Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

OK, well the team decided that we are going by bus,( WHY, I DON'T KNOW, 14 HOUR BUS RIDE) but it sounds fun with the team

Another question :

This is my first-time going to WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP so I want to take everything in. What are things that I should consider doing and vice-versa? Basically anything that a first-time person should know about attending the WORLD CHAMPS.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

The CNN Center Tour was to me Time well spent.
Atlanta Underground is Fun.
Coke World is Fun.
There is much to do in Atlanta!

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

ATL was a blast! we took a red-eye flight from LAx to the atlanta airport tuesday night. Our team was exhasted when we got there it was about 8-7 in the morning because, who sleeps on a plane trip to a robotics competion? We got there and we took the MARTA to close to our hotel and walked there. Our team stayed at the Embassy Suites, I have to say thats probably the best location. We got there on a Wendsday so our team members can have a day to explore the town, and its nice to have a day to relax b4 the competition. The MARTA pass comes in handy when doing this. We walked to the Dome everyday. It wasnt much of a walk just about 4-5 blocks. After the competition the party was a blast!! I know our team loved it and we met some cool people from other teams. We left the next day. On our team the cost per member came out to $500 for 4 night hotel and airfare, but our team paid for some of it.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

I thought the underground was super lame, and so did most of the people on my team (in 2004), but that's just us.

We didn't do anything touristy really. I was more than satisfied just to be able to go out to dinner/spend nights hanging around random hotels/places in Atlanta with people I get to see once every year or two.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

Team 11 went to ATL by bus back in 2004, the ride took us 18 hours but it was a bit cheaper...granted you do get a little restless towards the end (piece of advice...bring lots of snacks and VHS for the ride). However in 2003 and 2005 they went by plane, we didn't have a problem with our tools being transported...we jsut made sure everything was packed securely and told the security folks what was in the crates before checking them.

As for the Wrap Party, I agree with what's been posted. If you're going to make/meet friends then by all means go, if however you're going to spend time with your team, that time could be better spent elsewhere.

The wrap was pretty much identical from 04-05 so i didn't stay the entire time last year but I ahd fun nonetheless.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

Try and get your team to take advantage of everything the Championships has to offer - if there are booths there from colleges, etc., visit them. Same for the sponsors. Set some time aside to visit the pits - you'll undoubtedly be seeing teams you've never encountered before, and it takes a lot longer to do than at a regional competition! GO OUTSIDE and throw a frisbee or just relax and meet other teams. Be sure to join the Chief Delphi Group Hug (more about that will be posted as it gets closer, I'm sure). When you're team is not competing visit some of the other divisions to see what's going on there. Visit the FLL and FVC competitions when they are occuring. Be sure to be in the right division area EARLY for opening ceremonies so you can get a good view; same for the closing ceremonies. Register to attend the Conference; a lot of great sessions are offered at it. Print up some business cards with your contact info on them so you can hand them out as you make new contacts. I have loved each wrap party I've been to; a nice way to say goodbye to friends you only see once or twice a year at events.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

Last year Team 1676 from NJ flew down to ATL (from EWR), because it actually ended up cheaper than a bus (!) Tools & equipment were driven down by the best parents that any team could ever ask for, bar none.

In Atlanta, there's plenty to do, like any big city. Baseball is always nice. On the bus ride, avoid sugary snacks, it'll just make you restless.

At the dome, make a lot of time to visit other teams, spend time learning how they do things, everything, make friends. Juniors should know that some colleges have displays there. Many of the FIRST sponsors and suppliers have tables, where you can get a lot of good info. I spent an hour with an engineer from FESTO, and now I know how pneumatic valves really work...

I guess the point is, treat it as the rare opportunity to learn a LOT of new stuff, from some of the best and brightest you'll ever meet. Many aren't frm NJ, so they have a different outlook. Oh, and don't forget the mentors, too...

Don

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

Well, when I attend the Champs, I want to meet up with alot of people on CD and talk to them!

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

The last two years we have flown to Atlanta and used MARTA to get around. Last year we packed the crate light to save money and hauled tools through the airport. About half of the team members had a bag with tools in it. I used a toolbox on wheels. It came in handy as other bags could be stacked on top.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

last year, our whole team & most of the engineers flew from detroit to atlanta, and had two of our engineers drive a truck down with our supplies + tools

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

NEVER TAKE A BUS UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Ship your tools with the robot. Pack light.

From NJ the bus trip is a killer and you will be so tired by the time you get there the whole event will be tainted. We did the bus trip last year. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Plan to go to the party- team members need to socialize with the teams from the rest of the country and have some fun. The whole point of FIRST is to get these kind of experiences. Why would you want to pass them up?

See you in the airport.......we always meet the other NJ teams on the way out.

WC :cool:

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

I saw another FIRST team at DTW, but the name slips my mind, I kinda wish there would have been another FIRST team on the plane with us. However, I conversed with an engineer who sat next to me on the way home. I intend on flying next year and using the airport shuttle to get to our hotel. I was told not to rely solely on MARTA for transportation to the airport (but they do have a station right between the Dome and The Omni). Looks like a nonstop flight will run me around $250...I payed like $220 last year.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

Must Do's at championship:

Bring lots of extra team t-shirts and buttons. Use this as an icebreaker to trade with other people and meet as many as possible. This is usually done at regionals, but not to the extent as it is at the championship

Many people will start making lists of everyone they want to meet from CD. Make your list before you go and carry it with you. It'll remind you of who you have yet to meet.

Attend the workshops if you have time. There are lots of topics to help one become a better mentor or better builder. Check out the topics before the competition and pre register.

I didn't spend a whole lot of time watching actual matches, but most people want to. I figure there will be lots of promovideos later and many matches are archived.

The Vex party was a pretty good, I don't know if they'll do that again or not... But the Wrap party was awesome. I highly recomend it.

Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.
 

I know that if you are active in the forums like many of us are, you will have people to meet and things to see. However, I'd like to speak for a moment from the point of view of the average not-CD team member when I give this advice.

There are a few things you need to get done at Champs, but in my opinion the team always comes first. Make sure you set aside enough time each evening for your drive crews to meet with your scouts or however you arrange this. ATL is a big place, and the Georgia Dome is an awesome but colossal venue. There is a lot to do, but more important than which transport you use is when you meet as a team in the evening to go back to your hotel.

Set a time. Be persistent. Know where everybody is, because if you're about to get on a plane and suddenly little Johnny and Susie are missing, you have a problem, and the plane won't wait too long.

Fro the past few years, Team 461 has travelled from Indianapolis, IN to Championships by plane. This year, we will embark from the bursting metropolis of West Lafayette, IN by bus. A lot of people have been really apprehensive, but for the sake of money it can be very helpful, especially if you have a particularly large team.

Here are a few bus-travelling tips that I have learned from travelling to regionals as well as on band trips:

1) Recommend that people bring pillows. Really. Unless you have a super-compliant neighbor, bring a pillow.

2) Aisles are kind of like beds, in that they're flat and you can stretch out. Use the said aisles if necessary.

3) Please don't use the bathroom unless it's an emergency. For the sake of your team...

4) Bring ample snacks, and lots of water. Whether or not you've noticed, travelling is very exhausting, and dehydration is something that a lot of people forget about. They try to justify tiredness the next day with "lack of sleep", but lack of water can play a big role.

5) Keep in mind that you'll be eating a lot of fast food on your trip, which isn't always going to give you what you need nutrition-wise. I'm not your mother, but I'm a healthy eater. Apples are tasty. Bring one, or two, or three...

With those tips in mind, I will now speak from the view of the average team member who will get very annoyed with their CDified teammates for not wanting to go on tours or go see stuff. I've been guilty of this..."but I want to meet my friends!".

Not your entire team is in touch with the community. Sure, sucks for them, but try to make sure the team comes first. If you're a lone attender, that doesn't apply.

Good luck, and have a safe trip.
Oh, and I support the trailer thing. We take one too.

- Genia