A trio of NPC USA Figure champs make their debut in Sacramento
by Isaac Hinds
October 30, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
This weekend, IFBB figure competition resumes for the first time since the Figure Olympia three weeks ago at the 2008 IFBB Sacramento Pro on Saturday. In Sacramento, twenty-five competitors will compete for one of the three qualifying spots in 2009.
Three of the competitors slated to participate will be making their pro debuts and, coincidentally, all three won their pro cards at this year’s NPC USA Figure Championships: Jamie Ford (formerly Costa) won the A Class, Kristin Nunn in the C Class and Mendi Sakamoto in the E Class. FLEX caught up with the trio days before each was scheduled to make her professional debut debuts.
WHAT: Sacramento Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Crest Theater, Sacramento CA WHEN: Saturday, November 1 PREJUDGING: 10 a.m. PST FINALS: 6:30 p.m. PST FOR MORE INFO: Go to npcsacshow.com
COMPETITOR LIST 1. Aida ARAGON, USA 2. Huong Arcinas, USA 3. Darlena BROWN, USA 4. Nadya CASTELLAS, Canada 5. Michelle CRAVEN, USA 6. Maiken EMBORG, Sweden 7. Michelle FLAKE, USA 8. Jamie FORD, USA 9. April FORTIER, USA 10. Celeste GONZALEZ, Spain 11. Carin Hawkins, USA 12. Candice John, Trinidad 13. Carol KING, Barbados 14. Christina Mehling, Canada 15. Patricia Mello, Brazil 16. Tanya MERRYMAN, USA 17. Kristin NUNN, USA 18. Desha RODRIQUEZ, USA 19. Consuelo ROJAS, Mexico 20. Rosa-Maria Romero, Australia 21. Mendi SAKAMOTO, USA 22. Liane SEIWALD, USA 23. Kristi Tauti, USA 24. Waleska VALLE, USA 25. Lynn WIDDOWSON, USA
COMPETITOR PROFILE: Mendi Sakamato AGE: 32 HEIGHT: 5’7″ WEIGHT: 130 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:2007 NPC Oregon Ironman Overall winner; 2007; 2008 Emerald Cup, 1st E Class; 2008 NPC USA, 1st E Class
FLEX: Who will place the highest amongst the NPC USA Figure class winners… You, Kristin Nunn or Jamie Ford? Sakamato: I think Jamie Ford will place well. She has the symmetry, beauty and look to go far in the sport. Kristin and I bring a little less traditional look to the pro level… it really depends what the judges are looking for.
FLEX: What have you worked on improving since winning in Las Vegas? Sakamato: I have really focused on bringing up my quads and glutes to match my upper body development.
FLEX: As a mother of five children, how do you stay balanced with everything and still compete? Sakamato: Prayer, wine, and refined sugar! 🙂 No really, I am very blessed that I am able to stay at home with the kids and not have to work outside of the home. I am able to train while the kids are at school and not miss out on the numerous sports and activities that fill our evenings. As a competitor with a family, it is so important that your spouse is “on board” because it really effects the whole crew. My husband has been so supportive and helps get me ready for each show. I also couldn’t live without Atlas Fit Foods…they make all of my meals while I am in training so I can just heat and go.
FLEX: What type of training method do you follow? Sakamato: I follow a split of one bodypart per day, 5 days per week, and have found that my muscles respond best to a moderately heavy load with a rep range of 8-12 per set. I usually do 45 min of cardio every day and will add an extra session as I dial it in for a show. Daily cardio helps keep me sane and not be super-strict on my diet while staying relatively lean year-round.
FLEX: When Sandi Williamson announces the names for the top callouts who will be in the first group? Sakamato: I would love to have my friend and fellow Oregonian Kristi Tauti in that group. You never know who will catch the judges eye this year, but it looks to be an interesting lineup with some very seasoned competitors and new pros all mixed together.
A trio of NPC USA Figure champs make their debut in Sacramento
by Isaac Hinds
October 30, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
This weekend, IFBB figure competition resumes for the first time since the Figure Olympia three weeks ago at the 2008 IFBB Sacramento Pro on Saturday. In Sacramento, twenty-five competitors will compete for one of the three qualifying spots in 2009.
Three of the competitors slated to participate will be making their pro debuts and, coincidentally, all three won their pro cards at this year’s NPC USA Figure Championships: Jamie Ford (formerly Costa) won the A Class, Kristin Nunn in the C Class and Mendi Sakamoto in the E Class. FLEX caught up with the trio days before each was scheduled to make her professional debut debuts.
WHAT: Sacramento Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Crest Theater, Sacramento CA WHEN: Saturday, November 1 PREJUDGING: 10 a.m. PST FINALS: 6:30 p.m. PST FOR MORE INFO: Go to npcsacshow.com
NAME: Kristin Nunn AGE: 26 HEIGHT: 5’3″ WEIGHT: 118 pounds CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2007 Metrolina Class C and Overall winner; 2007 South Carolina State Figure, 1st A Class; 2008 NPC USA 1st Class C
FLEX: Who will place the highest amongst the NPC USA Figure class winners… You, Mendi Sakammoto or Jamie Ford? Nunn: Me, of course!
FLEX: What have you worked on improving since winning in Las Vegas? Nunn: My main focus was to bring my upper body up a bit. I also wanted to come in a bit sharper in my abs.
FLEX: You went from 12th at JR USAs to winning your class at USAs. How do you explain that? Nunn: At the Jr. USAs I did my hair, make-up and tan myself. At the USAs I hired someone to do my makeup and hair and had my tan sprayed. It made me stand out more, allowing the judges to see my physique better, in my opinion.
FLEX: What type of training method do you follow? Nunn: I go as heavy as I can for most upper body exercises, keeping my rep range lower and for legs I go a little lighter with higher reps.
FLEX: When Sandi Williamson announces the names for the top callouts who will be in the first group? Nunn: Well, if you’re going to put me on the spot. Me, Michelle Flake, Huong Arcinas, Jamie Costa, Desha Rodriguez, Kristi Tauti.
A trio of NPC USA Figure champs make their debut in Sacramento
by Isaac Hinds
October 30, 2008
FLEXONLINE.COM
This weekend, IFBB figure competition resumes for the first time since the Figure Olympia three weeks ago at the 2008 IFBB Sacramento Pro on Saturday. In Sacramento, twenty-five competitors will compete for one of the three qualifying spots in 2009.
Three of the competitors slated to participate will be making their pro debuts and, coincidentally, all three won their pro cards at this year’s NPC USA Figure Championships: Jamie Ford (formerly Costa) won the A Class, Kristin Nunn in the C Class and Mendi Sakamoto in the E Class. FLEX caught up with the trio days before each was scheduled to make her professional debut debuts.
WHAT: Sacramento Pro Figure Championships WHERE: Crest Theater, Sacramento CA WHEN: Saturday, November 1 PREJUDGING: 10 a.m. PST FINALS: 6:30 p.m. PST FOR MORE INFO: Go to npcsacshow.com
NAME: Jamie Ford AGE: 24 HEIGHT: 5′ WEIGHT: 98 pounds CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 NPC USA 1st Class A
FLEX: Who will place the highest amongst the NPC USA Figure class winners… You, Mendi Sakammoto or Kristin Nunn? Ford: I would be lying if I said I didn t want to place the highest among the class winners. But Kirsten Nunn has a phenomenal physique too!
FLEX: What have you worked on improving since winning in Las Vegas? Ford: I have worked on improving my posing and stage presence as well as shoulders, and rear side. I would like to keep improving my physique to bring a better package to the stage every time.
FLEX: You’ve competed a few times this year. What’s the key to being able to compete multiple times throughout the year? Ford: I was able to compete multiple times this year with the guidance from my nutritionist Kim Oddo. With out him I would be lost. He has streamlined my physique tremendously, and made adjustments to my nutrition plan as needed over the coarse of this year. He was able to keep me fairly close to competition weight without ever letting the diet get boring.
FLEX: What type of training method do you follow? Ford: I like to use a lot of free weights, lower weight and higher reps. I tend to go heavier on my upper body to maintain fullness, and very light on my lower half mostly no weight added at all. I mainly focus on cardio theses days.
FLEX: When Sandi Williamson announces the names for the top callouts who will be in the first group? Ford: Top callouts will be Huong, Desha, Michelle, Kirsten, and hopefully me!! All the girls are beautiful and have great physiques! I feel that small details and everyone’s individual look is what the judges are going to have to go off of to narrow it down to the top 5.
