Dealing With Mud?

[rainbowgirl28]

It is supposed to rain at our meet Saturday, and I have a feeling things are going to get very muddy around our pole vault pit area.

See the pictures here http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... php?t=2338

Any suggestions for things we can do to avoid being up to our ankles in mud after a jump?

[zack]

Put down tarps, astroturf, rubber mats, anything that might cover it up.

[vaultdad]

glue cheap astroturf to home grade carpet underlayment or fold up pink insulation from home depot. It's foam so it won't absorb water and you can hose it off,roll it up, and use it again. Plus, it acts as extra padding. Don't leave it on the grass or the grounds keepers will beat you.

[vaultdad]

Forget the previous comment about the grass, I just saw the pictures!

Go get some 3" dow blue foam in the 4' X 10" sheet size and cover it with astroturf. It's rigid, but a lot softer than plywood. Our pits sit on about 10 sheets of this stuff cut to fit and its great! Plus, it raises the pit 3" and doesn't absorb water.

[rainbowgirl28]

Forget the previous comment about the grass, I just saw the pictures!

Go get some 3" dow blue foam in the 4' X 10" sheet size and cover it with astroturf. It's rigid, but a lot softer than plywood. Our pits sit on about 10 sheets of this stuff cut to fit and its great! Plus, it raises the pit 3" and doesn't absorb water.

Haha yeah no grass! It's a new track, and I dunno if they just never put any grass in, or if it didn't grow, but the whole infield of the track is clover. No grass, just clover. They're gonna fix it this summer.

We are going to put the pit on either palates or tires.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[fong520]

we have these small wooden crate thingies we put under the pit to keep it from getting scratched up ripped, adn from getting mud from the bottom. it works..

[blazerunner121]

isn't there like a drainage system designed to get rid of water near and in around the pv box and pit? cause i find it annoying whenever it rains to have puddles all over hte place.

[rainbowgirl28]

Our meet got cancelled. The other team's bus never showed up because the bus driver quit.

But hey, we're ready if its muddy at conference!

[vaultmd]

Forget the previous comment about the grass, I just saw the pictures!

Go get some 3" dow blue foam in the 4' X 10" sheet size and cover it with astroturf. It's rigid, but a lot softer than plywood. Our pits sit on about 10 sheets of this stuff cut to fit and its great! Plus, it raises the pit 3" and doesn't absorb water.

Haha yeah no grass! It's a new track, and I dunno if they just never put any grass in, or if it didn't grow, but the whole infield of the track is clover. No grass, just clover. They're gonna fix it this summer.

We are going to put the pit on either palates or tires.

I think EVERY suggestion that has been made here is better than palates or tires. Those pits are pretty fragile as it is because of their age. The last thing they need is an uneven surface to rest on. Even evenly spaced 2x4's on top of tarp is better but I like some of the suggestions above.

[rainbowgirl28]

I was looking for a suggestion for the mud around the pit. There's not really any under it, it sits on concrete. I believe they put palates under the pit, but I did not go up there to look at it today. I wasn't helping with the setup yesterday, so I didn't get any say in that part of it.

[vaultmd]

Whoops, sorry. Misunderstood the problem. You can cover the ground around the pit with anything (like tarp) both to keep the water off it and to keep the mud off you if it already is mud. I still like some of the ideas expressed above.

[vaultdad]

Firstly, ( a new word) I'm pretty sure tires are now considered a real problem at anybodys school due to the environmental issues and bug breeding , especially near the Mississippi River areas and they really don't support the pit well at all.

Secondly, the wooden structure you refer to is known as a "pallet".
and can do as much damage to the pit as tires when they break, not to mention rot in place during the spring drizzles on the way and weigh a ton when you have to remove them.

I do like the 2X4's over a tarp though. It's fast,cheap, and reliable. I would suggest the recycled plastic 2X4's so they will look new forever . . .

Remember, this is a real OLYMPIC pit. It has had some of the best jumpers in the world on it. It's a shame not to treat it accordling to the legacy it has.