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I am a geezer! 47 years young and have not jumped since High School. There are so many books and videos out there on drills and technique that naturally I am confused. Which is the best route to go? Are there any clinics that are specifically designed for the ancient?

I am 54, and last year was my first year back I made 9' and was pretty happy with it. One of the hardest things to get used to is the fact that we all have an 18 year old brain in our "senior" mellons. Go check out www.bubbapv.com that's Bubba Sparks website. He is my "e-coach". He is in our shoes too as he is coming back from 4 years off of the masters circuit due to achilles surgeries. Get the book Beginner to Bubka. It's a great tool for giving us old geezers insight on modern day vaulting. Next, get to the gym. We've (4 of us now, you'll be number 5) got a workout that's vault spacific. Then after you've done that, pick a "get off the ground" day and a "first meet day". That will put the pressure on you to keep working in the gym and moving towards vaulting. I am going to put portions of this back on your thread. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you..........Mike

Quietwriter
I would second Souleman's comment about getting From Beginner to Bubka, great book and now Alan has added a DVD that shows the drills, a great tool to better help one to understand how to do the drills. You can contact me and I can help you get a copy of the DVD and/or the book. Glad to hear of another masters vaulter joining the fold. I am 51 and still trying to get that magic jump and although I never quit, having now jumped for 41 straight years I will add the following advise of advance slowly through a good progression of training and jumping and listen to your body.
Vault On

The Bubka book is on the way and another book and DVD by Bill Falk. I traded E-mails yesterday with Alan Launder who took a few moments to write me. I find the Petrov talk in London(85) and the Launder analysis to be outstanding and beyond interesting. How the hell can you start your jump before the plant? Amazing...

We'll get to that. First, get to the gym. Second pick your "get off the ground" day. Then pick your first meet. This might sound like I'm trying to put the cart in front of the horse, but frankly.......I am. Right now, (as I was about a year ago at this time) you are approaching this with the same brain in your head that you had some 20 to 30 years ago. You need to go out and be "humbled". What I mean by that is you've got to go out there and show yourself "hey, I really am starting all over again, aren't I"? Once you'e done that, then we start again. The joke I had through most of last summer before I made a height at a meet was "my comeback PR was 4 feet". I knew it was at least that because I was getting into the pit when I was getting off the ground. The book will explain the "pre jump" in the model. A good way that Bubba explains it to me is to think of going up for a lay up in basketball. You jump off the left foot, the right knee is raisedgiving you "lift",your back is straight, your "positioned" tall and your reaching to get the ball in the hoop. That explanation paints a pretty good picture in my mind of what I want to achieve to replace my ancient style of "tuck and flag". Later.Mike

I returned in 2002. I had a 27-year layoff (age 18-45). I spent a lot of time training to get in shape first.

I got Jan Johnson's videos (Skysystems 1-5) and I went to one of Jan's camps to get jump-started (see www.skyjumpers.com or www.firsttothefinish.com). I really like his approach. His drills and system really work. I've coached a lot of high school kids using his system, and I've had very good results (one boy over 16 ft. and 2 girls over 10-6...which is good in Connecticut). Skysystems #4 is especially helpful in terms of re-learning the fundamentals.

I like Beginner to Bubka too. I some of its drills in my coaching. I like the new DVD as well. There is a lot of really good stuff there.

The number one problem at our age is injury. I contantly am on the edge of something breaking down. Be conservative. I spend lot of time on a Nordic Track, stationary bike, and treadmill in an effort to minimize the concussive forces on my legs. The max that I can jump in a week is twice. Anything more than that and I usually get hurt.

Good luck. Welcome back!

I'm spending a lot of time right now working on Cardio and CORE training, and I'm feeling it everywhere. Taking Tylenols and just getting ready. Hey I'm originally from the New London area. (Waterford CT) Thanks for your help and advice!

Mike Lee