FIGURE INTERNATIONAL:
The 2010 Figure International has a deep line up and no one can say these girls are scared to get on stage and fight it out for the second most prestigious title in the sport. The scorecard is stacked with well-known veterans and well deserved rookies and while the defending Olympia champ will be on stage, the winner is not a foregone conclusion.
2009 Figure Olympia Champ Nicole Wilkins-Lee seems the likely favorite, but I am not ready to give her the title just yet. The judges decided to go with the "softer" look at the Olympia and that could change in a different city at a different show. She's got amazing lines and structure, but her conditioning leaves a little to be desired and she runs the risk of being too soft.
A week ago I never would have expected to be writing this, but 
the number one challenger is rookie Mindi Smith. Under the tutelage of Kim Oddo, Mindi has never lost a show and won her pro debut at the Phoenix Pro last week. She blends muscle, shape, and conditioning along with her salient beauty and she will be tough to beat.
Also in the mix for first is Heather Mae French, coming off two victories in 2009 and a third place finish at the Olympia. She seems to get better with each show and always comes prepared from head to 
toe; hair, makeup, tan, and condition are always perfect. Heather Mae is just striking when she hits the stage and can't be missed. If the softer look is favored, Heather Mae will be challenging Nicole for first.
Sneaking into this top group with maybe a little less notoriety is Kristi Tauti, winner of the final pro show of 2009 (Sacramento Pro). She's got a tiny waist, bright blonde hair, and her condition is perfect front to back.
The last of my top contenders is Erin Stern, who enters her second year on the pro circuit. Tall and statuesque, Erin has a physique that her peers all envy and admire. Perhaps her downfall has been the muscle she carries so gracefully and her potential to get a bit too hard. Erin is definitely one of the conundrums of figure - with her tall curves she looks like the clear winner to the novice spectator. Unfortunately for Erin she may have been better served with the judging of five years ago.
Next up are what I'll call "The Top-10 Potentials." These girls are all knocking on the door of making into the elite first call out, but this probably isn't their year. Larissa Reis, winner of the 2009 Atlantic City Pro should continue her rise to the top and place in the middle of the top 10. She might be a little too muscular to do any better in this lineup. I expect Alicia Harris to crack the top 10 and be in the second callout. Her placing improved throughout 2009 and in my opinion she was often overlooked and placed lower than deserved. Much like Alicia, Sherlyn Roy seemed to get more respect as 2009 wore on and this Dave Palumbo favorite could easily make the Top 10.
The two Romero's - Felicia and Rosa Maria - (not related as far as I know) also fit into this group. They both made the top 5 in Phoenix, but this line-up might be too strong for either to get much notice. We also can't forget Krissy Chin who finally got on the Olympia stage last year and improves with each outing. Then there is Latisha Wilder, who has finished as high as 4th at the 2007 Arnold but was in a slump last year. Also on stage will be Christina Casoni who's highest placing to date was 7th at the 2009 Atlantic City Pro. Last but not least, veteran star of the figure stage Monica Brant will be gracing the Arnold Stage again and this perennial fan favorite will no doubt be in shape and gorgeous. Her muscular look might be out, but Monica always gets the loudest cheers and I wouldn't expect anything less than a Top-10 physique.
Respect should also be paid to some rookies who will get some invaluable experience on the Arnold Stage. Kim Tilden (2009 Canadian National Champ), Andrea Watson (2009 Jr USA Champ), Candice Houston (2009 USA Class B Champ), Angela Mraz (2009 Team U Class B runner up), and Monica Mark-Escalante (2009 Team U overall champ) will all get a well-deserved chance to stand on stage with the best. One of them might even surprise the field and make one of the early callouts. My prediction is for Andrea Watson to stand out of this group of newcomers.
So here it is, my meaningless guess at the Top-5; brilliant if I'm right or a typical guy if I'm wrong (typical guy = clueless when it comes to figure placing):
1. Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2. Heather Mae French
3. Mindi Smith
4. Kristi Tauti
5. Erin Stern
FITNESS INTERNATIONAL:
The Fitness International is going to be arguably the most entertaining fitness competition in years. The new rules for 2010 give the ladies two chances to battle: 50% of the score comes in the two-piece physique 
round and 50% in the two minute routine. No more boring one-piece round and confusing 45 second routine (I won’t even get into the black cat suits!). Given the elite level of competitors in the 2010 line up, we are going to see this new format put to work and the best competitors in the world fight it out for the prestigious Fitness International title.
Reigning and 4-time Fitness Olympia Champion Adela Garcia is the obvious favorite to reclaim the Fitness International title she last held in 2006. Adela always brings a top physique backed by a solid routine and the balance of the two usually lands her atop the score sheet. She has a few challengers in this field that came close to taking her Olympia title and Adela is going to raise her game to remain on top. The title is hers to lose, but she has no margin for error and I’d even argue she will need to bring a better routine then she had in Vegas.
The top challenger is Olympia runner-up 
Tanji Johnson. She is the most entertaining performer in the field and her routines are consistently in the top 3 of any show. Her vulnerability is in the physique round where a more muscular and conditioned Adela will steal the show. At the Phoenix Pro, she came in a bit too soft, flat perhaps, and it cost her the title. Tanji has great lines and she is always in shape, she just runs the risk of getting out muscled standing next to the other girls. If she brings the great routine she is capable of and tightens up her physique from two weeks ago in Phoenix, she could easily walk away with the title.
Right alongside Tanji will be Phoenix Pro Champ and Olympia 4th place finisher Julie Palmer. Julie has the physique to compete with Adela, but her routines often lack a certain dynamic element and they fail to draw in the crowd and judges. In Phoenix, her routine was good enough to support her first place body, but at the Arnold good enough won’t cut it. Julie mentioned in her post show interview that she has a new routine specifically for the Arnold and its going to have to be great to edge out Adela. If Julie brings an A+ routine and/or Tanji improves her physique, this is going to be a battle.
Lurking alongside these top 3 ladies is Tina Durkin,
who placed 5th at the Olympia. In 2009, Tina established herself as a consistent threat in any show. Her physique is always well conditioned and nicely balanced and her routines are improving with each appearance. Also on the rise in 2009 and ready to break into the top group is Myriam Capes. This little Canadian always has an entertaining routine and she is bringing up her body to the pro level. This might not be her year to win, but she is clearly the future of the sport.
Other threats for the top 5 include: Nicole Duncan, who is another great entertainer when she hits the stage for her 2minute routine. Then there is Oksana Grishina, who can always stun the crowd with her holds, flexibility, and strength. She just needs to include some more flair and swagger to her routine, as well as soften up her overly conditioned physique. Bethany Wagner is also dangerous and if she improves her routine from last year, she could vault up to the top. Bethany has a great physique (as she proved with a 5th place finish at the NY Pro Figure) and now she needs to back it up with an equally impressive routine. Last but not least, rookie Camala Rodriquez is coming off a third place finish at the Phoenix Pro and immediately proved she is ready for the pro ranks.
The two variables in the show are Regaine Da Silva and Trish Warren. Regaine finished fourth at last year’s Fitness International and 9th at the Olympia. If some of the girls I already mentioned come in off, Regaine could place well. Trish Warren is one of the more popular athletes in this lineup, but she has yet to pull it all together at a major show. If she can bring the package that placed her second at the NY Pro Fitness in 2009, then she is capable of knocking off many of the ladies in this group.
Lastly, there are the relative new comers to the IFBB pro scene that will get some great experience and the honor of competing at the Arnold. Allison Ethier, winner of the 2009 North Americans, will make her second pro appearance. English competitor Kizzy Vaines returns to the pro stage after making her presence known with a sixth place finish at last year’s Atlantic City Pro. 2009 Team Universe Overall Champion Kayde Puckett will be making her pro debut, as will 2009 Canadian National Champion Silvia Tremblay.
I can’t wait to see these ladies battle it out on stage and the routines have become my favorite part of the long weekends covering these shows. The ladies in this line-up are sure to impress and shake out of the final placing could be very interesting and even shocking. I do love upsets and surprises, but for my predictions I am going to play it safe:
1. Adela Garcia
2. Tanji Johnson
3. Julie Palmer
4. Myriam Capes
5. Tina Durkin
