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Pondus' TT Sanctuary |
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haggisv
Forum Moderator Dark Knight Joined: 06/28/2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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Awesome looking room Pondus!!! I bet you spend a lot of time just sitting there, enjoying the view!
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tiehwen
Premier Member Joined: 11/22/2006 Location: Bukan Bumiputra Status: Offline Points: 6434 |
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I think our dear comrade fellow moths-lover, pondus, deserves to be CEO of Moth-Viscaria Club needs some kinda special counseling....urgently.
Some might ask whether he has "Life".... |
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jrscatman
Premier Member Joined: 10/19/2008 Status: Offline Points: 4585 |
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standing
2 Questions: Where in the world is this sanctuary? The blade collection - any particular types or just everything! |
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Butterfly MPS
FH: Donic Acuda S1 BH: Palio CK531A OX |
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kolevtt
Platinum Member Joined: 06/13/2011 Location: European Union Status: Offline Points: 2578 |
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Amazing collection! I suppose it is very hard to choose just one of them for favorite
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Magic_M
Platinum Member Joined: 05/31/2012 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 2220 |
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I have noticed this thread yesterday, but I could not answer immediately, because I needed nearly one day, to recover me from this shock. In the first moment I thought I would be dead, because this must be the heaven. When I waked up this morning and felt my bones, I realized, that I am still alive. I am still quite nervous and studying the flight-plans, but at least I am able to reply, what I feel:
Pondus, you are incredible. What an amazing place !!! I envy you. If I had such a room, I would not need any more holiday-trip. Just sitting there with a cup of coffee (or a bottle of bear) and looking around satisfied. But what a pity: our house is too small for such a room, and my collection is quite small, compared with yours.
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Ross Leidy
Super Member Joined: 10/13/2011 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 402 |
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blitzen
Member Joined: 04/28/2012 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
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When I saw this, I immediately thought of Imelda Marcos and her shoe collection.
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Pondus
Gold Member Joined: 04/07/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1933 |
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You guys are funny! And trust me, I know it's pretty ridiculous myself. I appreciate all the nice comments - thank you very much. I see quite a few questions have popped up, so I'll try to answer them in order: — Reinecke asked: How long have you been working on your collection? Answer: Believe it or not, but I didn't start collecting blades until the spring of 2012. I had been entirely gone from table tennis for many years, and as I was getting back into it, I started looking around to see if I could find a Stiga Offensive Wood / Kjell Johansson because I remember thinking that was the coolest blade as a kid, but my parents unfortunately thought it was too expensive to buy for me. When I managed to acquire such a blade, then, well, one thing let to another…. and many many many blades later, here I am. — Ray asked: And your favourite blade is? Answer: Hmmm… that’s a difficult question to answer. There are a couple that are probably the most special to me, but not because of how they play. More so because of what they represent from my time growing up as a kid playing TT. The Stiga Offensive Wood (Kjell Johansson) as mentioned above is certainly one of them. Another blade is Butterfly Jaques Secretin, as this was my first “real” blade as a kid. I also have soft spot for Banda blades, as I remember Waldner as a young wunder-kid from the other side of the border, and seeing him with all his Banda gear made me want to have Banda stuff too. There was a small Banda shop in the city I grew up in (long gone, of course), and I still remember the first time I entered that shop. I probably had a feeling similar to that of most 6-year girls when they enter Disney World for the first time. — Slevin asked: Where did you buy Gerflor in the US & how much does it cost for an area enough for 1 table play? Answer: I bought the Gerflor directly from Gerflor USA (here’s a link to what I got: http://www.gerflorusa.com/commercial-flooring/product-page/taraflex-tennis-table,102.html). Very nice and helpful people. The red Gerflor was about $3K and additional cost for installation (pretty crazy the way they put it in with gluing and welding the seams). The rest of this entire area actually also has Gerflor, just in a light gray color instead of red, so I don't know how much installation for just the playing area would cost. Below the Gerflor flooring is solid concrete and a layer of some sort of padding. — Fatt asked: Is that a wine cellar, a stereo system or a blade dehumidifier? Answer: LOL - yes, it’s a custom built blade dehumidifier!!! Ha, no, it’s just a regular small fridge with a glass door. I like to keep some cold drinks ready for when I do have time to sweat a little. — Fatt asked: Is there a way we can visit and have tt practice time in exchange for a good bottle? Answer: Of course. Anytime. Well, assuming I’m home, of course. And perhaps I would also need a bit of clarification on what you mean by “we”. And no good bottle required. — Timo1978 asked: Do you have a "Special" insurance for your sanctuary? Answer: That’s a good question, Sir. As there is quite a bit of value there, it is listed as a uniquely specified section on our home-owner’s insurance. So, I guess the answer is 'yes’. — Suds79 asked: How does the conversation go with your wife when you want to buy another blade? Answer: LOL - yeah, I think all blade collectors and EJs know how horribly their significant others can react when they get yet another piece of seemingly unnecessary TT equipment. Honestly, I think my wife has just given up hope for me at this point. I don’t even tell her - and she doesn’t ask. — JimT Asked: What is the footage of that basement? Answer: It’s not actually the basement of our house, per say. It’s a separate buildout the original owner of the house had done for a wood-shop and storage of a boat in the winter, I believe. When we bought the house it was all just one big room. All concrete - ceiling, walls, and floor, with no windows. We then had it outfitted with separating walls to create individual rooms, and a furnace/AC unit so control the air in there. This actually makes it pretty good for storing TT blades, as I can easily control the temperature and humidity level (since there are no windows). So now there is the playing area, the wall with all the blades and such, the TT work-shop, and a third workout room that has various exercise machines and a big flatscreen TV to run TT flicks on. The total size of this place is 1000 Square Feet. — JimT asked: Do you plan to hold USATT-rated tournaments there in the nearest future? Answer: Hahaha. No, but funny you should ask though. I did actually at one point think about creating my own private USATT-affiliated club there, but in looking into the requirement for new clubs I quickly realized (and understandably so) that one of top priorities for new clubs is to be open to any and all new members and put a lot of focus on attracting them. Obviously, that’s not really what I would want at my house, so I decided against that idea. — Pushdeep asked: What's your rating? Answer: Not that high anymore. Well, I guess everything is relative. I think I have a USATT rating of 2140 or so right now (I'd have to look it up to be 100% sure exactly what it is). Having taken many years “off” from the game (about 20 years) and having gotten older and sadly gained a lot of weight, I’m just not anywhere as good as I used to be. Also, as I mentioned in my opening post, I have two very young daughters that take up pretty much the majority of my spare time - which I don't have that much of to begin with, as I have a fairly demanding work situation. I get to play once a week, perhaps twice once in a blue moon, but I also frequently will go several weeks without playing at all. And when I play, I usually just play a couple of matches at a local club, so I never practice (haven’t done that in over 20 years). I used to be a Cadet and Junior National Team member though, with a rating somewhere around 2500, I would guess. (I didn't grow up in the US, so I didn't have a USATT rating back then). — Jrscatman asked: Where in the world is this sanctuary? Answer: Not sure I should throw my address out there, but if you want to swing by just send me a PM. — Jrscatman asked: The blade collection - any particular types or just everything? Answer: I'm sort of an an “emotional collector” when it comes to blades, so I get blades that either hold some sort of sentimental value for me (i.e. blades I remember from growing up playing in the 80s and 90s), or blades that I just find visually interesting. I don't really collect so much as it relates to specific value, so I don't have many blades from the 60s and before that, for example). All my blades are Shakehand blades, and the majority have straight or conic handles, but I obviously (as you can see) have some of everything handle-wise. — Let me know if there are any other questions. Edited by Pondus - 05/05/2014 at 10:13am |
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vutiendat1337
Gold Member Joined: 10/25/2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Status: Offline Points: 1324 |
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what kind job do i need to score in order to build this kick ass collection and pingpong shangri-la
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Roger Stillabower
Silver Member Joined: 02/17/2011 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 803 |
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Did you design this your self, or did you have some input from some one else ? The attention to detail is out standing.
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Shifter
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jrscatman
Premier Member Joined: 10/19/2008 Status: Offline Points: 4585 |
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Thanks for answering the questions. In terms of location I was thinking in terms of USA - West Coast, MidWest etc - nothing specific.
Another question: What would you like to improve on the current setup. I would think maybe higher ceiling. Anything else you would do to make it better.
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Butterfly MPS
FH: Donic Acuda S1 BH: Palio CK531A OX |
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TonyL
Super Member Joined: 03/14/2014 Location: Offline Status: Offline Points: 343 |
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What do you do for a living that can make you afford this sanctuary, and can I join?
What'd I do for one of those blades, let alone that many.
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kolevtt
Platinum Member Joined: 06/13/2011 Location: European Union Status: Offline Points: 2578 |
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When you receive the answer...just count me in too Rene's collection is a dream.... He is the real sample that sometimes somewhere someone makes his own dreams to come true |
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jabemu
Silver Member Joined: 01/18/2011 Status: Offline Points: 974 |
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I have been 3 times in the USA for working and seen the interesting tipical places: Manhatan, Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, etc.
Next time I would like to visit a more important place...the sanctuary of Pondus Two questions: -Are you repaired personally some blades?, I see a little workshop in the pics of the sanctuary. -Do you know why your favourite blade (stiga off johansson tranas black lenses) have a "2" in the handle? |
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emihet
Platinum Member Joined: 09/22/2009 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 2315 |
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tastefully done! Rene fall is approaching soon!
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Viscaria, Ma Long 5, Old Clippers, BTY Ovtcharov and Various Custom blades
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GeneralSpecific
Platinum Member Joined: 03/01/2010 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 2810 |
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My heart is racing!
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Blade - Xiom 36.5 ALX FL
Forehand - Xiom Omega V Asia 2.0mm Backhand - Victas Curl P5V with Der Materialspezialist Firestorm Soft/Outkill 1.8mm sponge |
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eonblue
Super Member Joined: 12/28/2010 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 157 |
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Michael Maze ALC
Volt-T/Volt-M |
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Pondus
Gold Member Joined: 04/07/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1933 |
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Hahahaha... |
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Pondus
Gold Member Joined: 04/07/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1933 |
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I know |
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TonyL
Super Member Joined: 03/14/2014 Location: Offline Status: Offline Points: 343 |
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Serious question. What are you going to do with all, if not most of your collection when you grow older? Will it be an inheritance to your children, or will you retire and open up a table tennis shop?
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ZApenholder
Premier Member Joined: 03/04/2012 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4804 |
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Having to see Pondus, I think all other collectors are nothing!!
This is only 2 years of "collection".....imagine 10 years, or 20 years.... lol Pondus, if I can squeeze in USA in my NA visit, I defiantly must come and visit this POI :) Well done buddy, and congrats for having such a wonderful understanding wife :) |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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Pondus, what did you feed your wife with in order for her to agree with all this? or you bought her lots of expensive stuff too hehe
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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proSpin
Gold Member Joined: 07/15/2012 Location: Asia Status: Offline Points: 1427 |
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Is this one of the wonders of the world?
Your collection is.... AWESOME! Took me awhile to digest. Haha |
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sonykurniawan
Member Joined: 03/17/2014 Location: Indonesia Status: Offline Points: 77 |
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Very inspiring indeed. Pondus, you are freaking awesome.
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patrick753
Member Joined: 11/15/2009 Location: Taipei Status: Offline Points: 50 |
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Thanks for sharing the pictures. It is too crazy. I admire your passion for table tennis hobby. |
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Rich215
Premier Member Joined: 02/28/2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3488 |
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Question: Do the super cool furry stools have memory foam under the covering?
If not....then you have just one single flaw in your Pong DoJo buddy! |
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stiltt
Assistant Admin Joined: 07/15/2007 Location: Location Status: Offline Points: 1014 |
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Ok i hope it does not sound jealous or negative in any way and here is my question: mmmhhh...
forget about it i won't be a party pooper. |
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shaibu
Super Member Joined: 06/22/2013 Location: NYC Status: Offline Points: 139 |
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Ok - I'm going to be a party pooper. Pondus, you've said that you only have time to play ~once a week. On the other hand - you've bought ~500 blades in 2 years - so your buying rate is ~5 blades/week. Doesn't quite compute, does it? It would take you 10 years just to play one session with each one of the blades you already own. This just seems totally silly to me.
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stiltt
Assistant Admin Joined: 07/15/2007 Location: Location Status: Offline Points: 1014 |
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Hey i was only trying to be funny
Let's not forget he probably plays with the same blade at the club and maybe only tests the collectible on the robot. Let's keep in mind a collector does not necessarily act rationally...it's a passion. |
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emihet
Platinum Member Joined: 09/22/2009 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 2315 |
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well something is wrong... i saw it twice and now i found myself looking at the collection the 3rd time
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Viscaria, Ma Long 5, Old Clippers, BTY Ovtcharov and Various Custom blades
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