Russian Teams in FIRST!!!

[PsychoPhil]

Originally posted by Michael Murphy
Phil, SlaveofChernobl was talking about a Russian team for the same reason you're starting a team in Germany. If you'll read one of the previous posts, he says that he's originally from the Ukraine, so it makes perfect sense for him to want a team coming out of his home.

I got it by now that Michael (that he's from the Ukraine), I read the post that he wrote about that. I just wanted to clarify that I didn't know that in my first post, since he explained it after my first post, while he was also talking about WW II for whatever reason, which i thought was strange....

But it's okay by now, everybody seems to see what the confusion was about, and done now... ;-)

Phil


PS: Gotta add an AYE here, and yeah, Denmark sounds reasonable to me, think you're right Ben...

[DanL]

A quick three-second Google search reveals the answer: http://www.lego.com/legoland/

One in Windsor (England), Billund (Denmark), California, and Deutschland. I say the one in Germany would be the most fun

[Ian W.]

hmm, i feel like heading out to CA next spring.... anyone for a national championship in legoland CA?

[Ben Mitchell]

AYE!

[Madison]

Originally posted by SuperDanman
A quick three-second Google search reveals the answer: http://www.lego.com/legoland/

One in Windsor (England), Billund (Denmark), California, and Deutschland. I say the one in Germany would be the most fun

Search. Ha!

Why didn't you just ask me?

Obviously, the Legoland in Denmark is the oldest, followed by Windsor, and the California, and then Germany, I think. I could be all mixed up, though.

Either way, they rock.

And, to keep things on topic, international FIRST teams are a good thing. The more we get, the better the chance of there being an international regional, and that'd be tres-cool.

[ChrisH]

LegoLand, CA is where we have the California Lego League champs. I went there for that event a couple of years ago. I was impressed by the Lego structures, even if they do "cheat" sometimes by giving them steel frames.

The competition was pretty good too. But most high schoolers would be bored by the theme park aspects. The rides are pretty tame except one moderately thrilling rollercoaster. ( for those of you familiar with Magic Mountain, think "Gold Rusher")

There is also an Autopia like area where kids get to "learn to drive". But unlike Disney's Autopia, you can decide where you want to go. You are also expected to observe stop signs and traffic lights. I was impressed that they would build such a thing here in the lawsuit capitol of the world. The only problem is that most high schoolers are too big!

Of course FIRST students would be so fascinated by the engineering aspects of the place, that they wouldn't even notice the rides anyway, right? It is a great place for kids 3-10 or 12, but after that I think most kids would be bored. So I don't think we'd want them hosting the Championship for FIRST. Not that I'd object to having it here in CA, I can just think of better places.

ChrisH

[Ian W.]

darn, hmm, any room for a national championship in hawaii? and if there's a russian team, it's closer for them too

[PsychoPhil]

...there's a Legoland in Germany? I didn't even know that and I'm German... :-(

And well yeah, you all just come to Germany and visit me, then I don't feel so alone in my home country which doesn't even have a FIRST team yet (hopefully we do by September, I'll work on it)!!

So long, Phil

[Ian W.]

heh, there'd better be a german team by next september, or else...

[Firewolf]

Originally posted by Ian W.
darn, hmm, any room for a national championship in hawaii? and if there's a russian team, it's closer for them too

Hawaii, yay! someplace i can fit in!
(w/ our hawaiin shirts in nj))

[Madison]

Originally posted by PsychoPhil
...there's a Legoland in Germany? I didn't even know that and I'm German... :-(

http://www.lego.com/eng/legoland/deu...nd/default.asp

It's brand-spankin' new.

Originally posted by ChrisH
There is also an Autopia like area where kids get to "learn to drive". But unlike Disney's Autopia, you can decide where you want to go.

Of course, if it weren't for our lawsuit prone society, you'd still be able to drive freely about Disneyland's Autopia! . . . and, of course, if they hadn't neutered it in 1959 to make for 3 other very cool attractions. (Matterhorn Mountain, The Submarine Voyage, and the Disneyland Monorail, for those keeping track at home.)

[Ian W.]

god michael, sometimes you scare me

[Madison]

Originally posted by Ian W.
god michael, sometimes you scare me

Only sometimes?

I should be doing much better than that by now.

It's time to regroup and double my efforts!

[Ian W.]

ahhh!!!! run for your lives!!!!!

maybe we should warn the russians about you, they may have second thoughts about starting a team...

[GotGuts610]

Originally posted by Ian W.
god michael, sometimes you scare me

You scare me too Michael, but definitely all the time...Especially when you try to dance to "Jump On It" during building time.

As for the real reason for this topic, I think that having Russian, and foreign teams in general would be great, both for widening the scope of FIRST and also to get more media coverage (as in, maybe less comparing us to battlebots?). With foreign teams, in addition to nationals, we'll also need to have internationals, preferably in a neutral location...hmm, does Sweden have any theme parks?