|
Post by Anthony Edens on Jul 29, 2010 12:45:54 GMT -5
I've been looking forward to this year's Unified Nationals since last year's. I can't convince my training partners to get on board. At first I wanted us to fly, but they didn't want to shell out the cash. Now the flights have gone way up and the only option would be to drive. My question is this:
Would you drive 25 hours to go to the Unified Nationals if you knew there was a 95% chance you would go 2 and out, but one of your training partners had a shot at placing top 2 and qualifying for worlds? We would have to leave Thursday at 5:00pm and break up the drive somewhere that would leave us a short enough drive on Saturday morning to arrive in time for weigh ins. Then we would have to leave right after the tournament so we could be back at our jobs on Monday morning.
The reason I'm making this post is to convince my training partners that it'll be worth it. (For the record I would be the one who's giving up the most-wife and 4 kids, vacation day, $ is tighter for me, and we would be driving my car.)
Has anyone driven close to that far just for a tournament before?
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy Plaster on Jul 29, 2010 12:51:41 GMT -5
in 2001 Rick Soliwada took a two day bus ride to get to Nevada for the nationals. He promptly got on another bus and rode another 12 plus hrs to South Dakota and pulled the event there and then rode another two days back home on yet another bus.
|
|
|
Post by Matt "CHOP" Bertrand on Jul 29, 2010 12:51:59 GMT -5
Ive driven 20+ hours to make it to AAA west palm beach nationals. Its a small sacrifice for the glory of wining a few. Id do it again, anytime.
|
|
|
Post by Rob Vigeant Jr. on Jul 29, 2010 13:06:28 GMT -5
my first nats was 05' in little rock...........it was with tim bresnan and milt christmas and was exactly 25 hrs. with food and fueling.
one of the funnest trips I had, and I went on the trip expecting to get stomped, I just wanted to be a part.
|
|
|
Post by Anthony Edens on Jul 29, 2010 13:07:18 GMT -5
Jeremy, you go me excited when you mentioned a bus ride. Until I just spoke with Greyhound and they gave me a price that was the same as a plane ticket. Not only that I'd have to travel for 5 1/2 days instead of 3.
|
|
|
Post by Jeremy Plaster on Jul 29, 2010 13:11:21 GMT -5
Check trains? I have taken those on shorter trips and they were cheap and easy. Not sure on something that far though.
|
|
|
Post by Anthony Edens on Jul 29, 2010 13:42:38 GMT -5
unfortunately, train tickets were about the same price.
|
|
|
Post by Casey Szparaga on Jul 29, 2010 14:59:02 GMT -5
Once took a 3 legged flight that took about 16 hours total and then a 3 hour bus ride for nationals in bakersfield. Also, went to USA nats in Tahoe once and couldn't rent a car and had to hire a van to get me to tahoe where i had to get a cab to get me to the event. Ran out of money after paying for the hotel. Ran into a friend that bought dinner and paid my way back to the airport in a cab. When I got home I had no money in my pocket and couldn't pay the parking to get get my car out of the parking garage. But I won my class!
|
|
|
Post by Casey Szparaga on Jul 29, 2010 15:02:04 GMT -5
Couldn't rent a car in LA once and had to find a van driver that would only take me to Knotts Berry farms. Had to walk about 3 miles carrying all of my luggage to get to my hotel. Walked another 2 miles to the event and walked back to the hotel.
|
|
|
Post by John Wilson on Jul 29, 2010 15:11:12 GMT -5
Make the trip part of the Nats experience. The traveling is the part you'll remember when you're an old man. Don't survive the trip, enjoy every part of it or at least find the fun in it.
Casey has taken it to the HNL, obviously. (HNL = Hole Nother Level)
|
|
Chris Ceci
Silver Member
S.W.FL. Armsport Club- Founder / President
Posts: 399
|
Post by Chris Ceci on Jul 29, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Anthony, you know i read this post, and correct me if im wrong. It sounds to me like your willing to sacrifice quite a bit for your training partner or partners. You mention that you would be 2 and out, and your training partner has a chance at top 2 and a chance at Worlds qualification, but he needs convincing?? The training partner that has this opportunity, does he appreciate the sacrifices you are willing to make for him? If he needs convincing to go, you may want to re-think it. Alot of us wish we had the opportunity to be as good as having a shot at top two and qualifying for the Worlds, I wouldn't need convincing, I'd be in the car, splitting the ride, the gas, whatever we had to do.. just my thought
|
|
Bicio
Bronze Member
Italy
Posts: 116
|
Post by Bicio on Jul 31, 2010 3:27:08 GMT -5
I agree with you Chris!! I'm off tournaments from many years.... but I still drive for hours only to be a part of that and to bring new peoples to the best tournament in Italy... (I know there are not 25hrs trip ) but I think even if is 10years that I'm out of the game, every km driven paid off my sacrifices... Just think about the kind of friendship built in years of comp. If I was you partner and I've a real opportunity to place on top 2 i could pay off the whole trip because find a support like your is not as easy as you think...it's all a motivation issue... The center of the problem is that your partner is not motivated to do this trip.... so.... He's not as motivated as you?? or simply is not motivated as athlete and in his opinion the sacrifice of this trip could not pay off the effort?? (IMO the sacrifice ALWAYS PAYS)
|
|
|
Post by Jeramie Towle on Jul 31, 2010 7:25:15 GMT -5
I also agree with Chris, I wouldnt think twice about a chance to place top 2 and qualify for worlds. I would already be in the car waiting to leave!
|
|
|
Post by Craig Brought on Jul 31, 2010 7:43:07 GMT -5
My training partner Byron Royer drove from central PA to AAA nats in Texas this year.
|
|
|
Post by Don McClary on Jul 31, 2010 12:02:02 GMT -5
Chris said it best: But my two cents is: I'm not sure how I will do....BECAUSE....I have no idea who will show up! So I'm willing to make the 23 hour drive from Cali (thankfully I found a co-driver) just for the shot at qualifying, most important to me is the fact that IF I do qualify, the WAF World Championships are in Nevada! I won't need a passport and $1000 airline ticket to get there! Add it all up and this is my best shot at qualifying and going to a WAF world event. BTW...I to will be missing a day of work, maybe two. Plus $$$ is way tight, BUT when will I get this shot again?
|
|