Championships for dummies

[EricH]

Actually, if you are in a time crunch, the main pit entrance had a temporary mini-food court, with a lot of the same places as you'd see at CNN. Or you can try the stadium food at the Dome.

MARTA--Definitely very good. If you are near the airport, you'll get a lot of mileage out of a pass. If you're walking distance from the venue, it's pretty much one way on arrival, the other way on departure.

Shoes: plan for walking; if you are going from venue to pit with scouting data for your drive team, make sure you can hustle in your shoes.

Final note: Da Vinci is VEX territory and has two fields; Einstein is FLL territory until Saturday afternoon, when it becomes the Championship field.

[Koko Ed]

Oh by the way.
If you are lookign for instant inspiration you should visit the FIRST Hall of Fame and see how all of those Chairman's Award winning teams runa first rate program adn see how you can also do more for the FIRST community.

[Chris_Elston]

Is the schedule still the same at the Championship?

Section 8.2
8.2 Practice Round

Do you still have Thursday as practice day, Friday and Saturday for quailifying rounds?

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by chakorules

Is the schedule still the same at the Championship?

The agenda for Championships can be found here. It was just updated this week.

[JoelP]

Regarding the workshops at the championships,

1- If we purchase a pass to one or all days, does the pass allow us into just one workshop that day, or as many workshops as we want to attend on that day?

2- Key members of our team will not be able to attend workshops that would really help improve our team because they are needed elsewhere, such as in the pits and on the drive team. So will we be able to bring in a video camera and record the workshops so the whole team can view it later on?

Thanks for all your help!

[KarenH]

Food--Last year, there was some type of cafe place in the CNN center that was popular for breakfast. Bacon, eggs, muffins, & most everything. Drawback: long lines. For lunch, there was a big BBQ setup on the grass outside the GWCC. I didn't try it, but it was obviously a hit (meaning, long lines).

Weather--In 2004, it was beautiful, sunny and warm the whole time. Last year, it was near-freezing, with the occasional soaked-to-the-skin downpour. So check the weather before you go! If there's any chance of rain, carry a poncho with you every time you're outdoors. The weather in Atlanta can do just about anything in the spring, from "fire weather" to hurricanes.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by KarenH

Weather--In 2004, it was beautiful, sunny and warm the whole time. Last year, it was near-freezing, with the occasional soaked-to-the-skin downpour. So check the weather before you go! If there's any chance of rain, carry a poncho with you every time you're outdoors. The weather in Atlanta can do just about anything in the spring, from "fire weather" to hurricanes.

Whoa, near-freezing? Are we talking about the same event? lol

I thought that the weather at the Championships in 2005 was really warm (except Saturday morning); I was wearing a tee shirt and shorts the whole time. I'm pretty sure the temperatures were in the upper sixties and lower seventies for all three days.

Then again, being from New England I consider anything over 55-60 F warm.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Whoa, near-freezing? Are we talking about the same event? lol

I thought that the weather at the Championships in 2005 was really warm (except Saturday morning); I was wearing a tee shirt and shorts the whole time. I'm pretty sure the temperatures were in the upper sixties and lower seventies for all three days.

Then again, being from New England I consider anything over 55-60 F warm.

I'm guessing she was talking about Saturday night's wrap party. I know some people on my team who likened it to being back in CT in April, which isnt that bad, but it's a shock when you realize you are down south where it is supposed to be like 70+ degrees every day. (Or, that's what the southerners I talk to would like to have us northerners think anyways )

[KathieK]

Last year's wrap party WAS cold (especially when you are dumping buckets of ice on each other at the end of the event - a yearly ritual now for a certain team...). Bring a jacket with you to Saturday's competition if they are expecting cooler temps and you plan to attend the wrap party.

JoelP- 1- If we purchase a pass to one or all days, does the pass allow us into just one workshop that day, or as many workshops as we want to attend on that day?

An individual one-day pass allows one person to attend as many session as (s)he wants, on that one day only. A three day pass would allow attendance at any session you want. A 5-person pass allows you to transfer the pass among your team members so that any 5 people can attend any session(s) on the day or days you purchase passes for.

2- Key members of our team will not be able to attend workshops that would really help improve our team because they are needed elsewhere, such as in the pits and on the drive team. So will we be able to bring in a video camera and record the workshops so the whole team can view it later on?

I do not believe that is possible. However, all presenters have been asked to provide copies of their sessions which will be posted on the FIRST website at a later date.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Whoa, near-freezing? Are we talking about the same event? lol

I thought that the weather at the Championships in 2005 was really warm (except Saturday morning); I was wearing a tee shirt and shorts the whole time. I'm pretty sure the temperatures were in the upper sixties and lower seventies for all three days.

Then again, being from New England I consider anything over 55-60 F warm.

Sunday, April 24, 2005 (the day after last year's Championship), the low was 34 F in Atlanta. It was a record low for that date since record-keeping began in 1878. I got this information from the
NOAA site. The average low for April was 50.3 F. And yes, I heard the Atlanta natives complaining about the cold. But it WAS "fire weather" a few days before that!

My point is, check the weather before you go, and come prepared.

[JoelP]

Quote:
2- Key members of our team will not be able to attend workshops that would really help improve our team because they are needed elsewhere, such as in the pits and on the drive team. So will we be able to bring in a video camera and record the workshops so the whole team can view it later on?
I do not believe that is possible. However, all presenters have been asked to provide copies of their sessions which will be posted on the FIRST website at a later date.

I don't see why we wouldn't be able to, since the point of these workshops is to spread knowledge and help teams, and aren't all the speakers volunteers anyway? It's not like they're making money by speaking at the workshops (I would think that the passes we pay for is for the rooms the seminars are held in and to make sure only a safe number of people attend.).

[blue_crew]

how does wednesday night work? I know 3 representatives uncrate the robot. so thats 2 kids and an adult. Do you bring the tools in at the same time? Are you allowed to work on your robot at all?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by blue_crew

how does wednesday night work? I know 3 representatives uncrate the robot. so thats 2 kids and an adult. Do you bring the tools in at the same time? Are you allowed to work on your robot at all?

You bring the tools you need to open your crate. And that's all you do - open your crate, and get it ready for the drayage firm to take out to store. No working on the robot. No setting up pit displays.

[blue_crew]

My team is shipping our tools to atlanta in a crate using the same drayage company FIRST uses. Should we keep out the tools we need to uncrate the robot separate from the tool crate?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by blue_crew

My team is shipping our tools to atlanta in a crate using the same drayage company FIRST uses. Should we keep out the tools we need to uncrate the robot separate from the tool crate?

If you need something to open the box with, it has to be outside the box. And don't forget safety glasses!