Posing Suits
All suit bottoms must be V-shaped, no thongs are permitted.
Posing Suits must be two-piece but may include a printed design with fringes, lace, sparkle or fluorescents that are in good taste.
All Prejudging suits will be checked at the check-in.
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.
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 be on Side A and 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
During the Prejudging competitors are not permitted to wear any jewelry onstage other than a wedding band. Decorative pieces in the hair are not permitted.
During the Finals competitors are permitted to wear earrings.
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.
Check-Ins
Competitors will be checked in and heighted.
Backstage
The only people permitted in the backstage area are competitors, expediters, CPA officials, CPA Media & those who have purchased a Backstage Pass.
Weight Classes
A bodybuilding competition may be divided in the following weight classes.
2 Classes
| Lightweight | up to and including 125 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 125 lbs |
3 Classes
| Lightweight | up to and including 125 lbs |
| Middleweight | over 125 lbs up to and including 140 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 140 lbs |
4 Classes
| Lightweight | up to and including 115 lbs |
| Middleweight | over 115 lbs up to and including 125 lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 125 lbs up to and including 140 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 140 lbs |
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 excessive 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 in the quarter turns.
Also at the discretion of the Head Judge quarter turns 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
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.
Any competitor disqualified for health reasons must be checked by the attending EMT and, if it is advised by the EMT, must go to the nearest hospital for evaluation.
Competitors who refuse to be evaluated by the EMT or at the hospital will be suspended from competition for a period of one year from the date of the occurrence.
Junior and Masters
Junior Athletes - must be 23 and under as of the day of the show.
Masters Men - must be 40 years of age or over as of the day of the show.
Grand Masters Men– must be 50 years of age or over as of the day of the show.
Masters Women - must be 35 years of age or over as of the day of the show.
Grand Masters Women – must be 45 years of age or over as of the day of the show.
Qualifications received as a junior, master or grand master are valid for the respective division only and may not be carried over to the open divisions.
Athlete Registration/Weigh-Ins
CPA registrations take place the day prior to the contest at a location provided by the contest promoter. The promoter will publish the Official Athlete Registration start time. All competitors, regardless of category, must be present for the Official Athlete Registration.
During the Official Athlete registration, the head judge will determine the order in which the competitors are called up for official weigh in’s/height. After being officially weighed in/heighted, the competitor will receive competitor number and verification of information prior to data entry,
All competitors will present themselves in the same attire that they will be wearing throughout the Prejudging and Finals so that the head judge may ascertain that the competitors posing attire meets the accepted standards.
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.
Junior and Masters competitors At the time of the Official Athlete Registration, a junior or master competitor must produce documentary evidence of his date of birth (i.e. passport, birth certificate, etc.)
Backstage
The only people permitted in the backstage area are competitors, approved backstage pass purchasers, expediters, CPA officials & CPA Media.
