Elation at the Finnish Nationals

I have had an extremely busy last 2 and a half days shooting video for DVDs for the 2014 Finnish Nationals. The events also included Pro Class divisions on Saturday, and a wonderful Nordic Fitness Expo Saturday and Sunday.

Plus a brand new event this year called the Nicole Wilkins Fitness Championships as a qualifier to produce two new IFBB Pro Cards for the winners. Nicole is from USA where she is the current Olympia Figure Class Champion. She is the winner of 7 major international titles for Figure competition - Olympia and Arnold Classic.

While I was filming the final class today, called the Finnish Nationals Bikini Fitness Over 170 cm Class (the tall athletes) I managed to grab a few photos of the winning group. Out of respect to all of them, here are their names, cities and placings:

From left - (Well worth a look in LARGE.)
6th. Nina Fallström, Team Fitfarm, Vantaa
4th. Jade-Yolanda Huhtamäki, Team 24 Gold, Turku
2nd. Jenni Levävaara, Team Mayor’s, Espoo
1st. Milla Kelahaara, Pro Elite Team, Tampere
3rd. Tua Wikholm, Team Solana Fitness, Espoo
5th. Lotta Jänne, Team Fitfarm, Lempäälä

To my Finnish blip friends, Risto and Jenni, these towns will be extremely interesting to them. The reason I chose this photo was the extreme emotion shown by the winner Milla when her name was announced as the class champion. It is all captured on the video, and she was perfectly composed by the time this top 6 victory photo was taken.

I backblipped for yesterday, showing the hall and stage setup, and the position from which this photo was taken.

I was relieved in one way when the contest concluded tonight, after two extremely long days of intense concentration on focus, iris and framing - and changing media cards etc. While hopefully making no mistakes!
On the other hand I was sad when it ended as I have so many great friends from around the world that I see each year in Finland. This experience is like being a member of a world wide extended family.

Now it is one more interview to shoot with the promoter, then packing for the long journey home starting Wednesday. Then hopefully doing it all again in Lahti next year.