Carbon Weaves Breaking?

[Cooleo111]

I just heard about a new Pacer Carbon Weave pole breaking, presumably without any wear or tear. I also learned that a prominent vaulter in the US has broken 5 of these poles in similar situations (brand new, no real damage). I know that the poles used were not too small for the athletes, and again they were fairly new, if not completely new. Can anyone provide more insight as to why this is happening or if there have been any like occurrences? My school ordered me 2 new weaves after my spring semester ended and I am getting worried about my own safety.

Thanks

[miniwhinny]

I don't know much about carbon weaves but I did see one snap into 5 pieces a month ago (right weight for vaulter) and the kid who broke it had broken another just a month before.

[kev44000]

I went to 25 meets this year and by far the poles made by Gill I saw break more then any other. I saw two spirits break around 24 inches from the bottom. I am sure they had been spiked. The Gill poles exploded and broke in several pieces. They were carbons and the non carbons poles also.

[VTechVaulter]

i actually haven't seen a carbon pole break yet this year.. saw 2 spirits and an essex go.

simple fact is any and all poles can break. these new weaves are gonna be under the microscope because they are new. just the way it works.

i myself have been jumping on a set of 5.10 weaves for the last 5-6 months and haven't had any problems yet. steve lewis (pb 5.75) has been jumping on them for 2-3 years without a problem, there are many others too including tobias scherbath, 5.75, alex straub 5.82, danny ecker (pb 5.70 on them), and none of these people have had a problem. so i wouldn't worry too much. just take care of your poles. dont throw them, dont leave them on the ground where they can be stepped on... things like that

[rainbowgirl28]

I went to 25 meets this year and by far the poles made by Gill I saw break more then any other. I saw two spirits break around 24 inches from the bottom. I am sure they had been spiked. The Gill poles exploded and broke in several pieces. They were carbons and the non carbons poles also.

Gill poles (Mystic, Skypole, Pacer, Carbon) are the most popular high school pole, so you probably saw more of them period.

Out here in WA, Altius poles are huge, so I probably see more of them break in a year, but it's probably because I see more Altius poles.

I just heard about a new Pacer Carbon Weave pole breaking, presumably without any wear or tear. I also learned that a prominent vaulter in the US has broken 5 of these poles in similar situations (brand new, no real damage). I know that the poles used were not too small for the athletes, and again they were fairly new, if not completely new. Can anyone provide more insight as to why this is happening or if there have been any like occurrences? My school ordered me 2 new weaves after my spring semester ended and I am getting worried about my own safety.

When they first introduced the Carbon Weaves to the public ~5+ years ago, their ovens (30+ years old) were not baking with the exact temperatures they should have been. This wasn't a problem for the fiberglass poles, but it affected the carbon weaves adversely. They did have a fair number of poles break out of the tube on first jumps.

So they retooled their ovens and put electronic sensors in everything and once they got the temperatures perfected, the poles were not breaking unless they had a reason to.


Anytime there is a new brand of pole, people pay more attention when it breaks. When ESSX first started getting popular, a lot of people were posting on here saying they saw one break. Well they might have also seen a Spirit and a Skypole break in the same month, but the ESSX is the one they remembered.

I suspect you're getting a dose of old info (an elite athlete breaking 5 carbon weaves, probably an exaggerated story from 5 years ago) and a dose of selected memory.


You also have to remember that carbon poles (of any brand) tend to be a little more sensitive to dings and scratches than straight fiberglass poles. So if you feel like all of the carbons you've see break seemed to do so for no reason, there may have been a minor scratch that you didn't know about.

I don't know much about carbon weaves but I did see one snap into 5 pieces a month ago (right weight for vaulter) and the kid who broke it had broken another just a month before.

A pole can be rated well over a kid's weight and still be too small and break. Also, carbon poles do tend to break into more pieces than regular fiberglass poles, which doesn't mean anything in and of itself (a broken pole is a broken pole!).

[miniwhinny]

Oh yep...to be fair (sorry was just talking about carbons) I've seen 2 fiberglass pole break also in the past year (not sure of brand).

[vtcoach]

We have 26 of the weaves and have not broken one yet. We starting jumping on them during the outdoor 08 season. In the last ten years we have probably broken about three of the previous style pacer carbons and three of the fiberglass Spirits.

Here are five easy ways to keep your poles like new:

1) We buy 3" diameter cast stockinette in 75' rolls (it costs $8 a roll) and use it to make pole socks.
It is easy to find if you do a key word search on the Internet.
Except when you are jumping on them, poles stay in socks and socks stay in tubes.
2) Catch poles - don't let them hit the ground.
3) Pad your standards anywhere the pole tends to hit them (cranks, knobs, edges)
4) Don't overbend your poles. Your coach will let you know if this is happening.
On video you will see it if the handle of your pole ever moves down during a jump.
5) If a rookie vaulter tends to spike poles make them jump in flats or at least make
them remove the two or three spikes that are on the outside of their trail leg.

Finally, and I know this one stings a bit, inspect your poles frequently and consider replacing poles that have lots of spike marks or other damage.

[miniwhinny]

vtcoach,

is there just one company making these weaves? I'm looking into purchasing poles for next year and wondered who makes them (not sure if it's okay to ask what brand to buy)

[rainbowgirl28]

vtcoach,

is there just one company making these weaves? I'm looking into purchasing poles for next year and wondered who makes them (not sure if it's okay to ask what brand to buy)

They are made by Gill Athletics, but for a high school athlete who is progressing through poles rapidly, it is better to stick with a fiberglass pole like the PacerFX or UCS/Spirit or any other brand, as they are just as good and less expensive, so you can buy more poles.

For a HS athlete, it is better to have a bigger selection of poles than one really expensive pole.

[miniwhinny]

thanks rainbowgirl...I keep laughing and telling myself in my next life I'll have a kid who plays scrabble or something simple hehehe

[VTechVaulter]

thanks rainbowgirl...I keep laughing and telling myself in my next life I'll have a kid who plays scrabble or something simple hehehe

yeah every time im traveling i wish i had been a high jumper.. just need shoes!

[varska]

Here's a 125 lb vaulter snapping a 140 lb Carbon Weave at NON:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOkDyQPRIAM

I didn't think too much of it until I saw 3 more go at the next 2 meets we attended.