They stride out - men barefoot and the women in towering heels - to line up on stage under the glare of the lights.
Smiles are fixed and their bronzed bodies are taut - welcome to the 2014 Nabba Otago South Island Bodybuilding Championship.
In their respective categories - such as teenage men, and women senior physique 50+ - dozens of competitors wait for their instructions as the enthusiastic crowd yell their support.
''Great hamstrings, Daniel,'' yells one.
Competitors are told which muscle group to pose, before being instructed to ''relax''.
''I am working you guys pretty hard today,'' says the announcer.
Muscles that have taken hundreds of hours to sculpt are flexed, with judges taking into account the defined muscularity, proportion, symmetry and stage presence of each competitor.
Among all the hard flesh is a light-hearted moment.
''Biggest challenge of the day,'' says the announcer, ''Can I have you lined up in numerical order?''
Results
Ms Physique, De Thin; Mr Athletic, Shane Berland; Ms Figure, Janine Haywood; Mr Physique, Fekita Teu; Ms Shape, Ruth Tae'iloa; Ms Fitness, Elizabeth Cramer-Roberts; best male performance, Latte Kaufusi; best female performance, Donna Allison.
