since when is fire performance a competition sport? WTF?

all I want to know is who is working on this project...

Discussion?, Bollocks.

Not impressed.

Fish Heads.

Coming to this discussion a bit late. Anyhow:

I'm in Austin, same as they apparently are. I'm pretty well-connected to the local fire community and I have *no idea* who's behind this. I certainly don't know every firedancer in central Texas, but I'd like to imagine that I do know the likely suspects who might bust out with a big event like this (2500 people is the largest event you can have in Texas without getting into much more stringent official oversight).

I've raised this as a question on our local firedancer's mailing list, and nobody else has heard of them; one person was asked by them to join his closed-membership group on Tribe, and when he asked for more info about them, they responded in the vaguest way possible.

So as far as I can tell, they have no presence in the local firedancing community or burner community--Austin burners are well-organized, stage big events, and would be obvious people to partner with if you weren't already in that community.

The most charitable thing I can say is that it's *very odd* for someone with no presence in the fire community at large, or my local community, to be organizing an event like this.

I posed this to them on their myspace page:
"

All indications that I have seen indicate that the NFPC is a scam, including info from Austin,Tx based performers. It would be nice if this wasn't the case, but your posts to certain forums have been challenged with no response.

Please tell me who you are affiliated with, what fire performers you folks know personally, what well known fire performer can vouch for your existence and for the legitimacy of your gathering.

Based on your information, it seems that the proposed $80 entrance fee is extremely steep and likely to bring the cost of being in the competition above the (undisclosed as of yet) prizes.

Also, your lack of respect to the current and past terminology use for poi is upsetting. "Meteor" is not a term that belongs to poi, neither by traditional nor current standings.

Please respond, as I am curious if you are legitimate or not.
Peace,
- Sui
"

I'll post with the response. My fear is that this is just a scam and will end with a shoddily run, potentially dangerous venue. With the economy what it is these days, we really don't need to be throwing our money away on a badly architected dream, particularly when there are folks much more suitable for delivering that dream properly.

Peace,
- Sui

Okay, I built a new gmail account and applied to the NFPA for entrance to the event.
They've finally responded and told me to read the MySpace site and follow the instructions.
www.myspace.com/fireperformers

On one of the side bars, I noticed some special rules for fire breathers. I downloaded the file and here it is

-=-=-=-=-=-=-
For Fire Breathers

Due to recent events where 3 fire breathers, in various locations, using carbon based fuels like lamp oil , coleman fuel, etc.,and subsequently contracting fatal esophageal , sinusoid, and cerebral cancers, the only fuels which may be used for fire breathing must be food grade fuels. Fire breathers MUST have their fuel inspected. The loss of these 3 performers is tragic and we must take action to stop this dangerous fuel use and promote the use of biologically safe fuels for our fire breathers. Mixtures of food grade powders, oils, and/or fuels, alcohols , or whatever mixtures you develop , must be utilized and inspected for safety of their ingredients. Sorry folks, start working on your mixtures. It is commonly said to avoid the use of alcohols due to their explosive volatility. It may be found that using a very low ratio of ethyl alcohol to some type of vegetable oil may subdue it's explosive tendancies. There are recipes floating around out there which indicate the use of methyl alcohols. DO NOT use methyl alcohols! They are toxic.NFPL is not responsible for any experimentation you may conduct nor the outcome of use of your fuel mixtures. You are responsible for researching these alternative fuels and techniques. This is one of the prime directives of NFPL, to identify and promote the safest and best performing nontoxic fuel for fire breathing. You are responsible for the fuel mixtures you choose to use and their risks. Below are some links to some alternatives and important information you should know.It is recommended that you read all MSDS sheets for all fuels.

There will be two fire breathing categories of competition.:1. Dry fuels 2. Liquid fuels

Each competition registration form for both dry and liquid fuels will have on them, the recipe for the mixture you are using. Help us in finding the safest fuels for our beloved fire breathers. Be careful!

www.homeofpoi.com/lessons_a...-11_52_194
Powdered Fuels:
www.instructables.com/id/Fire...as-Fuel/
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/dry_fuel.html

Liquid Fuels:
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/jugg....html
www.jugglingwithatwist.com/bio_....html -read the cautions!!!
-=-=-=-=-=-

If you follow the liquid fuel links they advocate the use of Kerosene. But I LOVE the fact that they are admonishing "carbon based" fuels. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I really wish these clowns weren't ending in disgrace in a few days. I think more of this nonsense would be a hoot.

Seriously though, proclaiming "safety" without doing the research is a dangerous thing. That's how accidents happen in the first place. I know their heart is in the right place, but giving people less than 2 weeks to locate and re-learn everything on a new fuel is NOT safe. Particularly when they don't offer a viable alternative.