Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

CvilleFencer · 08-28-2006, 03:37 PM

Hey guys. The annual VA Kickoff is fast approaching (about a month away) and it looks on track to have another very strong turnout (Foil and Epee are already an A2 event with more than a month to sign up still remaining) and we have a lot of great refs on board to keep things running smoothing. Last year we had an A4 epee, B3 Foil (should be at least an A2/B3 this year if not an A3/4) and a potential A2 saber. Also this year we are running seperate events for women in all three weapons. The girls make out particulary since they can fence in the open and/or the womens event! We will as usual have spiffy prizes and this year we will have a vendor on hand.

At the last big VA event, the Hangover, I set out a little F.net booth with some snacks and a sign in list for f.net members to hang out and meet other members face to face. It was a lot of fun and I got to finally put faces to some of the screen names, so I was thinking about doing the same thing again, just with the Kickoff. So my question was who is planning on coming out?

Also if you have any questions about the event, need local info such as places to eat, hotels, etc. please let me know and I will be happy to help out. Links for info and pre-registration can be found here: Kickoff Pre-registration is much cheaper than at the door and space is limited to either 120 or 140 fencers per event, I can't remember which, so sign up soon if you are going to be coming out!

seak · 08-28-2006, 04:48 PM

I'll be there

(prob/hopefully) I just haven't figured out which events yet. The problem with the mixed/women thing is I know have 4 events to choose from

CvilleFencer · 08-28-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seak

I'll be there

(prob/hopefully) I just haven't figured out which events yet. The problem with the mixed/women thing is I know have 4 events to choose from

Cool! Keep in mind that in order to keep things running quickly/smoothly, they are only letting people enter into one event per day. That should help make the decision a bit easier. Or make it harder...

seak · 08-28-2006, 05:13 PM

yes that restriction is the problem, otherwise I'd just enter all 4

Fechter1 · 08-28-2006, 05:26 PM

Planning to be there, just haven't prereg'd yet (waiting for a little more reassurance rehab-wise before i make any solid commitments).
+1 (maybe both days)

WordRider · 08-30-2006, 01:03 PM

I will not be able to make it.

Have a safe September 23-24,2006

WordRider Yeaah!

CvilleFencer · 09-06-2006, 02:59 PM

If anyone is interested, they are still looking for a few referee's of various levels to round out the roster. Referee's should be anywhere from a 7-1 in at least one weapon. Travel pay is capped at 200 miles, but if you ref both days hotel is included in addition to normal pay, lunch and so forth. So post here or shoot me a PM if you are interested.

Mauler · 09-06-2006, 03:32 PM

Counter riposte and I were tagged for the gig a while ago. But I am aware of other referees who might be looking to work that weekend.... I'll get back to ya.

Mergs · 09-07-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

If anyone is interested, they are still looking for a few referee's of various levels to round out the roster. Referee's should be anywhere from a 7-1 in at least one weapon. Travel pay is capped at 200 miles, but if you ref both days hotel is included in addition to normal pay, lunch and so forth. So post here or shoot me a PM if you are interested.

Who is doing your weapons control?

attila the pun · 09-09-2006, 08:52 PM

I find it offensive that the Virginia division would schedule one of its biggest events of the year in direct conflict with one of the major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashana). Especially considering the high percentage of Jews that make of the population of the greater DC/Baltimore area. Does anyone know why they couldn't have picked a different weekend to hold this tournament.

LUDICROUS · 09-09-2006, 09:44 PM

Because fencing transcends mere mortal things such as religion.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 09-09-2006, 10:10 PM

I'd go if it was an A4.

bigdawg2121 · 09-09-2006, 10:16 PM

Usually is I think

CvilleFencer · 09-09-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

I'd go if it was an A4.

Then make your travel plans my friend. Epee is in all likelyhood going to be an A4. It was last year and we are expecting an even higher turnout. We are only 6 A's away and I know of at least 4 that are coming but have not signed up yet...

RebelFencer · 09-09-2006, 11:27 PM

I've decided to go...should be fun.

CvilleFencer · 09-09-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attila the pun

I find it offensive that the Virginia division would schedule one of its biggest events of the year in direct conflict with one of the major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashana). Especially considering the high percentage of Jews that make of the population of the greater DC/Baltimore area. Does anyone know why they couldn't have picked a different weekend to hold this tournament.

Feel free to blame me as the token Jew on the division board. Scheduling for a space big enough to host this event in the NoVA area is so very tight that we sort of had to take what we could get. I will also admit to thinking that, in general, if you are devout or orthodox enough to skip an event the size of this one for Rosh Hashanah that you are not going to fence in any event on the Sabbath to begin with... Still, since it is a day of reflection on mistakes and sins of the past (like advancing before the arm, big sweeps and rushing attacks) and making plans to avoid such things in the new year, it somewhat ties in! Tell you what, if you come out we can laugh at all the looks we will get when we say l'shanah tovah to everyone (or l'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatemand to the ladies that we don't think are likely to slap us for it. Always thought that was a really odd phrase...) and I will bring the honey dipped apples!

In all seriousness, I do wish it could have been done in such a way to avoid Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah. My sincere apologies to anyone that this may have inconvenienced and we will try to work it better in the future.

CvilleFencer · 09-09-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mergs

Who is doing your weapons control?

You are! That is, you would have been among the first I asked if we were having it... It was not an easy decision, but due to the space constraints of the venue, it was basically a choice between a vendor and having and armourer do a gear check. Because of the multiple events and very tight scheduling, the Vendor won out. Next year hopefully we will be able to book enough in advance so that we have can have the foyer area all to ourselves and be able to put registration and an armouer, or put the vendor out there and put the other stuff inside the event hall.

Absolute will be on hand to make repairs and such and hopefully everyone will replace any questionable or faulty gear before the get to the strip. Also the Favero boxes are much more forgiving of high reistance in weapons and cords than the TCA boxes ever were. We have not had any problems that I know of at any of the tourneys ran with the o1/05's as far as lames.

seak · 09-10-2006, 10:35 AM

I actually just realized that Rosh Hashanah was that weekend, so I will not in fact be going. While I know that space is tight in NoVa (and if you want to have kickoff then that's cool) your reasoning about what type of Jews wont show up is faulty.

Rosh Hashanah along with Yom Kippur are the two major Jewish holidays of the year, and if you are Jewish and are going to celebrate any holidays, it's usually these two. Hence, you have many Jews like myself who would only miss a fencing competition for these two Jewish Holidays, and certainly not for a normal Shabbas. There are a couple of other people in my club who are even less Jewish then I am who also cannot go becuase they will be going to services for Rosh Hashanah.

So good luck to you, but do be aware that you are losing lots of Jews who would come on a normal Saturday but not on Rosh Hashanah

Allen Evans · 09-10-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attila the pun

I find it offensive that the Virginia division would schedule one of its biggest events of the year in direct conflict with one of the major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashana). Especially considering the high percentage of Jews that make of the population of the greater DC/Baltimore area. Does anyone know why they couldn't have picked a different weekend to hold this tournament.

You've perhaps not tried to rent a space for 200+ fencers in one of the most expensive counties in the United States.

Divisions don't usually get to "pick" spaces for tournaments of this size. These spaces are offered as a "take it or leave it" proposition. I know that looking for space for this tournament started LAST season. The space determined the date, I suspect.

While I'm not a member of the BoD of the Division, I am sorry you find the date offensive. However, considering that the Virginia Division hosts a number of large and well run events throughout the year that you should be able to attend, I find it odd that you would single out this one conflict for comment.

Allen

mytouch2003 · 09-10-2006, 04:09 PM

Hey, I am attempting to make the kick off tournament. Currently, my teammate and I are at Duke University and we were contemplating taking the train out of Durham. What is the nearest town to Annandale(?) so that we could possibly grab a Taxi? Thanks for the info and looking forward to fencing in the competition.