First (1st) Regional Competition
 

Hi everyone, coming up in two days is the New Jersey Regional at Trenton. Being a freshman on 25, this will be my first regional ever!! So I am really excited and I can't wait! So then, what was your first regional competition, how did it go, and please share some stories!!!Thanx, and please discuss! :) :ahh:

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

at my first regional we lost a lot. yup. that kinda sucked.

but seeing that you're on team 25, you probably won't run into that particular problem

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

Haha, don't worry about it. It's all good!!! :)

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

I remember my first regional in 2001 i was not expecting what i saw, i was expecting something small that it was only a few people from each team and not that many people there. When i got there the first thing i saw and will always stay in my mind was heatwave(312) there cheering squad had atleast 50 kids and about half of htem had instruments. I was so amazed i was speechless there were news cameras and everything.


I mean its unspeakalble just imagine what you think of it right now, now think of it 10 times better and after that you still need to times it by another 100 to get how awesome it is. you are in for a big surprise and i mean when you first get there just take a moment and walk around and take everyting in cause its unbelivable

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first Regional (Buckeye) experienced was pretty good, only limited to the fact that I was incredibly shy my freshman year and didn't really get out into the pits a whole lot until last season.

Don't make my mistake! Get out in the pits and talk to people, have the time of your life :]

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

i've never got to experience a FIRST regional as a student, but as a mentor in 2002,when the Canadian regionals started, i had the time of my life, seeing a lot of amazing robots, meeting lots of nice ppl. This will be my 3rd year as a mentor but the team i'm mentoring is a rookie team, and going into a regional with 75 teams, two fields i think they will have a great time, just like i did.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional we did rather well. Back in 2000 at the Great Lakes Regional we had problems off and on with the robot and we didnt actually win a match until Saturday morning. We were the last team picked in the "draft" by the 7th seed Huskie Brigade (65) and the Juggernauts (1). We ended up making it all the way to the finals and going onto match 3 against the infamous Chief Delphi robot. We were winning the match and then Chief Delphi unveiled their steal from the trough move and stole our black ball. We ended up finishing a respectable 2nd though. Fun times.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional hooked me big time. I knew there was no way I could ever quit robotics. Here I am 5 years later.

My first regional was San Jose 2000, there were a lot of big name west coast teams just coming into their prime at that one. We (64) seeded second and allied with 192 (GRT). We ended up getting beat by 330 (beachbots) and the imfamous alliance of 60 and 254 ended up winning the regional. It was a west coast classic.

I screamed until I couldn't talk. Good times.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

my first regional was when our team was a rookie team in 2001 and we almost won that regional at vcu. it was the closest mach i've experienced we lost by 3 inches from the white line and 5 seconds to go. we had it but the goals moved cuz of a final push

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

I went to my first regional after I had already been to Nationals (EPCOT '02) so I want expecting it to be very big. I was pleasently surprised. I had more fun there than at epcot (probably cause our alliance won- UCF '03).

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional was UTC in 2001... I had no idea what to expect so I wasn't really surprised, but it was really fun just the same. It turned out that we were one of the best robots at the competition and wound up winning big time... We were interviewed for the news and everything... I had no idea that people outside of FIRST cared about robotics, but it was really cool to realize they did. That was probably the best regional I've attended because I met a lot of friends who have since graduated.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional was last year. Not only was it my first time at the awesome lonestar regional but I was also the driver for my team. Too add on top of that I was a first year driver and with plenty of seniors on the team, well, Needless to say before the competition I was so nervous that I was afraid to get out on the field. But then after we won the first qualifier, then second, third, fourth and so on, it turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. We came so close to winning the regional,we were the third seed, and I was so let down when our partners robot died and we ended up loosing in the semifinals by 1 stinkin point!!!
It was the greatest experience of my life and i hope its the same for you.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

my first one was '02 at LI, and it was the most amazing thing...
Of course I got stuck with scouting and watching matches so I didn't get out much.
Freshman always get the worst jobs :p

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional was also LSR last year. It was also our rookie year. With some good guidance (ponca city, ok and richmond, ks teams) and a touch of prescouting (part of our team went to STL regional) we created something amazing. Going into it I was only hoping on competing with some of the great teams there. But with a robust robot, a strongly supported team, good driving, and a little luck we seeded first in qualifying and went on to win it with 34 and 647. What was more amazing is we to the team spirit, quality, and rookie all-star awards. But beyond the competition I met so many neat (blue, green, and pink haired) people, got to see multiple ways to solving the same problem, watched a struggling team succeed, jabbed myself with buttons more than I would like to admit, got permentally attached to safety glasses, conversed with people with experience way beyond my high school doors, consistently carried 4 boxes onto the field, and had a very fun 30 hours on a bus. I'm sad that I can't go to LSR this year. College isn't fair. But I'll be able to go to a greater show in Atlanta. I can't wait.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

my first regional was the UTC regional. It was at the meadows. It was hard to see and the food was overpriced. I wasnt really involved with the team at the time (wow i was dumb..) so em and this other kid just wandered around for the whole time.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My first regional was Southern california in 2002. After being taught so much about engineering and programming I went and got to see the robot I helped build go on to win the competition. It was just...wow! We went on to win our division and get 3rd place at nats that year, so not only was the regional, but the year itself was unbelievable.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

FIRST keeps growing each and every year, and seems to get a little better and more challenging, every year. When I went to my first regional in New York, I was awe struck. It was just so kool, so friendly, and so fun. Blown away. There is no way to describe a FIRST competition, you have to see it for yourself. But I can almost guarantee you that it will hook you in, and you'll keep coming back, till who knows when. I'm addicted to FIRST, along with many other people, and I hope u will be too. Just a tip of advice, don't just sit there. Explore, get involved, do everything and anything there is to be done. You'll have a blast. WELCOME TO FIRST.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

We were terrible at our first regional in Cleveland and I still had a great time.
The atmosphere, the energy and the enthusiasm was contagious and overwhelming. I had never seen anything like it and I attend alot of sporting events, professional and amature.
Don't just gauge your enjoyment of the regional on how your robot does and how many awards you've won.
There's more to FIRST than just winning and losing.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

The first regional i ever attended was the NYC Regional back in 2001 .

It was fun I saw Dean and Woodie for my first time there. They were both cool. Dean as a matter of fact had taken a picture with the 2001 522 Team Members and if i'm not mistaken with WILMA (2001 Girl) as well.

Later on that year I had met Deans Brother at Mt. Olive Mania in an offseason Novemeber event in Jersey Or was it PARC 5 in 2002 I forget.

My first National was 2002 in orlando. I must say my first time on the plane was Awesome both going and coming back. I had gotten Deans and Woodies Autograph on my 2002 shirt. Going to WDW was also awesome. I never thought that being away from my parents would be so fun. Usually a person like me would get homesick, as a matter of fact the first person to hug my folks was my ex g/f at the time and not me b/c i was upset of having to return from my awesome 5 day vacation.

And like many other posts here after your first regional you get hooked. FIRST is like a bug. After it bites you the first time your hooked forever. My coach always tells the visitors he can never keep the robotics door closed long enough b/c the members of the team would just break it down. Its just that addictive.

It's a fun learning experienced sport which will continue till the end of time as long as new students like you with the urge to have fun and learn continue to join your local HS's FIRST Robotics Team

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

THe same was my first as well. It was good except the lady singing the national anthem didn't know the words...needless to say...i was hooked.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

My First regional was SBPLI in 2002. I didn't particularly enjoy that one, mainly because I didn't understand most of what was going on.

My second regional, J&J (2 weeks later), was amazing. I enjoyed the competetion much more because I knew what it was going to be like. And because I was able to help in the pits.

Since that time, I have been to a number of competetions, but I always believe that the J&J regional is best.

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

agreed ... last year was my first regional and i hung around with only my friends from my team .. i mean we talked to others but as a group ... if you really wanna meet a bunch of new people, go around either alone or with only one other person ... i wandered with one other person at nationals and met a whole bunch of awesome people !!

as for how the regional was ... it was awesome ... i had such an awesome time ... nothing had said earlier about how high energy and how great regionals are really did anything for me ... but it was a blast being there ... and nationals was even better !!

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

I remember my first regional was for Zone Zeal at the UTC in New Haven, and when I intially walked int here were a few kid then I entered the actuall arena part and I stood in amaze at the people in the stand let alone when I finally made my way down to the pita!!!! i was not expecting what i saw, i was figuring like 10-20 people from each team and not that many people there. I was absolutly amazed at the feeling and intensity in the air and that was only on Thursday by time Saturday came around it was CRAZY!!!!!! :ahh:

I t was just amazing to see all these "nerds and geeks" in school go absolutly NUTS at this robotics compettion scream yelling cheering pounding banging chanting !!!!!! It was more intense then any pro game I have gone tooo! :D

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

my first regional we went to we own the regional it was crazy and shocking... :] :]

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

I too remeber that year. Post like that really make me miss FIRST.

As for my first regional it was also in San Jose. 1999 the first year of the SV regional. We camped in the mountains and had an AMAZING time watching our teacher scurry up a tree and being attacked by crazy animals at night. That was the year we were in the huge hanger if anyone else remebers that. Good times. :-(

AHHHH I miss first. Thank you god for the AZ regional in a week!

Re: First (1st) Regional Competition
 

It was COOOOLD in that hanger. Historic it may be, but I'm glad we haven't gone back. Remember the team party, that no one stayed for because we all wanted to go back to the hotel (or wherever) and warm up? It wasn't so bad for the first few hours, but as the day dragged on it just felt colder.

I also remember that was the first year of alliances, and for the finals you could keep declining until you were picked by a partner you liked. So lots of teams had made deals by about the middle of Saturday morning. But the picking teams could not choose among themselves. We were bumping along about 6 or 7 seed and had our eye on a team that had struggled early on, but now they had their bugs worked out and were climbing rapidly. Then they went and teamed with the Cheesy Poofs in their last round, got the high score of the day, and moved ahead of us in the seeding! Any guess who that might have been? Team 60. I don't think we got to play WITH each other until 2001, even though we went to all the same competitions, including the off-season ones. It got to be a running joke between us.


Actually my first competition was Nationals at Epcot in 1998. Back then it was more the size of a large regional now. We had a choice, we could go to Houston for a regional (the nearest at that time) or Orlando for Nationals. The cost was virtually the same, what would you do?

It was pretty warm when we walked in to the pit tent, and I was kind of worried about the heat. But that cold breeze, could it be? air conditioning? in a tent? how terribly inefficient! (and necessary as we would find out when the generators ran out of fuel mid-afternoon).

We got pounded and it was largely my fault as I'd never learned about not running electric motors at more than 25% of stall torque. I thought stall torque was the number you designed to. I'll never do that again! Amazingly one of our drivers was actually able to control our arm. We never did figure out how he managed it. It was so traumatic we haven't built an arm since. But I did get pretty well hooked, after all I'm still here.