All during the NPC 2000 bodybuilding season we've been seeing the effects of the "don't try too hard" guidelines for women's contests handed down by the IFBB. Actually, what we've seen is a gradual eroding away of those inappropriate guidelines as the natural tendency of experienced officials to "judge 'em as they see 'em" has asserted itself.

Thankfully, there was no sign of these guidelines at all at the NPC 2000 Women's Bodybuilding Nationals, and any complaints anyone has regarding the outcome can be chalked up to the differences of subjective perception that are a fundamental aspect of bodybuilding judging. In fact, after the show head judge Sandi Ranalli was adamant that the intent of the guidelines was never more than to emphasize the need for attention to aesthetic details - overall assessment - and not to drive women with muscle out of the sport.

Unfortunately, with both Kim Chizevsky and Iris Kyle having been "driven out" of the pros, those guidelines can hardly be viewed as all that inconsequential. However, the only effect of these guidelines on the quality of the Nationals' competitors was that a few of the women came in soft and small, thinking that was what they had been told to do. But the majority of the women were in excellent shape and it turned out to be a terrific show.

In any event, any bodybuilder who deliberately comes to a contest not looking what she or he considers their best deserves what they get.

THE LIGHTWEIGHTS

Here is an example of how sometimes the judges can be more perceptive than writers and photographers: When Jennifer Lupi was announced as winner of the lightweight class, none of the "experts" sitting around me in the press seats had picked her as the winner. Of course, it’s almost always been true that women lightweights tend to be middleweights without enough muscle, and the class was pretty well balanced, so it didn't seem any of the press group was too concerned about who got the trophy.

It wasn't until the posedown for the overall that it became obvious how good Jennifer was. Standing beside the middleweight and heavyweight winners, she easily held her own. She was not at all blown away. She was just too small for them, as if most often the case in selecting an overall winner. But it became clear that the judges had chosen a deserving lightweight winner.

THE MIDDLEWEIGHTS

The comparison among the top three middleweights was impressive. Kim Harris, as ripped and hard as you could ask for, but without any loss of aesthetic qualities; Mah-Ann Mendoza, who would have won the USA two years ago except for a disqualification due to a car break-down that kept her out of the finals; and Lisa Winston, a good bodybuilder and….CUTE!

In the end, Kim Harris took the class, although not unanimously - two judges gave Mah-Ann Mendoza first place. But the problem was simply that Mah-Ann didn't have the detail and muscularity that you saw with Kim's physique. Earlier in the year, when the judges were more confused over the guidelines issue, this might have been an advantage. But in a show judged along straight bodybuilding lines it was not. However, Mah-Ann gave no indication that she had deliberately come in less muscular than she could. The reason is more likely that peaking perfectly for a bodybuilding contest is just so damn hard.

Kim Harris certainly wasn't worried about any guidelines.

"I decided not to worry about any guidelines," Kim said after the contest, "and just try to look my best. Even if you try to conform to some special set of rules, how do you know that the judges are interpreting them the same way you are? Or if they are going to be strict about them or not? Anyway, I decided to just try and look my best and not to worry about it."

THE HEAVYWEIGHTS

It was immediately apparent when the heavyweights took the stage that the battle would be between USA heavyweight-class winner Laura Ottenad and perennial contender Heather Foster. Frankly, during prejudging it looked as if it could go either way. Both were excellent, in top shape and obviously not holding back for fear the judges were looking for "small and soft."

Going to the scoresheet, we see that all the judges had these two first or second. Nobody else got any first or second place votes. Heather, it turned out, was the winner with 8 votes for first, while Laura was placed first by 3 of the judges. Both looked as good as they ever have, were in terrific shape, presented themselves well on stage. If either had won I doubt there would have been much criticism from the audience. But in sport, somebody wins and somebody loses, and this night it was Heather's turn to triumph.

THE OVERALL

As usual, the overall was pretty much between the two biggest women. Kim Harris gave away considerable size to Heather Foster, but she was ripped, muscular and shapely, so it wasn't open and shut. But with two more-or-less equal competitors, the bigger one has the advantage. Also, Heather's rear lat spread - the size, width and muscularity of her whole back - was especially impressive. So the overall title went to Heather - but, again, it was a matter of degree rather than a blow-out.

CONCLUSION

Over the years, the NPC has tended to be extremely "competitor-friendly" and been very fair to bodybuilders competing under its sanction. The federation wavered a bit earlier in the year - applying pro guidelines to contests like the Junior USA and Junior Nationals, for example, which is pure nonsense - but there was only one questionable decision at the USA in Las Vegas and the Nationals in New York seemed totally free of overt, political interference in the decision making process of the judges.

Perhaps, rather than the NPC taking its cue from the IFBB in future, it ought to be the other way around. Maybe the IFBB could benefit from realizing that the future of bodybuilding depends more on the confidence the competitors and the audience has in the judging process - and the real quality of the winners - than it does in public relations gestures that only serve to alienate those who are considering entering contests and the bodybuilding public which supports the sport by buying tickets.