ABOUT BRUCE CALDWELLL

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 Bruce Caldwell’s pole vaulting work spans more than five decades, combining equipment design, instructional writing, and direct support for athletes and coaches.

Bruce founded FiberSport poles in 1977 and ESSX poles in 1998. In 2020, he reinvented FiberSport as an upgrade to his earlier ESSX designs, drawing on decades of manufacturing experience and conversations with vaulters and coaches.*

 His instructional work reaches back to The Elusive Bar. An educational bibliography lists his 1974 book and describes its photographs, technical explanations, and interviews with nineteen leading vaulters—documenting an early commitment to sharing practical knowledge about the event. ERIC bibliography.

 That commitment continued through his collaboration with pole vault writer and illustrator David Bussabarger. The Summer 2016 issue of Track Coach published Bussabarger’s discussion of the takeoff, adapted from a forthcoming book co-written with Bruce. Track Coach.

 Early on, he worked with Earl Bell, Sky Poles, and Santos in Texas, as well as making poles for Billy Olson; in 1980, he provided poles to Valeriy Kozakiev to help him capture the World record and Olympic gold at the Moscow Olympic Games.

Bruce’s equipment work includes hands-on collaboration with athletes and their coaches. Pole Vault Carolina describes how Bruce and engineer Beto Sanchez built poles for Sam Kendricks, traveled to Mississippi to test them, and returned with another batch of his new line, EssxSport Poles, after further development. Their persistence illustrates an approach built around listening, observing, and following through. Team Kendricks story..

 His involvement also extends to grassroots programs. Missouri’s Motley Crew Vault Club published an account of Bruce answering equipment questions and providing individual instruction during practice. The Alaska Pole Vault Club credits him with donating a 125-foot runway and providing discounts on vaulting poles. Motley Crew account, Alaska club acknowledgment 

 Today, Bruce continues that work through FiberSport, bringing his design experience to conversations about athletes’ equipment needs. Coaches and vaulters can bring their questions, current pole series, and goals directly to the discussion. Visit FiberSport.

Currently working with Sam Kendricks in the Refuge manufacturing plant in Oxford, Mississippi, to produce FiberSport vaulting poles. His latest contribution to the pole vault community is three pole styles that fit most athletes, rather than forcing athletes to fit a pole. https://fibersportpoles.com/3-differrent-style-poles 

Founding dates and the description of FiberSport’s 2020 reinvention were supplied directly by Bruce Caldwell.