Today's Quote from Mechanics of the Pole Vault

[rainbowgirl28]

"The pole vault is a religious experience."
Dr. R.V. Ganslen

That is the first line of the introduction

[Vault Old School]

I don't know, I'm having a hard time quantifying a spiritual experience to see if pole vault qualifies. Excuse me religious experience. I guess in the sense of it being ritualistic I could accept it.

[rainbowgirl28]

***THE PERFECT POLE VAULT TAKEOFF MAY NOT BE PERFECT***

One of the most common observations by the spectators at a track meet is to see the vaulter religiously go through the ritual of checking his take-off spot on the runway after making a vault.. not easy these days. The vaulter is often assisted by some innocent bystander who was recruited to catch the pole vaulting pole and whose knowledge of pole vaulting COULD BE WRITTEN ON A POSTAGE STAMP. If the vault was successful, the vaulter will confidently walk away from the mark he has checked and sit comfortably at ease until his name is called again. A SAD AND SOMETIMES TRAGIC CHAIN OF CIRCUMSTANCES (20).

To be continued tomorrow...

[rainbowgirl28]

The vaulter is often assisted by some innocent bystander who was recruited to catch the pole vaulting pole and whose knowledge of pole vaulting COULD BE WRITTEN ON A POSTAGE STAMP.

LOL I love it

[rainbowgirl28]

Next there were some stick figure drawings of two different positions at takeoff.

THE POINT OF TAKE-OFF IN THE VAULT BECOMES OF NO SIGNIFICANCE WHATSOEVER IF THE POSITION OF THE VAULTERS BODY RELATIVE TO THE TAKE-OFF FOOT IS SUCH THAT HE CANNOT DRIVE EFFECTIVELY FORWARD AND UPWARD (22)

[rainbowgirl28]

The above mentioned condition arises if, at the moment of transition from run to take-off, the vaulter's knee is ALREADY EXTENDED, he has had to STRETCH HIS LAST STRIDE TO REACH A TAKE-OFF position and is not TOO LOW, or HIS BODY HAS PASSED SO FAR OVER HIS FOOT TOWARD THE PIT THAT A SPRINGING MOVEMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE. Keep in mind, a check of the foot imprint onthe synthetic runway may be perfect! (22)

[rainbowgirl28]

If the vaulter stretches forward for some mark he senses he must reach he will have too much flexion and be so low that the pole may lift him before he has a chance to jump (22).

[rainbowgirl28]

^bump

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Fabulous post, Becca Thanks!!

[rainbowgirl28]

Bump

[KirkB]

Thanks for bumping this, Becca!

I hadn't read this thread before. I see that you left off on page 22, so I'll post a few selective quotes too, starting on page 23 ...

THE POLE VAULTER, LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN THE HIGH JUMPER AND THE TRIPLE JUMPER, RUNS OVER HIS TAKE-OFF SO HE CAN DRIVE FORWARD AND UPWARD TO CONSERVE ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND TO BEND THE POLE.

Remember that this edition of Mechanics of the PV was published in 1973.

I don't agree with the last part ("and to bend the pole"), but he nailed the first part!

Incidentally, I first learned to fiberglass vault "properly" (more or less) in about 1966, by relying primarily on one of his earlier editions of this book.

The 1973 (8th) edition was given to me recently by Jerry Hock, as I had lent my copy to one of my proteges and never got it back.

Kirk

[rainbowgirl28]

Kirk you would have been happy, Dr Ganslen was inducted into the National Pole Vault Hall of Fame last night. His 3 sons have passed away, but his 2 daughters were there to accept the award. I spoke at length with Vicki, she was so pleased to see people still remember her dad.