Dr. R. V. Ganslen: Mechanics of the Pole Vault.

Dr. Richard (Dick) Ganslen's book - Mechanics of the Pole Vault, ninth and last edition - was released in 1980.  Known as "the bible of the sport" - pole vaulting - Mechanics of the Pole Vault books in the series were analytical studies from the perspective of an accredited Doctor of Physics.

In 1979, I collaborated with Ganslen on this ninth edition of Mechanics of the Pole Vault, mailing pole vault illustrations and ideas which Ganslen incorporated in original form as well as reworked art.

As a result of the USA Olympic boycott of 1980, Ganslen sought another commercial venture to publicize the book - this time in the form of a poster, which was sponsored by Cata-Pole pole vault manufacturers.  The Ganslen/Cata-Pole venture was a great idea because every pole sold - in the entire world - came packaged with this poster, which I illustrated!

After communication with Sergei Bubka and Bubka's coach Vitaly Petrov, Dr. Ganslen's final contribution to pole vaulting was a second, more renowned poster featuring my illustration.  That sequence I drew is described as the most accurate and detailed pole vault sequence illustration to this day... because Ganslen and Petrov exchanged the most up-to-date technical information and photos. 

5 of 9 editions of Ganslen's renowned Mechanics of the Pole Vault books.

My suggestions and drawings led to this center-of-gravity page in Ganslen's Mechanics of the Pole Vault.

 

Pole Vault Illustrated Overview and Update.

Be sure to check the Pole Vault Illustrated Archives at right:  There are 58 posts to-date, beginning January 1, 2009.  One disadvantage of blogs is the viewing-display of posts.  Entering a blog, you see the newest post and some recent ones, but to really get a good blog overview -  you should really select some of the older and first posts (which are archived in the older posts).  You can access the older posts by selecting the years and months within the archives, or by scrolling to the bottom of the page and selecting "older posts".

If you've been following Pole Vault Illustrated, check the archives - as I have recently added more photos and captions to older posts.

Leave comments if you read a post that prompts any pole vaulting questions or discussion.  I really enjoy discussing pole vaulting technique, safety advances, and theories.

I am currently amassing my many illustrations and coaching notes to adapt to book form and it should be available in the not-too-distant future.

Here are links to two of my older posts (... you might find them helpful in improving your pole vault technique).  The True Secret of Effective Modern Pole Vaulting and The Swing is A Key Element in Pole Vaulting.