Fencing at high altitude

[hello?]

I fence for three days in a row at the upcoming Colorado Springs NAC -- and cannot get there weeks in advance to get used to the high altitude! Any advice on how to get ready, other than just a lot of cardio?

[Allen Evans]

High altitude adaptation is pretty difficult without a lot of specialized equipment -- or a corresponding high altitude to train at. Good cardio-vascular shape is probably your only option, but here are some other thoughts.

Remember, most everyone else is going to be just as disadvantaged as you are.

Allen Evans

[HDG]

Fence on the back of a sherpa.

[Redblade]

Good ol' fashioned clothespin clipped to your nose will simulate breathing difficulty.

[wwalkerjr]

Seriously, do people here really go aerobic on the strip? Isn't there recovery after every touch, going back to the en guarde line? And between bouts?

It seems to me that if you are in good enough shape to handle a tournament, you should be fine at altitude. It may just take a little longer to recover between bouts.

Saber and foil phrases only last about 20 seconds.....tops. Epee might be an issue; bouncing for a couple of minutes between touches.

[Soberin]

Seriously, do people here really go aerobic on the strip? Isn't there recovery after every touch, going back to the en guarde line? And between bouts?

It seems to me that if you are in good enough shape to handle a tournament, you should be fine at altitude. It may just take a little longer to recover between bouts.

Saber and foil phrases only last about 20 seconds.....tops. Epee might be an issue; bouncing for a couple of minutes between touches.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Suddenly going to altitude from sea level is multifactorial physiological insult to a person's entire system. It is really too bad that we have two national events at altitude. The suggestions in the link above are quite good, but in no way will compensate for the athlete who does not have a number of days to acclimatize. Ideally, a week would do well.

[veeco]

Everybody is going to be affected the same way. It's note like the last NAC in Colorado Springs a bunch of local fencers took gold over the usual suspects? Or am I mistaken?