I am attempting to enter competition in the USFA, but I've encountered much resistance in doing so, namely money. As I learn more it seems my fees multiply and on top of that I belong to a classical fencing Salle which is unsupportive at most.
My question is, minus the expenses for a bag, mask, glove, and knickers, how much will my accumulated expenses amount to and what items will make them up in order for me to enter competition with the foil? No need to spare any detail.
Electric equipment will run you ~$70 for two low-quality weapons (~200 for the good stuff, 2 weapons, body cords are required for comp) and ~$40 for body cords. A lame can be anywhere between $60 and $200, depending on quality. USFA 1 year membership is $50, tourney entry fees tend to be around $10, with the really big ones/qualifiers being between $30 and $80.
As an aside, if you are "classically trained", you may not get what you are expecting at a USFA event. Sport fencers are, in general, great people, but they are competative. Many people I knew who switched from classical to sport were not very happy because they didn't understand how competative people will be. I have also stopped by a pseudo-classical salle once or twice, and they had very ...interesting... interpertations of ROW and the rules in general. Also, I was mocked for yelling (and only through self control avoided the big black). Last, there may be techniques you are unfamiliar with (ie. the flick) that are used with great frequency by other fencers. Before dishing out a ton of money, I would at least go and watch an actual USFA comp to make sure that you're not wasting it.
All this assumes that you're going for relatively cheap stuff (prices taken from Blue Gauntlet). Personally I get one "good" weapon and a mediocre backup, at least a middle of the line lame, and upgrade to FIE uniform as the opportunity presents itself. The uniform isn't that important for domestic competitions, but I'll always look for a good deal. Other than that you should take into account any travel costs and if you have to pay for a coach.
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I also got around $400 for competition level electric equipment.. plus fees
2 weapons (electric) @ $35-40 = $70-80
1 Good quality mask (we use the same for practice and competition) ($60-150)
1 Fencing jacket (same for practice and competition) $50-150
2 Good body cords @ 25-50 = $50-100
1 Good glove $20-50
1 Pair Fencing Knickers (baseball pants and others won't work) $40-100
1 Pair long socks (requirement is you can't have exposed skin -- soccer socks work well and come in a variety of colors) $10
1 Underarm protector $20-110
1 Metal Mesh Lame $65 - 240
So the basic equipment is goign to cost you... $385 - 990.
Plus USFA membership $50/year
Plus bag (if you want one) $35-300
Plus entrance fee $10-25.
Plus shoes (if you want dedicated fencing shoes) $40-250
The prices above are for foil only. If you want to add another weapon (such as saber) you'll need 2 more weapons, potentially a new lame and conducting cuff, plus a potentially a new conducting mask. Plus of course, another entry fee, since the entry is per competition (each weapon counts as seperate competition).
My recommendation is go for the lower end but good quality equipment, until you really want to know what you need, and you know what you like. You can spend a *LOT* of money on equipment...
I also got around $400 for competition level electric equipment.. plus fees
2 weapons (electric) @ $35-40 = $70-80
1 Good quality mask (we use the same for practice and competition) ($60-150)
1 Fencing jacket (same for practice and competition) $50-150
2 Good body cords @ 25-50 = $50-100
1 Good glove $20-50
1 Pair Fencing Knickers (baseball pants and others won't work) $40-100
1 Pair long socks (requirement is you can't have exposed skin -- soccer socks work well and come in a variety of colors) $10
1 Underarm protector $20-110
1 Metal Mesh Lame $65 - 240
So the basic equipment is goign to cost you... $385 - 990.
Plus USFA membership $50/year
Plus bag (if you want one) $35-300
Plus entrance fee $10-25.
Plus shoes (if you want dedicated fencing shoes) $40-250
The prices above are for foil only. If you want to add another weapon (such as saber) you'll need 2 more weapons, potentially a new lame and conducting cuff, plus a potentially a new conducting mask. Plus of course, another entry fee, since the entry is per competition (each weapon counts as seperate competition).
My recommendation is go for the lower end but good quality equipment, until you really want to know what you need, and you know what you like. You can spend a *LOT* of money on equipment...
These prices are off the Fencing Post.
At your stage, you can skimp on jackets and knickers, and buy the cheap stuff. Do not skimp on weapons and cords, as a bad weapon or cord will cost you much in the long run. Get as good a mask as you can afford. You only have 1 pair of eyes. I suggest th prieur non-fie for a non-FIE mask.
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Or you could go with epee, and just buy the weapons, bodycord and plastron.
Seriously, if you are from a classical fencing background, epee will be less frsutrating than the other weapons. The way ROW is called in foil is not favorable to the classical fencer. First time someone performs a attack with the arm withdrawn (but slowly extending) and you do a counterattack is bound to cause problems.
wow, this is going to be like an Amish person's first trip to Las Vegas or New Orleans. They'll see all the wonders of sin and get drunk on scoring boxes.
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Good for you! Don't be intimidated by the intrinsic differences between classical and tournament fencing. Your classical training will give you a sound basis to work with. Be aware, however, that you will get moves thrown at you at a tournament that you may not have seen before. It will take a little getting used to and time to develop defences against them. Whether you adopt these moves for yourself or stick to your classical training is up to you, but you WILL need to be able defend against them or your tournament experience may be a discouraging one.
"Classical" and "tournament" are simply two different nuances of the same game. Play the game by the rules of the venue you are participating in.
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One test is worth a thousand opinions. I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was. - Toby Keith Living life without taking the occasional risk is like lemon-pepper chicken without the lemon-peper. It's just chicken.
If you are going to a competition with low cost equipment (cheap rergular blades, body cords, etc.) and survive more than a few matches, you are likely to get into trouble with broken or defective gear. For instance, one of your two foils stops working. Now even if you have a perfectly good second weapon, technically speaking, you are now out of compliance with with the minimum two working weapons to the strip rule.
So, if you need to go with the cheap stuff, I would suggest four weapons. Three would likely suffice with good quality parts and maraging blades. Since this is your first competition, the likelihood of you having any armoring skills is nil. So you can either rely on the "kindness of strangers" for help there, and you would probably get it, or verse yourself on armoring basics before you go in order to make repairs and adjustments at the tournament. I would up the safe dollar amount to at least $500.00 if you have no armoring skills.
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