Lonestar and Vitali,

[SlickVT]

Miss you too, Adam.

I actually watched some of your vids tonite. Still brings a small tear to my eye watching the Bulldog Invite. ROBBED.

PS. I've been practicing my tramp skills. I think you'd be proud.

[saraf]

Miss you too, Adam.

I actually watched some of your vids tonite. Still brings a small tear to my eye watching the Bulldog Invite. ROBBED.

PS. I've been practicing my tramp skills. I think you'd be proud.

I am proud of you no matter what!

[ADTF Academy]

Off the top of my head i cant really think of any elite vaulters that dont try to be tall with good knee drive out of the back. once again i think bubka probably is the best to look at for this. you can see clearly defined phases of the run (with gradual transitions mind you). i actually think on the american side, toby has a great accelerated run, i think it gets missed because of the little stutter steps he takes in the beginning.

EDIT... brad walker... he just flies out of the back. but he still does a good stop of being quick and the end and still seems pretty consistant. but other than him, most people tend to build well.

and on a side not. saraf 8 days til jonesboro!!!

There is a huge difference between flying out of the back with proper mechanics and posture and flying out with limbs all over the place. Watch the heels. DO they aim for the lower back or do they come up through the butt. This will give a basic view of what they are attempting to do in their running technique. Simply put watch the average kid in the US run you will notice they first way. High hell recovery behind them cause premature forward lean.

[lonestar]

Well the americans must be doing something right with the quality of pole vaulters produced every 4 years.

I just want to cringe every time I hear someone say that. But that's a topic for another debate...

[lonestar]

Patriotism is great but xenophobia and parochialism may blind folk to reality.

And for those of you who don't understand what those words mean:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parochialism

[VTechVaulter]

im well aware that brad has a solid approach, i was just using him as an example of one of the few elite vaulters that doesn't build his speed the same way

[altius]

What I would like to know is how a hick from Texas knows all those big words AND the story of Sisyphus??

[lonestar]

What I would like to know is how a hick from Texas knows all those big words AND the story of Sisyphus??

Haha - actually, I'm really a hick from upstate New York - I just moved to Texas for the pretty girls and warm weather.

As for Sisyphus, I readily identify with that gent:

http://stripe.colorado.edu/~morristo/sisyphus.html

[vault3rb0y]

It seems us Upstate New Yorkers move down south for the pole vaulting.... and other amenities .

And altius, im suprised at you. First of all, you dont strike me as the type to go on the offensive in an attempted defensive.

Secondly, you dont even live in america, so you cant talk about hicks until you have lived here for a good long while.

Thats like me calling all australians kangaroo cookin' retards. I have no background about australians, so my insult has no grounds.

[altius]

Maaaate - I lived in Kentucky for six years so I can recognise hicks when I see them!

[vault3rb0y]

Well you didnt exactly nail this texan hick on the head, thats all im sayin.

[htheodore]

I don't think Alan's comment on "Texan hicks" was directed toward anyone other than Kris. I would guess they are friends and he is not bashing Texans. I don't know Alan personally but I would bet he would be considered a "good ol boy" if he lived here in Texas, and if not, I bet we could convert him.