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* It's going to be an exciting summer, with three big NPC national event weekends scheduled. Up first is the NPC Teen, Collegiate & Masters National Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships, followed by the NPC USA Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships and winding up with the NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships/Second Annual NPC National Figure Championships.

* NPC Pennsylvania district chairman Dr. Gary Udit will be promoting the annual NPC Teen, Collegiate & Masters National Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships on July 19-20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This contest has seen quite a few changes along the way, among them, splitting the Masters men over 50 into two weight classes due to the high number of competitors, plus affording the Masters men over-40 overall winner to turn professional with the IFBB and compete in its masters division. That trend will continue. Over-50 competitors are eligible to cross over to compete in the over-40. division.

New for the millennium is the addition of the Teen National Fitness Championships. This great event is tailored specifically for the 14- to 17-year-old age group of up-and-coming female teen fitness athletes. The competition will consist of a one-piece bathing-suit round and a two-minute fitness routine. That's all! Added to that are the new Teen National Figure Championships, Collegiate National Figure Championships and Masters (Over 35) National Figure Championships.

For the past three years, the overall winner of the Teen Men's National Bodybuilding Championships has been honored with his own feature right here in the pages of FLEX. That will be the case again this year, when FLEX will fly the winner to Los Angeles, where he will train at Gold's Gym in Venice, visit the Weider offices in Woodland Hills and participate in a photo shoot to be run in a future issue of FLEX.

Not to be outdone, MUSCLE & FITNESS will focus on the collegiate competitors. Many of the athletes from this contest have been included in the annual feature "Big Muscles on Campus." Each person selected will be treated to a MUSCLE & FITNESS photo shoot.

The site of the contest will again be the grand ballroom at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, which will also serve as the host hotel. Call (412) 261-2000 for reservations, and be sure to mention "NPC bodybuilding contest" for special rates.

Some important information on bodybuilding eligibility requirements follows. All bodybuilding contestants must be registered as athletes with the NPC's computer service and their entries must be postmarked no later than June 28. For an application, contact the NPC at (412) 276-5027. Fitness and figure competitors may register as NPC members at check-in.

In order to qualify for this event, bodybuilding competitors need only have entered a previous NPC contest, no matter the year, placement or category. Figure and fitness competitors are not required to prequalify for this event. For further information on entries or tickets, call or write Dr. Gary Udit, P.O. Box 23294, Pittsburgh PA 15222; (412) 481-9129; e-mail gudit@stargate.net.

* One week later, July 26-27, it's another trip to Sin City for promoter Jon Lindsay's production of the first IFBB pro qualifier of 2002: the NPC USA Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships. Please note that there will not be a figure division at this contest.

Last year's rendition produced plenty of outstanding pros. The overall women's bodybuilding champion and top two in the men's bodybuilding overall posedown, plus the top two from each of the three women's fitness height classes are eligible for professional status in the IFBB. That makes the quest for pro cards that much more intense.

The contest venue will once again be the Artemus Ham Hall on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The host hotel will again be the Alexis Park Resort & Spa. The entry deadline for this pro qualifier is July 5. This is one contest not to be missed in 2002! For more information or entry forms, contact Jon Lindsay at (310) 859-2809, e-mail info@musclecontest.com or visit his Web site at www.musclecontest.com.

* For the first time in years, we get an extra week's reprieve between the USA and this next contest. The lack of a figure competition at the USA makes room for one on the weekend of. August 9-10, during the 2002 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships/Second Annual NPC National Figure Championships at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. This is the eighth consecutive year the Team Universe, a drug-tested event, will be in New York City and promoted by the team of Steve Karel and Steve Weinberger. The entry deadline is July 12.

This contest is another IFBB pro qualifier, although not in the same way as you may think for bodybuilding. In this competition, we select our team to represent the United States at the IFBB World Amateur Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships. As detailed in the last issue, the U.S. team's weight-class participants will be selected from contestants in the new World Team Posedown. If those contestants win their weight class at the World Amateur Championships, they are then eligible for IFBB pro status. Please note that for fitness, only the class winner from each of the three height classes is eligible for professional status in the IFBB, unlike in previous years, where the top two in each class had been eligible for an IFBB pro card. And yes, a competitor can enter both the fitness and figure championships, as long as she's preregistered for both. For more information, contact Steve Weinberger, c/o Bev Francis Gold's Gym, 235-C Robbins Lane, Syosset NY 11791, (516) 933-1111.

* All previously mentioned events require that competitors be United States citizens. Proof must be sent with entry (include a copy of your birth certificate, voter registration or military discharge). You must not be currently under suspension by the NPC.

To find out more about NPC bodybuilding and fitness events in your area, or to join the NPC, contact the NPC National Office at (412) 276-5027, check out the official Web site at www.npcnewsonline.com and keep an eye on this section along with the Coming Events list.