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Victor · 04-13-2004, 03:56 PM

Let's say you don't have any intention of attending Summer Nationals this year (for whatever reason). Aren't gonna go. Your season is effectively nearing its end and it's almost time for a break from local competitions.

With that in mind, do you plan to compete in your senior sectional qualifiers event? ... If you have to drive 100 miles to get there? 200 miles? More?

DangerMouse · 04-13-2004, 04:23 PM

I've got the opposite problem. I can't afford to go to sectionals in Alaska (way too far to drive), but could go to Summer Nat's if I went to sectionals...

esskreemr · 04-13-2004, 04:23 PM

Personally, I originally planned to fence at Sectionals, but have changed my mind. The last two competitions for me have been flat and frustrating with dissappointing results (compared to the rest of the year).

The reason is that I feel I need a break from competing and need to start focusing on training. The combined stress of being sick, work-related stress, competing, and getting ready to move have taken their toll. Time to start recharging the batteries.

whtouche · 04-13-2004, 04:40 PM

I DO plan on attending sectionals AND nationals, but in the context of your original question, if I could not or was not going to nationals - yes I would still go to sectionals.

Why miss a strong competition because I don't plan to follow it up?
Most local opens don't qualify to anything. I'd fence it just for fun.
And this year it's in rochester, NY - which is about 6 million miles away

germanguy · 04-13-2004, 04:50 PM

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mifencer · 04-13-2004, 04:52 PM

I agree with Whtouche. I think it's important to go to Sectionals. If not for you, for your fellow fencers. The more people who attend, the more people qualified from your section. This will give you a good opportunity to learn and help out with the organization of the tournament. And, a good opportunity to see high quality fencing. AND, maybe you can pick up some refereeing skills while at it.

I do not plan on going to Summer Nationals, but I do plan on attending Sectionals & helping out (as needed).

Quote:

Originally Posted by whtouche

I DO plan on attending sectionals AND nationals, but in the context of your original question, if I could not or was not going to nationals - yes I would still go to sectionals.

Why miss a strong competition because I don't plan to follow it up?
Most local opens don't qualify to anything. I'd fence it just for fun.
And this year it's in rochester, NY - which is about 6 million miles away

mifencer · 04-13-2004, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germanguy

I am not allowed to go to neither of those

An my qualifiers in Europe are just a little far off right now.

I thought the only tournament closed to non-residents are Nationals and Summer Nationals. Many times my division had non-U.S. residents compete. Then again, we could've been wrong in doing so.

germanguy · 04-13-2004, 04:56 PM

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Victor · 04-13-2004, 05:12 PM

If you're a high-level fencer (at least by local standards), would you:
1. Attend for your own benefit, and presumably make the competition tougher for everyone below you?
2. Stay away, to give a better chance to those who really want to go to Nationals?

noodle · 04-13-2004, 05:36 PM

southeast sectionals this year was too far away and too close to exams for me and anyone in my club to attend, no matter how much i wanted to qualify for 1A. they royally screwed most univeristy students that don't live in virginia. last year it was further away but after school was out. much preferred.

(i'm a little grumpy about it

)

edited to stay on topic
i've driven farther for tournaments that weren't as impressive as sectionals can be. for a number of areas (or at least mine), sectionals is one of the biggest tournaments around. why would you not go and treat it like any other higher class regional tournament?

edew · 04-13-2004, 05:41 PM

I plan to be at my sectionals (the PCCs) and I expect it to be a pretty tough event. The tough ones are men's epee and men's foil. The others aren't as tough (as it could).

I plan to go to win it.

sloper · 04-13-2004, 06:01 PM

Quote:

If you're a high-level fencer (at least by local standards), would you:
1. Attend for your own benefit, and presumably make the competition tougher for everyone below you?
2. Stay away, to give a better chance to those who really want to go to Nationals?

Hey,
I'm a locally high-level fencer who's going to sections but may not fence Div IA. However, I'm automatically qualified, so no matter how I finish, I won't take a slot. If I weren't qualified, I think I would still go - especially if it was going to be a good competitive tournament. These are just too rare to pass up. Anyway, it is the sectional championships, and you should get your shot at being sectional champion 2004 or runner up or finalist or whatever regardless of whether you intend to use the qualification you earn. And if you don't go, you deprive some newbie hotshot of the chance to knock you out.

People who want to win or qualify on the strength of other people's not showing up should be disappointed whenever possible.

Susan

DHCJr · 04-13-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germanguy

I am not allowed to go to neither of those

An my qualifiers in Europe are just a little far off right now.

If you are living in Los Angeles, you are qualified to go to Sectionals. The Pacific Coast Sectionals is going to run as an open for ALL Section members.

It appears it will be a very strong competion. On the Armory side Carl will be the head Armorer with Matthew Porter and myself and a few others on the staff.

So all you Sabre fencers, make sure you have Legal manchettes and lames.

germanguy · 04-13-2004, 06:34 PM

.....

DHCJr · 04-13-2004, 07:14 PM

I didn't know that and personally, I think it is wrong. When they said it was going to be an open, I was thinking of the type of strength of LBI or Duel.

I'm glad at least, you can compete with your team. Thank you for clearing that up.

As Dan likes to say, he learns something new at every tournament. I learned something today.

germanguy · 04-13-2004, 08:19 PM

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DHCJr · 04-13-2004, 08:34 PM

I didn't think it was blunt. I thought it was very informative. Someone proposed me for Expert, but I told them, I know Armoring and I have helped set up tournaments, but there is too much I didn't know.

I was pleased you said it. I have said this before, the person who knows everything is a liar. There is always something more to learn.

CarlKnoch · 04-14-2004, 12:01 AM

Fencing at Sectionals for the first time this year will be a kick, and I'll hopefully help someone else go to Div 1a because I'm there as fodder.

Inquartata · 04-14-2004, 04:13 AM

I haven't yet decided whether or not to go to Nats, but I will be going to Sectionals. I just like fencing as much as I can.

Capt. Slo-mo · 04-14-2004, 11:59 AM

As others have mentioned, we have the odd problem of having our sectional in Alaska this year (for the PacNW). Normally, sectionals are something you can drive to easily. For a number of fencers in our lower 48 portion of the section, flying to Alaska is just too expensive to add a junior or Div1A event to the list at Summer Nats.

This will be the first sectional we have missed since we began competing at the national level.