Contour Fit Mask, F.I.E. approved with 1600 newton bib

*First off, a bit of translation. In Canadianism, "Not bad!" = "Very good indeed!" in English.



First off, the faults of the X-Change sabre mask:

1. The sides are too narrow. OK, OK, I have a big head. My hat size is 7-7/8. So a small part of my head sticks out the back. This leads to problem 2:

2. In order for me to get my big head all the way in in the mask to get the most protection I have to really tighten the strap. As a result the Contour-fit system is too fidgety. It takes a bit of time to get it to fit properly.

3. In order to get as much of the back of my head in the mask, I found that my chin is brushing up against the inside of the mask. I have no problems with my blasses though, just my chin.



Problem 1 is not spurious. I've got whacked so many times behind my left ear - mainly by the same person - that I have a microscopic blood clot at that spot on my brain. This leads to epilepsy. Afterall, everytime a whack on the head, especially one that drew blood IS a concussion.



I have solved these problems with my modification. See it at

http://www.fencing101.com/Photo_Gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=user&id=109_0915

http://www.fencing101.com/Photo_Gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=user&id=109_0916



Once you understand that I've been hit yet once again on the back of my head wearing the X-Change mask with the contour-fit system. Given my problem I had to find a solution that gives me adequate protection.



The solution comes in the form of adapting a hockey goalie's mask's skull plate. All I had to do was to cut a couple of slots to seat and fit the straps properly. The plastic is easy to work with. The skull plate has 1/2-inch of closed-cell foam on hte inside.



The other modification I did was to get a piece of thin closed-cell foam to cushion the inside of the chin a la the Allstar mask. The way Leon Paul secured the lining made securing the foam an easy task.



Now I have indubitably the best X-Change mask on the market.



The only problem I have is not knowing whether this modifiaction voids the FIE approval or not. I don't see why it would since there is no rule re the back of the mask, just the front and the mesh; but you know about some of the testers...



PK