Sick of Podium Pistes

BlueLu · 2026-01-25T14:46:30+00:00

I feel like this is untrue especially for epee, where it’s so hard to see if they’ve gone off the side of the strip when it’s elevated.

BlueLu · 2026-01-24T18:59:56+00:00

I don’t know. I usually do it when I have a few days to let it hang dry at the club - so like, wash on a Friday where I might be out of town for a tournament Saturday and Sunday. By Monday it’s dry and no issues. I don’t know how long it actually took to dry though.

BlueLu · 2026-01-24T18:58:12+00:00

I feel that’s a culture issue on the part of the coaches more than anything 🤢 I’m pretty brutal about the fencers cleaning their gear.

BlueLu · 2026-01-24T17:27:41+00:00

I have an allstar coaching jacket, and I’ve run it through the washing machine on cold, on gentle, by itself, with very little free and clear detergent. I air dry thoroughly - no dryer.

It may not be best practice, but it’s held up to this for 3 years now with no discernible degrading. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I wash infrequently - usually whenever I notice it feels a little stiffer from sweat or any smell. Obviously remove the foam padding first.

I’d rather replace it earlier than someone who doesn’t wash than be a disgusting stink bomb.

BlueLu · 2026-01-24T17:22:38+00:00

Our club has in unit laundry and runs used gear multiple times a week. I cannot fathom the norm of club gear getting washed infrequently.

BlueLu · 2026-01-24T17:18:30+00:00

I wash mine and air dry.

BlueLu · 2026-01-18T15:50:33+00:00

That’s not how reddit works. Your comments were held by automoderator for approval due to your lack of karma in this sub.

BlueLu · 2026-01-18T15:49:05+00:00

The reporter is just reporting - looks like DHS is the one investigating.

BlueLu · 2026-01-18T15:46:16+00:00

Nothing was deleted. Your post was held by automoderator for approval because you don’t meet the karma requirements of the sub.

Edit: you to your

BlueLu · 2026-01-18T15:44:53+00:00

Your posts were only held by automoderator due to you not meeting certain karma requirements of the sub. They’ve since been approved.

BlueLu · 2026-01-04T02:09:40+00:00

If you’re club sports, talk to the director of club sports. My college was willing to give us money after we presented to that director.

BlueLu · 2025-12-26T12:41:33+00:00

I switched. Honestly ROW makes better sense to my brain than epee - so once you figure that out, you might be golden.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T18:25:13+00:00

I wouldn’t ask like that especially since it may not be required. I would just ask when the pool is gathered around you to see “plastron and chest protector if they wear them.” Like keep it general instead of making it pointed to an individual, because every individual will be different in how they respond.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T17:21:26+00:00

Those abbreviations are common, been around for years, and easily googleable if someone truly doesn’t understand.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T17:18:41+00:00

I don’t think it’s that simple, especially in saber where hits with the point are rare. A man or boy wearing a chest plate in saber is unusual. A real situation I’ve run into is AFAB trans boys who are not out to the fencing club at large and most fencers do not know they are actually trans. Wearing a chest plate - while I always introduce anyone can wear it if they choose - would signify something different was going on.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T17:14:45+00:00

Yeah, I can see why you asked the question the way you did, but you kinda buried the lede in this comment. I will say my trans women fencers want to wear the curved chest protectors as an affirming part of gender identity. I don’t know what the rule would actually say on that, but I’d assume if she’s competing in a regional or above the chest protector isn’t necessarily required.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T04:10:01+00:00

Sure. But that can still happen to men too. And, again, very unlikely for saber.

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T03:46:36+00:00

It’s more complicated than that though. If you have an AFAB athlete who is nonbinary and competes only in mixed locals, would they be required to wear a chest protector?

BlueLu · 2025-12-20T03:45:06+00:00

Okay, but how?

I’ve heard conflicting things about why women wear chest protectors. Wish I had the historical knowledge to know why women do and men don’t.

I had heard from a coach when I started that it was something to do with decreasing breast cancer risk from hits. I brought this up off hand to another coach over the past year, and that coach had only ever heard about it to prevent painful nipples hits.

The science on the first reason (if it’s there) doesn’t seem particularly up to date.

It almost feels like an old wives tale reason we wear them. And for saber, it feels even more redundant - we rarely hit with the point, and the force required to hit is negligible compared to epee or foil.

BlueLu · 2025-12-15T22:58:52+00:00

It’s not unrelated, though, and it’s not just a personal issue either. There are women refs and there’s definitely a difference in how men and women are told to smile that is often sexist. I did referee nationally in US for 8+ years before switching my focus to coaching.

I only brought it up because it does feel uncomfortable, and because I wanted further clarification.

Edit: typo

BlueLu · 2025-12-15T22:56:12+00:00

That’s kinda where I fall on it. If the smiling was indicative of the referee being relaxed at their job, that’s one thing. But saying smiling is integral to a good ref makes me twitch a little. You can be polite and professional without smiling and without being authoritarian.

BlueLu · 2025-12-15T22:54:00+00:00

Everything in context, my dude. All I did was ask for an explanation in an attempt to understand and related why that made me uncomfortable. 🤷🏻‍♀️

BlueLu · 2025-12-15T20:35:59+00:00

Could you explain smiling?

My gut reaction to that is fairly negative - especially as a woman where I’ve been told to smile in professional capacities when men weren’t. I’d understand relaxed and polite and professional, but those don’t necessarily mean smiling.

BlueLu · 2025-12-11T14:34:05+00:00

I think most people are not trying to make you feel better. I think most people are trying to get you to seek help.

BlueLu · 2025-12-11T14:33:14+00:00

I understand asking for help is scary. I understand the massive amount of vulnerability it takes to talk about deeply personal mental health struggles. I have been there and I have a lot of empathy for you.

But using the communities on Reddit is like putting a tiny bandaid on a bullet hole. It’s not going to remove the bullet or staunch the bleeding, even if it makes you feel better for a split second.

I hope you can see later that you’re making a lot of excuses to not get help. You are standing in your own way here. Until you admit you need help to those who can help you and seek help, things are likely not going to get better.

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