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Competition

REGISTRATION PROCESS

To participate in a specific competition, you must complete a registration form for each event you wish to enter. These registration forms can be found on the promoter’s websites.

Additionally, to take part in the competition, you must become a member of the bodybuilding organization. You can either fill out the membership section of the registration form or become a member at the competition venue.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Each competition’s registration forms come with specified deadlines that you must adhere to. Submitting your form before the deadline is crucial; otherwise, you may be unable to compete or incur additional fees for late registration.

COSTS

Each competition offers multiple divisions for participation, and each division requires a separate entry fee. If you choose to compete in both the Open Division and Master’s Division, you will need to pay for each division separately.

Some competitions may only offer the Wheelchair Division, which means you will only need to pay for that specific division.

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Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack

BREAKDOWN OF BODYBUILDING DIVISIONS

In an important announcement for the NPC Wheelchair Nationals in 2024, there will be a significant change to promote unity and consistency across wheelchair bodybuilding competitions worldwide. From 2024 onwards, there will no longer be separate divisions within the NPC Wheelchair Nationals. Instead, a single unified division called the “Wheelchair Division” will be introduced. This transition aims to ensure that all events worldwide adhere to the same standards and guidelines.

Here’s a breakdown of the Wheelchair Division and its various categories:

Wheelchair Division: This division includes all wheelchair bodybuilders, regardless of their weight or specific disability. Unity and inclusivity are emphasized in celebrating the remarkable achievements of athletes in the wheelchair bodybuilding community.

For reference, here’s a recap of some specific wheelchair divisions from the past:

Open: In the NPC Wheelchair Nationals, the Open Division used to be categorized by weight classes, including Lightweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight. The winners from these divisions would compete in the comparison round, with the overall winner determined at the Night Show (Finals).

Incomplete: Incomplete paraplegics have disabilities that affect their lower body but may retain some movement and sensation below the point of injury. The degree of impairment varies based on the severity and location of the injury.

Complete: Complete paraplegics have disabilities resulting in the loss of all movement and sensation below the point of injury, typically affecting the legs and lower body.

Quadriplegic: Quadriplegics experience paralysis of all four limbs and sometimes the torso, impacting their ability to use both their arms and legs, as well as other body parts.

Novice: The Novice Division is for those who have never participated in a national qualifying bodybuilding show before.

Masters: To compete in the Masters Division, participants must meet age requirements specified on the entry form for each event. Please review the entry form to ensure eligibility for this division.

We are excited about this change and look forward to providing an even more inclusive and unified experience for all wheelchair bodybuilders at the NPC Wheelchair Nationals in 2024. Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see you shine in the Wheelchair Division!

CROSSOVERS

In the past, when competitions allowed competitors to participate in multiple divisions, you could engage in crossovers. This meant you had the option to enter the Novice Division, Masters Division, Open Division, and more, performing all the mandatory poses twice. Judges would then compare you to competitors in each of the divisions you entered. During the Night Show, you only had to perform your routine once.

Please note that with the introduction of the unified Wheelchair Division, there are no crossovers allowed in the current format.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE BODYBUILDING EVENT

Weigh-In: Previously, during the designated weigh-in time for each competition, competitors would receive their competitor button and have the opportunity to turn in their music on a USB/flash drive. If the event consisted only of a Wheelchair Division, there was no need to weigh in. Athletes were weighed only at the NPC Wheelchair Nationals due to the presence of four different weight divisions in the wheelchair division.

Please note that as of the new format, weigh-ins are no longer required for the Wheelchair Division.

Meetings: Attendance at the meetings is mandatory, and punctuality is crucial to receive important information. Pay close attention to the instructions given during the meetings and refer to the details on your entry form or website if you have any doubts.

Show Times: The meeting will also provide the order of competitors’ performances and the rundown of the entire competition. Pay close attention to the instructions to ensure a smooth show.

There are two parts to a bodybuilding show

Prejudging: During the morning prejudging event, each competitor will perform quarter turns, mandatory poses, and a 30-second routine to stage music for the judges.

Finals: During the finals, competitors perform their 60-second routine to their chosen music. However, for the IFBB Pro Wheelchair Qualifier competitions, the duration of the routine can vary, depending on each event, with some allowing it to be extended to up to 90 seconds. It’s important to note that routines must not contain any profanity. Following the routines, there may be an additional comparison round and a posedown, after which awards will be presented.

For reference, in the past, at the NPC Wheelchair Nationals, winners of each open division, including Lightweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight, would go through quarter turns and mandatory poses that were judged. Subsequently, all athletes participated in a posedown, where they posed freestyle to music while the judges finalized the scores to determine the winner. The victor of the competition earned their IFBB Professional League card and achieved status in the Wheelchair Division.

IFBB Pro Card & IFBB Professional League Status

Only at Wheelchair Pro Qualifiers, the winner of the Wheelchair Division earns their IFBB Pro Card and IFBB Professional League Status.

Timing

The competition expeditor will notify you of the time remaining before your performance. This way, you will know when to check your tan and oil up. Use the remaining time to pump up your muscles before your turn.

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Tanning

To achieve a quick and flawless tan for the show, an event tanner will provide spray tanning services. You can find the name and location of the tanner on the event website, flyer, or entry form. If the information is not available, contact the promoter for assistance in identifying the tanner. The tanner will ensure your tan is flawless and assist with oiling and glazing to enhance your appearance on stage.

It is essential to exfoliate your skin several days before the spray tan appointment to remove dead skin cells, which can cause uneven spots on your skin during tanning. Exfoliation is a critical part of preparing for the competition.

TANNING PRODUCTS

For the best results before a competition, it is recommended to use ProTan, JanTana, or Liquid Sun Rayz tanning products. These products provide step-by-step instructions on how to thoroughly exfoliate your skin for optimal spray tan results. Both websites also offer body preparation advice to help you achieve a flawless tan for the show.

It’s important to follow the instructions closely to avoid a spotty tan caused by dead skin remaining on your body. If you don’t, you risk looking like you have a skin disease.

t’s important to follow the instructions closely to avoid a spotty tan caused by dead skin remaining on your body, which can make you appear as if you have a skin disease.

Tanning Tip: DreamTan was banned from bodybuilding competitions due to the mess it left behind. Although it provided complete coverage and an impressive look, it would easily come off and stain clothes, curtains, and anything else it came into contact with.

OIL/GLAZE

After your tan is complete, applying a definition glaze can enhance the finishing touch to your stage-ready appearance. It’s essential to note that using Pam cooking oil for this purpose is prohibited and banned backstage or within the venue due to safety concerns.

Pam makes the floor slippery, and the fear of athletes slipping and getting injured led to its ban. However, some shows may offer to spray you down with Pam outside the venue if it’s not banned.

When using oil or glaze, aim for a sheen rather than a shiny look. Too much shine can reflect the lights and detract from your physique, while a sheen can enhance your definition. If you appear too shiny, use a towel to pat down the affected area until the shine disappears.

*Oiling Tip: Proper use of oil or glaze is crucial to avoid looking overly shiny or transparent on stage. A moderate sheen will enhance your appearance under the lights.

Pumping Up

If you want to increase muscle definition before your performance, try lifting lighter weights and doing multiple repetitions. This technique increases blood flow to your muscles, giving them a fuller appearance for your stage poses.

PREJUDGING

During prejudging, competitors are evaluated through a sequence of four Quarter Turns, eight Mandatory Poses, and an individual routine that typically lasts between 30 and 60 seconds, depending on the competition. The head judge provides commands for each of these elements.

During your individual routine at prejudging, random music will be played by the event organizers. Your specific music is reserved for the finals.

Mandatory Poses

● Front Double Bicep
● Front Lat Spread
● Side Chest (of your choice)
● Side Tricep (of your choice)
● Rear Double Bicep
● Rear Lat Spread
● Front Abdominal
● Most Muscular

FINALS

At the finals, competitors will perform their 60-second routine to their music. However, for the IFBB Pro Wheelchair Qualifier competition, the routine can be up to 90 seconds long and must not contain any profanity. After the routines, awards will be presented.

Judging

In most shows, there are five judges, while larger competitions may have seven judges, and the most prestigious events could feature nine judges or more. Each judge evaluates the competitor, and their collective opinions determine the final placement. Each placement corresponds to a specific number of points.

Following the judging process, the highest and lowest scores are discarded to ensure fairness, especially in cases where two judges significantly differ from the others. The remaining scores are then totaled to determine the competitor’s final score. The competitor with the lowest final score is awarded the highest placing.

At the highest level of competition, it’s common to discard two high scores and two low scores, further refining the evaluation process. The remaining scores are meticulously tallied to determine the final score and placing.

Example:

● 1st Place = 1 Point
● 2nd Place = 2 Points
● 3rd Place = 3 Points
● 4th Place = 4 Points
● And so on

Bodybuilding judges evaluate competitors based on factors such as muscularity, leanness, hardness, symmetry, and overall presentation. The quarter turns and mandatory poses facilitate side-by-side comparisons among competitors. To win a show, a competitor needs to outperform those beside them on stage. After the finals, competitors can seek feedback from the judges.

EXAMPLE OF SCORING

Before discarding one high score and one low score, here’s an example of how the scoring system works to determine placement.

2007 NPC Wheelchair Nationals: Wheelchair Division – Heavyweight

Competitor

Judge 1

Judge 2

Judge 3

Judge 4

Judge 5

Judge 6

Judge 7

Total Points

Victor

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Jeff

2

3

3

2

3

2

2

Nick

3

2

2

3

2

3

3

Josh

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

Leon

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

John

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

The scores are computed only until one high score and one low score are eliminated. The results appear as follows:

Competitor

Judge 1

Judge 2

Judge 3

Judge 4

Judge 5

Judge 6

Judge 7

Total Points

Victor

1

1

1

1

1

X

X

5

Jeff

2

3

3

2

X

2

X

12

Nick

X

X

2

3

2

3

3

13

Josh

4

4

4

4

4

X

X

20

Leon

5

5

5

5

5

X

X

25

John

6

6

6

6

6

X

X

30

*To enhance the accuracy of judging, once all judges submit their scores, one high score and one low score are removed. This helps eliminate outliers and ensures fairness. The competitor with the lowest remaining score is declared the winner.

The results look like this:

● Victor – 1st Place
● Jeff – 2nd Place
● Nick – 3rd Place
● Josh – 4th Place
● Leon – 5th Place
● John – 6th Place