Pro card for men at the 2011 CBBF Canadian Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championships

From Ontario Physique on Facebook

The CBBF has authorized the presentation of a men’s IFBB Pro Card to the overall winner of the 2011 Men’s Elite Bodybuilding Championships being held in conjunction with the 2011 Canadian Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championships July 23rd in Saskatoon. There will be 2 classes available to enter, Under 202 and Over 202, with the overall champion getting his IFBB Pro Card. This is going to be a unique event for Canadian amateur bodybuilding and promises to be very exciting.The field will be exclusive and only the top bodybuilders in Canada will be invited and eligible to compete.

The men's elite competition is new for 2011. The top Canadian national bodybuilders from previous years have received invites to compete against each other in this exlcusive event.

I've posted a few of my thoughts about this on a couple threads in facebook...in a nutshell:

1. I don't really have a problem with doing what they are doing...Although splitting it into a 202 and under vs. over is sort of another slap in the face to the under 202 guys. Under 202 is now a recognized pro division, therefore they should have a DEDICATED pro card going to the top under 202 guy either at nationals, or at that event or both.

2. What I think would be better, would be to have first introduced the under 202 pro card at nationals. Meaning they would give the overall winner a pro card, the masters overall a pro card, and the best under 202 a pro card (assuming this person did not win the overall). Had they done that first, then this new event would be a cool way of further classifying categories.

3. This new event will actually help with my 2 above points, since more pro cards, mean the under 202 guys will have 1 less person to battle against, and thus the future winner of the event may actually be a good chance to be a 202 and under guy. Up until now, the winner is usually a heavy or superheavy (not always, but very often). They used to give out 2 cards, and often the 2nd card was again the 2nd best in the heavy or superheavy OR the winner of the heavy or superheavy that was not the overall winner.

Anyway, to sum up, I simply think with the added division of 202 and under, CBBF needs to think about adding a pro card for those, otherwise, we aren't going to have any of our under 202 guys turning pro, and competing where I really think we have decent chances of placing (or at minimum placing where our overall winners place in the open division pro stage). There are a handful of under 202 guys that in my opinion will never win the CBBF overall title, as there will always be a monster taking it away from them, and therefore they will never have that chance to compete as a pro (under 202) - and quite possibly pull a top 3 placing...

totally agree with you there on this Steve...that, you would think, would be the best way to introduce and reward this class in Canada. We have some awesome LHW guys who would be deserving of this...

I agree as well. I don't see how it's good for te sport to be so stingy with pro cards. There should be one for masters and one for over 202 and one under 202.

What I'd like to see as well is guys get pro cards in the 202 division that are not only 5'6" tall or so. This will probably never happen but I'd like to see a mix of lee priests and frank zanes sharing the stage in this division as pro's. A real obvious mix. It would be nice for the taller guys (5'10"-6') with the "prettiest" physiques to be given a place.

I'd also like a rule that states if you get your pro card at 202 from now on you can ony ever compete in that weight class. Maybe that exists?

A 5'6" mini freak (lee priest type) standing next to a 6' aesthetically pleasing physique (Frank Zane type) would be nice for the competitors and audience I believe and make judging quite interesting. It's supposed to be about looks afterall and what looks best. Theres more than one type of physique which looks nice. If I had the choice I'd personally take the 6 foot frank zane type physique on the street than I would the lee priest and so would 75% of the population I'd bet. On stage it's different though I know. It could grow the sport to bring that type of look back in the sport (more female fans) as well as keep the mini freaks. I'd like to see some vacuum posing again in the pro's.lol Just my opinion.

This is going to be a very small show...I can't see anybody under middleweight even attempting to compete to win the under 202 title especially since they'll need to go up against the monsters in the heavy/superheavies for the overall and pro card. It's a step in the right direction though...it just needs to be taken a step further as I agree with Steve on this one...under 202 pro card and over 202 pro card...if not this show then at Nationals.
My guess is Mark Richman will win this one though!!

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Originally Posted by japh

I agree as well. I don't see how it's good for te sport to be so stingy with pro cards. There should be one for masters and one for over 202 and one under 202.

What I'd like to see as well is guys get pro cards in the 202 division that are not only 5'6" tall or so. This will probably never happen but I'd like to see a mix of lee priests and frank zanes sharing the stage in this division as pro's. A real obvious mix. It would be nice for the taller guys (5'10"-6') with the "prettiest" physiques to be given a place.

I'd also like a rule that states if you get your pro card at 202 from now on you can ony ever compete in that weight class. Maybe that exists?

A 5'6" mini freak (lee priest type) standing next to a 6' aesthetically pleasing physique (Frank Zane type) would be nice for the competitors and audience I believe and make judging quite interesting. It's supposed to be about looks afterall and what looks best. Theres more than one type of physique which looks nice. If I had the choice I'd personally take the 6 foot frank zane type physique on the street than I would the lee priest and so would 75% of the population I'd bet. On stage it's different though I know. It could grow the sport to bring that type of look back in the sport (more female fans) as well as keep the mini freaks. I'd like to see some vacuum posing again in the pro's.lol Just my opinion.

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the only problem is that a guy 6 feet tall and 200 pounds would look silly next to someone 5'6 200 pounds with the same condition...Sure they might be asthetically pleasing, but when you are on a high level stage (pro show), the 5'6 200 pound guy is likely to be asthetically pleasing as well - or at least almost pleasing...and you just can't compare these 2 physiques.

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Originally Posted by Delt King

This is going to be a very small show...I can't see anybody under middleweight even attempting to compete to win the under 202 title especially since they'll need to go up against the monsters in the heavy/superheavies for the overall and pro card. It's a step in the right direction though...it just needs to be taken a step further as I agree with Steve on this one...under 202 pro card and over 202 pro card...if not this show then at Nationals.
My guess is Mark Richman will win this one though!!

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Mark definitely has a good shot...I think renaldo gairy or loutfi would too if they decide to do it...otherwise mark might walk away with it!

I agree 100% with Steve....they need to offer both over and under 202...its silly to have under 202 guys going up against super heavies. Anyone could take this show...no one has a lock.
P