Competitors show off bodies at annual West Texas Classic
By Sarah ScrogginsStaff Writer|
Published: Monday, March 29, 2010Updated: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Mat MoffattBryan Barth, a bodybuilder from Houston, competes in the eighth annual West Texas Bodybuilding Classic Saturday at the Citi Bank Auditorium.
Bryan Barth, a competitor in the eighth annual National Physique Committee’s West Texas Classic Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships, showed off his muscles and hard work Saturday at the City Bank Auditorium.Barth became a bodybuilder after he had a bad wreck during a professional motorcycle race. He was in the hospital for about seven months learning how to walk and use his motor skills again.“The rehab showed me I could build on some pretty good muscle,” Barth said.He has been training and competing for 13 years. He keeps a strict diet of no comfort food and working out 45 minutes every day. Barth said bodybuilding is admirable and courageous and it shows discipline and takes mental prep. At his level, there is no off-season. He will be attending nationals in November to compete for a pro card in Atlanta.The figure portion consists of just women in bikini-style outfits posing for the judges. A figure competitor, Sarah Barrick said she became involved in figure training after she saw a woman with a great physique at her kickboxing workout.“I got with her and we started training and things went from there,” she said.But, it became more than a great body for her. She came to realize that for her, since she’s only 21, it’s more about inspiring younger people to be healthy and take care of their bodies.When preparing for a show she stays on a moderate-carb, high-protein diet and hits the gym six or seven days a week, and five of those days she works out twice a day. Barrick said its more of a lifestyle than a preparation and she encourages women to give it a try.The ringleader of the event, Andrew Zamora, took over the organization three years ago and the participation has increased each year. This year he had 96 competitors — 43 men and 43 women. To put on a show like this, it is key to have multiple sponsors that set up booths with merchandise and donate money that goes towards renting the venue he said.Other costs, such as hotel rooms for the judges and special guests, are covered by entry fees and ticket sales.Although he is pleased every year with the turnout, Zamora said he wants more Tech students to get involved.“I could have a collegiate division and I would venture to say that I bet I could get 20 girls that could do bikini and probably a handful of guys,” he said.Not only does Zamora have a great turnout in competitors, but the audience attendance also is increasing every year. Randall Thomas, an audience member from Lubbock, said he likes to come to bodybuilding shows. Not only because he likes bodybuilding and does it himself but to get an idea of what it would be like to compete and to scope out his possible competition.“I don’t really have a favorite part — it’s just the overall competition to see how hard these guys work to get to where
2010 NPC 8th Annual West Texas Classic Overall Winners
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