It was her first time, but despite some nervousness and an 11th-place finish, Jill Love said she had a very positive experience at the Sandra Wickham Fall Classic.
“I’m not disappointed with the results,” Love said.
“Just being there was an accomplishment.”
Held in New Westminster at the Massey Theatre, the Fall Classic featured 170 body-building athletes competing in four different events.
Love, 24, competed in the figures competition which stressed muscle tone, definition and symmetry.
Each competitor was assessed as they made quarter turns in front of the judges.
“It took 30 seconds,” Love said of her time in front of the judges, something she had trained two months for.
However brief, Love said she enjoyed the experience and would, “Do it again in a heart beat.”
In addition to the experience onstage, Love said the time she spent backstage waiting for her turn was also an interesting experience.
“It was eye opening,” she said of the several hours she spent back stage with other competitors.
Back stage, Love had the opportunity to speak with other competitors and was comforted to hear they experienced similar challenges and issues during training.
Although she did feel somewhat intimidated by the other competitors who had familiarity with each other and more experience, Love said it also gave her motivation and a better sense of what she needs to do to improve.
“I learned a lot about how to train, diet and how to get there,” Love said.
“I need to get a lot bigger, train longer and hire a posing trainer.”
Tina Chuley, Love’s coach, agreed with the assessment.
“She learned a lot, she learned some trick for posing and the presentation will come with time,” Chuley said.
“I think she did very well.”
For now, Love is focused on completing her studies in the nursing program at UNBC, but she does have an eye on the future.
“I will return next year,” she said.
