Website for Havana World Cup

[misha]

Works really slow, results are not there but anyway:
http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/comp...4/Esg_Menu.htm

[misha]

Resullts of the first day of M&W Epee are up.

In mens epee only 3 americans fenced:
Justin TAUSIG, Carl LOEFFLER and Travis EXUM

http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/comp...004/Esgemi.htm

Does anybody know what happened to Army Fencer?

Justin & Carl made the second day

http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/comp...4/Esgemicl.htm

[MHS Fencer]

He could have had difficulties getting into the country (because he's in the us military) or he could have not jumped through one of the rings in order to get all properly signed up.

The entrants for men's epee are way down this year (i suppose most people didn't think it was worth the effort to go to jockey for seed).

Last year there were a number of americans:
Seth Kelsey
Roni Gold
Eric Hansen
Codey Mattern
Michael Felschuh
Ian Lindblom
Jan Viviani
Keith Lichten
David Rosenberd
Nat Burke
Mark Segal

and I'm sure that there are others that aren't listed in the results/that I can't think of.

Last year's results were painful because Americans had done so well in the pools, including nabbing 3 of the 4 top seeds and something like 6 of the top 12 after pools, but then every American lost except for when two americans were fencing (Gold d. Hansen and Kelsey d. Lindblom).

I just find it funny that more americans didn't take advantage of the weaker world cup to try and get some international points, although it is a pain to get to.

[sabreman]

I went to this WC back in 1998 but it was in January at that time. I remember having to get some type of green paper (this was some type of Cuban visa) from RW. I went via Cancun and didn't have any problems. Even though it was small it was a very strong tournament because Italy, Germany, France and Spain brought a bunch of fencers. Plus Cuban fencers are damn tough! The host hotel and expo center were great. They even televised the finals (Cuba has like two TV channels with Fidel on most of the time). Also the nice weather was a bonus considering where most were coming from. Can't say that is a bonus now.

[usfafencer]

I just find it funny that more americans didn't take advantage of the weaker world cup to try and get some international points, although it is a pain to get to.

The olympic qualification is over. Most fencers don't need to go, nor want to go. If it were a world championship year, there would be more fencers as is evidenced by last years roster.

[Army Fencer]

I just find it funny that more americans didn't take advantage of the weaker world cup to try and get some international points, although it is a pain to get to.

That was the plan. And watching the competition the second day proved to me that I could have made past the first day. But...

My flight from Reagan International to Toronto was delayed by three hours. They tried to send me through Montreal, but I was still too late.

I'm terribly upset, because I did jump through all the right hoops, and the tournament was incredibly expensive for me (I'm planning to move at the end of the month in order to pay for it all). I'm going to write to Air Canada to see if they can give me a ticket or two in the future for their mistake.

I wasn't alone, though. Soren and Michael Feldschuh also were in Havana and didn't get to fence. They changed the venue, and they didn't get the information (the info packet they gave us sent us to the wrong place). When the taxi driver got to the right place, they had already started.

I plan to write something up about my experience in Cuba. I'll probably put it in the watercooler, unless Craig wants an article.

But I'm very tired from my misadventures and from surviving finals. I'm going to drive back home and go to bed.

[This post sounds very bitter. I'm not normally like this. I'm really, really, really unhappy that I didn't get to fence.]

[MHS Fencer]

Army Fencer, I'm sorry to hear that!

From what I can remember of your fencing, you definitely should have been able to make the second day.

It always sucks when it's not your fault. I hope that you get some sort of recompense from Air Canada and that you at least got to enjoy the city while you were there. Good luck on still making the WCAP program.

[Inquartata]

Aha! The Great Air France Conspiracy has expanded to include Air Canada! Who will be next?

[prototoast]

Very sorry that happened to you. That is terrible. You should complain, complain and don't stop complaining until you get as much compensation as possible.

[afc fencer]

Where is the venue? I am leaving for this comp on wed.

[sabreman]

That really sucks. I hope you get some type of compensation from Air Cananda. When I went I was thinking of going via Canada but for some reason (free ticket on US Air to Cancun) I ened up going via Cancun on Mexicana Air (not sure if that is still an option).

I just checked at it looks like you can do it for about $236.00 round trip from Cancun on Aerocaribe (booked through Mexicana). If you have frequent flyer you can probably get to Cancun with domestic level award points. Something think about for future trips.

[Army Fencer]

Where is the venue? I am leaving for this comp on wed.

I wasn't entirely lucid when I was there, but I think the name was the Cuba Expo. It was not at Cuidad Deportiva.

If you are staying at one of the hotels they recommended, (Palco, Triton, or Melia Habana) you should be fine. They give a free shuttle from the Hotel to the venue.

Buenos suerte, you'll need it. If not for the competition, then for the flight.