Hypothetical Competition Venue

[Elemental]

I live in Portland, OR and have been fencing for about 9 - 10 months now. After attending two tournaments my friend (who started fencing when I did)and I have been discussing venues in Portland that could host a tournament. I came up with an idea that I really liked...

In Portland there is a park that is one block wide but several blocks long with a wide concrete path down the center and a large stone park square at one end. We thought that this park would be the ideal location for an outdoor tournament (Weather permiting). There are power outlets in the area for the score boxes and the stone square area has room for a number of strips.

Has anyone ever heard of an outdoor tournament or anything similar? If so, did it work out?

This is just an idea between us at the moment but I would love to somehow bring it to pass. Sadly we lack the resources at the moment.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

In Portland there is a park that is one block wide but several blocks long with a wide concrete path down the center and a large stone park square at one end. We thought that this park would be the ideal location for an outdoor tournament (Weather permiting).

Outdoor tournaments suck. When light passes behind your mask, it reflects off the inside surface, so you can't see anything. Your opponent on the other hand gets to look into the sunlight.

[DangerMouse]

There used to be an outdoor dry foil tournament in Cleveland every year. It was a lot of fun and very laid back. You don't want to be fencing on concrete or stone, but i fyou found a nice flat grassy place and used the fees to have a BBQ afterwards, I would drive up for it

[edew]

I live in Portland, OR and have been fencing for about 9 - 10 months now. After attending two tournaments my friend (who started fencing when I did)and I have been discussing venues in Portland that could host a tournament. I came up with an idea that I really liked...

In Portland there is a park that is one block wide but several blocks long with a wide concrete path down the center and a large stone park square at one end. We thought that this park would be the ideal location for an outdoor tournament (Weather permiting). There are power outlets in the area for the score boxes and the stone square area has room for a number of strips.

Has anyone ever heard of an outdoor tournament or anything similar? If so, did it work out?

This is just an idea between us at the moment but I would love to somehow bring it to pass. Sadly we lack the resources at the moment.

Considering the amount of rain that Portland gets, what's the chance that the "weather permitting" will actually take place?

[CarlKnoch]

We have an outdoor tourney in Virginia each year that isn't that bad. It's kind of fun getting out in the air to fence. That being said, it's in the spring, it's usually a bit warm outside, and it's a DRY tourney. That part sucks.

[Dan H]

We set up an outdoor one-touch epee tournament here, and had lots of people stop and watch... but not a single one of them ended up coming to our practice. The return sucked, but oh well, it was fun. Hopefully you'll do better!

[Artisan]

... it's usually a bit warm outside, and it's a DRY tourney.....

Warm outside, sun's out - not dry for very long...

[noodle]

its a fine idea as long as you make it a little less about the fencing and more about the community coming together to enjoy the day, maybe have a bbq or something.

there's one at the beach here every year (this weekend actually). the tournament itself isn't really the focus, its the fact that all the people come out of the woodwork and drive from states away to fence and have a cookout and play on the beach. the tournament itself is really just a tossup because nobody's really used to fencing on concrete, sand, water, whatever else the conditions may be. but i still go because for that weekend its not really about fencing, its about the people who fence.

[Elemental]

Considering the amount of rain that Portland gets, what's the chance that the "weather permitting" will actually take place?

We actually do get sunny weather in the spring and summer. I would just keep an eye on the local weather reports.

The whole tournament idea is hypothetical at the moment. My salle isn't terribly large (I actually like the fact that it is small) and is actually to small to host a tournament in the school itself. My friend and I were just talking about ideal places to have one. He suggested in the cars of the local light rail public transit system (strangely I think he may have been serious)

I have never had an issue with fencing outdoors and I practice in my friends yard on nice days anyways. The park runs north/south so no one should have to worry about facing the sun. Plus there is a lot of tree coverage. There are power outlets in the area as well so it may be possible to have it be an electric tournament.

It's all just my little dream. Thanx for the feedback.

[The0ne]

Up here in Vermont we have an Epee tournament held in Fort Ticonderoga. It's on gravel, but as long as you don't try any really extreme footwork, you'll be ok. Outdoor tournaments are really fun as novelty events. . . You don't go for top level fencing, you go to mess about with your kit outside!

[shlepzig]

You would probably be better off trying to get the permits for Pioneer Square. Which would give you space for several adjacent strips, excellent viewing potential from the steps and great walk by exposure. Nice level space to put down elevated strips.

Different groups get that place occasionally for promotional stuff. You might do well with that. With an olympic hopeful in the neighborhood you could get some exposure for the sport.

By the way, which salle are you with?

Shlep.

[Elemental]

You would probably be better off trying to get the permits for Pioneer Square. Which would give you space for several adjacent strips, excellent viewing potential from the steps and great walk by exposure. Nice level space to put down elevated strips.

Different groups get that place occasionally for promotional stuff. You might do well with that. With an olympic hopeful in the neighborhood you could get some exposure for the sport.

By the way, which salle are you with?

Shlep.

Pioneer place occured to be but I thought the constant noise and traffic might be a bit of a distraction. Then again, it might not matter. When I am fencing a plane could crash into the building and I wouldn't notice. But you are right about the exposure. Whenever anyone learns that I fence they usually want to know more about how to get into it. I just think an outdoor tournament would be fun.

I'm with Salle Trois Armes in North Portland but I live downtown so I know Pioneer Square well.