Paddling coaches will often tell their athletes of pole-vault over their paddles. Vaulting coaches will also tell their athletes that planting their poles is very much like paddling. Thus the analogy must bear some weight since both disciplines refer to each other. The Piranhas had a chance to explore the simliarities between paddling and pole vaulting in a Learn to Pole Vault session at Stephen Leacock C.I. in Scarborough.

The seminar was run by Hugh Miller, who currently holds the Canadian Indoor Master's pole vault record and only recently had his outdoor record broken. In exchange for a box of Krispy Kreme donuts, Mr. Miller took us through the basics of vaulting and had the entire team jumping by the end of the session with the help of several athletes he currently coaches, including Derek Yamashita who is a two-time OFSAA champion as well as two other star athletes.

Those in attendance were first taught to skip with the pole, which involves a set up and planting of the pole which very closely simulates the catch and pull through. This was followed by learning how to master the approach and planting the pole into the box into which the pole is placed. By the end of the practice, everyone was able to perform a basic vault.

The team would like to thank the entire instructional team for showing us the basics of one of track and field's most technical events.