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The Big Sky Fencing Association
was founded in 1980 by Matt Meismer who shepherded the fledgling
organization through many rough years trying to establish a foothold for
this great sport here in the land of cowboys, carbines and cutting
horses. Over the years, the club has met in many locations throughout
Billings including the YWCA, the YMCA, EMC (now
MSUB), the
Lincoln Center and even
in an alley behind a downtown chocolate store for a couple of months.
Throughout the ensuing decades, fencing in Billings has made steady
progress toward the widespread acceptance it enjoys here today.
The club is currently housed at a
fabulous facility in the Athletic Performance Center (APC) within the
Heights Fitness Club at 1323 Main Street in Billings. The APC is very
open with lofty ceilings and ergonomic flooring that is ideal for
fencing. Indeed, the club has come a long way from that alley of
its distant past.
The Big Sky Fencing Association is
dedicated to growing the sport of fencing in the Billings area. Every
effort is made to keep the fee structure as affordable as possible in
order to make fencing accessible to all who would like to participate.
All dues, class fees and tournament fees go directly toward rent,
equipment maintenance, insurance and other fees required to run the
club.
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Coaching is provided by veteran
fencers Anne Giuliano and Bryan Stafford along with other experienced
club members and guest coaches. Once students have
finished an introductory class, they are encouraged to develop at their own pace and many choose to
jump in with both feet, often practicing "homework" on their own during
days when there is no practice scheduled. Besides the structured
introductory classes,
individual and group lessons are also provided in order to advance the
overall skill level of club members as quickly as possible. This plays
directly to the strong curiosity and desire to learn as well as the
competitive nature possessed by many athletes who choose fencing as
their sport.
 The BSFA has
become loosely affiliated with
Utah
Valley Sport Fencing in Orem, Utah. This affiliation provides access
to high level coaching from UVSF club founders Julie Seal and Bethany
Andrews. Both Anne Giuliano and Bryan Stafford continue to receive
coaching instruction from Julie and Bethany which can then be brought
back to Billings and disseminated to BSFA members. BSFA members are
warmly welcomed at UVSF and any opportunity to visit is strongly
encouraged. The BSFA is a
USFA member
organization in good standing and we are proud to be a rising star in
the Inland Empire division! See you on the
piste! |
USFA
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