Sabrage '08

[nyacfencing]

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Come One, Come All to the BIGGEST, BADDEST Saber Event of the Year!!!

SABRAGE '08

Registration

Only $15 Smackers

We’re trying to make up for you getting ripped-off by other clubs (you know who you are) all year round…

http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.p...nament_id=4128

Your $15 registration buys you:
• Entry into Sabrage
• Exclusive “back-door” access to the NYAC
• Free air-conditioning and Bloomberg brand water
• The obligation to assist in self-directing
• A really great prize if you happen to win
• All the food and wine we can afford to pay for Prizes Galore

Register and pay online ($15) via AskFRED by 11:59pm ET on March 26th, 2008. If you miss this deadline, you can register and pay at the door, but it will cost you an extra $10 clams (US Dept of Treasury approved cash only) so signup now! NO EXCUSES ACCEPTED – THIS MEANS YOU. IOU’s and MMOU’s (My Mom Owes You) are not legal tender.

http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.p...nament_id=4128

Special Offer!!!
Register and pay online by March 14th and get a free, one-of-a-kind I Love NY t-shirt!

Prizes

Mixed Champion:
• $100 gift certificate*
• Champions Cup
2nd – 8th: Cool medals (impress your friends!)
Top Cadet: Handshake from George Masin!

Ladies Champion: $50 Gift Certificate*

* All gift certificates redeemable for great sabre gear at Blade Fencing.

Smack-Down Prize!!!
Lay waste to former world champion Vassil Etropolski in a DE and win a $50 gift certificate*!!!

New Ladies Event

For only $5 extra, women can compete in our Ladies DE Table which will be seeded off the pool results from the mixed event. The final will take place in our 9th floor ballroom, and the champion will take home a $50 gift certificate*. You must register for and compete in the mixed event to compete in the ladies event (and be a woman).

Finals Exposition and Wine Schmoozing

Ready to party? The finals will take place in the NYAC’s beautiful 9th floor ballroom overlooking central park. All fencers, family and friends are invited to join us in watching the action while noshing on complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine (or soft drinks for the kiddies). All must be in appropriate attire to attend: collared shirt, slacks and dress shoes for men or equivalent for women. Jacket & tie are not required. No denim, shorts, gym shoes or t-shirts.

Date and Time

March 30th, 2008. All fencers must sign in by 11:00am.
“I am going to be late” phone calls will not be accepted in lieu of physical presence.

Location

New York Athletic Club – NE corner of 58th St and 7th Ave, under the green NYAC awning.

Additional Info

• This is a mixed event open to all USFA members (and FIE members for all you fence climbers).
• Format: One round of pools; 100% promotion to direct elimination without repêchage.
• This event is USFA/Metro sanctioned: ratings will be awarded where earned (as if you have a chance…).
• All events are self-direct! You will be expected to direct other bouts, and your bouts will be directed by other fencers.
• * All gift certificates good towards the awesome equipment available from our sponsor: Blade Fencing Supply

Questions

Email me at nyacfencing at gmail or call (sparingly) Jonathan Bartlett at 646-526-9691.

Sponsors

Blade Fencing. Buy the very best in saber equipment at http://www.blade-fencing.com.

Fencing Footage. Visit them at http://www.fencingfootage.com for all your saber training video needs.

American Fencing Idol. A reality prime-time tv show about a fencer who comes to Sabrage and gets beat down.

[nyacfencing]

Don't forget to register and complete online payment by this Friday to take advantage of your special offer: a free, one-of-a-kind I Love NY t-shirt!

You'll also have free access to watch the finals in our ballroom while shmoozing, sipping wine and enjoying our delicious hors d'oeuvres right over central park.

And for an entry fee of only $15!!! How can you beat that?

Signup today at http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.p...nament_id=4128

[nyacfencing]

You want a fantastic sabre event at a low low price? You got one!

SABRAGE '08 is THIS SUNDAY!!!
Wednesday is your very last chance to register online at the earth-shattering low price of only $15. After that, you'll be shelling out $10 extra clams at the door... we don't want your spare money, so signup today and stop forcing it on us!

http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.p...nament_id=4128

Please note that you must register AND complete only payment to avoid the late charge that we don't really want you to have to pay.

• Our ballroom finals, overlooking central park, will feature wine and snacks
• Enjoy our free cold air from our authentic 1929 air conditioner
• Drink our free and delicious water - specially certified by Mayor Bloomberg and the New York Department of Environmental Protection
• Enjoy all sorts of tasties including doughnuts, other doughnuts, and coffee
• Get a really great prize if you happen to win

Best of all, while you are taking part in all the above goodies, you can participate in our excellent saber fencing event!

We look forward to Sabrage being one hell of a great event... so don't miss out! Sign up today!

[seak]

And you couldn't have chosen a different weekend. sheeeesh and hey Cherry Blossom has refs! (granted it also costs a lot more)

[nyacfencing]

And you couldn't have chosen a different weekend. sheeeesh and hey Cherry Blossom has refs! (granted it also costs a lot more)

Actually, we chose the date at the beginning of the season. The Cherry Blossom was not scheduled until many months later, so they should be the ones this is directed at.

Additionally, we offer the following which the Cherry Blossom doesn't:

- A midtown Manhattan location
- Free doughnuts and coffee in the morning
- Free t-shirts to everybody who pre-registered by the deadline
- Finals in a ballroom overlooking central park
- Free food and wine during the finals
- A larger and stronger field
- A $15 price tag

As for refs, we haven't had any issues running the Mercury Cup this year without them, and I think that the above list well tilts the balance.

I look forward to seeing everybody on Sunday!!!

[seak]

eh, I was just joshing you, trying to avoid conflicts in one section and 3 states is quite enough, and hey foil and epee fencers might disagree on the stronger field thing

The date for Cherry Blossom was actually set in August/September it just wasn't on Fred till later. Also, this was actually the only weekend it could happen at anywhere near the month of April.

If it wasn't a 7 hour drive from NC, I'd like to check it out one of these days, although some people might view the midtown location as a downside, given the whole parking situation

[Coldfire]

I can't wait. Its definitely an event worth going to given the strength of the fencing and the low entry fee.

John, are you actually going to try the sabrage thing where you open a bottle of wine with a sabre?

[Peach]

I'm in between geographically, but chose to go to the Cherry Blossom because REAL REFS!!!! With self-refereed events, I usually end up reffing all the time I'm not fencing, and I'm tired of it.

However, Sabrage sounds otherwise wonderful and I recommend it.

[nyacfencing]

I can't wait. Its definitely an event worth going to given the strength of the fencing and the low entry fee.

John, are you actually going to try the sabrage thing where you open a bottle of wine with a sabre?

All year long I've been vowing to practice so that I could do it during the finals... unfortunately, given general space issues in Manhattan, there really isn't anywhere to practice. I think my girlie would kill me if she came home and our whole floor was sticky from champagne. Also, since epee is my first weapon, I have an out.

If anybody out there is skilled at the fine art of Sabrage, please let me know!

[nyacfencing]

I'm in between geographically, but chose to go to the Cherry Blossom because REAL REFS!!!! With self-refereed events, I usually end up reffing all the time I'm not fencing, and I'm tired of it.

However, Sabrage sounds otherwise wonderful and I recommend it.

I totally understand Peach. I know the reffing can be a pain occasionally. We've been doing it with our epee events since... well... ever. It is the only reason we haven't really had saber events until this season. When I suggested self-directing for sabre, everybody told me I was nuts. However it has worked out rather well so far... no major issues. In fact, we had two epee reffing "incidents" this year (both during our new C&Under Caduceus Cup), but none in sabre :-)

We do the self-directing for a few reasons. The experience is tremendously valuable for the younger fencers, and it drastically reduces the expenses... and therefore the prices (and allows us to offer other stuff like food, t-shirts, prizes, and other goodies). I am extremely focused on keeping entry fees down to ensure everybody can comfortably attend. Lastly, it reduces the planning and management workload by about 99%.

Luckily we've had some great fencers attending our events, and I'm glad to say all has gone well. I look forward to seeing you at some of our events next season. Have fun at the Cherry Blossom, which I am sure will be excellent.

Everybody else... I'll see you on Sunday.

[nyacfencing]

Congratulations to Sergey Isayenko of Manhattan FC and Aziza Hassan of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, our Sabrage Champions!

The ballroom finals saw five Westbrook Foundation fencers make the semi-finals in the two events.

In the mixed event, Sergey won over Marty Williams Jr. (PWF) and Konate Primus (PWF) won over teammate Carlton Henry (PWF) in the semi-finals. In the final, the sparks flew as Sergey won the day with an exciting victory.

The ladies final saw Aziza win over teammate Kamali Thompson (PWF), and Stephanie Aiuto (Manhattan FC) win over Sarah Pak (Island FA) in the semi-finals. The final saw Aziza take the title over Stephanie.

An extra congratulations to Sergey Isayenko who also captured the Merrcury Cup title for the season, becoming our first Mercury Cup sabre champion.

A few extra congrats...
-Stephanie Aiuto who made the final 8 in both the mixed (6th) and ladies (2nd) events.
-Konate Primus won our smack-down prize by defeating Thomas Kolasa (FA South Jersey) in DE's.

http://askfred.net/Results/results.p...nament_id=4128

Thanks to all our competitors for making this a great event. We look forward to seeing you next season!