Announcement!
Member Section Starkey Archives Updated with the fifth and final installment. !! 5/6/05 !! Go there now!
I'm very pleased to announce the FIFTH AND FINAL installment of the Dean Starkey Archives. Dean has made his personal pole vault video collection available to me to pass onto members. Dean has had a career any pole vaulter would dream of. He’s battled Bubka at world championships and has set records for most times over 19’. Check it out.
Pat Manson INNOVATOR!
Once again Pat Manson is showing us new things never seen before in the pole vault. As if vaulting over 18 feet 22 years in a row wasn't enough!!
After a huge success last year, Pat is having another elite immersion pole vault camp. If you're serious about vaulting high this is the camp for you. Sign up early! Only five pole vaulters at this camp. Be sure to check out his website to learn more about this once in a lifetime opportunity!
Pat Manson is the first pole vaulter to ever jump over 18 feet for over 20 years AND the first vaulter to pole vault into a lake! At least on video.
Zack's dad Stephen sent me this clip and had this to say:
"My son Zack was #1 rated Minnesota Sophomore Pole Vaulter in 2005, his PR is 13’ 6” and we are looking forward to a great Senior year this year. Here is fun video off the Dock in Northern Wisconsin."
Check out a couple of clips sent to me by Steve Wilson. The vaulter is Bryant Wilson from Hale Michigan. He will be a sophmore at Grand Valley State University. Last season he had a PR of 5.05 meters (16'6.75") finished 4th indoors (tie), and 3rd outdoors at DII nationals.
|
Jeff Hartwig Commercial
Kyle Rose from the Mardi Gras Track Club sent me an email last night, (check out their site!!) He gave me a heads up that a really cool Jeff Hartwig commercial was just on TV. He told me it played during Myth Busters, which by the way were trying to pole vault a car, and since Kyle is ahead of Cali time I put my TIVO to work. Thanks for the quick heads up Kyle!!
Corey did all the editing on this clip, which is great because he did an awesome job. Thanks to Corey for taking the time in putting this together and sharing with the rest of us!
I wish I could be at every meet and capture every PR this season, and for all seasons for that matter. But at least this past weekend I got to witness a PR moment that really speaks to what it means to PR.
First I want to say a little something about Mr. Landers (as Chris Bencomo so affectionately calls him in the video, (by the way, thanks Chris Bencomo for the fine videography)). Mr. Landers is one of the most chill and unassuming pole vaulters I’ve ever met. Especially for a 17’ high school jumper. And it’s my pleasure to put up this piece for him.
I had a chance to speak with his coach Anthony Curran about Mike and he said “this has been a long time coming. He’s had a lot of meets where he’s been over 17’6” or 17’8” and just brushes it on the way down; he’s really persevered through a lot of close calls and let downs.” Coach Curran had this to say about Mike as a person “Mike is the perfect example for work ethic and focus for UCLA athletes. He’s a solid guy. He never complains and is a joy to work with.”
The very essence of this shows itself when Mike, on his first attempt at 17’8”, looses his top hand grip and flies off the pole. The very next time down the runway he man’s up and clears the bar for a lifetime best! If that’s not inspiring to you then you don’t know what this sport is all about.
It’s funny, I spoke with Mike early in the meet and, as a big fan of Neo Vault, he wanted to know what was up with me lagging on putting up new content. Well Mike, like I said, you performance was an inspiration!
From Extension: "Over ten years ago Roman Botcharnikov made a brave attempt to explain the effectiveness of the Petrov/Bubka model of vaulting by developing his ‘Continuous chain’ concept. He argued that the vaulter must put a ‘continuous chain of energy’ into the pole throughout the vault. Above all the athlete must avoid passive phases where they move on the pole but do not put energy into it."
Sample Picture of Scott Slover's High School Training Journal
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." - Coach Wooden
It's that time of the year when pole vaulters have to begin putting in the hard work to have a successful season in the Spring.
Many high school pole vaulters have no idea where to begin and what it takes to really jump high. That's why I'm excited to announce a tremendous value added to the members section that deals with this very issue.
To give you an idea of what a successful season looks like on paper, I have 74 pages of carefully recorded training data that documents Scott Slover's Jr. and Sr. year of high School. Training that produced a 17'4" High School PR, a 1st at the California State Meet, a trip to the World Junior Nationals, and earned him an athletic scholarship to UCLA.
If have have any questions or comments about the journal, Scott Slover said he would be more than happy to answer any emails. EMAIL SCOTT
