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COOL PV Picture
Exceptional Picture of A vaulter Keith Highim Vaulting.
I think this would make a great poster.

http://www.carlislehome.fsnet.co.uk/kei ... keiths.jpg

More pics worth viewing at:
http://www.carlislehome.fsnet.co.uk/keithsweb/

thats an awesome picture!

Guess the UK officials/coaches have no regard for a vaulters safety seeing as they have no base protector pads around the standards.

Actually I would say thats one of the safer pits I've seen from the pictures I've seen of some European pits. But I also haven't heard of any pole vaulters dying over there

zack wrote:Actually I would say thats one of the safer pits I've seen from the pictures I've seen of some European pits. But I also haven't heard of any pole vaulters dying over there

I'm sure they have, we just haven't ever really caught wind of it because it doesn't directly effect our sport in the US if it didn't happen here.

I would love to know how they managed to get the three images of the vault on the one background. How do you put them together? I'm dying to know.

I used a digital camera that takes 5 pics in a second and then using paint shop pro simply cut and paste me with the pole from one pic onto another. As for the other points that pit is about standard size, we do have a few newer indoor pits that are larger, but the majority are that size or a bit smaller, and I have never heard of any deaths certainly in the UK and I have heard no news from any other European countries, but then again there are no where near the number of vaulters in the UK compared to the states.

When Dominic Johnson first went to Europe to vault, he remarked that everyone gripped about a foot lower than anyone in the US to jump the same heights. Granted the world class guys were still gripping over 16'6", but he was surprised at the number of 18' vaulters who were gripping below 15'6. If that's the case, it just shows that in general more emphasis in Europe is placed on technique than gripping high. I'd hazard a guess and say no one has ever killed themself with good technique.

Achtung, sometimes you say the most profound things, good technique should keep you safe. Bigger pits and foam wrapped standard will never beat good sound vaulting.

belmore wrote:Achtung, sometimes you say the most profound things, good technique should keep you safe. Bigger pits and foam wrapped standard will never beat good sound vaulting.

I agree. It's really hard to crack your melon landing in the center of the pit.

Not that I have tried.

There is no substitute for sound fundamental vaulting.

Most of the pits in Europe are designed to match the MINIMUM IAAF requirements. In general this means at all but the major meetings the following is normal.

1. No forward extensions in front of the box - most mats end where the box begins.
2. Mats which are less than 3m50 (12') in length. (One national championship was held on a mat this size!)
3. Mats which are less than 3m50 (12') wide.
4. No protection or padding around the standards (That's how I broke my shoulder).

Observations from the floor...
1. After having coached/vaulted in the UK, US and Europe I would have to say the Europeans put all their emphasis on technique and have on average a lower grip than most US vaulters.
2. US Vaulters tend to be the fastest vaulters on the planet and regularly come out top in speed gun tests at the champs.
3. UK tends to have been more US focussed (run fast, grip high) but is becoming more influenced by the European philosophy under the guidance of the High Performance managers.