Did you hear Becca won the Grand Prix????

[fencing freakster]

Rebecca Ward makes history again...a demure 17 year old kicks BUTT at the Grand Prix in Vegas annihilating Kim (Korea) 15-4 in the semi's and winning gold by defeating Tan Xue in the finals 15-7. Go Bex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HDG]

Did you hear that there's a whole thread (a sticky even) about Las Vegas?

[fencing freakster]

Yes I did!!!! But I am such a fan of Rebecca Ward that I had to announce it again!!!!!!! Bravo Bex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FF
aka fencing fanactic fan of Rebecca Ward!

[MyrddinsPrecint]

............ well you're coming off as a little creepy....................

[KD5MDK]

Rebecca Ward makes history again...a demure 17 year old kicks BUTT at the Grand Prix in Vegas annihilating Kim (Korea) 15-4 in the semi's and winning gold by defeating Tan Xue in the finals 15-7. Go Bex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winning the same even again isn't as history making, it's expected.

But yes, I had heard a faint shriek from the northwest last night. I'd thought it was the neighbors having a party.

[Mo]

Winning the same even again isn't as history making, it's expected.

But yes, I had heard a faint shriek from the northwest last night. I'd thought it was the neighbors having a party.

Actually, this is Ms Ward's first Grand Prix victory. Last year she did really well in the team competition but Ms Zagunis won the individual event.

Winning should never be expected. It is always an amazing thing. Remember just like football, any given Sunday.

The Momster

[KD5MDK]

My bad.

[Mo]

My bad.

Yes, but not overly bad. Your heart seems in the right place and that is what counts.

It is kind of sad that winning has a bad effect on the fencer's accomplishments. If they win, well of course they are supposed to win, yeah yeah big deal so what else is new? If they lose, well they obviously had luck and the real fencer in there is not so hot.

It is a lose, lose situation. Kind of sad actually.

The Momster

[introspective]

Rebecca Ward makes history again...a demure 17 year old kicks BUTT at the Grand Prix in Vegas annihilating Kim (Korea) 15-4 in the semi's and winning gold by defeating Tan Xue in the finals 15-7. Go Bex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have a lot of spirit for the sport. Thank you for posting, I would have missed it in all the verbage elsewhere. [ack! and get ready to defend - foils up]

[KD5MDK]

Yes, but not overly bad. Your heart seems in the right place and that is what counts.

It is kind of sad that winning has a bad effect on the fencer's accomplishments. If they win, well of course they are supposed to win, yeah yeah big deal so what else is new? If they lose, well they obviously had luck and the real fencer in there is not so hot.

It is a lose, lose situation. Kind of sad actually.

The Momster

Medals still matter. So it's at worst a Win/Lose situation.

[Mo]

Medals still matter. So it's at worst a Win/Lose situation.

Ok, I can go for that!
Momster

[Dee EffEll]

Ok, I can go for that!
Momster

Note that there is a motion to the USFA board to reduce the number of medals awarded at national events. Apparently, someone feels that awarding to the top-8 dilutes the value of the traditional top 3 podium spots. And it is a way for the USFA to save money - fewer medals.

The Y-10,12 etc events will keep medals to the top 8. The rationale is unclear to me, and I'd be speculating if I ventured a guess.

[fencerwallet]

Note that there is a motion to the USFA board to reduce the number of medals awarded at national events. Apparently, someone feels that awarding to the top-8 dilutes the value of the traditional top 3 podium spots. And it is a way for the USFA to save money - fewer medals.

The Y-10,12 etc events will keep medals to the top 8. The rationale is unclear to me, and I'd be speculating if I ventured a guess.

I don't believe in the AYSO or other sports doling out "show up" trophies. It is useless hardware. I have been a staunch advocate of ending that practice in my son's baseball league, only to be overruled by those who want to insure each player has a "feel good" moment, since apparently playing the sport for the sheer enjoyment of it is no longer enough for some kids. Gold, Silver, Bronze. I got that. 1,2,3. What the heck is 6th place, anyway, zinc? "Here is my 8th place medal. 8th place is aluminum, and I can do origami with it". I believe I am a hard sell on extraneous award-giving.

That said, I will shock by saying, if you travel across the country to qualify and to fence at Nationals, take off of work, spend $400-500 on a plane ticket and $150 or so per night on a Miami hotel, spend 8 hours fencing among a field of 156 fencers (like Div II foil) or 189 fencers (like Y12 foil), then hey, you deserve a medal if you make it to the quarterfinals and finished 8th. Nationals has 89 events, with 4 extra medals per event (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th), so 356 medals saved, at, what, 3 bucks a piece? That's all of $1068. Add 10 cents to the per event fees and keep the medals.

[fencerwallet]

...the traditional top 3 podium spots.

On another front, without the Proprint podiums, does anyone know if the new sponsor, or anyone else, is stepping up so that there even are "podium spots" this year?

[Mo]

On another front, without the Proprint podiums, does anyone know if the new sponsor, or anyone else, is stepping up so that there even are "podium spots" this year?

At the NAC in Tuscon, the event was sponsored by Adidas. The Winners of the events got an Adidas Jacket and the podium had an Adidas sign on it. It would be nice if they did it again.

If the LOC went back to selling the t-shirts and finding prizes that would not be so bad either.

Now since Leon Paul has joined forces with the USFA in supplying clothing for the international fencers, perhaps they will be donating more prizes and having more visibility at the NAC events.

The Momster

[KD5MDK]

All finalists will receive a Contour-Fit baseball cap.

[Aussie_Fencer]

............ well you're coming off as a little creepy....................

You should have gathered that from the name.