Anyone fence in Dallas?

[dilznik]

I'm going to be in Dallas for two weeks for work and I was contemplating carting all my fencing junk halfway around the world to fence. Does anyone on this board fence in Dallas and can recommend a club to me? Specifically a club that fences foil and does it electrically, if possible. Thanks.

[Mergs]

There are plenty of clubs in the Dallas area. I would suggest that you go to the USFA website and check out the ones listed for the North Texas Division and then email them to find out specifics.

Dallas is a big place, so it would be better to know exactly where you are staying to be able to give you any better advice.

[dilznik]

There are plenty of clubs in the Dallas area. I would suggest that you go to the USFA website and check out the ones listed for the North Texas Division and then email them to find out specifics.

Dallas is a big place, so it would be better to know exactly where you are staying to be able to give you any better advice.

Yep, did the USFA website/email thing already. Actually I did it from the section website. A couple of email accounts were cancelled and one mailbox was full. I figure I'll call when I get there if I don't hear anything over email.
Distance isn't an issue. I'll be in Addison, but I think I should have a car, and gas in the US is cheap so I'm not above driving anywhere in or around Dallas. An hour each way is no big deal.

[KD5MDK]

Heh. Offhand Fencing Institute of Texas, Grapevine Texas Fencing Center, Dallas Fencers Club spring to mind. Not sure how big foil is at any of them. It looks like Vitaliy is fencing at GTFC now, but any of them will probably do.

[Red #40]

Renaissance fencers club in Plano usually has a good group of foil fencers on Saturdays and is right next to Addison. (also there is a great Austrian beer garden called Jorg's right down the street for after practice!)

http://home.comcast.net/~jmellby/fencing.htm

Dallas Fencers Club is all Saber and Epee. I fence Epee there on wednesdays and go to Renaissance on Saturdays.

GTFC is a hike from Addison but probably worth it for the coaching.

[Mergs]

I'll be in Addison, but I think I should have a car, and gas in the US is cheap so I'm not above driving anywhere in or around Dallas. An hour each way is no big deal.

First, 'cheap' is relative. Second, an hour's drive from Addison will barely get you around in Dallas. Having lived in Germany, I can tell you there is a WORLD of difference when thinking of distances. It takes me 30 minutes to drive into Houston at 75+ mph just to go to church. Plan accordingly and enjoy!

[Red #40]

Agreed, Mergs is absolutly correct about distance in Texas. I live here but I grew up in Florida and I very quickly learned Texans have a very unusual perception of distance. For the three clubs I listed Renaissance is probably 15 minutes from downtown Addison, Dallas Fencers Club is about the same but south instead of north east. and Grapevine is 45 minutes west if you don't do it at rush hour. If you try it at rush hour give yourself 1 and a half hours. My wife drives that drive daily for work and its a bad one. If you are really itching for a drive there is also La Touche, they are on the far side of Grapevine in Southlake.

As for the Gas prices, they are less than europe but the cars get terrible gas milage....

That being said, all the clubs mentioned so far have a good group of really nice fencers, you should have a great time when you get here.

[Rodeo79]

If you are looking for good foil fencing I would go to Fencing Institute of Texas (FIT). They have the best foil fencing in the area, I believe. It is electric, and has some pretty high caliber foil fencers in attendance. They are located in Irving, which is close to the airport, and fairly easy to find.

[dilznik]

Thanks for all the answers! I've got a little more time before I go, so I might call around, too.

Oh and:

First, 'cheap' is relative.

It's relative to the $6 a gallon I'm paying here! And I only get 23-ish miles to the gallon or, on a heavy autobahn day (read: 130mph to 60mph to 130mph to 60mph, slow, go, slow, go) I get less than 20.

[oso97]

For foil, I'd definitely recomend FIT, as they have the highest concentration of good foil fencers - and they're open 6 days a week. Dallas Fencers Club is pretty much all sabre - and very good sabre at that. Lonestar is sabre and epee. La Touche and GTFC are heavy in epee. Rennissance has some foil fencers but is mainly a recreational club. Further away over in Tarrant County, you've got Arlington Fencer's Club (epee and foil) and Cutting Edge Fencing Club (sabre).

FIT is actually moved to a new facility in Farmer's Branch about a year ago and they're about 20 minutes from Addison.

[i'mnottelling]

I'm going to be in Dallas for two weeks for work and I was contemplating carting all my fencing junk halfway around the world to fence. Does anyone on this board fence in Dallas and can recommend a club to me? Specifically a club that fences foil and does it electrically, if possible. Thanks.

The other board memebers are right. If you want to fence foil go to the Fencing Institute. Keep in mind that many of the top level fencers in all the clubs will be at the NAC in Chatanooga this weekend. Most clubs will be quiet these next few days.

i'mnt