Bootless griping

[Inquartata]

Is anyone happy with the way the Powers-That-Be have concocted the schedule for the Div II/III NAC in Sandy, Utah? Other than Men's Foil, that is.

As a sabreur I find myself looking at having to take TWO days off from work to fence Friday and Monday, and spending Saturday and Sunday cooling my heels. ( I'm sure there's a lot to do in Sandy, Utah, too. ) And spending at least double what I would have on lodging and meals---to say nothing of what the air fare will probably be with a midweek return.

Do they let a monkey throw darts at a calendar these days? I thought that the whole idea of scheduling tournaments on weekends was so that one could fence them on the weekends?!

I realize that the convenience of the administrators and officials trumps that of mere fencers these days, but---even Nationals wasn't as inconveniently cobbled together as this one!

OK, I'm done venting now.

[scarlet_woman156k]

I'd rather have Div II and III women's epee fenced back-to-back, but since I've got to see someone down in Vegas while I'm there, it's not a real biggie for me.

I know the Div II/III in Overland Park a while back had a "day off" for me in between events.

BTW, Sandy is only about 16 miles from Salt Lake, so I'm sure all of us will find something to do.

[sabreuse]

Originally posted by scarlet_woman156k:
<STRONG>BTW, Sandy is only about 16 miles from Salt Lake, so I'm sure all of us will find something to do. </STRONG>

In the "bee-have state"?

[flechenbones]

I was also disappointed in the schedule since it means that I can't go. I was hoping for either Div II or Div III epee to be on one of the two weekend days so I can compete. Instead, I'll be stuck at work since they scheduled both during the week. Oh well, hopefully I'll make it to a NAC later on if scheduling permits.

flechenbones

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: flechenbones ]

[Inquartata]

Yeah, one day between events is tolerable ( sometimes even helpful if you injure yourself or are an old codger like I am ) but two I deem to be rather ridiculous.

I realize that they have to make room for Wheelchair and Cadet events as well---but there's no men's sabre scheduled at all on Sunday. A big white blank in the MS column for that day.

I would hope at least that they would "spread the inconvenience around" from NAC to NAC; but I have noticed that sabre, and to a lesser extent epee, seem to get the brunt of it.

Oh, well, I suppose it could always be worse. It could be on the East Coast to boot...

[scarlet_woman156k]

sabreuse,
Never been to Utah, but I forgot all that I've heard of the place. All those alcohol rules and what-not. Very bizarre. My future mother-in-law was telling me about it when she visited there and I thought she was lying.

Well, here's hoping that there's SOMETHING fun to do in Utah (alcohol related or not!).

[Catlady]

Hi,
first being from Utah, SLC specifically, I have to say we're not all that bad. I will agree the alcohol rules are quite bizarre, I don't drink so I'm going on the word of others, but from what I've heard it's true--fyi Yes I'm one of Those People. However, you can have fun in Utah. If nothing else, take a drive up one of "the canyons" the scenery is quite beautiful and it should still be, at least partially, fall foliage season. There are quite a few good outlet stores in Park City, only about 30 minutes from SLC, as well as really great restaurants. There are some good restaurants in SLC proper as well. If I've got my geography right, the venue is near the Jordan Commons, which is a relatively new entertainment complex, there are good restaurants there, from what I hear The Mayan is pretty good although I admit I haven't gotten around to going yet, and there are movie theaters there, including one IMAX theater, I'm not sure what they're showing, before it was the movie about MT. Everest, now I think it's Sharks or something. There should be some information on what to do in Utah on the USFA sight soon, I think, or you could check out CitySearch.Com for Salt Lake. My club is handling a lot of the details for the tournament, so maybe I'll ask them to post some details on fun if they do a website. Anyway, I promise you will find something interesting to do.

Second, I guess the scheduling is all right, though I'd rather that Div III were on Saturday, since that day is more convenient for me, but it looks like I may have to get Friday off, which wouldn't be a problem, but I'm still unemployed and I don't know if I'll have a job by then, or if I do where it will be, but I worry about asking for a day off so soon after I start. My friend suggested that I just tell them I'll want that Friday off when I apply, but who knows. I do agree though that the schedule is odd. From what I understand Div. III Epee and Foil are both on the same day and there are currently no event times listed. It's not a problem for me because currently, I only do foil, but one of my friends, incidentally the same one that gave me the job advice, does both and was planning on competing in both. With how long it took them just to show competition days, I'm frustrated with them. To go further off topic, it looks like I'll be able to at least compete in Div II since it's on Saturday, but now I've got to figure out if it's worth paying at least the $50 to enter in addition to having to buy knickers, my club has been letting me get away with sweats and most local competitions aren't too stringent in that area, although I am the only non-beginner who doesn't have knickers, although with it being summer a lot of people have been wearing shorts instead. It looks like I'll need to buy at least one new body cord too, although I guess I need to do that anyway. I don't know if it's worth it to go to the expense and trouble to just do pools and maybe one DE if I'm lucky. My fencing buddies tell me that it's likely this will be the least expensive NAC I'll go to in quite a while, since I live in Salt Lake, maybe about a 15 minute drive from the venue on the I-215, and won't have to pay airfare, pay for meals, or for a hotel room. They tell me that NACs are an experience everyone should have at least once, and it's worth it no matter how awful you do, but still why should I pay so much to be humiliated when I can be humiliated more cheaply within my own division. The part of my brain that reminds me I am an adult now and could probably do something better with the money tells me to skip it, and I imagine my family will flip when they hear about it too. Anyway I'm definitely undecided there.

I just remembered the tournament is the same weekend as LDS church General Conference, so downtown will be a bit crowded, otherwise I'd suggest you check out Temple Square and maybe see if you can catch a Tabernacle Choir performance, but that area will be a zoo at least on Saturday and Sunday. On the other hand, the conference visitors usually are more attracted to the cheap restaurants than the really nice ones, so it still won't be too bad.

[Inquartata]

Maybe you could borrow knickers and whatever else you need from someone who doesn't compete, or is fencing another weapon another day?