We're Going to Ohio!

I’m writing this article two days before I leave for the 2008 IFBB North American Championships, which are being held in Cleveland, Ohio, and it will be published on September 1, two days after the North Americans are over. Therefore, I can’t tell you about the winners this month; that information will be in my next article in October. What I’m going to do instead is tell you something about the event, because I went there last year and, as I mentioned in my write-up last October, I was so impressed that said I’d be going back again this year.

The IFBB North American Championships competition is a continent-wide event that sees competitors from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They have classes for men’s and women’s bodybuilding, as well as figure. Last year, there were about 400 competitors. This year, there will likely be as many, if not more.

The competition is staged by Gary Udit, a US-based promoter and judge, and from what I witnessed last year, his shows are first-rate. The 2007 North Americans event was the best-run two-day competition I’ve ever attended. Every aspect of it started on time, and no part went overtime. All in all, it was a textbook example of how to run a competition of this size smoothly.

Furthermore, the quality of the competitors at the 2007 event was extremely high, and the judging was very fair. Although there were a couple of decisions I didn’t agree with, I never saw anything to indicate that any country was favored, even though most of the judges were from the United States. From what I could see, everyone was treated very fairly.

No Canadians won in 2007, but some came close. The highest-placing Canadian was Ben Pakulski, who is featured on our cover this month (the photo was shot at that competition). Ben took second in the Super-Heavyweight class and is obviously a favorite going into the show this year. If he wins his class at this year’s North Americans, he will have a shot at the Overall title and a chance to turn pro.

The only complaint I have about the North Americans is that they don’t have fitness. I find that unfortunate because I like watching fitness more than figure, mostly because of the routine round. Perhaps the stage isn’t big enough for the women to do the routines properly or safely.

But that’s a small complaint. The IFBB North American Championships event was one of my favorites last year and that’s why I’m going back to Ohio this year to cover it again. Next month, I’ll tell you more about my trip down there and if I was as impressed this year as I was last time.

...Doug Schneider, Publisher
das@seriousaboutmuscle.com

Doug Schneider is the publisher and chief photographer for SeriousAboutMuscle.com, BodyBuildingLive.com, and SeriousAboutFitness.com.