NAC C - Pittsburgh, 2009

[teacup]

The day schedule for Pittsburgh has been posted.
http://fencing.teamusa.org/content/index/4265

[JEC]

Saturday of SAT fame...

NAC - B: JME and JWF
NAC - C: Div. I ME and Div. I WF

The junior kids that were affected at NAC-B now have the same dilemma for NAC-C. Why this is an issue? Because Div I points also count for Junior points.

[Greybeard]

I hope the wheelchair event happens. Yes, I just had another stroke

[fdad]

Saturday of SAT fame...

NAC - B: JME and JWF
NAC - C: Div. I ME and Div. I WF

The junior kids that were affected at NAC-B now have the same dilemma for NAC-C. Why this is an issue? Because Div I points also count for Junior points.

Amazing that they just don't get it, you would think they'd at least try to spread the pain. Frankly though, for 12th graders the December test date is less of an issue than the October and November dates. The upside to this is ME and WF fencers don't have to miss school.

[seak]

Reality check: How many JME and JWF fencers who have legitimate shots to make the team are Juniors in HS? Or even Seniors and Juniors in HS vs fencers in those categories who are already in college and hence wont have to miss class so close to finals?

[fdad]

Reality check: How many JME and JWF fencers who have legitimate shots to make the team are Juniors in HS? Or even Seniors and Juniors in HS vs fencers in those categories who are already in college and hence wont have to miss class so close to finals?

For WF? All of them are in HS. For both Senior and Junior Teams.

Senior: 5 of top 6 are in HS (#4 Willette is exception).
Junior: 9 of top 9 are in HS.

[seak]

For WF? All of them are in HS. For both Senior and Junior Teams.

True but I don't think Soph and Fresh are affected, which is why I said Juniors and Seniors. And it looks like several of the girls are younger then would be affected.

And for JME it's like zero.

(since I just bothered to go actually look at the points list).

Also how many Juniors take the SAT's in the fall (not trying to be sarcastic just curios if things have changed in the few years since I was seriously involved)?

My point is basically this really affects about 5 kids in hs, and probably benefits at least that many who are in college, and hence I think it's all much ado about nothing.

[Tomas N]

I really appreciate that the schedules are coming out this early. It makes planning for the event much easier.

For those of you who are flying in to Pittsburgh, I highly recommend using Priceline.com to book your hotel. My wife and I stay in downtown Pittsburgh about once a month. We always bid somewhere between $70 and 80 for a four star hotel in the downtown area. We always get one of two hotels, the Renaissance or the Omni William Penn. Both are within 10 minute walking distance of the convention center.

Tomas

[brtech]

There are several locals that hang around this forum, so if you have questions, ask. Pittsburgh is a very nice place; much better than most people who haven't been here think it is. The venue is great, right on one of our three rivers (plus a glacial flow).

You can walk around the city if you are staying at one of the close by hotels; no need for a car. Lots of food choices nearby, including the "Strip District" which is the produce district for the area, and has nice groceries, cheese shops, produce shops, bakeries, etc.

It can snow. It did the last time we had a NAC here. Very pretty, but made driving a bit difficult.

If you want to see some great museums, do not miss the Warhol and the Mattress Factory, as well as the Carnegie Museum. You can walk to the Warhol, but the others take a car or cab.

If you get a chance, take a trip on the "Duquesne Incline" up to the top of Mt. Washington, preferably at night.

[whtouche]

It can snow. It did the last time we had a NAC here. Very pretty, but made driving a bit difficult.

Understatement!

Last time there was a NAC in p-burgh it was smack in the middle of the most intense snow-storm of the year. We left at a reasonable hour from MA and got to our hotel something like 7 in the morning. For I don't know how many hours on the highway we were driving in the low-double-digits mph.

One of the more harrowing aspects of the trip was driving through a place which I think was called new Bethlehem, PA. New Bethlehem seemed to be comprised entirely of high, steep hills one after another, looking kindof like this /\/\/\/\ some of which, hilariously, had stop signs either at the top, or at the bottom. Out of necessity we disregarded these, and at one point two of us had to get out and push because we could not make it to the summit.

Then there's the point where when the highway GENTLY curved around to the right, and while attempting to follow this curve, the laws of physics said no way and we left the road briefly.

It was surprisingly easy to drive out of these ditch with two people pushing, altho I did fall down and almost get my head run over.

So yeah, I guess this isn't entirely about pittsburgh, and all in all it wasn't a horrible experience. I'm just hoping for different weather this time.

[Peach]

Yes, I wasn't going to say anything, but that was a blinding blizzard.

I like Pittsburgh. Biggest small town I've ever visited, and very pleasant.

[lindajdunn]

Pittsburgh is one of the reasons I decided to replace my 12-year-old car this year. I drove there last time (after some problems with my airline reservation) in a 1997 Saturn that really, really, really hated hills and by the time I arrived, I felt like I'd been stuck on a roller coaster for an hour.

[telkanuru]

Understatement!

Last time there was a NAC in p-burgh it was smack in the middle of the most intense snow-storm of the year. We left at a reasonable hour from MA and got to our hotel something like 7 in the morning. For I don't know how many hours on the highway we were driving in the low-double-digits mph.

One of the more harrowing aspects of the trip was driving through a place which I think was called new Bethlehem, PA. New Bethlehem seemed to be comprised entirely of high, steep hills one after another, looking kindof like this /\/\/\/\ some of which, hilariously, had stop signs either at the top, or at the bottom. Out of necessity we disregarded these, and at one point two of us had to get out and push because we could not make it to the summit.

Then there's the point where when the highway GENTLY curved around to the right, and while attempting to follow this curve, the laws of physics said no way and we left the road briefly.

It was surprisingly easy to drive out of these ditch with two people pushing, altho I did fall down and almost get my head run over.

So yeah, I guess this isn't entirely about pittsburgh, and all in all it wasn't a horrible experience. I'm just hoping for different weather this time.

In fairness, that car was a piece of crap.

We left at 6pm, got to our hotel at 5am, and I had 8am close of reg...

[bigdawg2121]

I also had the most harrowing flight I've ever had on my way into Pittsburgh. I have no clue why we have events there in the winter. It would rock for SN or an April NAC, and probably even be okay in Oct/early Nov though.

That being said the hotel attached to the venue is nice. The two major bar districts are pretty cool and conveniently located, and there's a Peppi's within blocks of the convention center, thus I approve.

[teacup]

I have no clue why we have events there in the winter. It would rock for SN or an April NAC, and probably even be okay in Oct/early Nov though.

The same reason events are booked in Denver in December and Atlanta, Miami, etc in the summer, the venues are probably cheaper.

[hello?]

So does THS still have something to do with this? No list of rooms for NAC C that I can see.

[teacup]

So does THS still have something to do with this? No list of rooms for NAC C that I can see.

Maybe they haven't received the go ahead from the USFA to make rooms available.

[fdad]

True but I don't think Soph and Fresh are affected, which is why I said Juniors and Seniors. And it looks like several of the girls are younger then would be affected.

Your argument seems to be based on the assumption that the only fencers served by NACs are the top 4/6/8 in each weapon. I disagree. However, even if that were true, while some of the kids are not 11th or 12 graders many are.

As has been pointed out in other threads on this topic, kids need to take subject tests when the subject is fresh in their minds. Fencers are typically very advanced academically. Many 10th graders have recently completed (in 9th grade) Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry, and History classes that prepared them to take the SAT II. Also, since the proposed NAC dates for next year also conflict with test dates, kids need to take the tests when they can.

Also how many Juniors take the SAT's in the fall (not trying to be sarcastic just curios if things have changed in the few years since I was seriously involved)?

As has been pointed out in other threads on this topic, kids need to take at least 3 SAT IIs and the SAT I, kids are expected to take them more than once. Many 10th and 11th graders are taking the tests in the fall. If kids want to take any of the laguage tests with listening, November is the only option.

My point is basically this really affects about 5 kids in hs, and probably benefits at least that many who are in college, and hence I think it's all much ado about nothing.

Again, you base this conclusion on your opinion of who should be going to NACs. Perhaps if you took a look at the birth years for fencers in previous NACs you'd realize that the majority of participants are HSers and are impacted.

Honestly, for my (12th grade) kid, November was the last realistic date to take a test that mattered. Once that issue is out of the way, getting to always fence on Saturday is a good thing - no missed school.

[seak]

Actually I based this conclusion on who NEEDS to be going to NAC's, and more specifically who NEEDS to go to both the Nov Junior and Dec Div 1 (which doesn't have a junior component) for team point reasons.

Unless you are in contention for the Junior team, going to all of the fall NAC's is a choice, as is when you take SAT's, SAT II's and other fencing competitions. I don't think having to choose 2-3/5 (or 4) NAC's during the Oct-Feb period is that much of a hardship, in order to take the tests. Also to be honest, I almost thinks its more of an issue that 2/3 Div 1's conflict with the start of many colleges final exam period.

[lindajdunn]

Maybe they haven't received the go ahead from the USFA to make rooms available.

I just reserved a room through THS.

The three choices are the Westin, the Omni, and the Marriott (I think that one's 4 miles away).