First let me say, I had a blast at the SBE.
My self and 2 friends drove down from VT wednesday night and stayed at the Crowne Plaza until Saturday. This was the largest billiard event any of us had ever been to.
I've never seen so many pool tables in one spot ever.. it was amazing.
I'm not ashamed to admit, I got 5-1'd both sets in the amateur open. I drew Chris Bruner... this kid was out from anywhere(he got beat just before the money round).
After I was out of the tournament I set out what I went there to do. Find a new cue. There were sooooooooo many to choose from..
I stopped by the cornerstone cue booth which was incredible to say the least.. He had every cue I could imagine.. I looked at a few and asked about the pricing and such.. I saw an incredible southwest ebony with inlays... I wish I had taken pics. Price tag? 15,000. I chuckled and in my head said (I wish..). I asked him about a beautiful tasc.. 10,000.. I laughed again and realized I have an eye for the expensive.. I told him my price range and hit with a few cues, none hit as amazing as the scruggs that was pulled out of the case for me. But I still didn't pull the trigger on the $1,800 scruggs.
I continued my search and eventually found my way to the blackcreek booth. This is where I made my first purchase! Looking at the cues I instantly fell in love with a 4 point ebony into birdseye with fantastic veneers. I asked who I believe to be travis if I could hit some and he said absolutely. As soon as I hit a few balls I had to have it!
That was my thursday at the expo. Pretty sweet.
Friday morning my buddies decided since we are all out of the amateur open they were sleeping until noon. Of course being the pool junkie I am I was up and out the door by 9. Most of the vendors don't open their doors until 10:30am or so.. so I hung out in the pit and watched some great pool.. Eventually I mosied up stairs.
I was constantly whipping my head around spotting all the pros.. It was pretty cool to just see them kickin' it and chit chatting and getting pics with anyone and everyone who went up to them. I eventually met the largest man at the expo... Justin Collett. I shook his hand but I was still on a mission and I always hear him talking about sugartree cues(at this point I hadn't seen a sugartree booth... so I was wondering where all those sugartrees were hiding out), I asked him where they were and he brought me over to the new2youcues guys. I stood there amazed, sugartrees up close.. most beautiful woods I have ever seen. I had to have one.
Saturday morning we packed up and checked out and made one final trip the expo center. Making our last minute purchases random odds and ends, some dvds some cue accessories and such.
Overall the trip was a great success. I watched a lot of action at night, the most entertaining was SVB and John Morra for like 100$ a set, bar box 10 ball and Shane had to use a BK2.
The only thing I'm missing is a case... for my new cues
Also I'm not sure who the guy is on AZ who makes custom joint protectors.. but I'm looking to get some for my cues...
Thanks for reading! If you have the opportunity to get to the expo next year I suggest you do it!
My self and 2 friends drove down from VT wednesday night and stayed at the Crowne Plaza until Saturday. This was the largest billiard event any of us had ever been to.
I've never seen so many pool tables in one spot ever.. it was amazing.
I'm not ashamed to admit, I got 5-1'd both sets in the amateur open. I drew Chris Bruner... this kid was out from anywhere(he got beat just before the money round).
After I was out of the tournament I set out what I went there to do. Find a new cue. There were sooooooooo many to choose from..
I stopped by the cornerstone cue booth which was incredible to say the least.. He had every cue I could imagine.. I looked at a few and asked about the pricing and such.. I saw an incredible southwest ebony with inlays... I wish I had taken pics. Price tag? 15,000. I chuckled and in my head said (I wish..). I asked him about a beautiful tasc.. 10,000.. I laughed again and realized I have an eye for the expensive.. I told him my price range and hit with a few cues, none hit as amazing as the scruggs that was pulled out of the case for me. But I still didn't pull the trigger on the $1,800 scruggs.
I continued my search and eventually found my way to the blackcreek booth. This is where I made my first purchase! Looking at the cues I instantly fell in love with a 4 point ebony into birdseye with fantastic veneers. I asked who I believe to be travis if I could hit some and he said absolutely. As soon as I hit a few balls I had to have it!
That was my thursday at the expo. Pretty sweet.
Friday morning my buddies decided since we are all out of the amateur open they were sleeping until noon. Of course being the pool junkie I am I was up and out the door by 9. Most of the vendors don't open their doors until 10:30am or so.. so I hung out in the pit and watched some great pool.. Eventually I mosied up stairs.
I was constantly whipping my head around spotting all the pros.. It was pretty cool to just see them kickin' it and chit chatting and getting pics with anyone and everyone who went up to them. I eventually met the largest man at the expo... Justin Collett. I shook his hand but I was still on a mission and I always hear him talking about sugartree cues(at this point I hadn't seen a sugartree booth... so I was wondering where all those sugartrees were hiding out), I asked him where they were and he brought me over to the new2youcues guys. I stood there amazed, sugartrees up close.. most beautiful woods I have ever seen. I had to have one.
Saturday morning we packed up and checked out and made one final trip the expo center. Making our last minute purchases random odds and ends, some dvds some cue accessories and such.
Overall the trip was a great success. I watched a lot of action at night, the most entertaining was SVB and John Morra for like 100$ a set, bar box 10 ball and Shane had to use a BK2.
The only thing I'm missing is a case... for my new cues
Also I'm not sure who the guy is on AZ who makes custom joint protectors.. but I'm looking to get some for my cues...
Thanks for reading! If you have the opportunity to get to the expo next year I suggest you do it!
