Amateur Bodybuilding

[bigmikecox]

What is the reason the numbers in amateur (local and National) are down? I can remember a time not that long ago (maybe 10-15 years) where local bodybuilding shows would be STACKED!!! Especially down here, Boston, NY, Vegas. Now, the total number of competitors is sky high, but the bodybuilding classes have hardly anyone in them. At the Orlando show there were about a total of 20 bodybuilders but most crossed over to CPD or MPD. Even when you look at the USA or Nationals, you see the LHW and HW with about 15-20 guys as opposed to when you would have 30 dudes and the bottom 15 got cut!

[Giles]

The 2021 NPC Nationals was encouraging though mate!

Tons of bodybuilders in every weight category, just like the good old days of the 90’s Nationals.

So there is hope mate.

[Beti ona]

At the end of the day the great athletes who obtain the pro card in classic will move to 212, and then to the open. But yes, it is absurd and it does not make sense that they do not compete in bodybuilding as amateurs.

[Bestia]

Mike you know what I think about this. Not only is participation way down at the local state and national level but the marketing and promotion of the amateur national shows is almost non existent

[bigmikecox]

Mike you know what I think about this. Not only is participation way down at the local state and national level but the marketing and promotion of the amateur national shows is almost non existent

I couldnt name ONE National level competitor now!

[lifepulse]

They have drained the talent pool in BBing by giving out so many pro cards (how fast pro status has elevated in the last decade), there just isn't as much of a pool left.


On top of that, local level tends to be more "trendy". When I first met my ex wife, we were doing natty shows in Illinois, there was only figure and bodybuilding available for women (2007). Most of the girls would cross over into both classes -- they're natty, so there really isn't much difference in a natty female BBer and natty figure competitor. But I asked my ex which division she would compete in, and she scoffed at women's BBing because, in her mind, "female bodybuilders were gross". That was the stigma that floated around at the time, and that "figure was the less-extreme alternative".


I'm guessing this tends to float around with the current younger lifters -- that BBers are "extreme and all drugs", whereas classic and MPD are "less extreme and less drugs". That BBing is "not attainable". So, they opt for the smaller divisions.

[Beti ona]

They have drained the talent pool in BBing by giving out so many pro cards (how fast pro status has elevated in the last decade), there just isn't as much of a pool left.

There aren't that many high-level bodybuilders on the circuit, so to facilitate the pro cards, you kill the amateur level. And it's a shame because all those non-level pros would be more competitive in amateur shows, and would work longer giving great value when they get the card.

[lifepulse]

There aren't that many high-level bodybuilders on the circuit, so to facilitate the pro cards, you kill the amateur level. And it's a shame because all those non-level pros would be more competitive in amateur shows, and would work longer giving great value when they get the card.

Yup. You can see it in WPD as well. First few years, there were "feeling it out", and the women were getting better and better. Now at most regional shows, no one who competes in WPD even looks like a WPD competitor. And the gulf between amateur and pro has grown so wide, it would take most regional WPD competitors a 3-year layoff to just to get "up to snuff" for pro level.

[Griff11]

They have drained the talent pool in BBing by giving out so many pro cards (how fast pro status has elevated in the last decade), there just isn't as much of a pool left.


On top of that, local level tends to be more "trendy". When I first met my ex wife, we were doing natty shows in Illinois, there was only figure and bodybuilding available for women (2007). Most of the girls would cross over into both classes -- they're natty, so there really isn't much difference in a natty female BBer and natty figure competitor. But I asked my ex which division she would compete in, and she scoffed at women's BBing because, in her mind, "female bodybuilders were gross". That was the stigma that floated around at the time, and that "figure was the less-extreme alternative".


I'm guessing this tends to float around with the current younger lifters -- that BBers are "extreme and all drugs", whereas classic and MPD are "less extreme and less drugs". That BBing is "not attainable". So, they opt for the smaller divisions.

Also most chicks get moist of MPD and classic guys. It's a fact that one of the reasons a lot of start training is to pull girls

[Bestia]

High marks for the word choice there...moist. I grinned