The USA Fencing Mask Is Awesome And Intimidating, And Awesome

[Tx4obama]

Full post here: http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/2012-summer-olympics-media/the-usa-fencing-mask-is-awesome-and-intimidating-and-awesome/

[Brother Buzz]

1. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

[Cali_Democrat]

16. LOL

[xmas74]

2. As much as I normally cannot stand the overuse of the flag

this, to me, is pretty awesome. You know exactly where your opponent is from with that mask. And maybe, just maybe, a few more Americans might actually pay attention to fencing for a change.

[Occulus]

3. What's with the electronics on the masks?

I don't recall seeing those before in Olympic fencing.

[slampoet]

6. They've been around since at least the 1950's

[Tx4obama]

7. What do the electronics do? n/t

[grantcart]

9. close the circuit and record a hit.

[Tx4obama]

12. Thanks :) n/t

[jberryhill]

10. Keep score

They don't actually get to kill their opponent because of recent cowardly rule changes. Instead, contact is detected electronically.

[Tx4obama]

11. Ah okay, thanks - that makes sense. As you can tell I know nothing about fencing :) n/t

[jberryhill]

15. Fencing has been electrified for a while

I suppose next you'll want to know how they keep the horses from drowning during water polo. Same killjoys got rid of horses in that formerly fun to watch sport.

[tabasco]

4. That looks stupid as fuck. n/t

[Renew Deal]

5. It's pretty cool

But I think it should be against the rules.

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. Apparently, the only requirement is that they be approved by the FIE Executive Committee...

http://www.fencingofficials.org/documents/rules/USA%20Fencing%20Rules%20-%20September%202010.pdf - Section 2.1.3. If you could get them to approve it, I imagine you could have the Joker, or the Queen Mum, or Spongebob Squarepants, or even a smiley face sticking its tongue out at you. ( <--- imagine facing that as your opponent!)

[Tx4obama]

13. THAT smiley face would be funny :) n/t

[jberryhill]

14. Here you go

[burrowowl]

24. Love it!

[Big Orange Jeff]

19. Now THAT would be hilarious (nt)

nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. As a former fencer

Impractical as hell. The best mask, for visibility, is just white.

Yup, did once fence at a pretty high level and still have my foil. I drill with it from time to time, great exercise.

Oh and the inpractical part goes for all involved.

That said, apparently the technology has overcome the easily twenty reasons you would not do that a generation ago.

Check my visceral reaction to being a purist.

Piece of trivia, the metallic piece looking thing records the hits. You're dragging cables, slight tension. Before any competition we trained with those suckers for a couple of weeks. Doing it without them, usual training, feels very different.

[Big Orange Jeff]

20. Not dragging cables anymore. It's all wireless these days.

nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Of Course

Just dated myself.



That is definitely an improvement.

[Marinedem]

18. I love it!

Didn't know they were doing this.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. There are several countries doing that, not just the US

here's the British fencing team: