Pole vaulting on a unicycle?!

[rainbowgirl28]

Check it out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDFwWa4kxOY

[souleman]

That's great! Ya know? Every now and then we really do need some levity in this event. Nice job Steve and Dave
Later.............Mike

[birdi_gurlie]

Haha...awesome!
My friend's friend is quite awesome on a unicycle...if I understand correctly, pretty much everyone in their church youth group now knows how to ride a unicycle bc everyone wanted to learn or a girl learned first and the guys didn't want to be shown up or something...either way, it's quite awesome.

I just forwarded them that link. xD

[ras]

Wow - that's pretty good. Anyone remember Steve Smith (?) on a skateboard back in the 80s?

[birdi_gurlie]

I would LOVE to see a video of the skateboarding...xD my coach was trying to figure out the physics of HOW you would do that without the board sliding backwards [from the force of jumping off of it] and face-planting. [lol.] xD

[VaultPurple]

skate board works fine... wish I would have got video of when I tried it.. managed like 9 foot.

As far as the physics, just think of it like a Free-Pre Jump, when you plant the pole there is nothing driving you forward anymore with either of them, but you already have enough speed to push you into the pit.

[powerplant42]

I've wanted to get my friend to try this for a while now...

[birdi_gurlie]

As far as the physics, just think of it like a Free-Pre Jump, when you plant the pole there is nothing driving you forward anymore with either of them, but you already have enough speed to push you into the pit.

The problem is the jumping off, which propels the skateboard backwards...we tried it once or twice, and then my coach said, "Wait a minute...let me figure out the physics before one of you guys busts your face open..."

[powerplant42]

It's easy... All you have to do is jump at an angle that won't reverse the momentum of the board (probably around 80 degrees). Basically, you just jump straight up. You have to count on the momentum of the skateboard (which is your momentum too) to get you into the pit.

[birdi_gurlie]

Oh, we TRIED jumping straight up. We still nearly face-planted. Well, I didn't...I didn't try that. I left that to the more adventurous/unknowledgable-about-physics group of the team.

[VaultPurple]

its just for fun so you just don't jump at all.. you are already 4-5inches off ground from wheels raising you up. Plenty of people vault by running into the plant and not jumping, not the best way, but it will work on a skateboard just fine.

[birdi_gurlie]

Well, even when you come off the skateboard, you're putting force onto the board so we somehow managed to face plant each time. Well, nearly faceplant. And then my coach decided, "Let's not bust our faces open until we know what we're supposed to do." I'll be sure to tell him though.