When is the second Canadian Regionals?/ North America Regionals should be open.

[The Dark Toxicroak]

The Pokémon TCG Regional Championships divide the U.S. and Canada into large regions, giving players TWO opportunities to earn a Travel Award to their respective National Championships! Held in cities across the U.S. and Canada, each Regional Championship is part of a title event series where players compete for the title of Regional Champion! Results of the Regional Championships can give a serious boost to a player’s Championship Points and chances of getting into the 2012 World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

I am just curious as Canadians are suppose to get two chances at a trip however no regional has been scheduled for November and it is a month away to book a flight across the country. Also we can't get our second trip from the USA regionals due to this prizing below



1st Place

A Pokémon TCG Regional Championships 1st Place medal
A Travel Award for the winner (including a parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2011 U.S. National Championships at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, OR the Canada National Championships in Toronto, ON.*

* Non-U.S. residents are not eligible to collect a Travel Award to the U.S. National Championships, as the U.S. Nationals are open to U.S. residents only. Non-Canadian residents are not eligible to collect a Travel Award to the Canadian National Championships, as the Canadian Nationals are open to Canadian residents only. If a non-resident wins a Regional Championship, the Travel Award will pass down to the next eligible resident. All other prizes will be awarded to the actual winner of the event.

Canadians as it stand only have one chance to win a trip to Canadian nationals and only one date for regionals so far. It is pretty late for that to change for anyone who has to travel. Not only that but should we not get a chance to go two regionals it puts a bias towards the states. People from the states will have a chance to go to two and a chance to win more championship points and more prizes.

Of course Canadians can still go to the states to win championship points but with out the ability to win any more then a box of cards it hardly would be worth it. This puts Canada in a situation where a huge majority will only even consider one regionals when you need to go to 2 to maximize Championship points.

I feel with the championships points structure and the loss of scholarships at Regionals this is the year to make North America regionals open. In fact I would even argue Canadian nationals should be dropped with a focus on just a single open North American Nationals but that is arguable.

Thoughts?

 

[MGS-58]

Wouldn't it just be better if Canada AND Mexico get our own invite system instead of being lumped in with the Americans? Let me just say that I in no way believe that American players are better than Canadian and Mexican players but we do get a LOT less events than compared to the US. For example, British Columbia Canada gets a total of 3 fall Battle Roads compared to Washington's 18. Unless we were to head to the US literally a dozen times we won't come close to the # of points that say a Washington player can get.

 

[P_A]

As far as I heard, Quebec will have a regional opposite from the normal time for one in Toronto, but I can't confirm that. If it's true, it might be easier for Ontario residents to attend, but it's still possible for those from the west to attend as well, even though it will be a longer flight.

I doubt you'll get many takers for your idea of a combined open North American "Nationals." People would have to get a visa to play in it regardless of where it was situated (US or Canadian soil). And the opposite country would have untold thousands of complaints for lack of a Nationals in either country. No, that would be a huge mistake in my opinion.

 

[Mystery Thing]

You still can go to two regionals and get points from both, no matter the country. You may choose it to be not worth the cost, but you can do it if you want to.

 

[ogremarauder]

Wouldn't it just be better if Canada AND Mexico get our own invite system instead of being lumped in with the Americans? Let me just say that I in no way believe that American players are better than Canadian and Mexican players but we do get a LOT less events than compared to the US. For example, British Columbia Canada gets a total of 3 fall Battle Roads compared to Washington's 18. Unless we were to head to the US literally a dozen times we won't come close to the # of points that say a Washington player can get.

I don't think it is a matter of player 'quality', rather one of player 'quantity'. We have many more players here in the U.S. Not to say that we are better, we are just more numerous.

 

[FirestormXVI]

As far as I heard, Quebec will have a regional opposite from the normal time for one in Toronto, but I can't confirm that. If it's true, it might be easier for Ontario residents to attend, but it's still possible for those from the west to attend as well, even though it will be a longer flight.

I doubt you'll get many takers for your idea of a combined open North American "Nationals." People would have to get a visa to play in it regardless of where it was situated (US or Canadian soil). And the opposite country would have untold thousands of complaints for lack of a Nationals in either country. No, that would be a huge mistake in my opinion.

The original announcement said there would be two regionals in Canada so unless Toronto doesn't get one, there won't be one in Quebec as the other would be in the west.

You don't need a Visa to play in the other country. For the Video Game competition there were a good half dozen or so of us from Canada playing in Indianapolis.

Both Canadian regionals are going to be in April.

 

[Pokeplayer]

For BC players....the NW Regionals are being held Nov 12-13 in Salem Oregon. BDS is running the event...

 

[The Dark Toxicroak]

The thing I am saying pokeplayer is where is the second event Canadians can win a trip to their respective nationals from?

We can't win that in the US and same thing Geoff.

Yes we can all go to NW regionals and I am sure many will... that doesn't really answer either of the questions I posed. I wasn't saying Canadians can't come to the US and vice versa I was saying the system is placing a bias on canadians in forcing them to the US then not letting them win all the prizes a regional winner deserves.

and if both Canadian regionals are in April then why can't we win a trip in Novemeber like the faq implies?

 

[P_A]

The original announcement said there would be two regionals in Canada so unless Toronto doesn't get one, there won't be one in Quebec as the other would be in the west.

You don't need a Visa to play in the other country. For the Video Game competition there were a good half dozen or so of us from Canada playing in Indianapolis.

Both Canadian regionals are going to be in April.

Hmmm, ok, I guess my source was wrong then. Sorry for the mis-information.

 

[Rainbowgym]

The thing I am saying pokeplayer is where is the second event Canadians can win a trip to their respective nationals from?

We can't win that in the US and same thing Geoff.

Yes we can all go to NW regionals and I am sure many will... that doesn't really answer either of the questions I posed. I wasn't saying Canadians can't come to the US and vice versa I was saying the system is placing a bias on canadians in forcing them to the US then not letting them win all the prizes a regional winner deserves.

and if both Canadian regionals are in April then why can't we win a trip in Novemeber like the faq implies?

We Europeans never had a Regionals with Scholarships. (also NO trip/travel giving Stadium Challenge in the past)
To earn then we had to travel overseas.
And if you got that first place at a NA Regionals you never got the travel allowance because you were NOT a USA/Canadian resident.


If a Regional winner deserves to get all prizes I have many many dollars I should have gotten iso the Canadian ending up below me/us at your Regionals the past years.

I understand you want your "local" Regionals split up, but I think you have to talk with your PTO about that.

 

[FirestormXVI]

The thing I am saying pokeplayer is where is the second event Canadians can win a trip to their respective nationals from?

We can't win that in the US and same thing Geoff.

Yes we can all go to NW regionals and I am sure many will... that doesn't really answer either of the questions I posed. I wasn't saying Canadians can't come to the US and vice versa I was saying the system is placing a bias on canadians in forcing them to the US then not letting them win all the prizes a regional winner deserves.

and if both Canadian regionals are in April then why can't we win a trip in Novemeber like the faq implies?

Honestly I think it's an issue of them booking hotels for winners in advance and only have 2 in Toronto and 13 in Indianapolis guaranteed. If a winner from Canada wins in the US, they'd need to change it to 3 in Toronto and 12 in Indianapolis.

I do agree it's a shame we can't go down to Oregon and compete for a prize. I would love to get clarification on if we can at least get the Byes or $300 travel stipends.