broken poles

[ashcraftpv]

i've broken 5 so far, 2 in high school, 2 in college, and one while coaching. The last one was to test out an older pacerIII we had before i let one of my kids jump on it, it had a couple spike marks on it and one place where the outwrap was starting to seperate from the rest of the glass. Held up fine for 3 jumps, then BOOM! I land in the mats on my back and my kids got a good laugh out of it.

The only time i've ever been hurt vaulting was at the Indiana State Fair one year when i guessed a step on the downhill runway and took off 3 feet under. (Bryan was there and can verify this). My top hand came off and the pole gave me a welt from my right shoulder down to me left knee. Hurt like hell and my knee swelled up pretty bad the next day.

When you do break one, it'll be when you least expect it and will happen so fast you won't realize it until its aready over.

[KYLE ELLIS]

I have broken 8 or so, my first was at 13 years old and it was the only one that hit me.

[Lord of the Poles]

Jeez....I have YET to break a pole out of 5 years vaulting... I guess I'm lucky...

[vaultguru6]

At the santa barbra beach vault in 2000 slover took out a brand new carbon that had never been jumped on. His first jump on it the thing just blew up huge. The vibrations caused his forearm to crap immediately which then caused his hand to go into a tight fist. It cramped up around the end piece of pole and it took 2 or 3 people to peel his fingers off the pole!

[qtpie57]

ouch!

[Atleetwinvaulter]

well i jsut broke one yesterday so i feel i can express that breaking a pole is a very quick thing and theres def. not much time to figure otu whats going on. But i def. dont think u should go dwn on a pole jsut so u can see if u break it, i can understand the concept that your coach maybe trying to get across but trust me ut will break one at sometiem or another.... and if u do what i did and over power a 160lb pole when u weigh a buck 35 then your goin to get into the pit the only thing that got me was that nice pole on its way out of the pit but decided to give me a nice deep bruise on the tip of my elbow before shootign off, of course i promptly stood up and threw the handle end in my disgust at the other piece flying away from me.....haha but im okay, pole breaks happen jsut a fact of the vault......but trust me in most cases when u break a pole it will happen quick and u wil lbe like, " say what..Huh hey here this isnt suppose to..." and if you are vaulting in a correct manner not on poles under your body weight and such, i find youll be in the mats holding onto the handle of the pole kinda confused but for the most part be fine... well yeah im done....