We respectfully ask USA Fencing to reconsider holding major national tournaments during January and February, particularly in East Coast locations where severe winter weather is common.

Over multiple seasons, winter storms have caused flight cancellations, unsafe travel conditions, and unusually high scratch rates at national events—creating financial strain for families and affecting competitive fairness.

At a recent SJCC, weather‑related issues led to significant attrition:

• Junior Women’s Epee: ~37% scratched
• Junior Men’s Saber: ~40% scratched
• Cadet Men’s Foil: ~33% scratched

This is not an isolated incident. Similar disruptions occurred at last year’s January NAC, with scratch rates again reaching approximately 30–40%.

For junior and cadet athletes, these events are critical for points and qualification, and missing one due to winter weather can have lasting season‑long consequences.

We respectfully encourage USA Fencing to consider:

• Hosting winter events in regions with milder weather
• Avoiding high‑stakes national competitions during peak winter months when possible
• Prioritizing lower‑risk travel locations when winter scheduling is unavoidable

We appreciate USA Fencing’s efforts and hope these adjustments can improve athlete safety, participation, and competitive fairness.

— Members of the USA Fencing community