Gearing for my First Tournament!

[Thud13]

Our fencing club has finally decided to enter some tournaments as a cohesive unit- although half of us are rather inexperienced the coach feels it would be a good experience for us to enter some to get a feel for "real" fencing bouts.

He recommended that we purchase our own gear- my problem is that I've already purchased gear, and I am wondering if it is usable at the tournaments!

My questions are:


A) What is "FIE" approved gear? I own a "Silver/Blue" Tripplette 252 Front Close Jacket (550 Newtons), a Fencing.net "Standard" fencing mask (http://shop.fencing.net/product_p/fdn-66500.htm), and a Blade Non-FIE foil.

Can I bring this gear to a fencing tournament? How about a USFA tournament?

B) I believe that my silver/blue jacket is legal- however, do I need silver/blue knickers to match? Or can I just purchase a plain white knicker?

C) Any special rules or recommendations for my own Lame / Body Cord?



Thank you very much!

[SJCFU#2]

FIE gear is tested to certain standards (800N for fabrics) and the manufacturer should have a certificate documenting that the item passed these tests. It is not required for USFA tournaments. So long as your existing jacket is in good condition (i.e. no holes) it should be fine.

Plain white knickers are fine.

You lame must fully cover target area when standing, in the on guard position, and lunging, and be in good, working condition (i.e. no holes or straps or buckles which could catch an opponents point, and maximum resistance between any two points not exceeding 5 ohms, although resistance may not be checked at a local tournament). Names are usually not required on the backs of lames (or on the back leg of the knickers) for local events.

You will also need two working body cords and weapons (if they are checking lames then they will probably also be checking body cords - maximum allowable resistance in any single line is 1 ohm from one end to the other).

Don't forget to wear an underarm protector as well - its' not only a good idea, it's required.

Finally, if you haven't already done so then you may also want to look at Purple Fencer's guide to first tournaments (look at the bottom of any of his postings for a link).

[Atreus]

I was in your position couple of months ago... I have 1 tournament now in my "career" heheh. Local tournaments are kinda "loose" on enforcing any equipment rules. Pretty much anything you bring will likely go.

You are going to a local tournament right? Whatever you describe should be ok. Get a plastron (underarm protector) it is required in USFA and it helps.

FIE stamped is the gear you will be required to have for international competitions. It is generally well made and much safer they have reuiremnts of 800N and 1600N on the mask bib. Many ppl recomended to get at least an FIE mask. I did get the LP one. It is expensie but you only get 1 head.

Does your club have weapons to spare? I brought 2 of mine and broke the tip off my main one in teh DE bout. You should have back-up. At least 2 weapons and 2 body cords.

Get knickers they are more confortable to fence in than sport pants.

Tournaments are not like club bouting you will get hit harder and with intensity. Blades will break. In conclusion, requirements are loose but you should feel safe in thh gear your bring.

[Atreus]

Also read this thread it is the one I made before I bought any equipment. I got a lot of good info from the ppl on this forum

Competition Equipment for Beginer

What I bought was:

- LP FIE Mask
- FDN Uniform (jacket, pants, plastron) + Glove + Socks
- LP Untralight Lame
- 2 Foils, 1 LP Etoile, 1 STM + 2 body cords

It was not the cheapest but it is quality stuff and it seems that it will last awile.

[SJCFU#2]

IIn my tournament ppl were fencing with jeans and stuff.

I'd consider that a mistake on the part of the tournament organizers (not that I haven't heard worse).

I'm not just being nit-picky - it's a safety issue (similar to requiring underarm protectors). Jeans generally don't come high enough above the waist to provide anywhere near the required 10 cm overlap between the bottom of the jacket and the top of the pants.

[Purple Fencer]

Finally, if you haven't already done so then you may also want to look at Purple Fencer's guide to first tournaments (look at the bottom of any of his postings for a link).

You mean like this one??


heh

[EdGardner]

While preparing for my upcoming first tournament, I almost forgot long socks, so, keep that in mind. And the Purple Fencer's pdf guide is a very good read.

[swordwench]

If you're female, a chest protector is required. (And if you're male, it's not a bad idea, either - don't let others bully you about wearing a man plate.)

[Atreus]

If you're female, a chest protector is required. (And if you're male, it's not a bad idea, either - don't let others bully you about wearing a man plate.)

we call it a man bra... it is embarasing to wear it... unless you have man boobs... then you will have to tuck those in in your man bra for the sake of all the children arouond

[TBean]

Even on the local level make sure your equipment is in good working order and that they will pass weight etc. etc. At least two weapons, although I go to most tournaments with six working weapons. If there are a lot of you going and you have weapons issues you will probably be able to borrow some.

[EdGardner]

Quick question re: the competition gear thread: Are Absolute Fencing electric foils still not recommended?

[HDG]

Local tournaments are kinda "loose" on enforcing any equipment rules. Pretty much anything you bring will likely go.

I would be careful about making these kinds of generalizations.

[pokey]

Even on the local level make sure your equipment is in good working order and that they will pass weight etc. etc. At least two weapons, although I go to most tournaments with six working weapons. If there are a lot of you going and you have weapons issues you will probably be able to borrow some.

Can't stress this enough. Test your gear the night before to make sure it's in working order (e.g. barrels tight, tips pass weight test, grips secure). It's off-putting to start a bout off with a yellow card for a failed weapon, and the relative chaos of tournament day is not a good time to tinker with the tiny tip screws and springs if you can avoid it.

[KD5MDK]

I was in your position couple of months ago... I have 1 tournament now in my "career" heheh. Local tournaments are kinda "loose" on enforcing any equipment rules. Pretty much anything you bring will likely go.

Not in my area, at least.

[Atreus]

I would be careful about making these kinds of generalizations.

well, i was carefull, I used words like "kinda", "pretty much" and "likely". I guess it is different from place to place. However what I have seen and what I have read (here) it is not uncommon.

About the foils. Makes sure If you buy more than 1 they have the same point (german, french, lp). Also from the advice ppl gave me I gathered french points are the worst. I got LP ones and got some tools and yesterday I sucesfully fixed my tip by myself.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Thud: Where are you and what kind of tournament is it?

Non-knickers MIGHT be allowed in a USFA novice in New England, but not really any other tournament. (and that's less and less likely).


Based on this "Can I bring this gear to a fencing tournament? How about a USFA tournament?"

I assume you might be on a college or high school team? Sometimes college/high school meets have relaxed rules (like not requiring knickers), but sometimes they're more likely to do things like punch test masks.

In any case, if you're in the US, you don't need FIE gear to compete, the things you have aren't FIE (FIE things are safer and more expensive, and required for most international competition).

Your gear doesn't need to match, although it looks spiffy when it does.

Have more that one body cord.

Other than that, read the guide.

[parrythis]

(And if you're male, it's not a bad idea, either - don't let others bully you about wearing a man plate.)

And if you're male, don't forget the athletic cup. "The boys" are valid target in foil.

[swordwench]

And if you're male, don't forget the athletic cup. "The boys" are valid target in foil.

Heh - they might not be valid target in sabre, but that doesn't mean I didn't swat the bejesus out of a kid last week. Cups cups cups - all 3 weapons, dry and electric alike.

[pokey]

Heh - they might not be valid target in sabre, but that doesn't mean I didn't swat the bejesus out of a kid last week. Cups cups cups - all 3 weapons, dry and electric alike.

You swatted a kid in the jewels with a sabre? During fencing?

I'm trying to mentally think of the action that even led to that.

[oiuyt]

You swatted a kid in the jewels with a sabre? During fencing? :eek:

I'm trying to mentally think of the action that even led to that. :huh:

Lot easier to imagine it happening during fencing than any OTHER time....

-B