I am wrestling with the question of new foil fencers who are ready to get their electric equipment. They also want to get their own masks. I am pondering whether to advise them to wait, or just go ahead and buy regular masks. I am wondering how soon they are going to come back to me and say, "so now I have to buy another mask". Anybody have any inkling of how soon people will be required to use new masks in the US. Or how soon new masks will be available to purchase?
When talking about new masks, I'm gonna have to assume you mean the Lexan masks that the FIE just made mandatory.... I don't really think you should worry about it, if that's the case. Only the top, say, 100 fencers in the world really need to worry about it.
If you mean the bib becoming target, I believe their plan is to have some sort of cover or something for them so people won't need to buy new masks, but I'm not sure.
*** This post applies only to the bib becoming target in 09. Lexan masks are already available and only a handful of people will need them for 08***
Well, there are no specs yet released by the powers that be for the new masks/bibs, so if it does become the law of the land we don't know exactly what the new bib will look like. Best case (and I use that phrase loosely...) for getting the new masks to market soon would be that the whole lower bib is target and then you can just get the saber bottom for the LP Exchange masks. If it is something even a little different, and it probably will be just to keep things complicated, don't expect any new masks until well into 08. Maybe in time for 08 Sum Nats but even that would be stretching it for FIE approval and so forth. So, yeah my guess is that it will be much closer to 09 or the start of the 09-10 season for them to be required in the US. Maybe a bit sooner for international level fencers.
Just another lost soul saved by the (hit) First Church of EPEE!
Bona Na Croin. "Neither Collar nor Crown"
It's impossible to say anything until the USFA Board of Directors at least begins to discuss the matter. They have a meeting in February at JOs, and then another at Summer Nationals. Hopefully something will be at least on the table by then, but the situation is far too murky to make any plans based on it at the moment.
Thanks for your input. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I vote that since it's the powers that be who want the damn things, they can personally sew them on for each and every one of us. Shouldn't take more than 20 years, and it'll keep them too busy to think up any more cool new rules.Originally Posted by CvilleFencer
I rather like that plan. Of course, I don't think I would trust RR with my mask. It would come back blaze orange, lit up like an xmas tree and with a giant glass plate right where I like my mesh...
Just another lost soul saved by the (hit) First Church of EPEE!
Bona Na Croin. "Neither Collar nor Crown"
So what is going on with the bib as target in foil designs? Or is that another rule that was passed and people are just trying to forget about? Is it still supposed to go into effect in nine months?
I can't even begin to work on a design, we've no idea what they want, everyone's FIE masks are void next year!
I submitted something awesome for CRITT testing back in December, got the certification YESTERDAY!!! So with about a six week to ten week manufacturing lead time, this product will be ready in June. Six months! Everyone will be submitting at the same time if we all get the same info at the same time. I have a feeling this might get delayed or there are a few manufactures getting early design note, for the fencers' sake I kinda hope so.
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