A bodybuilder’s first time competing in entrance of an viewers will be daunting. There’s loads that goes into making ready earlier than and through a present. Six-time Determine Olympia champion Cydney Gillon shared her notes on her YouTube channel on Could 12, 2023, to assist novice bodybuilders greatest put together for his or her first competitors. Watch it beneath:
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Cydney Gillon’s Suggestions for First-Time Bodybuilding Rivals
Right here’s an inventory of issues to contemplate, adopted by how Cydney Gillon coated every subject to assist greatest put together a brand new bodybuilding competitor for a present:
- Schedule Every little thing
- Tanning, Make-up, Jewellery, and Fits
- Attend a Bodybuilding Present
- Promoter Web site FAQs & Music Pointers
- Apply Posing & Present Expectations
- Backstage Prep
- Lotion & Exfoliate
- The right way to Use Pee Cups
- Present Day Tickets and Stay Stream
- What to Do On Present Day
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Schedule Every little thing
Something and the whole lot that must be scheduled must be a precedence, based on Gillon. Whether or not that’s reserving a resort or Air BnB, step one each new competitor ought to take as quickly as doable is their preparation.
Gillon added that the venue a competitor stays in must be close to the competitors web site to keep away from delays attributable to site visitors or different transit. It’s crucial for brand new athletes to keep away from stressors that might spike cortisol earlier than or on present day.
Tanning, Make-up, Jewellery, and Fits
The six-time Determine Olympia champ recommends bodybuilding rivals know beforehand which skilled artists on-site they plan to make use of for his or her hair, make-up, and tanning. After all, athletes can deal with all these features themselves, but when they’re hiring others for his or her companies, know who and the place they’re on the competitors web site forward of time.
Completely different contests have completely different pointers for every facet of make-up, hair, and tanning, so analysis tanning and make-up earlier than the present to know which tones to use. In response to Gillon, utilizing deodorant or moisturizing after showering is a giant no-no — it’s a part of the tanning protocol. Be taught to be snug with the tanning scent.
Swimsuit and jewellery designs must be deliberate effectively earlier than the present. Nevertheless, it’s okay to attend to get fitted for the go well with nearer to the competitors date since reducing can impression the measurements.
Having a gown or tan pullover to place over the garments is significant to guard the brand new bodybuilding competitor’s garments. Hand sanitizer is important for rivals who’re consuming (to placed on their fingertips) since they gained’t have the ability to wash their arms after the tan is utilized.
Shopping for tanning sheets and towels early prevents placing one’s tan physique on white resort sheets, which the motels will cost for. As an alternative, lay black, brown, or darkish sheets over the bedding the athlete plans to sleep on.
Attend a Bodybuilding Present
For first-time rivals, Gillon recommends spectating a bodybuilding present to be taught which class is most interesting to compete in. When it’s lastly time to register for a bodybuilding contest, be ready for the registration charges, together with late charges. Promoters implement payment pointers otherwise. Set reminders for the costs, which will be upwards of 100 to 200 {dollars}.
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Checking the promoter’s web sites to see their pointers is a helpful useful resource for answering questions and gathering data for the designated present. Make-up and tanning professionals’ information, in addition to music pointers, are sometimes listed on the promoters’ websites.
For instance, some bodybuilding classes will solely permit 45-second songs with no cursing. If the music isn’t turned in by its due date, the competitor will seemingly solely be allowed to make use of home music, which might negatively impression their posing routines.
Apply Posing and Present Expectations
Understanding how poses look and working towards them beforehand is important for scoring effectively on the judges’ scorecards. Gillon recommends hiring a posing coach if reasonably priced. Gillon suggests new bodybuilders begin posing follow a 12 months out from their goal present and carry out at the least one posing session per 30 days.
New rivals ought to stay aware to mood their expectations of their first present. “You don’t have to appear to be Mr. Olympia or Ms. Olympia on stage at your first present.” Gillon continued, “The primary present is to get your toes moist, have an incredible expertise, acknowledge if that is the fitting class for you, [and figure out if] you actually like doing this in any respect.”
Backstage Prep
If a brand new competitor brings their coach to their first competitors, they need to account for the backstage move, which might price upwards of 150 {dollars}. If the coach can’t be there, Gillon recommends organising a tripod backstage or within the lavatory to do check-in progress photographs with the coach.
Gillon packs as a lot of her stuff as doable just a few weeks earlier than leaving for the present to make sure she doesn’t neglect something. Having an additional pair of footwear and tremendous glue is important to be ready for something that might occur to the competitor’s footwear on the day of the present. Cones, flat irons, hair spray, and something wanted for hair must also be packed. Having backstage meals packed is one thing to contemplate as effectively.
Lotion and Exfoliate
Gillion believes it vital to know one’s pores and skin protocol earlier than getting a tan within the remaining weeks earlier than a present. Gillon exfoliates and lotions two weeks out to maintain her pores and skin moisturized.
“Ensure that the pores and skin is good and supple, conditioned and wholesome your complete prep as a result of generally the pores and skin can get a bit dry since you’re taking out fat and macronutrients [that are needed to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated].”
The right way to Use Pee Cups
Gillon says a pee cup is used after the tanning, so be cautious when utilizing one to guard the tan. An athlete should buy a pee cup or use an everyday disposable cup from the lavatory.
To keep away from mishaps, “Sit on the finish of the bathroom, separate the cheeks, after which let the stream pee down that manner. Then take the tissue and pat [to prevent the pee from splattering]. Maintain it there, get one other tissue, pat it, and drop it into the bathroom.”
Gillon suggests utilizing headphones that don’t sit on the top and hair and solely go into the ears to guard the athlete’s hair. Pillows can assist some rivals chill out as they sit down and wait for his or her time to go on stage.
Athlete Verify-Ins, Present Day Tickets, Stay Stream Data
The day earlier than the present, the bodybuilder ought to examine the schedule for the athlete check-in to make sure they’re eligible for competitors. Athletes not checked in for the present can be lower from the roster.
Costs to compete normally go up on competitors day. If there’s a stay stream of the competition, that information is usually accessible the day of or the day earlier than the present — helpful for any members of the family or associates to look at the present if unable to attend in particular person.
What to Do On Present Day
On present day, the athlete ought to:
- Put on free, darkish garments (gown or tanning go well with)
- Put on darkish footwear (ones to simply slide on and off that don’t intrude with the tan on the toes)
- Have your stage quantity packed and memorized
- Have meals packed
- Don’t stroll round; sit to relaxation the legs
- Know the present schedule; when every division competes
- Arrive backstage early (at the least 30-45 minutes earlier than the present)
- Breathe; deep breath earlier than strolling onstage, shake out the nerves.
- Preserve good sportsmanship no matter putting
Final however not least, Gillon said, “It’s not a golf event. Inform your loved ones they’ll yell as loud as they need…whenever you get on that stage, take your time and have enjoyable.”
Featured Picture: @vytamin_c on Instagram