NAC-C, Colorado Springs

[Redblade]

Anything worth posting for this event?

[hello?]

There's a test for online registration for this tournament on the usfa website. That's encouraging. (I had faxed my entry the day before so I couldn't check it out.)

[AntonioDelMonte]

i'm going to wait until the run through a nac or two before i use the online feature just to be sure it is going to work the right way see you in Colorado

[telkanuru]

I would have tried it but I'm already registered.

See you in CO!

[counterattack]

I would have tried it but I'm already registered.

See you in CO!

I tried it. It worked smoothly so far. Welcome to the world of tomorrow!

[mfp]

I tried it. It worked smoothly so far. Welcome to the world of tomorrow!

Since the online system doesn't permit the consent, waiver of liability and emergency contact forms to be completed online, the less smooth part will come when fencers show up at 7am in a strange city and are asked for the forms they either never filled out or left behind. [And to produce a parent or legal guardian's signature in the case of minors]


The pluses include:

-- It's online

-- It doesn't look like it costs the fencer extra to register for a NAC online. At least currently.

-- The credit card verification occurs while the user waits. Fewer calls or emails will be needed to deal with payments compared to using paper forms filled out by lysdexics.

However I would hope the world of tomorrow would also include ...

-- Checks to make sure the fencer only registers for one individual event per day. For example, it appears currently to allow one to register for both D1ME and D1MF even though both are scheduled for the same day (and even the same time) at NAC-C.

-- A link or some other convenient way for the user to (like duh) actually view the consent and waiver of liability form *before* they're asked to pay.

-- Allow the user to optionally provide or update their emergency contact and insurance info online. Even if the USFA wants physical signatures on consent forms, do they really need handwritten contact and insurance info as well? (In many cases likely produced at the events themselves by fencers digging through pockets looking for phone numbers and Blue Cross/Shield/Crescent cards.)

[hello?]

Those are all good points. I wonder how they are planning to handle those issues. At least they are moving forward. And the link did say that it was a test...So I guess the point is to try to figure all these things out.

[silver2e]

Can anyone recommend or give info on what hotels might be near Broadmoor? Would like to be as close to venue as possible but can't stay in Broadmoor.

Thanks

[counterattack]

Can anyone recommend or give info on what hotels might be near Broadmoor? Would like to be as close to venue as possible but can't stay in Broadmoor.

Thanks

Yeah, I am with you. When I heard their turndown service didn't include a foot massage and that not every room has a maid's quarters, I knew it wasn't upscale enough for me either. I mean, if the hotel selected were not obscenely expensive then perhaps the unwashed masses might start to get notions in their heads about "fencing being for everyone not merely the silver spoon crowd" and other such nonsense. Perish the thought

Or did you mean that you hoped to spend less for one night in the hotel than for the airfare to get there?

[TooLoftheDeviL]

In case you're having as much trouble as I did navigating to the USFA website and around it, here's a direct link to the off-site web registration page for this event:

http://www.ersvp.com/r/nacc2008

[DangerMouse]

If anyone is interested, I have a room at the Doubletree downtown Dec 11-14 and would welcome a roommate.

[edew]

Yes, the Broadmoor is expensive. But maybe it's worth it to splurge a little once in your life.

[Peach]

Yes, the Broadmoor is expensive. But maybe it's worth it to splurge a little once in your life.

If it was a luxury resort in Anguilla, sure. It's the splurging four times a year in order to go to a city and not see any of it except the inside of the venue that's tough to take. I just finished paying off Limoges.

[teacup]

I tell my kids that they aren't going on these trips to be tourists, they're going to fence. It gets difficult for them to get the message when the venue hotels are the Broadmoor and Gaylord Resorts.

Now the Red Lion......they knew they weren't at a resort there. Unfortunately, I think it made them not want to fence either.

[oiuyt]

Yes, the Broadmoor is expensive. But maybe it's worth it to splurge a little once in your life.

From all the comments I was a bit worried (given that I'll have to pay for half of a night in the hotel). Then I checked THS:

Double:
$129.00

That's not insane. For a five star resort hotel I'm not complaining at all.

-B

*Notes that THS is sold out, that the Broadmore website indicates being sold out on Friday and Saturday nights, and that the standard rate for Thursday night is $230.*

[Soberin]

Can anyone recommend or give info on what hotels might be near Broadmoor? Would like to be as close to venue as possible but can't stay in Broadmoor.

Thanks

I think the USFA National Office has a few empty storage rooms and some hallways that will be available for overnight stay. You will have to bring your sleeping bag, and the heat is turned off at night of course. But the price is right.

[Nolano]

If you weren't joking, and I was going, I would be all over that.

[AndrewH]

I think the USFA National Office has a few empty storage rooms and some hallways that will be available for overnight stay. You will have to bring your sleeping bag, and the heat is turned off at night of course. But the price is right.

I always pictured the national office as a small room with a few cubicles, some ancient pentium II desktops, and a fax machine in one corner which spits out entry forms 24/7.

[Peach]

I always pictured the national office as a small room with a few cubicles, some ancient pentium II desktops, and a fax machine in one corner which spits out entry forms 24/7.

Although that has improved considerably in recent years, your vision is not all that far from the truth

[hello?]

From all the comments I was a bit worried (given that I'll have to pay for half of a night in the hotel). Then I checked THS:

Double:
$129.00

That's not insane. For a five star resort hotel I'm not complaining at all.

-B

*Notes that THS is sold out, that the Broadmore website indicates being sold out on Friday and Saturday nights, and that the standard rate for Thursday night is $230.*

The problem that I remember from the JOs that were held at the Broadmoor (aside from reportedly bad floors to fence on in the carpeted ballrooms) was that the restaurants in the hotel were super expensive -- and always crowded. And there's nothing within walking distance so if you want an alternative, you need to rent a car. So the costs mount.