NAC B Review

[davtsung]

Excellent NAC I think is the overall consensus so the organizers/USFA should be proud overall. The 'blue floor' was quite something else and I've seen that before though I look forward to seeing more of it in the future. I think I only spotted one copper strip way at the end of the building near concessions but I've heard no complaints about the strips from anyone. I actually wished there were more seats cause everyone started to move them around and hoarding them for their bags and people that were 'coming right back'. Slightly disappointed I didn't see Leon Paul (on Saturday at least) there as I actually had money to spend this weekend on a nifty mask. As an aside, there were also a few cute directors this time........

[random fencer p]

No Leon Paul USA, guess they didn't/don't think USFA events are worth the money or the time.

The blue floor was nice but could get slick easily. Easier to clean if there was a spill though. I am betting the tiles are easier to put down and take up than the carpet.

Major thumbs down for the idtiot with the camera who decided Ivan Lee's bleeding head would make for good pictures. At least the people with video cameras turned them off when it happened. Can't wait to see those for sale. Guess he works for Jerry Springer on the side.

Not sure about the bigger font on the posting sheets. Still seems small but maybe it was just me.

Seems as though the LOC did a good job, I didn't have any interaction with them so don't know for sure. All accounts are they did well. Wonder if they are up for a nationals and 9-11 days of hell instead of 3-4.

The height of the letter thing was odd. Saw a ref walking around with a folded peice of paper checking the size of names and forcing the refs to hand out red cards and making for some interesting discussions. Gues she didn't want to venture in the sabre community as many of those names were smaller than the paper she had. Oh well, glad I am not a ref.

[JEC]

No comments yet on the fact that the USFA now appears to have at least 32 of the slightly raised hard metal pistes. No more swapping back and forth between surfaces (hard metal and the rolled copper types). Wonder if they'll have 50 of them by Sacramento.

My left knee and ankle did not think that they were just slightly raised when I landed from a fleche on the edge twisting them. I measured the raised pistes and they were raised 1 inch from the rubber mats to the top of the flashing. I think they need to be shim with at least a 3/4" thick rubber mat flooring for a couple of feet on the sides.

[CvilleFencer]

What is the height requirement for lettering on the back of the jacket now?

Between 8-10 centimeters.

[odious]

Major thumbs down for the idtiot with the camera who decided Ivan Lee's bleeding head would make for good pictures. At least the people with video cameras turned them off when it happened. Can't wait to see those for sale. Guess he works for Jerry Springer on the side.

perhaps i missed it in a post somewhere, but what happened to his head?
... and could i get a picture of that?

[whtouche]

He was fencing pat ghattas, and I assume took a whipover to the back of the head. It must have been particularly brutal cuz it stopped the bout, they got the trainers and bandaged him. Also his short hair didn't help cushion the impact at all.

Tim Morehouse also took a bad shot to the back of the head when fencing crompton. Cromton made a nice parry 4 riposte-head-face-and chest. Tim was holding his head for the rest of the bout and was on his knees briefly.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Between 8-10 centimeters.

Thats one short guy.

[CvilleFencer]

Thats one short guy.

That attempt at humor just does not measure up! There should be a height requirment for attempted punning. Kids these days just keep falling short. Sigh...

[mrbiggs]

Between 8-10 centimeters.

This might be a dumb question, but is there a PURPOSE to that rule? I can't think of what that rule could possibly do to help fencing. Maybe it's just late.

[davtsung]

Big enough and blue enough for all to see. The enforcement of this rule is so random that I would rather have them go after people whose stenciling are fading rather that those who are solid but 7 cm.

[mrbiggs]

Big enough and blue enough for all to see. The enforcement of this rule is so random that I would rather have them go after people whose stenciling are fading rather that those who are solid but 7 cm.

True, but I think that 4 cm would do the trick. And I don't see the point of taking out a ruler and measuring unless the ref specifically notices that the writing is illegible.

[davtsung]

True, but I think that 4 cm would do the trick. And I don't see the point of taking out a ruler and measuring unless the ref specifically notices that the writing is illegible.

You know how Europeans love consistency and order...and the metric system!

[fencerontheline]

If it were not for the fact that he usually wears shades I would say it was a result of his head wound! I meant to ask him about why he always wears the shades but I forgot to mention it. .

Ivan wears them because they are his prescribed glasses.... he can't see without them.

[edew]

Sometime in the mid-90s when letterings were required several countries got a bit too creative about how the names can be put on the back. Some other -- less creative -- countries protested and the FIE decided to standardize the lettering requirement: 8-10cm tall, all caps, block lettering (no italicized, no groovy fonts), navy blue (with a possible exception when the lame is blue in color, then it should be black).

At the Saturday morning referees meeting, it was explained that the FOC will soon decide whether USFA should follow the FIE rules strictly or be a bit more lenient about the rule (I vote for leniency, and that's not because I have EDEW on my back). At the moment, if there's a name, and it's legible and it's somewhere on the fencer's uniform, we'll let it slide. It just takes up too much time to bring some armorer or somebody over to the strip to measure the names to be sure it's 8 to 10 cm long, and whether the color has faded out too much or whatever. We've got a lot of competition to run, and with 2 rounds of pools plus DE with repechage at 32, it's going to be a long day that doesn't have to get longer with people B&M-ing about letter sizes.

[peet]

The only complaint I heard was on Friday, when the directors began suddenly enforcing the rules about lettering size on jackets and pants - so that people whose uniforms had been passed without question for many previous NACs were suddenly getting red cards.

I was the referee who got caught in that partiular s**t-storm.

The story:
I shared the first pool of Div1ME with a certain high-ranking referee who shall remain nameless. He enforced the 8-10cm rule on a certain fencer, who resigned himself to starting each bout with a red card.

In the second pool (which we ref'ed solo), I happened to have the same fencer, and since we'd just gotten done enforcing the rule in the first pool, i couldn't exactly stop then. But he has a teammate in the same pool, with the same name size problem. Kablam!, two guys in the same pool, starting every bout with a red card. You can imagine how their coach reacted. Coach complains to the FOC, who upholds the call, so the coach goes around the room inciting the populace to riot.

What a nightmare.

Hard not to feel like that other (very high ranking) ref rolled me under a bus!

That being said, the rules are the rules of course; variations in enforcement notwithstanding....

You can bet though, the first thing i did after arriving the next day to fence the Div1MF was to check the size of the name on my lame!

-p

[edew]

Returning to the earlier posts in this thread concerning the city of Richmond, I spoke to the shuttle driver from Crowne Plaza. He said that the downtown area is desolate in the evenings because of old blue laws that require shops to close by 6PM and no alcohol served or sold on Sundays and such.

Basically, anyone who needs to buy anything would go to the suburban malls because the downtown would have too many cars from the commuting workers and by the time one can find a parking space, the stores are closed.

That's about as stupid a policy one can ever make.

Went to some italian restaurant the first night, The Tobacco Company Saturday night and Old Original Bookbinder's on Sunday night. Not bad, not great. Didn't enjoy the second hand smoke at all.

Basically, just too tired to walk around in the evenings.

On Sunday, walked back to the hotel instead of taking the bus because it didn't get there. The walk was all right, but the streets are (as people can see) all torn up.

Also, they got to fix the directions of some of the one-way streets. I mean, the bus had to take like seven turns to get to the hotel or from hotel to venue. When walking, it's one turn of the corner.

[Craig]

It's funny, but the USFA rules also specify that the mask bib must be rated to 1600N and the uniform must be rated at 800N. So, you could also enforce those rules (check the m.xx rules in the rule book) and force everyone to purchase FIE equipment to fence at any USFA event (national or divisional).

I've searched the USFA site and have yet to find separate equipment rules for national or local events...

Craig

[CvilleFencer]

And don't forget that all masks made after about 1930 are illegle for use in foil (the mesh must not extend below or cover the chin). It would be funny if the FOC reps decided to enforce those rules at a large event...

[CvilleFencer]

Basically, anyone who needs to buy anything would go to the suburban malls because the downtown would have too many cars from the commuting workers and by the time one can find a parking space, the stores are closed.

That's about as stupid a policy one can ever make.

In CA it is against the law to mary your horse. In Riverside, California, kissing on the lips, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water, is against the local health ordinance. In Los Angeles, California, it is not legal to bathe two babies at the same time in the same tub. In CA animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship. It is also a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale. I think CA wins the stupid rules contest!

As to staying right it down town, all the funstuff is in Carytown or right around the University anyway. The city does have a lot of construction, and that can be a headache. It is all part of the cities revival and I would rather have construction workers on every corner than gangbangers. As to second hand smoke, you breath CA smog every day of your life (although I have never been to San Carlos so it might be better than LA). I would think you would appreicate the change of pace...

[peet]

And don't forget that all masks made after about 1930 are illegle for use in foil (the mesh must not extend below or cover the chin). It would be funny if the FOC reps decided to enforce those rules at a large event...

I couldn't find that one in the book. Where is it?

-p