To Paint Or Not To Paint Your Mask

[ChrisBrasel]

He wrote it up in the first post, cause he wanted to hide his eyes.

I painted my stripes to do the same thing, but didn't want at strip like his, so I did the X. The mask is in my user gallery if you want to see it.

[Epee Scherma]

Oh I missed that detail. Ah good reason, I bet it works well. Yeah thats a cool mask dude. Really simple and clean.

[bigdawg2121]

I might be willing to paint my mask...but I don't generally find it particularly intimidating to fence someone with a painted mask. I'd also say that they generally don't impart advantage.

[Mr Epee]

The white stripe across the mask seems to be popular. I like the design too. If I get a Prieur mask I think it'd look quite nice with the white stripe. Wonder why others have put the white stripe across. It's been done before.
Examples:
'88 Olympic Epee

http://www.fencingfootage.com/catalo...products_id=88

Many in those videos have the white stripe across.

Here is a coach from the Georgia division with the same thing.
http://www.ngfc.us/
See the picture?

I wonder why if there is a purpose other than.... fencing "fashion"?

That wasn't paint.

Back in the day folks used to put a strip of tape across the top of the mask to combat glare from the over head lights.

In the right conditions it works wonders. I've done it.

Unless you need to do it, it looks dumb

[rory]

Fencing halls with fluorescent overhead lights, school gyms with clear windows high up, sports venues with big skylights: all these seem to be designed specifically to stop you seeing the other guy.

The venue for the British Chamipnships is particularly bad for this, and it isn't helped by the fact that the event's held at the height of summer.

A strip of tape across the mask, just above eye level, helps lots.

[fencergal33]

Hi Coach D! (ask ChrisBrasel who I am)

I don't find painted masks distracting at all, but I would like to mention that it makes you look like a Power Ranger.

[noodle]

Hah Hah Racer X is here!

i didn't even notice it when i fenced you this weekend.

there's someone i saw a while ago at the first USACFC, i want to say they're from UT, who has a big golden anchor on their mask. that was annoying. and distracting.

[ChrisBrasel]

heh, it works better against newbs, ie. not you.

see you this weekend if you come down to AFC.

[yeoldearmourer]

I seen a paint mask at a JO a couple years ago ruled illeagal to used by Ted Li because it had a face paint on it. It was consdier to be a distracting to other fencer

[Duellist USA]

F.I.E. and USFA Rulebook

2.1.3. MASKS THAT ARE COLOURED OR DECORATED WITH DRAWINGS

Fencers may use masks in colour or decorated with drawings. However, and to
avoid any negative effect on the image of fencing and of the FIE, these drawings and colours must be sent to the office of the FIE in Lausanne, for approval by the Executive Committee.


Rick

[Morion]

Isn't there a rule that if your opponent complains or the Ref doesn't like it they can disallow the mask? At least when there is something other than a monochrome pastel color.

EDIT: D'oh! I should read ALL the pages before posting!

[keropie]

So was that officially adopted by the USFA? And if so, is the FIE still the body to which we would send a mask design, were we so inclined, if that mask if for use in a USFA event? Just curious, they've never bothered me (I've fenced tiger guy and skull head I think in the past), cause it turns out the lame doesn't change when the mask gets painted.

[needle]

Now that I have two masks (got LP contour fit for birthday present couple of months back), I will be painting my old mask. Most likely a pirate face - eye patch, bad teeth - as bad as I can make it on a mesh. Won't take it to competitions though - just for club practice and renaissance faires.

[TrainingDummy]

i didn't even notice it when i fenced you this weekend.

there's someone i saw a while ago at the first USACFC, i want to say they're from UT, who has a big golden anchor on their mask. that was annoying. and distracting.

No one I know at UT has that... but FencingKitten or KD5 would.

[EDIT] Sweet, I'm a "Member"!

[slain4sooth]

i shall paint a little yellow rubber ducky on my mask before i return to the salle this year. it shall cause delayed reactions due to amusement and i shall win ever bout.

[RebelFencer]

I'm personally not really a fan of painted masks. They don't look very good in my opinion. That's just me though.

[The Fish]

Just get a solid black one with an evil-shaped visor like my coach *cowers*.

[Prisdefer]

didnt some guy have a really cool kabuki/samurai thing on his mask at the WC in Budapest last year? idc about "face paint" i some times fence people who have like skulls drawn on their masks but i love humiliating them. On second thought, a Jack Skellington face from"Nightmare Before Christmas" would be pretty neat.

[Dax]

I fence both Racer X and my coach at NGFC on a regular basis. I dont find the masks distracting at all, I tend to pay attention to people's epees, not their masks. Its no problem for me at all.

[KD5MDK]

No one I know at UT has that... but FencingKitten or KD5 would.

[EDIT] Sweet, I'm a "Member"!

That was Josh Pero, from when he was in NROTC. He's since replaced it.