NAC (Chattanooga) Review

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Well, now that the NAC is over, what did you think of it? Organization? Hotels? Venue?

My only complaint is the sticky stuff spilled on the floors. Walking was... sticky

Also, did anyone see the thong on top of the machine on one of the strips?

[Epee Scherma]

So THAT'S where my thong went! (just kidding)

[edew]

That was in reference (I believe) to a pair (can it actually be a pair when it looks barely like 1/2?) of a woman's bikini bottom draped over the scoring machine of the Div I WF gold medal bout between Willette and Cross.

[foildad]

Chattanooga was a surprisingly pleasant town.

Airport: Functional and modern. Great dome reminiscent of the Pantheon.

Venue: Great use of skylights to allow natural light. Overall a very good space. The food sucked.

Hotel: The Marriott was booked, so we stayed in the Staybridge Suites, which turned out to be the better deal. It was closer to the venue than the Marriott, was brand spankin' new, and had a great free breakfast.

Aquarium: Surprisingly nice.

People: Very pleasant, sometimes a bit difficult to understand. Ya'll have a bigtime drawl goin' on down there. Another curious observation: We took the riverboat dinner cruise and at least 10% of the guests boarded carrying Bibles. We thought there was going to be a prayer group or Bible study class or something, but they just carried their Bibles around with them, always shut, like some sort of badge of righteousness. I'd never seen that before.

Cheeburger, Cheeburger: Overrated.

DFP: Nice guy.

Results: Son happy, daughter sad.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

That was in reference (I believe) to a pair (can it actually be a pair when it looks barely like 1/2?) of a woman's bikini bottom draped over the scoring machine of the Div I WF gold medal bout between Willette and Cross.

I did some research, and apparently, they had some proms there that night.... sounds like someone got notty on one of the strips!

[edew]

Didn't look like a prom-level panties. It was striped in various hues of blue. Looks more like a standard beach-going bikini than what the british would call knickers. I'm guessing the prom panties should be thinner and more lacy. But then, I'm not from Chattanooga.

[noodle]

like any of those prom kids would've actually entered our venue...
(ok i lied, i can think of one or two, but i doubt they'd have the stones to fix up their underwear to a machine).

[onesandzeros]

I was there cheering on some of my clubmates and found the tournament to have been pretty well run. I really liked the convention center's design/architecture. Edew has his name on his jacket in the coolest of fashions (reminds me of bladerunner). The venue food and non-venue food was terrible. Maybe i'll fence next time... I didnt even know i'd be going.

[edew]

like any of those prom kids would've actually entered our venue...
(ok i lied, i can think of one or two, but i doubt they'd have the stones to fix up their underwear to a machine).

It was originally on the ground. Someone (fencing related) picked it up and draped it on top of the machine. I'm quite sure most didn't even notice it.

I didn't until I looked at it and remembered that I saw that same pair on the floor (next to that strip) earlier that day when I was refereeing. I mentioned it to Atilio and he had a good chuckle.

I frankly thought it was a fencer's.

[edew]

...Edew has his name on his jacket in the coolest of fashions (reminds me of bladerunner)...

Of course...

[oiuyt]

Edew has his name on his jacket in the coolest of fashions (reminds me of bladerunner).

And prompted a discussion among a number of referees watching Eric warm up (Eric included in the conversation) on whether or not the lettering was USFA-legal. General consensous opinion was no. I assume that the referees that Eric actually had during the day either didn't notice, didn't bother to care, or held another opinion.

-B :)

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

And prompted a discussion among a number of referees watching Eric warm up (Eric included in the conversation) on whether or not the lettering was USFA-legal. General consensous opinion was no. I assume that the referees that Eric actually had during the day either didn't notice, didn't bother to care, or held another opinion.

-B

it might be that thing about not wanting to piss another ref off.

[prototoast]

And prompted a discussion among a number of referees watching Eric warm up (Eric included in the conversation) on whether or not the lettering was USFA-legal. General consensous opinion was no. I assume that the referees that Eric actually had during the day either didn't notice, didn't bother to care, or held another opinion.

-B

Really won't be much of an issue until he ends up in a pool with John Edew.

[noodle]

Organization
it seemed fairly well organized and well run to me. though i do recall a few times where seedings/pools had to be redone, things were still pretty smooth and on time.

Location/Hotels
plenty of hotels right there, nice central location, food and entertainment in walking distance. seemed nice to me.

Venue
good venue, seemed to be decent room for stuff/walking/etc (though it might've been too small if this were a different tournament).

Refs
i didn't have any or see any bad calls. heard a few stories about bad calls, but it happens. reffing seemed solid to me.

Tournament Strength
ME, though it had some weird results, seemed pretty solid. in fact, the only one that seemed kinda weak to me was MF. but i didn't see WE/MS. so i can't vouch for those.

Edew's gear
same as always. though it might not be legal, nobody ever complains, and it has its own style. his lame was in top form friday, and he was dressed sharply when reffing the rest of the tournament.

[DJ Apostrophe]

the people who were saying the food sucked...

I'll agree that the concession stand food sucked... but from a referee standpoint, the food they had for us was quite good, better than any other national thing I've reffed at... I just thought it had to be said.

But overall Chattanooga is a nice little town to hang out in for the weekend... but any more than that I'd probably get bored real quick. The aquarium area was nice with the restraunts and bars and such... the venue r0x0red, first time I've gone to a national event and got through the whole thing without getting a bad-lighting induced headache, I love how they did the lighting.

I liked the Marriott, although I felt like my room was insanely warm, even when the airc conditioner was on and set to 'cold'. I woke up sweating a couple times.

And I missed the thong.

-w

[Spike327]

I'm really sad that I missed out on the thong as well. Perhaps we should start organizing some sort of mass-thonging at nationals in response?

This weekend was actually my first NAC ever, so all I have to compare it to is JOs and Summer Nationals... I would say it was pretty good in all respects. Our hotel somewhat sucked (The Clarion) because it was several blocks from the venue, but I've had worse. The venue was also actually a decent size, which has sometimes been an issue.

[mifencer]

I thought it was a well ran tournament and I think kodus to all involved. So far, all the Div I NAC's have been good - IMO. Good job Chattanooga!

Outside the venue: I really like the idea of free shuttle service. Quaint downtown. I felt it was a place that was very welcoming.

[onesandzeros]

I have one question about the NAC. Did anyone see certain fencers pull off constant flicks to the back, front, shoulder, etc. on certain boxes and not able to reproduce the flick on others?

I was watching the Y14 MF event and this guy in my clubmates pool was able to pull off perfect flicks on the box they were using. They weren't even hard flicks, just your standard old timing flicks. I was watching this guy in his D.E. on another box, he was trying to pull of the flicks and none of them were setting the light off.

...odd

[whtouche]

I have one question about the NAC. Did anyone see certain fencers pull off constant flicks to the back, front, shoulder, etc. on certain boxes and not able to reproduce the flick on others?

I was watching the Y14 MF event and this guy in my clubmates pool was able to pull off perfect flicks on the box they were using. They weren't even hard flicks, just your standard old timing flicks. I was watching this guy in his D.E. on another box, he was trying to pull of the flicks and none of them were setting the light off.

...odd

Very possibly a difference between the opponants he was fencing rather than the boxes.
Flicks are still possible under new timings, even some rediculous ones. But it depends more now on what your opponant is doing.

p.s. Does anyone have a picture of EDew's offending equipment? Im wondering what the difference iswas.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

p.s. Does anyone have a picture of EDew's offending equipment? Im wondering what the difference iswas.

From Flicker Shutter

Take a good look at the name on his mask. That's how it looks on the lame also, though not in these pictures. Dunno if it was this font, or just the inclusion of his first initial in the name that would make it illegal.