Hot Stuff

It maxed out at 115 degrees in Phoenix last week, as over 5000 fencers descended on the city for Summer Nationals. Believe it or not, we were lucky, as the forecast for the coming week peaks at 120.

While the venue was blessedly chill, the fashion and the fencing were blazing hot. As you cool down from the efforts of the 2022-2023 season, here are some highlights from the competition.

Best Team Fashion 

I love the team events because so many folks use it as an occasion for costuming. This years the fashion award for team is a tie between...pirate crews?

The Mid-Atlantic Marauders, a veteran women's epee team, were on-brand with plumed tricorn hats . 

Left to right, head coach Jeff Safko of Modern Duelists Fencing Academy, Charlotta (Lotte) Bowie, Marie Lawson,  Klaudia Shick and Nicole Polanichka.

They received bonus points for wearing one wood-grained sock each (see what they did there?) and for bringing a Jolly Roger flag to the strip:

In foil, the pirate theme was picked up by "Three Elle's and An ARGHH!

Left to right: Monisha Tasker, Margaret Fagan, Monica Morrison and Bonnie Hennig-Trestman. 

Their red sashes and eye patches enabled them to maintain their tie with the Marauders.

Fashion Head to Toe

Rachel El-Salah demonstrated that you don't need to be a pirate to rock a stylish hat. 

In retrospect, I have to ask, Rachel, what's with the heavy (non-sports-specific) gloves. It was ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DEGREES OUT!

Much as I love hats, I concede that sometimes hair does even better uncovered, as demonstrated by Laura Mahelani Maychrowitz from the East Bay Fencers Gym. 

T-shirts are a great way to make a statement. See, for example, Harriet Eckstein 

and Melissa Woundy 

My club mate Esperanza Alzona modeled July Fourth fashion

Fellow fashionista Allison Thurman spotted the best shoes--on a referee, of course--totally classy wing-tips (extra credit for wearing sans socks):

Space Savers

Fashion aside, we spotted a couple of practical adaptations to the challenge of keeping gear organized and out from under foot. This tripod could easily be replicated with three lengths of PVC pipe and a collar cut from a larger diameter pipe. 

I'm intrigued by the rolling closet that is Leon Paul's Apex Bag. I'd like to hear from a user how well the velcro-attached "shelves"stay secured. (The dividers in my horizontal LP "Classic Team" bag are forever coming loose, and they are not holding any weight.)

Fencing Keeps Us Young

People sometimes assume I fence in a younger vet decade (I'm vet 60). When that happens, I tell them I inherited my fencing DNA from my college coach,  Henry Harutunian. Henry is 90 years old and doesn't look a day over 70. Coach was in Phoenix mentoring Bill English, another vet Yalie, and I was thrilled to hear him yelling at me during pools.

He also helped me thread a replacement body cord up my uniform during my bout with Georgie Love. Here's Coach doing the same for a Yale teammate in 1979.

Yup, that was a time warp

Until We Meet Again

Thank you, ladies, for all the hugs and smiles and warm regards. Until next time, whenever that may be, may I leave you with the thought expressed by this Phoenix mural:

Salute

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