kgs, 8% bodyfat.

He's going to be at Nationals this year, 19 years old, he's sitting at 100kgs atm. When you see him in the line up [which hopefully will be a good one] from that deduce if you think your comments are justified. Because as I said before, there are plenty of competitors from other classes whose condition is a bit, or a lot, off. As long as this sport remains one of judging the body its always going to be like that.

[Matrix]

Small, you are entitled to your opinion as am I.

My take on the Athletic Class is that it has given many athletes(myself included) the opportunity to compete in Bodybuilding which HELPS to increase the numbers of participants at show, infact it is routienly one of the bigger classes. I was merely responding to comments made that "The Athletic Class is Bad enough etc..." Whereas I and many others believe it is as valid a class as Physique. Sure some people may not vailidate Athletic as it is smaller guys etc and they are entitled to their opinion.

One aspect that I hadn't touched on which you alluded to is the reasons why some competitors come in heavy/light and that can be to lack of experience,advice and or because they are using each comp to gain experience.(e.g for Nationals prep)

The size/leaness debate in Physique is a matter of taste/preference, however I was merely alluding to what the rules say the ideal should be, in the all the facets are given equal importance. Right or wrong, those are supposed to be the criteria for Physique judging.

As ther sport is so subjective, sometimes a bigger, less conditioned guy does well and sometimes a smaller, tighter conditioned guy does.

Note: ALL of the above is JUST MY OPINION.

[Outlaw53]

These new 'Poofta' classes are getting out of control.

I can't see why we need more classes, it's more competitors that we need.

What next - an "It's-okay-to-be-smooth" class for people who can't stop eating pizza every day?

Or maybe an "I've-got-no-legs-because-I-hurt-my-back" class?

It's getting beyond ridiculous.

We are simply rewarding mediocrity, how are we supposed to lift the standard if there are no contests.

It doesn't matter what you look like these days, you'll still win a trophy.

Surely we owe it to our past champions to maintain a certain standard so as not to tarnished their hard earned titles.

Most of todays winners wouldn't stand a chance against previous winners from 10, 15 or 20yrs ago.

We are simply bastardising all our great titles, they mean nothing anymore.

[nate225]

These new 'Poofta' classes are getting out of control.

I can't see why we need more classes, it's more competitors that we need.

What next - an "It's-okay-to-be-smooth" class for people who can't stop eating pizza every day?

Or maybe an "I've-got-no-legs-because-I-hurt-my-back" class?

It's getting beyond ridiculous.

We are simply rewarding mediocrity, how are we supposed to lift the standard if there are no contests.

It doesn't matter what you look like these days, you'll still win a trophy.

Surely we owe it to our past champions to maintain a certain standard so as not to tarnished their hard earned titles.

Most of todays winners wouldn't stand a chance against previous winners from 10, 15 or 20yrs ago.

We are simply bastardising all our great titles, they mean nothing anymore.

Yeeehaaa!

Don't hold back Outlaw! I'm guessing your vote for NABBA president is going for Chopper Reid as well! Harden the f*ck up Bodybuilders! :pfft: