2006 WNBF Pro International
September 16, 2006
My first competition as a WNBF Pro was held in Kansas City, KS. I dieted for 25 weeks for this show, a feat made somewhat more difficult by moving halfway across the country during the middle of the diet, starting a new job in academia, losing the most motivational workout partner I have ever had (fellow WNBF pro Kurt Weidner), and starting training in a new gym.
Despite getting lost on the way to the venue on Saturday morning, Kurt and I and the rest of our team were able to touch up our tans, get adequate food and a decent pump before going onstage. Never having competed as a pro before, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the quality of the physiques I saw backstage but was nonetheless confident in my condition and posing stamina. The pros were divided into 2 class, and I fell into the lightweight class (no surprise there as my weight was around 164). As we went through the symmetry round I was placed in the middle, always a good sign. Despite having over 10 competitors in each class, no callouts were made as the entire class went through the mandatories together. In the end, although I was pushed hard by Phoun Poulavan with excellent thickness and Steve Suschana with quality condition, I won the lightweight class.
In the heavyweights, Kurt looked very good but his symmetry didn't match up to a couple of the other competitors, and he ended up in 3rd behind Elvernie McGee and Robert Johnson. At the night show Robert and I competed for the overall title of Mr. International, and I stepped away from my first pro contest with an overall victory.