| What Judges look for in a Figure Competition
I have read several Figure guidelines from different organizations. I found when it comes to Figure where mandatory posses are not required OCB has the best, well thought out, guidelines. I have been a judge for the OCB organization since 2004 and have found their guidelines to be very thorough.
OCB Figure Guidelines
If you are more interested in competing in a Figure Division where the competitors do mandatory posses and a routine set to music, NABBA is one of the few organization that has this division. I have competed with NABBA on several occasions and have enjoyed the challenge.
NABBA-Ms. Figure Guidelines
If you want to do the quarter turns with no mandatory poses and/or a routine then a stage walk, you should compete with the USBF organization.USBF promoters are a great group of people and do the best they can to accommodate the athletes.
I've coached several women who told me that they really enjoyed the ability to show off their creative side through the routine round while competing under USBF guidelines. I've competed and now judge for the USBF organization, and I enjoy working with them as well.
Ms. USBF Figure Guidelines
Figure Competition is Not a Bikini Contest
People observe as I instruct other competitors and often ask ... Is a Figure Competition some kind of bikini contest ? Well after being asked this question several hundred times now by non-competitors and aspiring competitors alike, I would like to take the time to address the myth once and for all.
Figure Competitions were introduced into the world of Body Building and Fitness in 2000. The sport was added to allow women who train hard, eat healthy, and develop an athletic body with obvious signs of muscle maturity, to display their hard earned work on stage.
Unlike most bikini contests, Figure Competitors must adhere to a strict diet low in carbohydrates and fat, but high in protein. Competitors must weight train and perform various forms of cardio several times a week to ensure that they achieve lower levels of body fat, and enable muscularity to show. The time it takes to fully prepare for competition varies from 6 to 16 weeks depending on the person's life style and desired physique. During this time life, as you once knew it, is over.
You must eat 6 to 8 small meals a day, drink at least a gallon of water, and place any resemblance you had to a social life on hold. This includes but is not limited to dining out and/or enjoying that occasional alcoholic beverage. You must remain goal driven and focused on your regiment at all times. Women who enter bikini contests do not adhere to such a strict regiment and/or discipline.
Competition Day For Figure Competitors Differs Greatly From a Bikini Contest.
Show day has arrived. You have trained hard, dieted down, and endured the ups and downs of a low carbohydrate regiment. So what's next ? Well first of all a Figure Contest is coordinated into divisions and heights and there are usually three divisions that one may choose from.
#1. Open Novice.
This is a division for new comers to the sport or for a lady that has not yet won top three in a previous competition.
#2. Figure Open.
This division is for competitors who have previously won in the top three or feel they can perform well in the same arena as a more seasoned competitor.
#3. Figure Over 35 years old.
This division is self-explanatory.
Divisions are then split in half according to height. Your height being the determining factor as to weather you compete in the Short or Tall class. Although, if not enough competitors are entered the aforementioned class separation will not occur.
The contest it self consists of two distinct rounds. The first is called the Comparison Round. In this part of the competition ladies in each division line up, then they are requested to perform a series of quarter turns until a full circle is completed. The second round is called the Stage Walk. This is an individual round where each lady walks out alone and executes (2) mandatory quarter turns of her choice at Center Stage. Then the competitor walks to one corner of the stage and executes (2) additional quarter turns followed by a walk to the opposite corner where another set of (2) quarter turns are performed before exiting the stage. This format gets repeated several hours later.
At the end of the night competitors who ranked from first to sixth place are awarded trophies. Some organizations also acknowledge and award competitors who ranked seventh in the standings.
Similarities, Differences and Myths
One common myth I've encountered is that women are often miss-informed and thus believe that a Figure Competition is just another name for a Bikini Contest. I have seen beautiful women on stage at Bikini Contests who have nice athletic bodies but no idea how to perform a quarter turn or even get in and out of a pose with grace and often stumble in their shoes. The only aspects of Figure Competition that resemble a Bikini Contest are Figure Competitors wear two-piece bikinis, high heels and have their hair and make up done to perfection. That's it !!!
Unlike a Bikini contest, where a girl wins based on her looks alone, Figure Competitors must rely on their over all symmetry, muscularity, pose and grace. Instead of dancing on a stage - Figure Competitors perform graceful walks and maintain a pose while performing quarter turns in 5-6 inch heels.
Figure Competitions are very similar to Body Building Competitions in that Body Builders and Figure Competitors both do mandatory poses which highlight their hard earned physiques. Figure Competitors and Body Builders alike train hard and spend countless hours practicing the art of posing and how to do it with style, grace, and smooth fluid movement.
There is no difference in concept when it comes to Figure Competition vs. Body Building. In Figure Competition you don't perform the mandatory muscular poses expected of Body Builders. However, you are expected to position your body in each quarter turn, and you must know how to move gracefully from one turn to the next. Figure Competitors must also know how to walk with grace in high heel shoes. Body Builders and Figure Competitors alike must portray confidence and a natural comfort with their bodies while on stage. |
Have You Seen The Light ?
Hopefully I have shed some light on the subject of Bikini Contests vs. Figure Competition. Please don't allow my attempt to dispel some myths on this subject steer you away from the sport. Although Figure Competition is not a beauty or bikini contest it is a great sport, and you will meet a lot of like-minded people along your path to the stage.
When the night is done and your belly is fat from the celebration dinner you will smile, knowing you put your time in. You learned how to pose, bought the right suit, trained hard, dieted hard, and you DID IT!
That's What Really Matters At The End Of The Night.
MS. BELL'S TIP FOR SUCCESS
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