Frustrated beginner, Santa Cruz/Mountainview

[Dasha]

Hi y'all! I'm new to the board and wondering if there are any fencers in the Santa Cruz or Mountainview area. I attend UC Santa Cruz and it's a pain there b/c the school is so anti-establishment (we're a liberal pot school). School is starting soon and I was wondering if there are any ways to get more people to start fencing. I hear the UCLA team is great and the Berk team is decent but it just doesn't seem popular on the west coast. I am originally from Brooklyn NY and it seems to have a larger following there. I fell out of it last year b/c I had declared my major/minor and I didn't have time to do it.

I've only dry fenced and I'm not really interested in tourneys due to financial issues (Just to give y'all an idea: there was a week when I lived on stolen condiments last year). I spend a lot of time doing ballet and it was much better for my knee. I have an issue with my right knee; it's knock-kneed so the all the pressure I put down on it goes to the knee and not the ankle. In dance I can regulate it but I can't do certain things b/c it just plain hurts too much (i.e. running track). Any advice on this would be MUCH MUCH MUCH appreciated.

Sorry for the meandering post - it's almost 3 am. My bio is filled out and I have a webjournal for those who have a penchant for stalking.

Peace outside!
Dasha