This does not look good.

[Van_Bilderass]

Dave Palumbo and Chris Aceto had Derek in first place after prejudging. Aceto did acknowledge that Derek had a film of water at that point ... and if he could just shed that before the night show, Derek would have the show on lockdown

I often think that the changes people see might be the eye/mind playing tricks on you. You watch a posing routine and a commentator says this guy is fading and getting watery within seconds. There can be changes especially in 24 hours but it could be partly imaginary too, maybe? I've been retardedly obsessed with bb and I've thought I wish we had this guy in a studio with the exact same lighting to take pics to see if the changes are objectively real

Sometimes a guy is called "watery" and I'm thinking I wish he had 7-10 days more of prep. Sometimes a guy takes diuretics and he seems more out of shape. Often a guy has a very clear film of water under the skin plus the skin doesn't sit real taut on the muscle and he's called the most in-shape guy there. Look at how watery Nick looked in some pics, especially the back.

Chris doesn't just rely on the eye, in the last days he's there pinching and pulling the skin

Does this look "dry"? MUSH



Who looks drier or leaner? Looks pretty comparable to me although Nick was perceived to be in better condition.

[Van_Bilderass]

So I had to see what differences I could see. How do you compare when the lighting is so different? In these both look better prejudging. Both from Desktop Bodybuilding's "high-def" video. What do you guys see?

Prejudging:

[Van_Bilderass]

I can't judge this for shit. You also have to go by memory from the day before. "Nick got soo much better overnight while Derek got watery." Really, judging by this video?

Finals:

[Van_Bilderass]

Krizo looked to have been in great shape and skin sits tight like it should ideally. He just doesn't project real well since he doesn't have deep separation between parts. All genetics.

Samson's legs look insane, ideal shape from the front.

[Royalty]

I often think that the changes people see might be the eye/mind playing tricks on you. You watch a posing routine and a commentator says this guy is fading and getting watery within seconds. There can be changes especially in 24 hours but it could be partly imaginary too, maybe? I've been retardedly obsessed with bb and I've thought I wish we had this guy in a studio with the exact same lighting to take pics to see if the changes are objectively real

Sometimes a guy is called "watery" and I'm thinking I wish he had 7-10 days more of prep. Sometimes a guy takes diuretics and he seems more out of shape. Often a guy has a very clear film of water under the skin plus the skin doesn't sit real taut on the muscle and he's called the most in-shape guy there. Look at how watery Nick looked in some pics, especially the back.

Chris doesn't just rely on the eye, in the last days he's there pinching and pulling the skin

Does this look "dry"? MUSH


Who looks drier or leaner? Looks pretty comparable to me although Nick was perceived to be in better condition.

As you know... between the prejudging and the posing rounds, the background & stage lighting often changes. So that could be a big part of the equation too.



btw, this is terrible...

[Coach is Back!]

Krizo looked to have been in great shape and skin sits tight like it should ideally. He just doesn't project real well since he doesn't have deep separation between parts. All genetics.

Samson's legs look insane, ideal shape from the front.

Krizo comes in with unreal conditioning. His downfall is too shallow across the chest and his obliques are too over developed making his waist look wide, throwing off his symmetry

[Beefjake]

Kind of a gut when relaxed.

Never seen that kind small ab row just above his pants 🤔

[joswift]

Never seen that kind small ab row just above his pants 🤔

I think he injected something in his abs over the two days

[Van_Bilderass]

Krizo comes in with unreal conditioning. His downfall is too shallow across the chest and his obliques are too over developed making his waist look wide, throwing off his symmetry

Yeah that too, and his back double posing looked painful somehow

Somewhat lacking in size compared to other top guys as well.

[illuminati]

Krizo looked to have been in great shape and skin sits tight like it should ideally. He just doesn't project real well since he doesn't have deep separation between parts. All genetics.

Samson's legs look insane, ideal shape from the front.

They look just like Krizo's legs only a different colour.

[Van_Bilderass]

They look just like Krizo's legs only a different colour.

I didn't even think about that but you're right there's similarities. You can see the tight skin look on Krizo's thighs. For example Nick's skin looks looser. Dorian's skin seemed to have a pretty unique look to it so he looked like granite.

Samson is too black, harder to see the detail. I don't know but he may still use some color, I've heard most black bodybuilders do but I could be wrong. Maybe a lighter tone would work?

As you know... between the prejudging and the posing rounds, the background & stage lighting often changes. So that could be a big part of the equation too.

Exactly, makes it hard to judge what happened with conditioning, plus at finals you are trying to remember how someone looked yesterday. Those at home might get a better look than those at the show unless you sit in the front row. Though generally things look much more impressive in person. If Aceto was a judge he's like to get onstage to pinch and pull at their skins

[Methyl m1ke]

So I had to see what differences I could see. How do you compare when the lighting is so different? In these both look better prejudging. Both from Desktop Bodybuilding's "high-def" video. What do you guys see?

Prejudging:

Nick did not look better prejudging not by a mile.

What happened here is this, lunsford had a comfortable lead after prejudging and what appeared to be domination was actually much closer than it seemed. Derek has a superior back but not by much and he has worse arms and legs especially hamstrings so he can't afford to give anything away but that's what he did. On Saturday Nick was peaking and clearly he nailed his best ever shape on stage, very dry lean great color and presentation
 Derek has always held an edge over Nick because his midsection is naturally a bit more aesthetic but this year Nick was able to hold his midsection tight all the time and it really improved his overall package.

In the end the top 3 were a toss up and the judges rewarded the one who had improved the most, Nick Walker. Samson and Derek looked literally exactly the same as recent years and ifbb judges hate looking at the same physique they judged the year before. This year Nick improved his midsection and was in his best ever condition and yes at the elite level you are splitting hairs to decide the winner and that's all it took for Nick to win.

[MAXX]

I can't judge this for shit. You also have to go by memory from the day before. "Nick got soo much better overnight while Derek got watery." Really, judging by this video?

Finals:

I find it weird how they where talking about Nick being granite hard. His side thigh and rear hams looks hard. That's about it. His back isn't very conditioned. Does not look great neither in BDB or lat spread.


Hadi was granite hard a couple of years ago. Otherwise guys don't really show great conditioning imo...

[6 Reps]

The new Sandow trophy :

[Van_Bilderass]

Hadi was granite hard a couple of years ago. Otherwise guys don't really show great conditioning imo...

I was actually thinking of Hadi when I thought about granite hard as I was writing my post His skin didn't look loose like Nick's but that's genetics. Some guys I think can be holding subq water and still look hard. And MANY blame water or "missing my peak" when they just aren't lean enough. "I looked unbelievable when I woke up, then my body just suddenly started filling up with water."