2008 Summer Nationals

[mgriff]

No, just offering those that don't read their confirmation material another opportunity to confirm and check. Obviously if everyone checked their confirmation materials and emailed the USFA about any errors there wouldn't be any corrections the day of the event only allowances for no shows.

Also even if an error is reported to the USFA, there is no additional confirmation that the change reached the bout committee.

Happy was the one that suggested that initial seedings be posted which is not necessarily a bad idea or impossible, especially if it helps the process for the bout committee.

mgriff disagrees and that is fine too but the suggestion is valid.

For example, I have emailed beforehand and then confirmed again at registration if one of my kids withdraws, and yet their name is still announced after close of check in. If the initial seeding were posted a week those that have withdrawn can again notify the USFA to be removed from the list of fencers.

It's not so much that I disagree that it might be helpful to have seeding lists posted online--it's more a matter of its current practicality. The national office staff has a lot more to do to prepare for national tournaments than continually update online seeding information, and most of us who work bout committee have day jobs, too. The current process strikes a (mostly) workable balance. Someday . . .

No matter what process we use, there will still inevitably be typos or transcription errors or other mistakes, which is why we post and ask people to check the lists before the event closes.

At the close of check-in, we often end up calling people who've already withdrawn. Usually, the people at check-in use different color cards for W/Ds and no-shows, but sometimes they don't and sometimes we just don't notice the difference and call them all. If there's some confusion over whether someone's withdrawn or not, we'd rather err on the side of caution and call them, just in case. If they're not fencing, we'll have verified that they're withdrawn; if the W/D is a mistake, we'll have avoided possibly having to recall pools to redo them.

(We'll also call people who have already checked in, if the marks on the check-in sheet are ambiguous--which is why you should always listen to the calls, even if you know you've checked in. We'd rather have someone have to check in twice than withdraw them when they shouldn't have been withdrawn--again, working to avoid the dreaded pool do-overs.)

Mary

[happy]

PLEASE have one of the following out and ready for the person checking in: Confirmation Letter, Drivers license, School ID, etc. If you don't have your Confirmation Letter with you, something with your picture and name will work, however if something went wonky and your confirmation letter is right and the information the tournament has is wrong, you will be sorry you didn't bring your confirmation letter.

So if you come up with only the USFA card that will not be sufficient for check-in?

I realize the letter is very clear that it is required - I only ask because for the past year or so we've checked in to NACs with only a USFA card (letter left in the hotel, lost in a bag somewhere, etc.) which may result in a nasty habit of leaving the confirmation letter at home if not corrected... Either way, we'll bring the letter to be safe, I'm just curious.

[mgriff]

So if you come up with only the USFA card that will not be sufficient for check-in?

I realize the letter is very clear that it is required - I only ask because for the past year or so we've checked in to NACs with only a USFA card (letter left in the hotel, lost in a bag somewhere, etc.) which may result in a nasty habit of leaving the confirmation letter at home if not corrected... Either way, we'll bring the letter to be safe, I'm just curious.

From the confirmation materials ("Athlete Packet" on the USFA website):

The athlete must show a Confirmation Letter, a current USFA Membership Card, or an ID when checking in for each event at the USFA Check In booth (any of these three documents will be accepted at Check In).

I think I might have mentioned before that most of the answers are there.<g>

Mary

[fencer92]

Off the current subject, but is there any thought to whether the current wildfires will impact Summer Nationals? I can't imagine that it will improve air quality.

Thanks!

[KD5MDK]

All uniforms will be inspected for their flame-retardant properties by Ralph Nader before the fencer will be allowed on strip in case of spontaneous combustion by their coach.

[Phincer]

I'm looking at the option of shipping some items home versus paying the airline an additional $25.00. Will there be anyplace within walking distance of the venue that can box and ship items?

Before you go to CA, take the size package or case you think you want shipped home to the Post Office, a UPS office or some other place like that. Then see how much it would cost to ship home from CA. To ship a standard weapons bag was well over the $$$ the airline is charging.

A small box of stuff is one thing, but a weapons bag or suitcase most likely will be cheaper to take on the plane.

[stillchris]

There is a UPS store at 88 S Third street. 4-5 blocks from venue. Probably others around also. I am arriving via motorcycle so will be shipping both ways. Makes for a pleasant trip.

--still chris

[mgriff]

Off the current subject, but is there any thought to whether the current wildfires will impact Summer Nationals? I can't imagine that it will improve air quality.

Thanks!

Air quality here in Sacramento has been pretty bad this week, though we've finally got a bit of the sea breeze thinning out the smoke some today. (We've been between "unhealthy for sensitive persons" and "unhealthy for everyone" on the air quality scale.) Here's what the San Jose Mercury News had to say yesterday:

Bay Area residents should avoid outdoor morning exercise and set air conditioning units to recirculate to avoid exposure to smoke from Northern California wildfires, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District warned today.

Fires near Napa and Fairfield are producing smoke that is sullying Bay Area air.

Older people, children and individuals with heart or lung problems are particularly susceptible to smoke, which can irritate the eyes and cause coughing or a scratchy throat.

District officials expect that strong off-shore winds this afternoon will help disperse the smoke in the Bay Area.

(from the San Jose Mercury News, 6/24/08)

Mostly, the air quality will depend on those off-shore breezes.

At least fencing is an indoor sport.

Mary

[brtech]

I don't yet understand the rules. The general charge for an extra bag is $25.
An oversized bag is $100.
They specifically call out golf bags; they are $25.

What is a fencing bag?

Anyone flown with a fencing bag on, say, United since the charges were applied? Did you pay $25 or $100?

Those with hard golf cases may have an advantage

[edew]

Off the current subject, but is there any thought to whether the current wildfires will impact Summer Nationals? I can't imagine that it will improve air quality.

Thanks!

It should be all right for most people who've joined f.net for a long time. Those with about 20 or so posts would feel the heavy haze of the wildfires and would not be able to fence at their optimal best.

[Shi no Tenshi]

I don't yet understand the rules. The general charge for an extra bag is $25.
An oversized bag is $100.
They specifically call out golf bags; they are $25.

What is a fencing bag?

Anyone flown with a fencing bag on, say, United since the charges were applied? Did you pay $25 or $100?

Those with hard golf cases may have an advantage

If you are taking a suitcase and a fencing bag, it is actually $125. The fencing bag is oversized; in fact, golf cases are as well. The hard case I have is well over the 62 linear inch max, as it is approximately 76-78 linear inches(W+H+D). They charge the $100 for the oversize, and the $25 for an extra bag on you. Woe to you if it is your second bag and it weighs more than 50 lbs.....as then you tack on an extra $100 for that as well, bringing you to at least $200.

I shipped mine via UPS with insurance of over $1000 on the bag for $60. Costs too much in my opinion, but less than flying with it.

[lindajdunn]

There is a UPS store at 88 S Third street. 4-5 blocks from venue. Probably others around also. I am arriving via motorcycle so will be shipping both ways. Makes for a pleasant trip.

--still chris

Thanks. I'll be there 5 days so I'm planning to ship home the laundry and fill the fencing bag with the new jacket, etc. that I'm planning to buy while at the SN. I suspect this will be a small box, based on last year's trip and my current shopping list.

I'm flying American Airlines and purchased my tickets before the cut-off date. Their web site says:

Checked baggage which is larger than 62 in/157 cm will be charged at the rate of $150 per piece.

I note that I will be WEARING my fencing whites and carrying my mask, body cords, etc. in carry-on luggage.

I saw nothing about an exemption for golf bags.

[brtech]

Here is the United policy
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50773,00.html

You will note that a standard sized hardcase golf bag weighing less than 50 lbs will be considered a "Checked Bag Equivalent". You will also note that they have several other sporting equipment selections that are treated the same, but not a fencing bag. Now, to be sure, the requirements are really that its one set of clubs in a golf bag, which is not the same thing as a golf bag with fencing equipment in it.

I think I would be inclined to take a golf hardcase (we have an SKB, but the fencing daughter that is going normally uses a jumbo rolling case).

Keep the 50 lb weight limit in mind; I have had them be VERY picky about that in the past. I'm traveling with my armory tools, and I carefully weigh before I fly.

[KD5MDK]

Also note I had my test weight rejected in my carryon at LAX, so you probably can't carry that on to save weight in the weighed luggage.

[SJCFU#2]

Also note I had my test weight rejected in my carryon at LAX, so you probably can't carry that on to save weight in the weighed luggage.

Out of curiosity, why was it rejected?

[Peach]

You could bean a flight attendant with it

[brtech]

Actually, that's pretty close to what they told me. One day I asked a TSA supervisor if I would be allowed to take one on, and the told me that it would be considered a weapon and they would not allow me to take in on.

I'd love to see how they word the rule that defines it.

[SJCFU#2]

You could bean a flight attendant with it

Perhaps, but I have to wonder if a solid teflon rod roughly three inches in diameter and six inches long would have ellicited the same response.

[Peach]

Having just run the airline security gantlet a couple of times in the last week (had to go to Canada for a conference), I'd say pretty darn near any object of any description would elicit the same response -- including a small metal disk with a piece of fabric attached to it. FYI: If you win a medal at Summer Nationals, take it out of your carry-on and put it in a bin by itself. That particular X-ray shadow is GUARANTEED to alert the TSA people.

[KD5MDK]

Did they show you what it looked like?

New challenge for Fencers: Does earning bottom tier elite status on an airline (usually takes 30 flight segments or 25k miles) save enough in baggage fees to be worth concentrating all those flights on one airline?