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Gang,

I saw the Monaco meet on Universal Sports. Big L had his unsual good day. Not so for Hooker. Did anyone else notice that Hooker was jumping on a UCS Spirit Pole?
I thought he was a Gill guy. Just a thought...

Cheers,

PV-ATL

I herd a rumor that because hooker was not jumping well gill quit sending him free poles. Dont know how accurate this is since it would make no since for gill to do this. Hope hooker can susesfully make the switch but it is pretty difficult when your used to having much lighter poles in your hands.

The more likely explanation is that it's Europe and there's a 50/50 shot of your poles making it to the meet. He probably had to borrow poles.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/steve ... 6120770758


Steve Hooker risks pole switch

Scott Gullan in Daegu From: Herald Sun August 24, 2011 12:00AM

Steve Hooker has made significant technical changes. Picture: Marie Nirme The Daily Telegraph

STEVE Hooker's pursuit of Sergey Bubka's world pole-vault record has placed his world championship defence in jeopardy.

In a calculated risk during his injury-enforced lay-off over the Australian summer, Hooker made significant technical changes, including changing poles, which leaves him vulnerable.

The Olympic champion has had only two competitions using his new set-up before the Daegu championships, with a best performance of 5.60m, well outside his personal best of 6.06m.

"The technical changes were done so I can jump as high as I possibly can," Hooker said. "And then the equipment change happened because I thought that was the best equipment to go with what I was doing technically.

"I've gone from jumping on a carbon-based pole to a fibreglass-based pole, so I've actually gone to older technology, which is what the world record was jumped on.

"The biggest challenge for me is the runway, as carrying a heavier pole on the runway means you have to be a lot more precise with your run and pole drop.

"It means if you make a mistake and drop the pole a bit early, it just absolutely kills your run. That's the unknown for me.

"I'm really happy with what I'm doing off the ground technically, so the runway is the big variable for me."

Bubka's world record of 6.15m has stood since 1993, with Hooker moving to second on the all-time list when he cleared 6.06m at the Boston Indoor Games in February 2009.

Despite his unorthodox preparation, Australia's team captain knows in the heat of competition he will be thinking gold medal, not world record.

"I can be philosophical about it as much as you like right now, but when you get out there it's the world championships," Hooker said. "At the time you're not thinking about London (next year) or anything like that.

"You will be out there thinking, 'I want to win this comp and I will do whatever it takes to get over this next bar'. There's going to be some different stuff and in a lot of ways it's similar to 2007, the year before Beijing.

"I made some changes then which I thought would suit me well in the Olympic year, but I think I'm in a better head space than I was in 2007.

"I think I will be able to make these changes work quite well this year."

After setting an Olympic record of 5.96m in winning gold in Beijing, Hooker produced one of the most remarkable performances at the 2009 Berlin world titles.

Suffering a torn abductor and a neural problem, he decided not to take any vaults in the final until a height was reached that would guarantee him a medal.

Despite risking serious injury, Hooker found a way to defeat French duo Romain Mesnil and Renaud Lavillenie, who again loom as his main dangers in Monday night's final.

ucs poles are superior in my opinion, i didnt feel any gains in a carbon pole from 14-16ft, felt no difference at all, ucs i have felt a gain due to the pole higher sale piece..... not worth the money if you ask me to go with carbons, id say. before i hear a bunch of controversy, in MY opinion, UCS rolls smoother, and the sale piece is higher. It makes bending it a bit easier for me im 5'5" haha everyone has their own opinions, its your opinion, everyone has their own style of vaulting.... i do not like how everyone assumes that the best way of vaulting is by the petrove model, because it is not true.. go against me or whatever i will not respond. people say it is an older technology but (UCS) but are there any high end records that have been held with carbons? i know they seem better but if spirit can help a world class vaulter get 20 plus feet i mean comon...im not trying to say that the pole helps the vaulter get 19 feet + that is up to the vaulters speed and power.. but spirit has proven themselves id say... just throwing it out there not saying im the best or that spirits are just saying the im drunk and those are facts love ya<3 woiooooooooooooooo pole vault whatever its all about fun so dont come at me, this is MY opinion......
drunk thanks,
Mick

Whatever pole works for you is the best one. UCS and Gill both make great poles. But Hooker doesn't seem confident about this pole switch, and he didn't even take off at Worlds. Not sure if it was the right decision for him

I wonder if the switch was because he was mental. Spirits, compared to past versions of Pacer anyway, were always easier to jump on.

I suspect the fact is that he was never ready to jump well on any pole at this time. Never forget that he came as a bolt form the blue not very long ago and may well have already surpassed his wildest dreams. Lets hope he is ready for next year.

good morning,

i think the pole brand had NOTHING to do with him not taking off... it was WHERE (distance from the box) (out) he was and innately knowing, feeling he could not get to a correct takeoff from there.

Running through is generally attributed to an athletes "lack" of confidence.(and we call in the psychiatrist!! ; (>>)..

Butt as i have said many times a world class athlete is not going to suddenly "lose" their confidence (if they are reasonably fit) and especially on a "world" stage.. unless the run is off

2c

dj
http://www.oneapproachrun.com

dj wrote:Butt as i have said many times a world class athlete is not going to suddenly "lose" their confidence (if they are reasonably fit) and especially on a "world" stage.. unless the run is off

Hooker has been downplaying his fitness all year. You guys are right, I don't think the pole change is the cause of his problems, but it's either a symptom (let's switch poles because something feels off) or a contributing factor. The run may have been off, but that's also just a symptom of the underlying problem.

How long ago was his major surgery...... Sorry to say anyone would have mental doubt especially with the pressure that is put on him to jump well every time. People will sadly turn it into a pole issue. He will be back for london and which pole he is on won't matter if he is mentally ready to go.

The run may have been off, but that's also just a symptom of the underlying problem.

If the run is off it is either physical;
............or the lack of the physical ability to run fast enough..

or technical;
...........not enough practice to establish a fast and accurate run to match the grip.

And to emphasis my first point.. 99% of the time the "symptom" or "underlying problem" a vaulter does not go "UP" and runs through (or steps under..or stretches. or takes off flat..)… is simply because the run is "out" and/or too slow (for the grip) at six steps from the takeoff/plant.

dj