Thermo-Flex Official Vaulting Pole Safety Rule

[rainbowgirl28]

I just got the most interesting thing on eBay...

It's a metal ruler that rolls into a circle. When unrolled and straightened it has the following instructions (please note that this is very old, 1965, and should not actually be used as a guide).

1) Mark the pole by wrapping tape above the vaulters highest handhold. This mark must be visible above his hand during all vaults.

2) Lay the pole across two chairs with the inside edge of the first chair under the handhold mark and the second chair under the bottom of the pole. (There is a drawing illustrating this)

3) Using this side of pole measure from bottom of pole to handhold mark (then you flip the "rule" over for more instructions)

4) Put this side of rule at bottom of pole as indicated and move inside edge of second chair to correct handhold marking on chair positioning scale.

5) Stack books under the pole midway between chairs, leaving exactly 12" or 30cm between underside of pole and top of stack. (there is another drawing illustrating this)

6) Have the vaulter stand or sit on the pole over the books (he may need help in balancing, but his whole weight must be on the pole) (there is another drawing illustrating this, unfortunately it only uses an arrow, not a person to illustrate)

If pole bends down to the top of the stack, it is too weak for safe vaulting at this handhold. The vaulter must either lower his handhold or select a stiffer pole and retest.

It may be necessary to hold chairs during test to prevent slipping or overturning. Do not interfere with free movement of pole ends during test.




Interesting!

[PV-ATL]

Rainbow,

Yeah... Thermo-flex. I owned two of 'em. I had a 10-0 "Training Pole". It didn't bend or anything. I got 9-0 with that in 8th grade landing in bags of ratty foam from the carpet company in town.

I then got a 12-6 ... whatever weight pole (... I weighed about 115...). It didn't bend. I just did the 'ol Waterdam thing and got 10-6, standing up from a 10-0 grip. I had a little set up in the back yard, so in the summer I was going to "bend the pole". Two days later, I broke it in 5 places. I'm still alive.

My dad took me to the sporting goods store and we got a 12-120 Black Cata-Pole. I got 11-3 over the summer and 12-1 indoors. Good pole, I would say! Technology wins again!

Thermo-flex was pretty much a joke, even in the 70's (...Although I did see a kid make 13-6 with one: 1971...). Good memories, although...

Cheers,

PV-ATL