Still Vacumed Pit

[scpolevaulter]

I know that most manufacturers vacume down their pits so they are easier to ship. I just became a coach at a nearby high school and when the AD was describing their equipment to me it seemed that he was saying that the pit was still vacumed down and had been in storage for atleast a year. Could this potentially damage the foam in the pit? My concern is that the foam being compressed for so long might cause the foam to stay a little compressed when we get them out or something like that.

[rainbowgirl28]

YES the pit has a very high chance of being ruined if it has been vacuum sealed for a year. The manufacturers send CLEAR instructions to the schools that they need to unpack the mat ASAP after receiving. I suggest you investigate as soon as possible! Hopefully the AD is wrong.

[scpolevaulter]

Well we got them out today so hopefully they will be ok

[Barto]

That is a very sad picture! I suggest calling UCS and getting their opinion on the safety of the foam. You may have a liability issue going forward.

[scpolevaulter]

We talked to them they said to wait about 2 weeks to let them try to inflate and Mike said he would come and inspect it if we had any doubts about the safety of the pit.

[rainbowgirl28]

I hope they do expand for you.

[Decamouse]

Recommend you at a minimum unzip them -- if the weather permits -- remove the casing so air can get as freely to all areas as possible -- hope for nice war sunny days as that may also help -- past experience says you will be very fortunate if they uncompress completely

[scpolevaulter]

Heres and update on the situation. We left the pit alone for about a month now just letting it sit and expand. Good news is the pit looks great right now we think the foam has almost fully expanded. 100% better than when we walk into the situation. Were still being cautious though and UCS is sending a rep out to make sure it is still safe.

[rainbowgirl28]

So much better!

[Gary_vaulter]

My kids vaulted at a meet Saturday and the venue's new pits had just been delivered and set up the day before.
I threw myself, back first, into the pit and it knocked the air out of me. Two of my three vaulters had headaches after their 2nd warm-up jump from landing on their back and having their head snapped back into the pit.

I am hoping that this is just part of this "vacume shipped" issue and that they will expand more/soften some by the time we return there for another meet in a few weeks.