Snowstorm Pole

[Russ]

Here's a suggestion. There will be days when the weather is terrible (headwind, rain, snow - hey I'm in New England). For days like that, it's smart for a high school vaulter to have what I call your "Snowstorm Pole." Your Snowstorm Pole is a pole that you can vault on using 4 or 5 lefts, using a handgrip 6" to a foot below your normal, full-run pole. In other words, if you had to, you could jump on it safetly in a snowstorm. It's a "pole of last resort;" the ultimate backup pole.

For a high school vaulter, the real challenge is to make sure that the pole is still "legal" under the NFHS weight-rule. The best way to do that will probably be to find a pole that's about a foot shorter than your normal, full-run pole but, probably it'll have about the same weight-rating. For example, if you ordinarily use a 13-140, your short run pole may be a 12-140 or 12-145. Experiment in practice until you can identify your "Snowstorm Pole."

If you always carry your Snowstorm Pole in the bag, you'll always know that you are prepared for the worst case scenario. While others are desperately trying to negotiate the bad weather or wind using their regular poles (and probably landing in the box or worse), you can use your Snowstorm Pole to vault effectively and safetly, using a shorter run and a lower handgrip. You'll probably jump lower than usual...yes. But you'll make decent heights, and you won't have the stress that you'd otherwise have.

You can also resort to the Snowstorm Pole even when the weather is fine if you are just having a terrible day. Sometimes we can tell from our warm ups that our run is way off, or that we're in some sort of weird funk. When that happens, oftentimes you can use the SP using 4-5 lefts and salvage something.

I hope that this "tip" can be useful for you at some point in your career.

[blazerunner121]

hahaah, there possibly is a snowstorm coming this monday for the new england region.

but i might miss my armory meet ...

[rainbowgirl28]

That sounds like a great idea Russ!

I definitely agree that the key is to go to a SHORTER pole so you can stay legal.

[Lord of the Poles]

hahaah, there possibly is a snowstorm coming this monday for the new england region.

but i might miss my armory meet ...

You are NOT in the New England area, man...lol

[mcminkz05]

excellent idea indeed iv had a "snowstorm pole" with me every meet here, (right now probably a 14' 170) . in michigan thats part of your basic training when learning to vault, considering you have to jump on the snowstorm pole about 9 out of every 10 meets here during the spring

[Peepers PV]

...you have to jump on the snowstorm pole about 9 out of every 10 meets here during the spring

AHH! THAT'S NOT SPRING!!

[MightyMouse]

Thats pretty funny, my coach allways tells me that you cant pole vault when its below 50 degrees otherwise the pole will break, I knew that this had to be incorrect, but I havent found any information to back this up. I cant wait to show him that people are vaulting when its snowing and cold.

[RoySloppy]

Thats pretty funny, my coach allways tells me that you cant pole vault when its below 50 degrees otherwise the pole will break, I knew that this had to be incorrect, but I havent found any information to back this up. I cant wait to show him that people are vaulting when its snowing and cold.

how does your coach think people in the northeast and northern US vault? in march and april in PA its still cold, i cant imagine what its like in New england during those months.

[MightyMouse]

yah my coach doesnt spend to much time thinking about pole vaulting... He just says "Stephen whats the workout for today?", and then goes and sits down, its VERY frustrating!

[GirlPoleVaulter87]

hahaah, there possibly is a snowstorm coming this monday for the new england region.

but i might miss my armory meet ...

Bishop something games? I'll be there!!

[vaulter0512]

I have to deal with stong head winds all year round. not so much now because during this time of year we vault indoors...we have a indoor vault facilty well actualy its a old basketball gym that we put a pit in..lol. so when it's cold..yeah we are indoors! lol but during outdoor we have to use smaller poles probably around 60% at meets because of the head winds. well some of our vaulters do. at alot of meets --schools dont have their runway or pit on both directions to beable to change ends to change the head wind into a tale wind!!

[APKpolevaulter]

Well i live in florida so this doesnt matter to me. but its a good idea.

I wouldnt really be able to have a true snowstorm pole considering im a real lightweight and use pole at least 40lbs over my weight.

Its funny how you northerners are talking about vaulting in snow and stuff, when im down here and like as soon as it hits the 50s im like curled up in fetal position.