WhatsNew:
Winter schedules are now listed under classes and fees. Sign up now!
Our coaches bring many years experience as well as professional credentials to the program. Whichever program you select will be under the guidance of coaches adept at explaining and demonstrating the techniques necessary to enable you to succeed.
National Fencing Season:
Check out the regional and national plan of events under the "news" page.
SOFC Hosted Events this Season:
The events established thus far for this year are USFA epee Nov 13, beginner's foil 11 December, and spring USFA epee Mar 19.
Resources
Equipment
| The Fencing Post | Excellent folks with full range of equipment. Their Chinese brand, Linea, is inexpensive but the stretch jackets have little padding -- not for someone who is impact-sensitive. They offer a 20% discount for online sales, and they are very helpful to size equipment correctly for fencers. |
| Physical Chess (http://www.physicalchess.com) | They have frequent bargains and sell on eBay. Quality varies from fair to good. Their bargain weapons are very inexpensive, but durability may be an issue. |
| American Fencer Supply (http://www.amfence.com) | They carry a full range of gear and are helpful over the phone; their pricing is full retail without discounts. |
| Leon Paul USA (http://www.leonpaulusa.com) | They offer their own designed and built gear (based in London), as well as international brands. They have a strong commitment to US fencing and offer an excellent jacket designed specifically for the US fencer (USFA 350 Newton - $79.90). All gear is excellent quality and competitively priced since they ship for free (though shipments from England sometimes disappear -- they replace promptly). |
| Triplette Competition Arms | These folks manufacture their own gear as well as carry the standard international brands. Their uniforms are excellent, if a bit expensive, and if you need a custom fit uniform they are absolutely the best source. Their foil and epee blades are durable but stiff and a little heavy. |
| Blue Gauntlet | Predominantly Chinese manufactured gear, but of good quality. Their non-electric (“dry”) foil blades are inexpensive and “soft” (easy on your opponent) but take some extreme bends over time. |
| Blade Fencing | They carry European (Hungarian) as well as some Chinese gear, and offer frequent online discounts -- always worth checking when you want weapons. |
| Zivkovic | Their specialty is pistol-grip handles, arguably the best designed of all. If you plan to compete in USFA electric foil events you will want to be fitted for these grips (see your coach). Their blades are Hungarian and excellent, but not inexpensive. |
Fencer Information
| Tournaments | FRED (Fencing Results and Events Database) is THE source to find and register for USFA events. You need to be in their database if you plan to compete in USFA competition. They also have links to nearly everything in the world related to fencing. |
| State Games of Oregon (http://www.stategamesoforegon.org) | Amateur Olympic-style competition for Oregon Athletes of all ages and skill levels. Among their games is fencing, held in Portland during June each year -- lots of fun to go! |
Associations
| American Fencing League | The AFL is headquartered in Salem, Oregon, and is dedicated to non-electric fencing. Southern Oregon Fencing has competed in their tournaments for several years and our fencers hold the 2007 national championship titles in many events. We will host their tournaments as well as travel to Salem for some events. Membership is required to compete in their events. |
| United States Fencing Association (http://www.usfencing.org/usfa) | The USFA is the national organization for modern electric competition in the US, and membership and participation in it is the path to international and Olympic competition. We will participate in and host USFA competitions throughout the fencing year. |
| USFA Oregon Division | This is our division site, with events, results, and local information. |
| General Fencing Information (http://www.fencing.net) | This is an important and current site for information about fencing in the US and around the world -- well worth bookmarking. |
Gearing Up - What you need
| Standard foil (salle): |
*Strongly recommended for females 10 and older -- required for all USFA competition (We may have suitable used gear in good condition for substantial discounts; check with us.) |
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| AFL Tournaments: | In addition to standard salle gear, you will need the following:
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| USFA Competition (electric): | In addition to full uniform gear above, you will need the following
for each weapon competed:
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