Written by Steve Wennerstrom, Editor-at-Large
15 September 2007
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Ask any gambler, and they'll tell you they're always on the lookout for a ‘sure thing'. And of course, in women's bodybuilding solid bets are few and far between unless you include legendary Ms. Olympia performers like Lenda Murray and Cory Everson. They of course were slam dunk winners - and often.

But on September 15th, promoters Ron Goldstein and Stokley Palmer took their second major step in an effort to establish a contest tradition as a ‘sure thing' with their Atlantic City Pro Championships. And if the competitor's response was any indication, Goldstein and Palmer are well on their way to nurturing an event that just might become one of the nation's most anticipated bodybuilding events on the yearly calendar.

Staged this year at Donald Trump's Taj Mahal Resort and Casino on the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City, 31 competitors from 13 countries rolled the dice and took their best chances at a pair of the final qualifying spots for this year's Ms. Olympia.

Competing in two weight classes (under and over 135 pounds) with only the winners moving on to the Ms. Olympia in Las Vegas later in the month, the competitive groupings in each weight class were both diverse and most definitely heated.

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The Lightweights

With 13 contestants weighing in under 135 pounds, there was nothing at all unlucky about the qualities this widely diverse group brought to the stage. In fact, the multiple diversities of this ‘baker's dozen' was evident on two fronts right away.

nicole_ball.jpg First, only four contestants in this category were from the United States. The remaining nine came from Canada, England, Italy, Sweden, Brazil, Bermuda, and Mexico - further testimony as to how women's bodybuilding continues to grow internationally.

Second, the range of lightweight physiques turned out to be about as widely varied as could possibly be imagined.

At one end of the spectrum, Sweden's Klaudia Larson filled the bill for those who fancy a physique that is shrink-wrapped and chiseled in every bodypart. Her muscular detail, at 127 pounds was breath taking. As the antithesis to Larson, Joanna Thomas, who was making a comeback after several years away from competition, showed impressive volume and shape to her overall musculature at a top end weight of 134 pounds.

But lurking somewhere between the above-mentioned was the finely-tuned 2006 Canadian champion Nicole Ball. Making her pro debut at 129 ½ pounds, Ball showed an outstanding level of contest preparation to go with just enough stage confidence to sell her style of physique to the judging panel. And sell it she did.

Showing nice detail and muscle separation in her quads and back poses, to go with an aesthetic overall set of bodylines, Ball's look portrayed to quintessential ‘package' that so many judges insist they are looking for. And in no uncertain terms, at this event at least, they sent a clear-cut message with their unanimous vote for Ball's muscular display.

So, Nicole Ball joins a select group of Canadians who have won past pro events including Dayana Cadeau, Laura Binetti, Cathy Lefrancois, and Melissa Coates.

"It's more than I ever hoped for," said Ball of her scintillating victory. I came here with a goal of placing in the top five. Suddenly I'm qualified for the Ms. Olympia. That's pretty overwhelming." Ball was last seen looking for the nearest burger stand.

Placing second was the razor-edged Swede Klaudia Larson. Her 127-pound structure was closest to the proverbial anatomy chart. Showing a startling level of fibrous muscular definition from head to toe, Larson gambled that her highly defined physique would do the trick in bringing her a victory. She fell short by one place. On the other hand, it was Larson's highest (as well as finest) showing in her pro career thus far. Many hardcore fans in the audience held Larson's efforts in acquiring her conditioning level in very high regard and it didn't go unappreciated.

Veteran Angela Debatin claimed the third position moving up two spots from her fifth-place showing at the Europa Super Show in August. This colorful Brazilian always brings a strong level conditioning and displays a very well-balanced structure.

Fourth went to Brit Joanna Thomas, with Californian Debbie Bramwell just one point behind Thomas in fifth. Both Thomas and Bramwell had strong fan followings in the audience as each brought there own unique brands of muscle quality to the competition - Thomas with her outstanding shapes and muscle volume, and Bramwell showing impressive muscle cultivation.

Many observers felt the top five lightweight placers at this event was the best quintet ever at the pro contest where weight classes were contested.

The Heavyweights

More fireworks were on display in this sizeable class as 18 contestants took the stage with a staggering array of contest resumes and reputations.

aukland.jpgLeading the way was defending champion Lisa Aukland - and in taking the lead she looked well on her way to being ready to make a push to improve on her fifth-place Ms. Olympia showing in 2006. With her now trademark calves as a linchpin in her impressive physique, she also showed notable improvement in the separations of her quad groups. That, combined with nice detail in her upper body, made it an easy unanimous judging decision in her favor. Later, she would also use the size of her 160-pound frame to overwhelm lightweight newcomer Nicole Ball in the posedown for the overall.

Running second to Aukland was the phenomenally-shaped Betty Viana-Atkins. A veteran of Ms. Olympia competitions, the newly-married Viana-Atkins claims one the most structurally sound physiques in the sport. It has only been a matter her dieting schemes that has slowed her progress to top placings at major events like the Ms. Olympia and Ms. International. With unmatched glutial development in this field, Viana-Atkins is also blessed with tiny joints and pleasing muscle bellies that make for an overall aesthetic look. Many of the sport's cognoscenti believe she possesses Ms. Olympia potential. Her runner-up finish merely reinforces the fact that she still has the capacity to make the jump to the ‘Big Show' at any moment.

Third went to the striking Debi Laszewski. Playing Jekyll and Hyde since the Europa Super Show where she placed fourth as a 134-pound lightweight, Laszewski made the decision to move up to the heavyweight class in the hopes the additional weight would

help fill out her frame aesthetically. Her weight for the Atlantic City event was 141 ½ and her placing in this very competitive group supported her decision to add the extra size. With mesmerizing stage presence, Laszewski put on a dazzling and entertaining posing routine that helped solidify her final placing.

Rounding out the top five was 178-pound Lora Ottenad in fourth. Her placement, which many disagreed with, had more to do with her skin tone (or lack thereof) than anything specific muscularly. A deeper tan would have further highlighted her impressive muscularity with the possibility of running her as high as second in this class. As one of the sport's largest competitors, the 2006 NPC National overall champion shows outstanding overall balance and first rate muscular development in every bodypart. Here she was in what many considered her best-ever shape.

Heather Foster claimed the fifth spot showing a better level of muscular detail than she has presented in her last several outings. An overall NPC National champion in 2000, Foster can be a major force in tip top condition. But unfortunately those contests have been few and far between as close followers of the sport wait anxiously for her to put it all together.

MDTV: VIDEO WRAUP WITH STEVE WENNERSTROM AND DAVE PALUMBO

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