So the 202 class is now 212!!!!!

Can't believe this personally. They try to get BBs to be 'smaller' one year then do a great move and introduce the 202 which provides for the smaller guys. Now looks like they've decided it's not big enough or perhaps they're doing it to suit some of their favorite competitors who will struggle to maintain this weight limit??
Such a shame in my opinion.
 
www.ifbbpro.com/news/advisory-notice-202-to-212/
 

I totally agree with you on this one Kitty. I think the 202 class was a great addition and worked well so why feel the need to change it?

Im not surprised they upped the weight limit.
They cant have athletes coming on stage shapely and symmetrical, that simply just wouldnt do.
Its onwards and upwards for the bloated gut brigade.

Yes, I knew this was coming as I heard a few weeks again - though I thought it was gonna be 210lbs
 
I can see both pros and cons
 

There was talk about it at the Expo but I was hoping it wouldn't happen

for the heavier guys such as flex looking to move forwards its a good thing.  for the rest of the field it just makes them less competitive again at this level, which surely was the whole point of the 202's
 
i love the 202's as it was, and its hard to look past something you love being changed, but overall it could help keep the talent split between the two classes, so be better for the sport possibly?

It's the guys a lower end weight of the class such as Paul George. He already gives away a few pounds and for someone with fabulous symmetry and condition it's a shame that once again the fed are focusing on mass rather than class!!
 
There is somewhere for the heavier guys to go...the open class......if they're not ready then keep working  towards it, but the others are now left with nowhere to compete within their weight limit!!

I think for flex to start adding much more mass would destroy his lines, he looks great now.
Just look at Shawn Ray, turned pro at 198 I think the heaviest he competed at was 205 (I stand to be corrected though)
Back further to lee labrada turned pro at 176 competed in the 88 Olympia at 176.
Those guys had perfect lines and shape, can you picture lee labrada at 212?
He would have looked a mess.
The Olympia should have one class however its the judging that needs addressing.
 
First round Relaxed (and I mean relaxed,not carrying invisible dustbins)
Second round comparisons
Third round free posing
All scored seperatly and the three scores added to provide an overall score.
It may actually encourage some competitors to spend more than 5 minutes preparing a posing routine, it is a bodybuilding SHOW after all.

Ive got mixed feelings on this topic, I supposed we will just have to wait and see what happens.
 
Just like james mentioned earlier, I can see the pros & cons, but eventually the same thing will happen with bigger guys boiling down to make weight then going on stage 10lbs heavier.
 
Initially my first thoughts was that its a bad idea, but im willing to be open minded about it :-) as long as the prise monies go up NOW!

I guess the problem is it would be hard to reverse this change if if it doesn't work.

What happens when they next decide they need to have a lighter class to get more of a classic look, would they end up having to add yet another weight class at say 190-195lbs

Shaun Joseph-Tavernier


Ive got mixed feelings on this topic, I supposed we will just have to wait and see what happens.

Just like james mentioned earlier, I can see the pros & cons, but eventually the same thing will happen with bigger guys boiling down to make weight then going on stage 10lbs heavier.

Initially my first thoughts was that its a bad idea, but im willing to be open minded about it :-) as long as the prise monies go up NOW!

You hold a lot of mass, Shaun, but you're not as tall as some in your weight class.  Do you think the fact that they'll now be able to hold more mass will work against you?
 

I certainly think Shaun is one who would be able to take advantage of this due to his mass.