The Renaissance of Both Side Pole Vault - United Pole Vaulting
The event will happen 13 April 2019 in Finland (Helsinki Liikuntamylly "Mylly") at 5 PM.
The idea is to have the athletes' results from both right and left side counted together. The winner is the one who has the highest combined number.
Both-sided pole vault was listed as an official sport in the Finnish Championships last time in 1911. The official Finnish record was set by Urho Aaltonen (representing Tampere) at 6.20m (3.20m + 3.00m). The competition took place in Vyborg (now Russian territory) on July 2nd 1910.
Two-side pole vault was no longer held as a championship event in 1923. However, in the fourth edition of the book "Points in Athletics" (Yleisurheilun pisteet) written in 1923, edited by Eino Havas, it is still mentioned that the event was an official sport at that time. The first edition of the book was released in 1907.
The idea is to have a full revival of this tradition by organising official competitions in which it is possible to jump on both sides. The first renaissance competition took place in Helsinki on March 14th 2019 (named as Hyvän tuulen seiväskisat, in Finnish). Jussi Autio jumped the result of 7.00m (4.00m + 3.00m). A new Finnish record, by the way!
With the generosity and help of distinguished sports historians, Ari Törmä and Aulis Tiensuu, we have discovered that Finland has been, in fact, the only country in the world that practised both side pole vaulting in the 1890s and in the early 1900s. Therefore, all of the Finnish records must be seen as world records!
The first known both side pole vault was in Turku 21 June 1892. The results were:
1. Johan Blomster 462 (251 + 211)
2. Paul Richter 453 (251 + 202)
3. Aleksander Kulla 445 (251 + 194)
The main reason for the practice of both side pole vaulting is the enthusiasm and insight of Mr. Viktor Heikel (1842-1927), who is credited for "bringing athletics to Finland." He studied in England and Germany, which at that time must be regarded as a very cosmopolitan activity for a Finnish person. He organized so called Achilles Contests (Akilleskilpailut) which were popular events among the youth in Finland at that time. These competitions included both side high jump, starting at least from the "Achilles Contest 3" in 1884.
Another avid advocate of both side pole vault was Viktor Damm (1864-1944). He also made the initiative of forming the Finnish Athletic Federation (SUL).
Why should we have a revival for an event like this?
There are several benefits that result from training both side pole vaulting. First, it increases the muscle balance, and thus can be used as a tool to prevent a number of types of injuries. Also, seeing sport as a symbolic interaction, from a philosophical point of view, is quite rewarding in itself. This, if anything, is an act of recognizing the great sport of pole vaulting as a symbol of excellence.
Moreover, if we look at our new inspirational sport purely as an entertainment, as it is very fashionable these days, one can quickly realize how amazingly wonderful possibilities both side pole vault can offer for great sporting festivals. The "double super-pole vault" competition can be a truly exciting and thrilling show. Even more so as the traditional pole vault!
In fact, the event should be organised in the most exuberant and effervescent ways: "building expectations more and more for the last round" as in any dramatically understood piece of show. Thus, it would start from each competitor's weaker side. After having scored the basic points on "the qualifying contest", the second competition would be like a final. The athletes would jump as high as possible on their better side.
Only our imagination sets limits on how far this type of a new sport can develop!
There has not been World Championships in Both Side Pole Vaulting yet.
On April 13 2019 in Helsinki there will be!
Who will be the first champion of the world?
And more importantly, are we going to see a new world record?
Come over and we will see it together!
More off-mainstream sporting events: internationaltrackmeets.blogspot.com/
