Could this be your next mask?

[Chris]

http://www.fritsch-associes.com/images/Prieur.jpg

(Shown on this page: http://click.hotbot.com/director.asp...source=LCOSWF)

At least it's better-looking than the Zivkovic design!

I hesitate to think how much it might cost, or how long they might last...

Could be interesting!


Of course, I don't think it would be easy to make the epee point score on the face, and I don't know what it would mean for sabre...
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Fencing in Minnesota!
WWW.USFencing.org/CLUBs/clublist.asp?State=MN

[This message has been edited by Chris (edited 06-06-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Chris (edited 06-06-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Chris (edited 06-06-2001).]

[Tomas N]

Doesn't look like it covers as much of the side of the head. Couldn't we all just wear imperial storm troppers' helmets?

T

[Peach]

Hmmm . . . I don't hate this one as much. Don't ask me why. Maybe just doesn't look as clunky and stupid as the other ones.

[latenight]

For the non Francophones in the house:

Under the pressure of the Olympic Committee, the International Federation of fencing decides to launch the study of a transparent mask in order to make its sport more media.
This project is carried out in collaboration with the company Prieur, manufacturer of hardware of fencing. The purpose of the study design is to find answers concrete to the following objectives:
- maximum of transparency
- security
- ergonomics (breathing, hearing)
- manufacture, cost, etc.
Integrated upon the departure, a reflexion on the image of the product makes it possible to preserve the traditional identity of this sport.


[This message has been edited by latenight (edited 06-06-2001).]

[damianip]

Looks hot as Hell to me.

Bet it fogs up in 30 seconds.

As a piece of sculpture, however, it has lovely lines.

Paolo

[HilandDoug]

It looks like it has a screen at the mouth to prevent fogging.

However, isn't a conflict of interest to have an equipment maker do the aforementioned study? And, of course, it can't work for sabre.

[Bugaboo]

I think one of the redeeming qualities of the traditional mesh masks is that it keeps competitors anonymous. Without facial cues to trigger emotional responses, opponents are able to maintain a certain level of politeness and commaraderie(?) off the strip. As soon as we're able to see the other guy cussing at us, attitudes will change.

[MikeHarm]

I like the new style, it has a interesting look to it.

Mike

[neevel]

Prieur had a couple of prototypes at Jr. Worlds last year that I recall looking a bit different from this one-- they were all polymer with the mouth grille ("So, Doctor, once again you attempt to tangle with the Cybermen"), but the clear visor wasn't as large--more like a motocycle helmet visor-- and didn't have the flip-up feature (anyone remember Dark Helmet from Spaceballs?: "God, I can't breathe in this thing!"). One was blue except for the visor and mouth grille, the other was red.

-Dave

[Ron Antrim]

I would welcome any mask that increased my visibility of my opponent. As for giving away, or telegraphing intent by eye movement or facial expression, you just have to learn to control your emotions. (I think Obi-wan already said that.) Lexan masks also allow you to do some eye and facial bluffing, or try a small head fake.
I'm not sure about the sabre end of things for touches on the lexan....
I also hope the cost becomes reasonable enough so that joe average fencer can afford one.

[Emfuser]

I think it actually looks kinda cool... but I'm getting mine tinted. ;-)

Mike

[BarryTice]

Tinted? Heck, I'm getting mine mirrored!

[The Bayer Hunter]

That mask rocks!!! That mask is the key to make fencing a major sport like it should be. Now all we have to do is get rid of the wires and reels and make pistes that light up like in the Michael Jackson Billy Jean video. Now that would be something.

[Stryder]

That is far and away the coolest looking clear mask ever. But it is still strange and that last thing this sport needs is more strangness.

Also I am not going to be first in line to let people shoot epee tips at my face wearing that thing!

Jeff Salmon at Infinity Electronics spoke to me years ago about a mask exactly like this. I wonder if this is his project.

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[damianip]

Originally posted by Stryder:
Also I am not going to be first in line to let people shoot epee tips at my face wearing that thing!

Total agreement here!!!

Anybody willing to take a fleche counterattack to the face while wearing one of these?

Gimme good old steel mesh.

A way to publicize the sport would be to actually put it on TV and have intelligent commentary and super slow mo replays. It would have been nice to have the Olympic competitioncoverage from Eurosport broadcast in the US. They had plenty of excitement, drama, and excellent production


Instead, we are reduced to pirating broadcasts in languages we barely or don't understand or passing around home videos.

The interest generated by quality presentation of high level fencing would at least equal that of nine ball or ballroom dancing.

The mask isn't going to do it. You can't see the driver's face in NASCAR but I don't see them having ratings problems. They drive around in a circle for a few hundred miles nd people love it.

Paolo

[Chris]

Originally posted by damianip:
Total agreement here!!!
==
A way to publicize the sport would be to actually put it on TV and have intelligent commentary and super slow mo replays. It would have been nice to have the Olympic competition coverage from Eurosport broadcast in the US. They had plenty of excitement, drama, and excellent production


Instead, we are reduced to pirating broadcasts in languages we barely or don't understand or passing around home videos.

The interest generated by quality presentation of high level fencing would at least equal that of nine ball or ballroom dancing.

The mask isn't going to do it. You can't see the driver's face in NASCAR but I don't see them having ratings problems. They drive around in a circle for a few hundred miles nd people love it.

Paolo

Well, I'll wait for lab' test results before I comment on the safety issue; My previous statement was motivated by the fact that it would be too smooth to let anything but a direct hit score, as for the publicity issues, I pretty much agree with Paolo...

[Puppet Master]

Yes, give me steel.. that doesnt' break!

People think fencing is freaky in the first place, yes they do, now you want us to where these things?? We'll look like something out of a science-fiction writer's imagination.
And with the way most fencers look, a concealatory screen is to the sport's benefit. heh heh

Who cares what the olympic commitee thinks we don't see olympic fencing anyway. Screw them!

Hey, don't knock Nascar, I would rather do that than fencing! And yes they are successful without us seeing most of their faces. In part b/c everyone has cars, but most people don't have swords.

Originally posted by damianip:
Total agreement here!!!

Anybody willing to take a fleche counterattack to the face while wearing one of these?

Gimme good old steel mesh.


The mask isn't going to do it. You can't see the driver's face in NASCAR but I don't see them having ratings problems. They drive around in a circle for a few hundred miles nd people love it.

Paolo

[edew]

Actually, many fencers are quite good looking. Not a slob among the bunch (at least not at the world cup circuit level). That said, I do agree that all that's needed is television coverage with commentators speaking in the language of the audience. But, get rid of that James Chambers guy. Everything's a parry riposte to him. And there's no need to remove the wires or the steel mesh masks. In fact, if one were to ask a non-fencer to imagine a fencing bout, the first thing they'll probably visualize is the mask. With such a powerful imagery for the sport, why go and change it?

[damianip]

Originally posted by Puppet Master:
Yes, give me steel.. that doesnt' break!

People think fencing is freaky in the first place, yes they do, now you want us to where these things?? We'll look like something out of a science-fiction writer's imagination.
And with the way most fencers look, a concealatory screen is to the sport's benefit. heh heh

Who cares what the olympic commitee thinks we don't see olympic fencing anyway. Screw them!

Hey, don't knock Nascar, I would rather do that than fencing! And yes they are successful without us seeing most of their faces. In part b/c everyone has cars, but most people don't have swords.

But who, at an early age, hasn't picked up a stick, broom handle, whatever and had a "swordfight" with his or her friends?

They have a car now, but they wanted to stab someone before they wanted to drive...

Most non-fencers, when they hear that I fence, are fascinated. When I ask them to come down, though, they tend to be intimidated by the equipment and the ritual. Education is the key and intelligent, exciting presentation is key to educating viewers.

BTW, I'm not knocking NASCAR (although I prefer F1); what I'm saying is that they don't need a face to be painted on the car to succeed.

Paolo

PS Eric, I agree with you on Chambers, the few times I've heard his commentary, he's either gushing over "lovely ripostes" that weren't there or being incredulous at the director's decision.

[FencerInUS]

They are most likely fairly safe masks. I've seen some plexiglas materials, which are about the thickness of a car window, stop a .357 round. Now I dont know what type of material they used with this mask, but if its half as strong as this other stuff, I'd say its pretty punch resistant. Now facial features and swearing is a different story. I like the mirrored tinting idea, look like the Iceman from top gun

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F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
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