(no subject)
As has become an annual tradition over the last 3 years, I went to the US Fencing National Championships. This year held in Miami, in the Summer, during Hurricane season!. 9 days of reffing 1 day of fencing, followed up by 4 days in central and northern Fl. doing touristy type of things. Miami was hot and humid and rainy, every day at 3 like clock work it began to thunder and lightning with rain to follow.
The reffing went well, though I did have a request to be observed on the first day, for the first time in over a year. If someone (typically a coach) is having an issue with your calls they will run over to BC and request an observer to come over and watch your reffing. In sabre by the time the person has established that your calls are suspect and walked over to the BC to request an observer the bout is likely over. In U17 Womens Foil they can decide you suck walk to the BC by way of the concession cart to get a latte, swing past the armourers line and get there students equipment checked for tomorrows event, and come back with an observer in tow and if the girls are doing exceptionally well 2 touches will have been scored. As the request came in U17 WF the head ref was standing behind me for half of the bout. It was a painful bout to watch and ref, I know because when the girls where done fencing the coaches both told me that their charges did nothing to help me. I acknowledged that I did not cover myself in glory, to which the head ref laughed. When asked if she had any advice to help my reffing get better she had none. Based off of my further usage Im sure she had forgot that she even saw that bout. Final tally 1 gold medal match 3 semis 8 finals and 1 three weapon day. Not a bad event for me. The best day was in the U19 mens sabre where I had 5 national coaches with students in my pool and I only had 4 contested calls. A fun day to be sure. Central Fl was fun if a bit disapointing. We went to Disney World, and Epcot center. Which was ok at best. DW isnt as good as Disney Land. The Wild Animal park was alot of fun though. Had planned to visit another ref in Gainesville but his flight was delayed so we went on to a civil war battle site in Olustee Fl. then on to St Augustine. The oldest European settlement in the US. While in FL we ate a couple of Waffle Houses. It was amusing to see and the food was good. Funniest moment was had when we noticed that the wait staff was yelling the orders to the cooks, like they were overseers on a plantation. All sorts of horrible comments went back and forth between april_lirit and I. At the second WH we noticed that the entire staff there was white!!! I have lived in LA so long that to see any place with an all white staff is unheard of let alone at a service job. Also ate at a Sizzler, sad to say that I have dined on both coasts at a Sizzler. I also have driven on both ends of I 10!!!! All in All I had a great vacation even if I did drive as much on the last 4 days as I would if I had been home working.
The reffing went well, though I did have a request to be observed on the first day, for the first time in over a year. If someone (typically a coach) is having an issue with your calls they will run over to BC and request an observer to come over and watch your reffing. In sabre by the time the person has established that your calls are suspect and walked over to the BC to request an observer the bout is likely over. In U17 Womens Foil they can decide you suck walk to the BC by way of the concession cart to get a latte, swing past the armourers line and get there students equipment checked for tomorrows event, and come back with an observer in tow and if the girls are doing exceptionally well 2 touches will have been scored. As the request came in U17 WF the head ref was standing behind me for half of the bout. It was a painful bout to watch and ref, I know because when the girls where done fencing the coaches both told me that their charges did nothing to help me. I acknowledged that I did not cover myself in glory, to which the head ref laughed. When asked if she had any advice to help my reffing get better she had none. Based off of my further usage Im sure she had forgot that she even saw that bout. Final tally 1 gold medal match 3 semis 8 finals and 1 three weapon day. Not a bad event for me. The best day was in the U19 mens sabre where I had 5 national coaches with students in my pool and I only had 4 contested calls. A fun day to be sure. Central Fl was fun if a bit disapointing. We went to Disney World, and Epcot center. Which was ok at best. DW isnt as good as Disney Land. The Wild Animal park was alot of fun though. Had planned to visit another ref in Gainesville but his flight was delayed so we went on to a civil war battle site in Olustee Fl. then on to St Augustine. The oldest European settlement in the US. While in FL we ate a couple of Waffle Houses. It was amusing to see and the food was good. Funniest moment was had when we noticed that the wait staff was yelling the orders to the cooks, like they were overseers on a plantation. All sorts of horrible comments went back and forth between april_lirit and I. At the second WH we noticed that the entire staff there was white!!! I have lived in LA so long that to see any place with an all white staff is unheard of let alone at a service job. Also ate at a Sizzler, sad to say that I have dined on both coasts at a Sizzler. I also have driven on both ends of I 10!!!! All in All I had a great vacation even if I did drive as much on the last 4 days as I would if I had been home working.