You looked great man, be proud! I've heard many guys who didn't crack top ten come in and get their card the next year. You never know how it's gonna turn out. I do see what gc is saying on your rdb, possibly a small tweak that could benefit quite a bit bro. But you looked great! Couldn't have been more dry. Good job brotha
Siln, you look great! I'm sorry that you didn't place higher, but it sounds you competed in an extremely deep class of athletes. I've got a ton of respect for you and how you have not bashed the judging, but instead complimented your competition. That shows a lot of class. That's one of the great things about competing. Sure, you want to win, but you also want to bring your best package to the stage. After all, you can't control who else is going to show and what type of conditioning they are going to be in. You can only control your prep and your package. You should be extremely proud, and work hard to improve and bring an even better package to the stage this next year.
Don't take this as a criticism, because I think you look great, but bringing up your calves and your lats would make you look even better. Your conditioning is great!
What class were you in? What is your height and stage weight?
Again, congratulations! You've got an amazing physique!
Slin Thanks for adding more pics. I'm just going to role with thoughts. PLEASE dont hate me for sharing my thoughts. Even if one thought helps you that is all I'm trying to do. My intention is to help NEVER to be a dick. I support ALL that compete and only want something positive for you in the end.
Over all back thickness is needed for sure. Hard to do as we age but pound away at it. At the same time that means traps, delts and arms. From the back view it is easy to see you still have a butt. You need to have glutes. You know what I mean. I like how your hammis are showing. They will really stand out once your glutes are in. Your side shots also will look better when glutes are in.
On that side chest shot keep your chest up and full. Dont scrunch over. Rotate kinda at the waist towards the judges. It will show your conditioning more to them.
I'm not sure what is going on with your right leg. As big and lean as you are it is not splitting. Is it a past injury?
On your front poses really work to find the foot/leg placement that permits to hold them in while hitting the rest of the pose.
Guys that do the most muscular where they lean over to much start to lose 50% of the body in the pose because of trying to make the upper body so freaky. It is the total package. Find what gives you the best if not prettiest look to the eye.
Best of luck and this shit never gets easier. I always think it will then I show up at a show like this and think What the hell am I doing here.
So, hats off to you brother. Enjoy the journey.
GC
Lookin shredded siln! I am not a BB so take this with a grain of salt. I think your quad sweep and lat width would go a long way towards improving your placement.
For back width I always did well with a lot of pull ups and straight arm pushdowns.
Quad sweep try barbell hack squats, sissy squats and front squats.
Thanks for the tips POB. Legs are a problem because of my back. L4 and L5 are pretty much gone (degenerated) and squats just put to me in to much pain so I have to stay away from the most productive exercises for legs. It sucks but I'll keep hitting leg presses and walking lunges and whatever else I cam manage.
Thanks guys, your input means a lot.