"C-Sports" <csports@epconline.com> wrote in news:YuidnWmuja9
_kDmjXTWcpQ@accessus.net:
> What Epee's equipment is needed for the nationals in Austin in July?
> Jacket Fie? Kevlar?
> Mask?
> PantsFie?
I'm sure the epeeists on the group will have useful recommendations
here. As a sabrist (and occasional foilist) my ordinary non-FIE jacket
and knickers have done just fine. (Plus the underarm protector - don't
forget that). OTOH, I get to wear a lame over that, so maybe if you
only have one or two layers between tender flesh and oncoming epee
blade, there are finer distinctions to be made.
> How many blades are recomended?
The last Nationals (where I fenced foil in addition to sabre) I had
three complete working sabres and four complete working foils, along
with two replacement sabre blades. I felt comfortable with that. Since
sabres are easy to fix (just replace the blade) I would have felt fine
with the minimum required two sabres. Foils (like epees, I would
imagine) are tricky nasty fiddly beasts with moving parts and fiddly
wires that break at inconvenient moments, and I don't think I saw any
serious foilists with only two weapons. I know that I had to get two
of my foils fixed at the venue over the course of the event.
> How many body cords?
You can never have too many body cords! Mwahahaha! (Sorry, I don't
know what brought that on.) Seriously, I have about six, of which four
or five are usually ones that I'm confident actually work at any given
time. I generally end up saving up my dud body cords until Nationals
when I can get Ye Olde Armorer to fix them on site (along with tuning
up my weapons). I would suggest that "two" is a rather optimistic
number, particularly if you are fencing in more than one event. Three
is probably OK. Also, you will be able to buy them there.
Huh. I realized that I actually don't *know* how many body cords I
have. It would be nice if they followed the clotheshanger principle
and reproduced while nicely snuggled up in their pocket of my fencing
bag, but alas, if anything, they have internecine fights - that's the
only way I can explain how a body cord can work going *in* to the
pocket but be faulty coming *out* of it.
> What else would you recommend that a person would need?
Bring whatever sports drink you are accustomed to drinking at
tournaments/practice. Even if that's just Gatorade. There is NO
guarantee that the venue will have anything remotely palatable, even
Gatorade, and the last thing you want to do, in the most important
event of the year, is suddenly switch to a totally different sports
drink. Hello, stomach upset! I learned this first hand at a NAC where
the only sports drink was a nasty *carbonated* confection. Ugh ugh
ugh. The next event, I packed a sixpack of 8oz Gatorades of the flavor
I liked best, and was much happier. After that, I switched to a sports
drink that came in a powder, and I just packed baggies of it - less
weight.
I also suggest that you pack at least some snacks from home that you
will be happy to eat during the tournament. Hydration and nutrition
are really very important, though I see a lot of fencers (especially
younger ones) who are really casual about it. Personally, I run into
the problem that a) during the long waits between pools and DEs I
*need* to eat, and b) I'm generally keyed up enough that I don't
*want* to eat anything. So I make sure to bring something that I know
I will actually eat, which for me is chocolate Power Bars. (Yum.) If
the venue has something good and healthy as well, like some decent
muffins, great, but I don't rely on it.
Long socks - even if your local tournaments are lax about the socks
rule, the Nationals referees aren't. Get in the habit of fencing
wearing full knickers and socks well before Nationals, if you aren't
already.
A warmup jacket and (preferably) sweats or warmup pants. The air
conditioning is *great* for while you're competing, but you can get
really chilled when you stop between pools or DEs. This affects some
people more than others - I see some people strip all the way down to
their soaked t-shirts, while I stay buttoned up tight, not even
unzipping my lame, and put my warmup jacket on over it. But I
recommend erring in the direction of being warm.
This may be a personal quirk, but I like having two underarm
protectors. They really do get soaked, and I appreciate being able to
fully air one of them out while I fence the next day.
> What shoes do you use?
Use whatever shoes you are used to using during tournaments and
practice. Nationals is NOT the place to test out a different shoe -
you want to have as many of the variables as possible to be the same
as at home. OTOH, Nationals is a great place to try out new
equipment... during your down time, to purchase and bring home and
wear at home.
Well, that really only goes for equipment that's going to affect how
you move, or if you're not prepared for the change. A new jacket,
lame, or mask is probably not going to affect you except positively
(assuming you got a good fit), while I would not use a new glove or
shoe.
Oh, and before you go, use a permanent black marker and write your
name on EVERY piece of equipment - in a clearly visible spot, not
hidden away somewhere. I mean EVERY piece, from glove to shoes and
including all your weapons (inside the bell) and body cords (initials
across the base of the plug). I have found fencers to be extremely
honest, but the fact of the matter is that, well, all our stuff tends
to look the same. It's way too easy to accidentally pick up that mask
or blade that looks just like yours, and not realize it until later.
If you have your name on it, you'll get it back - as I have on a
number of occasions - and you'll realize quickly if you're about to
walk off with somebody else's stuff.
--Holly
<g>
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