| The Air Blade by Band Shoppe! |
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| Written by Catina Anderson | ||||
| Wednesday, 14 May 2008 | ||||
Page 1 of 2 A new equipment option for your weapons book!
This month, Band Shoppe released the exciting new “Air Blade.” The Air Blade is an alternative equipment choice for your weapons book. It functions and feels similar to a rifle when spinning but certainly has a much less traditional “look.” Here is a quick review of this excellent new option! The Air Blade is constructed from ABS plastic; a more rigid version of the type of plastic that car bumpers are made from. It is smooth and sonic-welded with no screws in order to avoid weak points. J. Pearison from Band Shoppe explains that they originally set out to make this equipment in wood. However, after many prototypes and tests they found that the ABS plastic was a much better choice both for balance and durability because of the unique cut-outs in the design. The final design, he says, is “a lot stronger than a wooden rifle.” This morning I headed out to the front yard where I found similar success with backhands and tosses, essentially being able to perform each skill the first time I tried it. Everything feels solid and sturdy. "Old-school" two-handed double time was even okay for me, although I’m admittedly “slow” in performing this skill. My husband who is much faster and actually does spin in double time (as opposed to mine which are actually slower than regular hand spins) found the lack of “neck” area to be a little disconcerting. There is no thin part where the traditional rifle has the “neck.” However, for regular hand spins, the cutout is in the perfect spot to allow for grip and the plastic is wide enough for a solid thumb pressed against the back of the piece of equipment for stabilization. Despite the minor inconsistency from the rifle, the interesting cutouts allow for the development of a wide range of hand placements and choreographic innovation that will be unique to this new piece of equipment. I’m excited to see what all of the talent and creativity of our activity does with the countless options for hand placement!
Mr. Pearison says the patented design of the Air Blade grew out of Band Shoppe’s commitment to innovate as well as feedback from local instructors that they were looking for a new alternative to the traditionally available equipment.
 UPDATE! May 29, 2008: Check out the YouTube videos posted by Band Shoppe that show sample routines performed by a group of high school performers to see what the Air Blade looks like in an ensemble performance! UPDATE! July 2008: Band Shoppe has linked to this video clip from YouTube of the Boston Crusaders spinning the Air Blade in their show this summer - for more of an idea of how they look on the field! Special Thanks to Adam Albright for sharing his review and video with Color Guard Educators. Adam has been teaching color guard for seventeen years, and plans to spin until he loses his grip or his sanity. He was the director of the Brouhaha Youth Organization from 1993 to 2005. Adam currently teaches color guard at both the William Penn and Avon Grove High Schools . Thanks also to J. Pearison and Band Shoppe for providing additional photographs and information for this article.  No. 1 : Air Blade model Just wanted to let people know the girl in the pictures is from Castle High School in Indiana. We are putting together a video to be on the web page of Bandshoppe. It will be there soon.   Submitted by Guest User • 2008-05-15 07:49:55 No. 2 : Air Blade Just imagine the opportunities this will open up!
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'>Submitted by DrillMaster • 2008-05-27 12:17:31 No. 3 : Air Blade My guard caption head just bought these for our guard. They're really weird to spin at first, but... once you get used to it, almost anything you spin looks amazing. Submitted by GuardGirl • 2008-06-02 21:00:52 No. 4 : How cool Well that is fun, when I get hooked up with a new guard I'll need to buy some!
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'>Submitted by Talina • 2008-06-23 15:28:21 No. 5 : mmmmm Good point--- Most judges may not have spun or seen these yet, meaning they would be hard to critique technique- wise and may be used to cover any weakness vs. the definite use of a rifle. Equiptment will not be taken by wind as easily Bad point--- the many cut-outs do not provide as streamlined and crip visuals as a rife-- work may look unclean. Also, if you have spinners who are used to rifle they may have a hard time getting aclimated to the (very different) feel. If you have good weapon technique it may not appear as impressive or impactfull.
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'>Submitted by Guest User • 2008-06-25 16:23:40 No. 6 : air blade first time taht i saw the air blade was at a camp....  i wanted one so bad so i found this website and now i am trying to find a way to get one of my own Submitted by Guest User • 2008-06-30 13:54:20 No. 7 : plz i want one  Submitted by Guest User • 2008-07-04 16:01:47 No. 8 : 2009 Band Shoppe Model Search WOULD YOU LIKE TO MODEL FOR THE 2009 BAND SHOPPE CATALOG? The Band Shoppe is now casting for their 2009 Band Shoppe Catalogs! Models MUST look like they are high school age. You must be between 5'6" and 6" tall. Male's hair cannot be too long. Models must be in good physical shape. Models must also live within driving distance of Evansville, Indiana and be able to participate in photoshoots around the first week of December 2008. We cannot pay for travel , but you will be paid a good hourly fee. Submissions must be sent before September 17th! Go to www.BandShoppe.com and click on "Model for Band Shoppe" at bottom of page. Please send Name, phone number, location, age, height and weight.... Along with a RECENT photo(s) to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Photos MUST represent what you currently look like. Please DO NOT contact the Band Shoppe directly. You will only be referred to the email address stated below. An Independent Casting Director is casting Models for them. Thank you, Lori Rosas Band Shoppe Casting Director -- The Band Shoppe MODEL SEARCH This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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'>Submitted by Guest User • 2008-09-02 10:38:01 No. 9 : blade we are spinning these for fall season, and i just want to say that they are weord at first but alot of fun. they roll on the turf and are a blast. the girls will have a little trouble at first because they are heavy. so the tosses are a little harder, but still a blast to spin tnas the girls should have a good time. Submitted by Guest User • 2008-09-17 12:54:32 No. 10 : airbladeFREAK i think that these are simple, i just picked one up the other day and my guard instructor of over like 15 years was like... "how can yuo do that, where did you learn that, who taught you?" im like easy look and i tossed it turned and caught it behind my back, everyone was like WOOOOOOOO! she freaked. but yea 
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'>Submitted by Guest User • 2008-12-10 20:58:16 No. 11 : Use of Air Blade as seen by WGI WGI has said that Use of the Air Blade will not count for equipment time. Be careful when writing your show, to make sure you have another piece of equipment in use if you decide to add the Air Blade to your show. Submitted by Guest User • 2009-01-13 08:58:52 No. 12 : Air Blade: Avoid a Timing Penalty Absolutely correct! Check out our new article as well explaining how the air blade will be evaluated with clear explanation from WGI! It's featured for January on the home page! Submitted by editor • 2009-01-13 21:34:03 No. 13 : air blade hello, i'm looking for an air blade, there in holland not yet for sale. is it really the same as a rifle?? there a 2 groups who use the airblade in holland, the pride and avalance, i think the groups bold theme in amerika. i think i have to waite using the air blade! is the air- blade much different than a riffle?? greet from holland! Marije van Leusen
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'>Submitted by Guest User • 2009-01-18 05:57:33 No. 14 : Instructor I am now available to write routines for the Air Blade and other weapons for your winterguard or marching band performances. I am currently working with the BYU Marching Band. I can write full ensemble drill routines for your winterguard or marching band. I can then either send the written routine to your school or dance group, or for an additional fee, I can come to you and clean up your routines and help with technique! Email me for further information. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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'>Submitted by Susan Harris • 2009-09-13 19:07:14 No. 15 : yeaaaaa omg they are better that the flags!!! i LOVE them. so yea..... Submitted by Guest User • 2009-10-15 17:52:30 |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 ) | ||||
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