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“My name is Ashley L. and I was a first-time bikini competitor at the 2015 Sudbury Classic Championships. I want to share some of my thoughts and experiences from the point of view of a proud new OPA athlete!

I admit I had many fears and doubts when I committed to competing, given that I am not a natural-born athlete, and the show would directly confront my lifelong stage fright, but the whole idea was to push my boundaries and force myself to grow.

The weekend of the show was filled with wild new experiences for me, from being tanned, glazed, and glammed, to the simple fact of being surrounded by so many impressive athletes with chiseled physiques. It was an extremely positive environment and all of the staff and volunteers made me feel comfortable and confident in the package I was presenting. It is clear to me that we have a great bunch of passionate professionals running the Sudbury show and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Competition prep was a lot more mentally challenging than I imagined it would be, and I think I spent as much time reading as I did training. I would stress to any competitor – new or veteran – that mental training is just as important, if not more so, than physical training. In 16 weeks I was able to gain lean muscle, but I also gained invaluable self-confidence and strength. I am lucky and incredibly thankful to have a strong support system in my life, as my family and friends have always believed in me and pushed me to believe in myself. I also owe thanks to my coach Jessica MacMillan for guiding me along this journey and for taking me from a clueless hopeful to a worthy competitor. Throughout my prep and competition with the OPA, I have been privileged to meet the most amazing people who are positive, motivated, and inspire me to be the best version of myself. This lifestyle has truly become a passion for me and I think it shows.

Now armed with the knowledge of exactly what I need to improve upon thanks to my critique from Ron Hache and Lincoln Susteric, I am eager to train hard and come back to stage presenting a package that will wow the judges. Throughout prep and competition I have learned that you really can conquer your fears and achieve immeasurable personal growth and success if you believe no obstacle is too great. It turns out the most amazing things in life really do happen just outside of your comfort zone.”

-Ashley

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