It's H-O-T-T hot! - 25 Jul 11

Apologies for the delay in updates! A hard drive crash compounded by an CKI* failure has kept me hopping the past several days.

As you might have noticed lately, it's kind of hot outside. Which means it's pretty darned warm at the salle, too. You've done a great job with staying hydrated and taking plenty of breaks. In general I don't close up shop for the heat but if I do, I'll post it here as soon as the call is made. If you're not sure if we're open and can't check the website, call the salle (238-3111). In the meanwhile, remember these tips:

• Drink plenty of water! You're welcome to bring in your own water bottles and fill them at the cooler if you don't want to mess with the paper cups. Don't have a bottle? I've still got some of those great stainless steel bottles with the club logos.
• Fence shorter matches when it's especially hot. If you're fencing to a particular number and start to feel too run down, stop the match even though no one's reached the final score yet. On especially hot days, I'll enforce five-touch bouts to make sure everyone gets plenty of break time.
• Unfasten or even remove your jacket between bouts. Get some air in there! (But please don't stand right in front of a fan and block the air off from the rest of the salle.)
• I picked up a chilly pad by Frogg Toggs at Bed, Bath and Beyond last week. So far I'm rather liking it but as they say, your mileage may vary.
• Get a little extra practice in at Poquoson on Sunday evenings. We have plenty of A/C there! Brr!

* Chair-Keyboard-Interface

There's still time - 7 Jul 11

Did you forget to sign up for the beginner or intermediate class at IWFC? The beginner class will take new fencers through Monday so if last night's inconveniently-timed downpours scared you off, no worries. You can still get in on the fun! And if you've been wanting to learn saber, there's still time to get in on this month's class but make sure you do it by Friday evening or you'll have to wait for the next saber class to roll around!

Left one out! - 4 July 11

Happy 4th, everyone!

In yesterday's update I forgot to include the youth fencing class at the Newport News Family YMCA. It's for ages 6-12 and you don't have to be a member of the YMCA to sign up. Sessions are on Tuesday evenings at 5:15 from tomorrow, July 5, through the end of August. All equipment is provided! Visit PeninsulaYMCA.org or call 245-0047 to register. (Late registrations are accepted so if you can't get hold of them tomorrow, no worries.)

July's upon us - 3 July 11

Remember, no Poquoson fencing today, July 3, and no IWFC fencing Monday, July 4.

If you haven't signed up for a July fencing class yet, there's still time!

• Isle of Wight beginner class starts Wednesday, July 6 - email coach@iwfc.net to sign up.
• Isle of Wight intermediate saber class starts Tuesday, July 5 - email coach@iwfc.net to sign up.
• Poquoson beginner and intermediate classes begin Sunday, July 10 - contact Poquoson Parks and Rec to sign up.

Poquoson Parks and Rec is also hosting fencing camps this summer, one in July and one in August. Camps are divided into two ages groups: 8-10 and 11-14. As above, contact PPR to register your young fencer.

The July equipment order deadline is Wednesday, July 6. Orders and payments are due by 10 p.m. that night and can be sent in via email or done in person. And when you're visiting Absolute's website to put your order together, don't forget to check out their clearance page. Yes, some of their old/new pricing looks goofy but there are some pretty good deals there on all sorts of equipment.

And as noted earlier on our Twitter and Facebook pages (IWFC and PFC), USA Fencing has announced the 2011-12 national event schedule.

The big note for us is that two of the events are practically in our laps!

• Cadet/Div II/Div III are in Richmond October 21-24
• Div I/Wheelie Nats/Y10-12-14 are in VA Beach April 13-16

(Div III means D and under, Div II means C and under, Div I means C and above.)