When to retape your pole...

[scubastevesgirly]

So...I've never actually retaped my own pole, b/c every time i start, i tell my coach or a guy on the team that i've never done it myself before, so they always end up doing it. Granted, I just started vaulting 2 years ago, but it still seems like an important part of the sport...

...so my question is: When is it time to retape your pole?

[CHC04Vault]

I think for most people it depends on their preferance. I personally like having my grip area clean, so if its dirty or just a lil uneven, i re-tape it. As for not being anal retentive about tape, i would say when its starting to come undone anywhere other than the bottom of the area is a good time, or if the grip area ever gets wet, i always re-tape.

[VaultMarq26]

I agree, it is totally a person to person thing. I never have had a problem with gripping so I will never retape a pole. By the time I would think about taping it, I have already moved onto a bigger pole.

[vaultwest]

I would agree that it is totally dependent on a vaulters preference. I do have one interesting story. Back in the mid 90's whenever Kory Tarpening would show up at Hayward field he would always do very short approach full vaults and thus he would ask me if he could jump on my biggest poles and he always told me he loved my tape job and asked how I got the tape in such a good condition. At the time I really didn't have a clue but after that I started paying attention and finally discovered that being here in Oregon it is inevitable that your pole will get wet sometime or many times throughout the year. I would never retape the poles till the season was over. So I decided that the tape getting wet and then drying out is what gave it just the right texture. Hopefully some food for thought.

[achtungpv]

So...I've never actually retaped my own pole, b/c every time i start, i tell my coach or a guy on the team that i've never done it myself before, so they always end up doing it.

Sounds like someone is hitting on you!

[scubastevesgirly]

So...I've never actually retaped my own pole, b/c every time i start, i tell my coach or a guy on the team that i've never done it myself before, so they always end up doing it.

Sounds like someone is hitting on you!

Haha...probly not

Thanks for the info guys...It rained last wk, and that's why i asked...i guess it doesn't really matter...Maybe i'll use some of our sticky spray this wk