Anyone going to nationals?

[raymac]

Anyone from the boards going to nationals in Edmonton this weekend?

[kalivor]

Given that it begins tomorrow, I'd think that most people who are going are probably already en route ...

[Pancakes]

EDIT: ^^^ You're not going? Why?

I'm leaving for Nationals in about...15 minutes.

[raymac]

I live 2 1/2 hours away from Edmonton, so I don't have to leave until later. I'm not competing because I don't have enough gear.

[glowstix]

not to thread jack but...does canada have something similar to the ratings system in the US??

[oiuyt]

Similar in that there are various levels distinguished by letter and they are generally considered roughly comparable. Different in that the system for getting said letter is vastly different. From my observations I'd say that it is significantly harder to get a CFF letter than the equivalent USFA classification. The CFF website (http://www.fencing.ca) has (or had last I was there) a description of how their system works.

-B :)

[raymac]

this is all that I could find...

http://www.fencing.ca/cgi-bin/cff_class_search.cgi

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by Pancakes

EDIT: ^^^ You're not going? Why?

I'm leaving for Nationals in about...15 minutes.

I decided that I had enough money for one big event this summer. At first, I was trying to decide between the last Div 1 NAC, Nationals and the World Cup in Vancouver.

I dismissed the NAC pretty quickly, and basically had to decide between experiencing my first world cup or keeping my classification.

Then an opportunity to take a trip to Europe came along, and I decided to end my season with the OCC finals.

Good luck!

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Similar in that there are various levels distinguished by letter and they are generally considered roughly comparable. Different in that the system for getting said letter is vastly different. From my observations I'd say that it is significantly harder to get a CFF letter than the equivalent USFA classification. The CFF website (http://www.fencing.ca) has (or had last I was there) a description of how their system works.

-B

The description of the system is here: http://www.fencing.ca/domestic_rankings_changes.htm

I agree that it's significantly harder to get a Canadian rating than the equivalent American one, but there are people who disagree with me. It's certainly true when it comes to a Canadian "A" ... there's no such thing as a "weak A" in Canada.

[Fencergrl]

My understanding is as follows:

In Canada, you can only achieve a ranking in the tournaments the CFF selects (you need to go on their circuit). Once you earn that ranking you drop a level every year if you do not rank. So if you fence Internationally (ie in the USA or in Europe) but not in Canada, you may lose your ranking.

My coach is an A fencer with a C ranking for this reason. This is a problem when it comes to selecting the pools in the tournaments, as you have no idea who you're REALLY up against.

I rather get a true C fencer in my pool than an A fencer that has been fencing Internationally for a couple years and lost her ranking in Canada.

Here's the link to the section on the CFF web site http://www.fencing.ca/domestic_rankings_changes.htm

Where do you plan to move to in Canada? If it's Vancouver, Seattle is only a few hours away and most of the tournaments on the CFF circuit will require you to travel. So you may want to consider just keeping your US ranking.

If you're thinking of moving to Toronto or Montreal I think you would be doing a lot less traveling as the CFF is based in eastern Canada.

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

My understanding is as follows:

In Canada, you can only achieve a ranking in the tournaments the CFF selects (you need to go on their circuit). Once you earn that ranking you drop a level every year if you do not rank. So if you fence Internationally (ie in the USA or in Europe) but not in Canada, you may lose your ranking.

Nope, classifications are re-issued every year. So if you were an A, and take a year off, you have no classification the following year.

My coach is an A fencer with a C ranking for this reason.

Your coach is not an "A fencer." All A fencers, according to the Canadian system, have A classifications. You need to meet the CFF's Olympic Team requirements to be an "A." Your coach could conceivably be a B-fencer who holds a C because they don't compete often, but there are no "should be an A but aren't" fencers in Canada at the moment.

Maybe next year, with a couple of people having retired from international competition following an Olympic year. But in a year-or-two they'll be out of the kind of form that would have made them an A-level fencer in any case.

This is a problem when it comes to selecting the pools in the tournaments, as you have no idea who you're REALLY up against. I rather get a true C fencer in my pool than an A fencer that has been fencing Internationally for a couple years and lost her ranking in Canada.

Seedings are based (or ought to be based) on the High Performance rankings, followed by the Domestic Points standings. The High Performance rankings take into account international competition. If someone has only been fencing internationally, they are (presumably) part of the High Performance Program, and are seeding accordingly. They also, presumably, have some sort of classification, as they're required to compete in the Selection Circuit and Nationals to be part of the High Performance Program, unless they were on the Olympic team. In which case, they ARE an A, by definition.

They can't fence in Div 1 NACs without at least a C, and have to be entered by Canada into World Cups, which would require them to perform well at the above-mentioned events, which ought to give them a B.

So you won't run into someone who's been "fencing Internationally for a couple of years" and improperly seeded. Or, at least, you shouldn't ... unless they're not Canadian and haven't really disclosed what level they're capable of fencing at, in which case they'll be seeded near the bottom.

[Fencergrl]

You are always a wealth of infomation. I am new to the sport, but fence with a lot of National team members. I hear them complain about the ranking system. I obviously have got things mixed up a bit, thanks for clarifying!

Are you sure about the "A" fencers? I see several that have that classification on the CFF website.

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

You are always a wealth of infomation. I am new to the sport, but fence with a lot of National team members. I hear them complain about the ranking system. I obviously have got things mixed up a bit, thanks for clarifying!

Are you sure about the "A" fencers? I see several that have that classification on the CFF website.

I am sure about the "A" fencers. There are about 20 A fencers in Canada (on recount, 23 -- 9 ME, 8 WE, 3 MS, 1 WS, 1 MF, 1 WF -- a bit more than I thought), and they read as a who's-who of Canadian fencing. Pretty much any name on that list will be recognised by anybody on this board who pays attention to the world scene in that weapon. Except maybe Sandra Sassine, because after people didn't know who Donna Saworski was (the first WS World Champion), I wouldn't be too surprised to find out that the recent dominance of the U.S. in women's sabre is enough to have them not really pay much attention to a young Canadian who has just barely done well enough internationally to earn her Canadian A.

From the site we both linked to:

"A fencer's classification would be determined using the final domestic ranking as follows:

* A (International selections) - HP, A, B and Squad Athletes"

If you run a search for A classifications, you'll find it matches the list of people who made that international standard last season.

[Bonehead]

Who's your coach fencer girl?

[Bonehead]

This is ridiculus. In foil Josh and Jujie are the Only A ranked fencers in Canada. So personally, I would tend to agree that there is no such thing as a weak A (in foil anyway) in Canada.

(personally I wouldn't call either of them weak... Maybe thats just me though)

[Bonehead]

Oh, and, i'm going to nationals

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by Bonehead

Who's your coach fencer girl?

I don't feel comfortable posting someone's name that I know personally on a forum. I fence Epee in Vancouver. If you really want to know, send me a personal message/e-mail and I'll be happy to talk to you.

[SJB]

See, the thing is, there are lots of FORMER A's in Canada who choose to pop out of the woodwork now and again.

This is what I think Fencergirl is talking about.

And if her coach is who I think it is (M?) she was indeed an A, a multi-time national team member and an NCAA member who, do to oh you know real life getting in the way of fencing, is now a C.

I for one am a former B and now have been downgraded to a C due to my lack of funds.

Damn University.

See everyone in Edmonton.

[SJB]

See, the thing is, there are lots of FORMER A's in Canada who choose to pop out of the woodwork now and again.

This is what I think Fencergirl is talking about.

Her coach for example who I am guessing is (M?) is a former national team member, NCAA team member and A ranked fencer.

Where has her A gone? If you don't compete enough in the right competitions throughout the season you will indeed lose your ranking.

Real life takes priority over fencing sadly.

I for one am a former B and now have been downgraded to a C due to my lack of funds.

Damn University.

See everyone in Edmonton!

[raymac]

Catherine Dunette is an A, she goes to my club. I saw her fencing a little while ago, maybe it's because I don't understand epee very well, or maybe she was playing around with whoever she was fencing but it wasn't anything too amazing. At least less amazing than what I expected anyway.