Posing Suits

   All suit bottoms must be V-shaped, no thongs are permitted.

   Suits worn by male competitors at the prejudging and finals must be plain in color with no fringe, wording, sparkle or fluorescents.

   All Prejudging suits will be checked during check-ins.

   Competitors are not permitted to alter the fit of the posing suit by hiking it up in the back or by pulling up the sides during Front and Rear Lat Spreads.

   Take a look at our recent CPA Flickr photo galleries for examples of approved CPA Posing Suits.

Posing Music

   Posing music will be used at the Finals. Posing routine should be a maximum of 60 seconds.

   Upload your music for your posing routine from the confirmation email you received from website@muscleware.com. If you are unable to download music, please bring it to check-ins on a USB. It must be the only music on the USB.

   Posing music must should be cued to the start of the music.

   Posing music must not contain vulgar lyrics. Competitors using music containing vulgar lyrics will be disqualified.

On Stage

   No glasses, props or gum are permitted onstage.

   Any competitor doing the “Moon Pose” will be disqualified.

   Lying on the floor is prohibited.

   Bumping and shoving is prohibited. First and second persons involved will be disqualified.

   Competitors numbers will be worn on the left side of the suit bottom.

The Prejudging Posing Rounds

Judges will score competitors according to the CPA “total package” which is a balance of size, symmetry and muscularity.

   Keep your feet flat.

   Keep your heels together.

   Hold your arms at your sides.

   No excessuve twisting.

   Your head must be facing the same direction as your feet.

   Quarter turns to the right. At the discretion of the Head Judge front double bicep and rear double bicep may be incorporated.

   Also at the discretion of the Head Judge front double bicep and rear double bicep may be incorporated in the mandatory poses.

   Begin when ready – No signal is necessary from the Head Judge.

   Maximum of 30 seconds with a warning when 10 seconds remain.

   You are not obligated to use all 30 seconds.

   Lying on the floor is not permitted.

   Front Double Bicep

   Front Lat Spread

   Side Chest

   Side Tricep

   Rear Double Bicep

   Rear Lat Spread

   Abdominals with One Thigh

   Most Muscular

   NO Gymnastic Moves are Allowed

Weight Classes

A bodybuilding competition may be divided in the following weight classes.

2 Classes

Lightweight up to and including 176 ¼ lbs
Heavyweight over 176 ¼ lbs

3 Classes

Lightweight up to and including 165 ¼ lbs
Middleweight over 165 ¼ lbs up to and including 187 ¼ lbs
Heavyweight over 187 ¼ lbs

4 Classes

Bantamweight up to and including 154 ¼ lbs
Lightweight over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs
Light-Heavyweight over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs
Heavyweight over 198 ¼ lbs

5 Classes

Bantamweight up to and including 143 ¼ lbs
Lightweight over 143 ¼ lbs up to and including 154 ¼ lbs
Middleweight over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs
Light-Heavyweight over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs
Heavyweight over 198 ¼ lbs

6 Classes

Bantamweight up to and including 143 ¼ lbs
Lightweight over 143 ¼ lbs up to and including 154 ¼ lbs
Middleweight over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs
Light-Heavyweight over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs
Heavyweight over 198 ¼ lbs up to and including 225 ¼ lbs
Super Heavyweight over 225 ¼ lbs

Mandatory Poses

Join the CPA

To compete or participate in a CPA event, athletes must be registered with the CPA.

Competitor Health

Any competitor who appears to be disoriented, light-headed or experiences undue cramping will not be permitted to compete.

Junior & Masters

Junior Athletes - must be at least 18 years old and no older than 23 as of the day of the show.

Masters Men and Women’s Classes begin at 35 years of age or over as of the day of the show. Promoters may add masters classes as follows 40/45/50/55/60 years of age.

Qualifications received as a junior or as a master are valid for the respective division only and may not be carried over to other divisions.

Placing Top 3 in a Regional competition in the Masters 35+ qualifies you to all Masters Pro Qualifier classes in your division. Placing Top 3 in a Regional competition in the Masters 40+ qualifies you to all Masters Classes above 40+ in your division provided you meet the age requirements.

True Novice & Novice

True Novice – All first-time competitors are eligible to compete in the True Novice category (never competed with the CPA in any category at a bodybuilding or physique competition). The True Novice category provides no qualifications, just awards and bragging rights.

Novice – All competitors who did not place first in any category in a CPA competition may compete in the Novice category. The novice category provides no qualifications, just awards and bragging rights.

Athlete Check-Ins/Weigh-Ins

Competition check-ins/weigh-ins take place the day prior to the contest at a location provided by the contest promoter. The promoter will publish the official check-in/weigh-in start time. All competitors, regardless of category, must be present for the official check-in/weigh-in.

During the official check-in/weigh-in competitors will be officially heighted and/or weighed, receive their competitor number and information verified. All competitors must show their CPA membership card. Junior and Masters competitors must provide government issued ID showing date of birth (i.e. passport, birth certificate, etc.)

Please note: Any competitor who does not make weight will be given a maximum of 30 minutes in which to do so. If, for whatever reason, the competitor does not return within thirty minutes, he or she will be eliminated from the competition. The onus is on the competitor to return within the deadline; the CPA is under no obligation to issue time warnings or to track down the competitor.

Backstage

The only people permitted in the backstage area are competitors, approved backstage pass purchasers, expediters, CPA officials & CPA Media.