Update on my attempt to fence sabre at the San Fran Circuit:
Well, it seems that the people contributing their opinions on the net
are far more enlightened than our elected (and appointed) leaders in
Colorado Springs. From Carla Mae Richards in the office to Vice President
Bill Goering, I have been fed the same archaic rational. I have been told
that, quite simply, there is no women's event, and the event offered is not
mixed. Period. My participation would invalidate the results of the North
America Cup as it is a national team qualifying event, and there is no
Women's sabre in international competition. Furthermore, the only recourse
I have (and this has been verified by the U.S. Olympic Committee Legal
Council) is to send in an appeal to the tournament committee led by Michael
Massik, who I will be speaking to soon, I hope. This appeal will be presented
to the National Executive Committee who will decide if there is enough interest
and need for a women's sabre event to be included at future circuit events.
So, basically for now, I'm shit outta luck.
I am, however, very pleased to hear that alot of Texan women are
fencing sabre these days (I'm a longhorn alum). Lots of areas are seeing
a large development of women's sabre. In New England alone, we have at least
a dozen--more than double what we had last year. In New York there are a
large number of women at NYU training very hard in Women's sabre, and
***ia almost sent two teams to nationals last year! I think that if we
are to have any chance at not only national competition, but even the
olympics, all of these women are going to have to make a very concerted
effort to compete at nationals in Salt Lake city this summer. The USFA has
already stated that if at least 64 women compete there, the following year,
Women's sabre will be included as a DIV I event. It's a very important step
towards international recognition.
In the meantime, alot of y'all made some very good points about the
stupidity of excluding women from competing in sabre. I urge all of y'all
to tell any women sabre fencers you know to get involved, either writing
letters, or registering for the circuit events, just to let the USFA know
that the interest is out there! If you men or women's foilists and epeeists
also wanted to let the USFA know how you feel, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt!
I'll got off my soap box now.
Sara.