Chris Bumstead’s entrance into the Men’s Open division has the bodybuilding community talking. In a recent Instagram post shared on November 7, 2024, Charles Glass gave his expectations of ‘Cbum’ at the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro, advising him to ‘pull up’ his front and back to be competitive.
Chris Bumstead has remained one of the most talked-about IFBB Pros since winning a sixth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title in October. He announced his retirement but reversed his decision days after, revealing that he planned to compete in the Men’s Open at the EVLS Prague Pro taking place November 16-17.
Bumstead will finally compete without weight restrictions, igniting curiosity about how he’ll fare against mass monsters of the Open. While he admitted that he doesn’t think he can win, others, such as Nick Walker, aren’t counting him out. However, Charles Glass, a decorated bodybuilding coach, believes he has uphill road to travel if he hopes to find success.
Charles Glass Gives Advice to Chris Bumstead for Men’s Open, Says He Should Have Picked a Bigger Show Than Prague
Glass believes as a six-time Classic Physique Olympia, Chris Bumstead went ‘back down’ by competing in Prague instead of a bigger event, such as the Arnold Classic.
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“He should [do the Open class]. Oh I thought you were talking about him going into a big show. If I won the Mr. Olympia whatever, I’m not going back down. Prague, who is he going against?
The top five guys, which one can he beat? Thank you. A couple of years [he needs]. It’s his last show. Oh, he just wants to get in, [not win] oh yeah, have fun.”
Glass advised ‘Cbum’ to ‘pull up’ his front and back while keeping his waist small, which he says will be more challenging since bodybuilders train heavier in the Open.
“The thing of it is, that [contract money] fades real quick,” says Glass. “For him to be highly competitive, he has to pull up his front to back and he’s got to keep that waist small. Now he does, but when you train heavier and heavier, what goes first? The waist.”
He added that if Bumstead wants a future in the Open, he’ll have to get through athletes with crazy proportions like Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan.
“You’re going against some of those guys that got proportions like crazy. Hadi and Derek got exploited by Samson, why? Samson put that size on. Oh shit, they should have stayed in the 212,” he shared.
With Bumstead’s sudden splash into the Open, questions surrounding his bodybuilding future have gained traction. Coach Chris Aceto believes if Bumstead prevails in Prague, we’ll see him compete at the 2025 Mr. Olympia in the Open class.
Head judge Steve Weinberger has also weighed in on Bumstead’s chances overseas. He believes the Canadian champion will ‘do well’ at the Prague Pro, and specified that even if he does emerge victorious, it won’t affect the direction of the Men’s Open.
If his aim is to be highly competitive, Glass believes Bumstead not only needs to bring up his front and back, but mentioned that he has to keep his waist small in the process. Don’t miss Bumstead’s move into the Open class in under two weeks!
RELATED: Mike O’Hearn Discusses Chris Bumstead Moving Into Open Bodybuilding: “I Would Like to See Him Win”
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