[aquitori]

Alot of the prestige back then came from the hobbyist who showed, the Duke Nguyen's, the Lansing's, the Grunden's...etc...these are the names I grew in the hobby with and wish I could be...These hobbyist have long gone into the private hobbyist mode and no longer show and some who are very active in their club still. It was very sad to hear the Monis's who are one of the most famous hobbyist on the show scene here in California quit the hobby...Alot of new shows will have their day, but it is up to the people running the show to keep it consistant each year.

Quote: Originally Posted by schildkoi You can look at this in a number of ways. First, I do not think anyone can argue that the ZNA SoCal show is the most prestigeous annual show in the US, followed closely by San Diego. I'd throw a couple of shows no one else has mentioned into the mix as well, OKC and San Antonio (with Central Florida) into the next tier. Koi America on the years that it is held, jumps into that first tier as well. Then there are the shows that jump up into that first tier simply because of "special events". Phoenix a few years back when Toshio Sakai judged and Peter Waddington benched is such an example. The First US Open show a few years back in the Bay area and the All Bay area show next year are examples as I would classify the Koiphen Koi Nationals. For those that think California has the monopoly on great Koi, I suggest that ya'll need to get out more. No doubt, Califonia DOES have great Koi. But ask a few of the judges out there about the Koi they see elsewhere, like Texas and Oklahoma (along with the rest of the country). Like Tom C, The boys in Texas have one of the best Koi collections I have ever seen. I can name a few others outside of California with incredible collections as well. Just my thoughts Steve