The Sonoma Fencing Academy, in cooperation with Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and the Sonoma State University Fencing Club is proud to present the 2004 Wine Country World Champion Fencing Seminar. Maestro Michael Pacheco and his dedicated staff have assembled, from all over the world, some of the finest fencers in the sport to train and compete with local and national fencers.
The seminar begins on September 27th, running from 7-10pm each night, and 9am-noon on Friday morning. Imagine fencing with national team members from France and Italy, not just one bout, but all week long, three hours each day! This is a rare opportunity to hone your skills and push yourself to the limit with top fencers from all over the world.
Simone Vanni of Italy. Simone Vanni, the 2002 World Champion and 2003 World Championship Silver medallist, won the Gold in the Men's Foil Team event during the 2004 Olympics. He is currently ranked 5th in the world.
Tomer Or of Haifa, Israel. Tomer Or is a six time national champion in Israel. He has most recently taken the Bronze in the 2004 Senior World Cup in Hungary, as well as the year before in Denmark. Mr. Or has consistently fought his way to the highest levels in World Cup events over the years, and counts among his achievements the Gold Medal in the 2002 Senior World Cup in Hungary.
Franck Boidin of France. 1996 Olympic Bronze medallist Franck Boidin also took the Bronze in the 2001 World Championships. With his countrymen in the World Championships Men's Foil Team event, he won the Gold in 2001 and the Silver in 2002.
Where else can a fencer find training like this? The Sonoma Fencing Academy is dedicated to providing a place for US fencers to gain the experience necessary to compete at the highest levels. This seminar, along with the 3rd Annual Kendall-Jackson International Fencing Tournament is the perfect way for local and national fencers to sharpen their skills to a fine edge right before the NACs in Atlanta, Georgia, or the Junior World Cup in Louisville, Kentucky. Senior level competitors will find this type of training invaluable as well, giving them a boost to last the rest of the season. There is even going to be a sports psychologist on hand to work with the athletes all week long. This will be a fantastic seminar for any competitive fencer!
On Wednesday night, starting at 7pm and continuing until 10pm, the seminar will be located in the brand new and spacious SSU Recreation Center on the Sonoma State University campus. For directions to Sonoma State University, please go to the SSU maps and tours page. The SSU Fencing Club is proud to be a sponsor of this event along with the Sonoma Fencing Academy and Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates. On Thursday night the seminar will be located at the Sonoma Fencing Academy in Petaluma, and on Friday morning from 9:30am to 12:30pm the seminar will be held once again on the SSU campus at the Field House next to the main gym.
Cost to Attend: $295, or $60 per day
Dates and Times: Monday - Thursday, 7-10pm, Friday, 9:30am-12:30pm
If you have any questions about the seminar, or would like to register to attend, please feel free to contact us. We will promptly send you a registration form that you can mail in or bring with you to the Seminar.
Check the 3rd Annual Kendall-Jackson International Fencing Tournament page for more details on the Men's and Women's Foil tournaments.