2013 Minnesota North Star Regional

[Jon Stratis]

Things are a little odd this year... Last year, we had no problem signing up for two regionals (first NS as our "home regional" to make sure we got in, then Lake Superior when second event opened). This year, it all looks questionable - North Star is full, 10,000 Lakes is full, Lake Superior is down to 5 open spots, and the brand new Northern Lights is down to 12. That's just astonishing!

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Things are a little odd this year... Last year, we had no problem signing up for two regionals (first NS as our "home regional" to make sure we got in, then Lake Superior when second event opened). This year, it all looks questionable - North Star is full, 10,000 Lakes is full, Lake Superior is down to 5 open spots, and the brand new Northern Lights is down to 12. That's just astonishing!

Looks like it's time for that 5th regional already.....

Both Duluth regionals opened at 40 teams. Depending on how many more rookies come out of the woodwork, there may be some waitlist spots that open up. Now I just need to make sure I'm not stuck in a meeting tomorrow morning

[Jon Stratis]

You know Jeff, before we can let you open a regional in Rochester, you need to find an LRI replacement for yourself up north!

[Aren_Hill]

We're coming up to join from Ames, hopefully we've got our stuff well enough together I can join you to help inspect.

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Things are a little odd this year... Last year, we had no problem signing up for two regionals (first NS as our "home regional" to make sure we got in, then Lake Superior when second event opened). This year, it all looks questionable - North Star is full, 10,000 Lakes is full, Lake Superior is down to 5 open spots, and the brand new Northern Lights is down to 12. That's just astonishing!

The Minnesota regionals are filling up fast! Lake Superior is now down to 3 initial capacity spots and Northern Lights is still sitting at 12 initial capacity spots. I know tomorrow morning my mouse will be hovering over the register button for Northern Lights for team 3081.

It looks like 26(?) MN veteran teams have yet to register (taken from Mark's map) and we are currently sitting at 154 teams in Minnesota surpassing last year's 153 teams.

[Laaba 80]

There are still 29 openings at Wisconsin if you cant get into a Minnesota regional, although I have a feeling they will go quickly.

[gyroscopeRaptor]

Our former lead mentor, Mike Sundblad, moved and is now leading team 4665. I wish he was a bit faster so he could be team number 4633.

Can't wait, but if any organizers are reading this, only having one entrance into the pits/arena/practice field is a horrible mess. I recorded 11000 steps on my pedometer on the event's Friday.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by gyroscopeRaptor

Can't wait, but if any organizers are reading this, only having one entrance into the pits/arena/practice field is a horrible mess. I recorded 11000 steps on my pedometer on the event's Friday.

It is rough, but it's also pretty much the same everywhere else! At 10,000 Lakes you don't have all the stairs North Star does, but the pits are in a separate room, through a hallway split in half for robots/humans, with only one entrance. Lake Superior/Northern Lights is similar, with the pits and arena in different rooms, and a ton of stairs to get up to the stands.

With the need to safety glasses stands at the entrance to the pits, it makes it pretty tight to fit the teams in as is - we can't really leave any more room on the other side for a second entrance without interfering with the teams located on that side.

Think of it this way: All those steps makes up for all the sugary drinks and bad food every team scarfs down at events and the end of build season!