Busy days! - 27 Oct 2010

The Halloween party is Friday, October 29, at IWFC in Carrollton (directions). With our younger folks in mind, things will start at 7:00 and with our older fencers (okay, me!) in mind, we'll wrap it up at 10:00. We'll have:

• A costume contest -- man there were some great costumes last year! Judging will be at 8:00 (and I need a judge).
• Pumpkins to decorate (with markers, not pointy objects!)
• A Halloween-y (but friendly) movie will be running in the background during the general silliness so you can watch it or not as you please.
• General nonsense -- we're good at that!
• Food! Pizza, breadsticks, general noshes, soda, etc.

Let me know how many people will be coming and what the preferred pizza toppings are by Thursday evening. (The intent is for the pizza to be delivered around 7:15.)

Speaking of Halloween, this weekend is the Halloween Open at W&M. This is a great tournament both to enter and to watch. It's just down the road and you get to see (or fence) a great variety of people. Pre-register and save $5 versus entering at the door! Foil and saber are on Saturday, epee's on Sunday, and I'll be there both days for coaching, armory, and questions.

Thinking about entering the tourney but you're not a USA Fencing member yet and the full membership is too spendy? Do a $10 one-day USA Fencing membership instead! Just register online, print out the card and bring it with you. That's it!

Registration's still open for the November beginner and intermediate classes at IWFC. Don't forget to sign up! Each class is $60 and equipment can be either purchased or rented.

Epee class at IWFC! In November, Wednesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 are being repurposed for an epee class. The class fee is $30 which includes use of weapons and body cords, no need to buy anything unless you want to! Sent an email to register and you're good to go.

Want to learn saber? December Friday nights at IWFC, 7:00 to 9:00, $30, email. (How's that for the short version?)

The November equipment order goes in Wednesday, November 3. As always, orders and payment are due by 10:00 p.m. that evening. They can be turned in at any class or practice or sent in via email. Visit Absolute Fencing and start putting your order together!

Heads up, foilists! Starting August 1, 2011, conductive foil bibs will be required in all competitions that serve as selection events. Right now this only impacts a few of us but it will start filtering down to the general population over time. We should have a better idea of 'over time' after the February 2011 board meeting. Whether this impacts you this season or later, no worries. Vendors are already making conversion kits. Bibs for bibs! No need to buy anything yet though. I'll let you know when that changes.

Take a few minutes to read this article on sports drinks. You might find a few surprises! Stay hydrated but be smart about it.

Tourneys, classes, and a party - 20 Oct 2010

My apologies to Balint for incorrectly reporting his placing last weekend -- he finished 5th, not 8th! Full results are here.

Want to learn how to fence? Registration's open for the November beginner and intermediate classes at IWFC. Classes are $60 and equipment can be either rented or purchased. Email coach@iwfc.net to sign up!

Tournament photos will start hitting both clubs' websites later today. Have pics of your own to share? Send 'em in!

Now that your tournament appetite has been whetted, time to sign up for the Halloween Open at William and Mary. There are no ratings restrictions so you'll see a range of fencing from first-timers on up. If you're interested in entering but have questions or don't have all the necessary equipment, just let me know and we'll get it taken care of. Want to enter? Hit the 'pre-register' link and you're good to go. And don't forget about the one-day USFA membership option if you don't want to spring for an entire year just yet!

Want to set your sights a bit higher? Here's how to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

Of course, a key component of fencing is practice, practice, practice! Wednesday nights are open to all fencers, regardless of level or weapon, from 7:00 to 9:00, throughout October. So grab your gear and come play!

Speaking of play, how does another Halloween party sound? Friday, October 29, at the IWFC salle from ... 7:00 to 9:00? 8:00 to 10:00? I'm not a party expert so I need a 'party planner' or two to volunteer. Nothing big or fancy! Last year's costume contest was great fun so I need a judge for that, plus figuring out food and fun. (Eyeball races, anyone?)

Results and a reminder - 17 Oct 2010

Congratulations to Liz and Balint for medalling (3rd and 5th respectively) in yesterday's Ultimate E and Under tournament! And many thanks to all of you who came out and made it such a fun and successful event. Full results are on AskFRED and pictures will be posted soon. Now onward to the Halloween Open at W&M in two weeks! Kudos as well to Scott for great reffing and to Liz, Scott, and Randy for all their setup/breakdown work.

Remember, there is no fencing in Poquoson today due to the Seafood Festival. See you next weekend!

Tournaments, classes, pics - 14 Oct 2010

We've got fourteen fencers signed up for the Ultimate E! One more E fencer and it's a D1 event, which means the winner earns a D rating and second through fourth earn Es! And it's a great warm-up for the Halloween Open in Williamsburg at the end of the month - bonus!

Registration's open for the November classes at IWFC! The beginner class is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 and the intermediate class is on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00. The fee for either class is $60 and equipment can be either rented ($30/month) or purchased ($110-130). Email coach@iwfc.net to register or if you have any questions. Shy about not knowing anyone in the class? Bring a friend! The more the merrier!

Are you finding yourself running out of gas before the end of a competition, be it fencing or some other sport? Especially on two-day events? Check out this article titled Food Suggestions for Fueling Hungry Athletes

The newest version of the rulebook has been released. The copy at the salle will be updated tonight and you can get your own copy by downloading the .pdf document. You don't have to print it out but if you're thinking about competing, at least have it downloaded so you can look things up when the need (or curiosity) arises!

Pictures from a couple of this summers' camps have (finally!) been uploaded to the clubs' photo pages! There are a few new videos, too. If you have some pics or vid you'd like to share, just send them in!

London Olympic mascot Mandeville was recently spotted trying his hand at wheelchair fencing. Go wheelies!

Reminders and videos - 10 Oct 2010

New equipment orders are due Monday at noon. If you ordered last week, your stuff is in and can be picked up at any IWFC or PFC practice.

Speaking of practices, Wednesday evenings (7:00 to 9:00) at IWFC are open to all fencers (including Level A) through October. And PFC fencers, don't forget your dues include IWFC practices too.

Speaking of PFC, there are no classes or practice next weekend, October 17, due to the Seafood Festival. Have fun and we'll pick up where we left off on the 24th!

And now for your reminder to sign up for the Ultimate E and Under. AND THERE'S MORE! Can't fence in the tournament because you're too young or not feeling quite up to it yet or whatever? I want to have fencers on the floor until about 4:00 that afternoon and right now the tourney's looking pretty small. So when you come out to watch the fencing on Saturday, toss your gear into the car -- you just might get to fence too! (Note: This will not be part of the tournament. This is 'extra stuff' after the tournament wraps up.)

A few videos of some recent fun at IWFC have been uploaded to our YouTube channel. Check them out when you have a couple of minutes! (And to the parents who have sent photos, I'm hoping to have those posted to the club pages soon...)

Reading, ordering, and competing - 8 Oct 2010

Want to warm up for the Ultimate E and Under? On Sunday, October 10, there's an open tournament in Richmond! Right now there are sixteen foilists signed up for the Referee Testing Tournament. The main goal is for the referees to be observed for ratings so the entry fee's just $15. Go for it!

Equipment ordered this week can be picked up at the salle today after 3:30 or at any club/class session. So if you ordered stuff for our tournament on the 16th, you can pick it up this afternoon or this evening and use it this weekend, too! (If you can't come out to Carrollton today but want your stuff for Sunday, let me know and we'll make arrangements.)

Didn't order this week but are wishing now that you had? A follow-up equipment order is going in on Monday, October 11. Orders are due to me no later than noon that day and equipment will be here Thursday morning. Visit Absolute Fencing Gear and let me know what you want!

If you haven't done so yet, don't forget to register for our tournament, the Ultimate E and Under! It's Saturday, October 16, at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton. If you're not sure about entering, let me know and we'll talk it over. The more people that enter, the more you get to fence!

What's it like going to a tournament? Not sure what to expect? Take a look at How to Go to a Fencing Tournament! Whether you're a fencer or a spectator (parent, friend, sibling, etc.), this will help you before, during, and after the event.

While you're reading, Wired.com has a really interesting article on the science of choking. (I know this was also included in the last update but it's worth reposting so it doesn't get overlooked.)

To those who have turned in updated liability/release forms, thank you! To the rest of you, if you've completed the form but haven't turned it in, go out it with your fencing gear right now so you don't forget to bring it with you! And if you haven't completed the form yet, print it out (two-sided, please) or pick one up at club and return it as soon as possible.

Liab forms

More fencing! - 5 Oct 2010

IWFC's adding one more night of fencing for the month of October! Wednesday's 7:00 to 9:00 window has been for epee and saber fencing. But we've gone from having a plethora of these two weapons to a handful of die-hards, thanks to life, the universe, and everything else. So I'm opening Wednesday nights in October to all fencers! Since this is a test run, there's no additional charge for this extra night of fencing this month. (Epee and saber fencers, hold on to your 'extra night' fee too. If you've already paid it, your account has been credited back for it.) Grab your toys and come play with us!

Classes, equipment, and more (oh my!) - 4 Oct 2010

Hey, if I didn't make the 'oh my' joke, no doubt a dozen of you would have!

IWFC classes begin this week: The beginner class starts tonight (Monday) and the intermediate starts Tuesday night. I was bad about getting the reminders out for these so if you want to take either class but haven't signed up yet and/or can't make it to the first session, no worries. Just send me a note and we'll make it happen.

Equipment order: This month's orders are due to me by 10 p.m. Tuesday. You can turn them in either in person at club or via email. As always, payment can be made in person or online. Visit Absolute's website and start working on your shopping list!

By the way, looking for fencing pants? Absolute has some on clearance for just $19! Sizes and quantities are limited so if you're interested, don't put it off until next month! (Note: While the pants are labeled as women's, there is little to no difference in the cut between men's and women's at the smaller sizes so don't let that turn you off.)

Congrats go out to some of our college fencers! Ed and Sten competed in the Tech Open a couple of weeks ago and had a pretty good day of it. Ed took 5th in epee and Sten finished 7th in foil, earning his E, and 5th in saber. Way to go, guys!

A refereeing clinic will be held Saturday, October 9, at the Richmond Fencing Club. The clinic will be run by Brad Baker, a world-level rated referee and coach at Temple University. Attendees can sit for the written exam afterwards. Full details are on AskFred.

An open tournament will be held on Sunday, October 10, also at RFC. The event is open to fencers in all three weapons with birthdays in or before 1997. This is a tournament for prospective referees to gain practical observation so come on out and help by giving them fencers to observe! Details on AskFred.

And of course, don't forget about our own Ultimate E and Under foil tournament in Hampton on October 16!

And just to wrap things up, here's an interesting article on choking, its causes, and some tactics to help stave it off.