The day kicks off with prejudging at 10:30 a.m., but it's the 6 p.m. finals that will really heat things up as each contestant poses and flexes for sixty seconds to his favorite music. Judges will grade on categories, such as leanness, flexibility, symmetry, definition and showmanship. "You've got to have the whole package," says Taylor.
The contest is open to amateur athletes of all ages, including both teenage and masters brackets. Contestants must pay $50 to enter, and a National Physique Committee membership, which costs $60 annually, is required. "We're going to see a lot of first- and second-timers competing," Taylor says. "And we're seeing a lot more women competing these days, especially in the fitness and figure competitions. It's not as hardcore as bodybuilding, and it gives them a realistic goal to shoot for at the gyms."
But if you're more of a girly man than an Arnold Schwarzenegger, you can view the festivities without breaking a sweat or straining anything. Tickets range from $10.50 to $35 and are available at the Boulder Theater box office or online at www.bouldertheater.com. For more information, call 303-786-7030 or visit www.jefftaylor.com.
