Curious changes to Duel in the Desert

[fencerX]

Some items noticed while checking out the Duel in the Desert site:

1) The results from past years' DitD events have gone missing. DitD used to be a great example of how to create a fencing competition web site by including complete pool and DE results for the events for years past. Now it has nothing. What's with that?

2) The 2006 event has been scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in Vegas -- an expensive time for rooms in Vegas.

3) The current number of preregistrations seems lower than the corresponding level in years past. I imagine this is related to "2" above. I know travel and room costs will determine if a bunch of fencers (me included) go to the event this year.

4) The event has moved from the Flamingo to the Riviera. While the Flamingo was nothing to get overlly excited about the Riviera is something of a dive. And how will the finalists be able to fence without Pink Flamingos at the end of he strips?

5) The mixed events don't appear to exist anymore and the formerly mixed events are now men only. Did Toby Tolley's top-8 finish last year in the mixed epee embarass enough men that they agitated to restrict women to their own separate event? I thought the standing PCS rule (whether one agrees with it or not) was that women are permitted to fence in the "mens/mixed" event if they fenced in the women's event as well.

Does anyone have background info on the changes above? Are there other changes, perhaps behind the scenes, that are affecting the event? After 14 years has the Duel in the Desert "jumped the shark"?

[Sciurus-Rex]

Originally Posted by fencerX

1) The results from past years' DitD events have gone missing. DitD used to be a great example of how to create a fencing competition web site by including complete pool and DE results for the events for years past. Now it has nothing. What's with that?

2) The 2006 event has been scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in Vegas -- an expensive time for rooms in Vegas.

3) The current number of preregistrations seems lower than the corresponding level in years past. I imagine this is related to "2" above. I know travel and room costs will determine if a bunch of fencers (me included) go to the event this year.

4) The event has moved from the Flamingo to the Riviera. While the Flamingo was nothing to get overlly excited about the Riviera is something of a dive. And how will the finalists be able to fence without Pink Flamingos at the end of he strips?

5) The mixed events don't appear to exist anymore and the formerly mixed events are now men only. Did Toby Tolley's top-8 finish last year in the mixed epee embarass enough men that they agitated to restrict women to their own separate event? I thought the standing PCS rule (whether one agrees with it or not) was that women are permitted to fence in the "mens/mixed" event if they fenced in the women's event as well.

Not necessarily all that horrible:

2 may have had an effect on 4. Limited resources in demand, ya know.
As for 1, sometimes data dies or gets lost in Website redesigns.
3 - could just be that the organizers are behind their postings.
And 5? Might just be that the events have proven strong enough that the women-folk don't need men anymore.

Then again, the world might be coming to an end. Hard to tell...

[Inquartata]

As I understand it, the DITD is "under new management" this year. A certain amount of rough sledding is to be expected with such a change. Evan Ranes had built up a lot of experience and had it down to a fine art; any new organizer will face a learning curve.

Some of those points ARE disconcerting, though.

[dberke]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

As I understand it, the DITD is "under new management" this year. A certain amount of rough sledding is to be expected with such a change. Evan Ranes had built up a lot of experience and had it down to a fine art; any new organizer will face a learning curve.

Some of those points ARE disconcerting, though.

I spoke with Evan earlier this year, and it sounded like he was still very involved in the organization and planning of this year's DitD. I could be mistaken, but his name is also on the website, so I am fairly confident he's involved.

The special room rate at the Riv ($89/night) is a great rate. Expedia shows the normal price at $200/night. While the Riv isn't the jewel of the Strip, it's not too terrible. One warning though: avoid the food court at all costs!

I expect this year's Duel to be as fun as prior ones. It's worth going just to watch the exhibition bouts!

Dan

[Army Fencer]

I want to go, especially now that I'm close to it, but I'm planning to go to World Cups instead. I wish it was over New Years like it used to be.

[QueenofSwords]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

As I understand it, the DITD is "under new management" this year. A certain amount of rough sledding is to be expected with such a change. Evan Ranes had built up a lot of experience and had it down to a fine art; any new organizer will face a learning curve.

Some of those points ARE disconcerting, though.

"New Management" is one person. Tanya Brown. She is also the one who is doing the website changes. Evan is only doing the exhibition planning and event, not the rest of the fencing event anymore.

[NoFleche]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

I wish it was over New Years like it used to be.

If ya'll think Super Bowl weekend is expensive in Vegas--try booking weekend rooms and convention space when New Year's Eve is on a Saturday like it is this year!

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by dberke

The special room rate at the Riv ($89/night) is a great rate. Expedia shows the normal price at $200/night.

According to the DITD website, that rate is only for Thursday night. Friday, Saturday and Sunday it goes up to $115 a night. If I remember correctly that's more than rooms went for at the Flamingo last year...and the Riv isn't the Flamingo. Not exactly a bargain for a group rate.

[NoFleche]

Originally Posted by fencerX

4) The event has moved from the Flamingo to the Riviera. While the Flamingo was nothing to get overlly excited about the Riviera is something of a dive. And how will the finalists be able to fence without Pink Flamingos at the end of he strips?

The flamingos were great and will be missed!

The management and ownership of the Flamingo changed hands this year--from a Caesars Entertainment property to a Harrahs Entertainment property. This management change might have also been a factor in the change in venue for Duel.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by NoFleche

The management and ownership of the Flamingo changed hands this year--from a Caesars Entertainment property to a Harrahs Entertainment property. This management change might have also been a factor in the change in venue for Duel.

What, Meyer Lansky's heirs have something against fencing?

[dberke]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

According to the DITD website, that rate is only for Thursday night. Friday, Saturday and Sunday it goes up to $115 a night. If I remember correctly that's more than rooms went for at the Flamingo last year...and the Riv isn't the Flamingo. Not exactly a bargain for a group rate.

You're right - I realized my error after posting. Still, given the prevailing rate for that weekend seems to be upwards of $200+ at all the strip properties (even higher than usual since it's Superbowl weekend), it's a good rate. Of course, you can get cheaper rates if you're willing to stay off-strip but then you lose a lot of the convenience.

I personally think it would be great if someday they held the event at a smaller, off-strip property like the Orleans or one of the Station casinos... those places tend to be excellent values and surprisingly nice hotels. I'd rather save $50/night on the room and pay the $10 for a cab for my trips to the strip when I'm not fencing...

Dan

[Dee EffEll]

Originally Posted by fencerX

Some items noticed while checking out the Duel in the Desert site:

1) The results from past years' DitD events have gone missing. DitD used to be a great example of how to create a fencing competition web site by including complete pool and DE results for the events for years past. Now it has nothing. What's with that?

Of course, a major upgrade to DITD would be for them to use FT/FRED. Peet/Dan: Set up a paypal account for donations to have FT/FRED be an official DITD "chip sponsor" for a Saturday night event, and I'll make the first donation.

DITD is the best tournament of the year, IMHO.

[edew]

Originally Posted by dberke

You're right - I realized my error after posting. Still, given the prevailing rate for that weekend seems to be upwards of $200+ at all the strip properties (even higher than usual since it's Superbowl weekend), it's a good rate. Of course, you can get cheaper rates if you're willing to stay off-strip but then you lose a lot of the convenience.

I personally think it would be great if someday they held the event at a smaller, off-strip property like the Orleans or one of the Station casinos... those places tend to be excellent values and surprisingly nice hotels. I'd rather save $50/night on the room and pay the $10 for a cab for my trips to the strip when I'm not fencing...

Dan

It was held at the Palace Station one year. I won the MF that year. I'd rather be on the strip. Look, I'm gonna lose $200 anyway, might as well enjoy the extraction.

I think it's the Superbowl weekend effect rather than off-strip or on-strip. I'll bet even the Palace Station wouldn't be cheap.

I heard the Corleone family wanted a part of the Duel In The Desert. Something about Barzini and Tartaglia also wanting a piece of the action.

[mfp]

Originally Posted by dberke

You're right - I realized my error after posting. Still, given the prevailing rate for that weekend seems to be upwards of $200+ at all the strip properties (even higher than usual since it's Superbowl weekend), it's a good rate. Of course, you can get cheaper rates if you're willing to stay off-strip but then you lose a lot of the convenience.

I personally think it would be great if someday they held the event at a smaller, off-strip property like the Orleans or one of the Station casinos... those places tend to be excellent values and surprisingly nice hotels. I'd rather save $50/night on the room and pay the $10 for a cab for my trips to the strip when I'm not fencing...

We found a package for the weekend of DitD that includes roundtrip SFO-LAS airfare plus 3 nights (Thurs to Sun) at the Stratosphere for $250 per person on americawestvacations.com. Not a bad deal considering airfare alone would be just under $200 pp.

[btw the flight/hotel package is only $176 pp for departing SFO on Friday, returning from LAS on Sunday evening. In that case the flight+hotel package costs less than the flight would alone]

[fatfencer]

Originally Posted by fencerX

5) The mixed events don't appear to exist anymore and the formerly mixed events are now men only. Did Toby Tolley's top-8 finish last year in the mixed epee embarass enough men that they agitated to restrict women to their own separate event? I thought the standing PCS rule (whether one agrees with it or not) was that women are permitted to fence in the "mens/mixed" event if they fenced in the women's event as well.

Speaking of Toby, I was talking with her at the recent New Mexico Open(far too shabbily run, incidentally)briefly about last years Duel. I have admit I concur with her disdain for certain aspects... like the fact that the womens' events were shorter than the mens, er... during the evening suare', that is. A bit chauvinist methinks.

I saw her fence at Duel during the day and she has a pretty nice fleche. She has some good timing...just crushed some guys!!!

But then again I'm a devoted fan of hers(READ: huge CRUSH!)

Just my 2 cents,

Fatfencer

[Inquartata]

If WF and WE want event parity, perhaps they should strive not to put the audience to sleep so much. I mean, did you see the WF last year? Zzzzzzz.....

[edew]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

If WF and WE want event parity, perhaps they should strive not to put the audience to sleep so much. I mean, did you see the WF last year? Zzzzzzz.....

Yeah, that was a tough one. I had two drinks already and those three minutes felt like 30 minutes. I did all I could just to stand upright, nevermind making sure there was any callable action happening. And then, after the one-minute sudden-death time, they had to make a quick attack/counter-attack action. Flashed right before my eyes. I think I made the right call.

Fell asleep watching the Blue Man Group afterwards. They're even more boring than that women's foil bout.

[Sabresque]

Hey the Blue Man Group is the best show in Vegas

[peet]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

If WF and WE want event parity, perhaps they should strive not to put the audience to sleep so much. I mean, did you see the WF last year? Zzzzzzz.....

HOLY CRAP. No Kidding!

I loved the announcer's comments DURING the FENCING!:
"Clearly caution is the word of the day in this bout...... Let's see if Referee Dew pulls out the passivity call....." To which Eric actually kinda gave that "s**t man, i dunno" type shoulder shrug.

-p

[edew]

I couldn't call passivity. They were actively moving towards each other. They were acutely cautious. They were scarily cautious. They both behaved as if the other was Typhoid Mary with a 2 night layover from the merchant marines.