Will Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Did any color guards "back in the day" use wooden poles? I know of some winter guards that use (or used to use) them... Chimeras (IW), Eklipse ( i marched here.. it was odd at first, but once we got the amount of washers stacked on the end right, it was a breeze!), Russlleville High School ( in KY) has been using them indoors and outdoors since 2001. I think the Patriots used them a couple times for winter guard... anyone else?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubamann Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Did any color guards "back in the day" use wooden poles? I know of some winter guards that use (or used to use) them... Chimeras (IW), Eklipse ( i marched here.. it was odd at first, but once we got the amount of washers stacked on the end right, it was a breeze!), Russlleville High School ( in KY) has been using them indoors and outdoors since 2001. I think the Patriots used them a couple times for winter guard... anyone else?? Carolina Crown used them in 1995 for the 8 GIANT flags at the end of the show. They were 10 foot long dowel rods (used for closet poles) I know, because I went to Home Depot and bought them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsBusDriver Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 If we had used them "back in the day", they would have been snapped in half and in splinters with the first "Present Arms" or "Slam" to the ground with the tip. Back in the day, there was this thing called "Snap" that isn't as prevelent now. I'm proud to say I snapped my pole in half during OTL my Rookie year and it was a metal pole!. Good thing it was during practice or else a penalty for dropped equipment. Hmm, wonder if it would have only been a 1/2 penalty :) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintage rifle Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 In the 70's, it was sign of honor (and toughness) if you broke your pole in half on a slam. It became so prevelent that we switched to fiberglass in 76 or 77. We snapped those things like spaghetti. I can't imagine wood would have lasted through one rehearsal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldpin Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Don't know of any corps using wooden poles back in the '60s. We used metal poles that came in two pieces and had to be screwed together in the middle. I remember that one snapped during the '63 VFW nationals (during the finals as I remember). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deftguy Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 (edited) We used them for exactly two months in my high school guard. We broke so many poles "snapping" that Steve finally said metal was the ticket. Since "snapping" is not done today, they could probably use them successfully in todays guard. $10 and a around the world and back "snap" to MsBusDriver for the snap! Edited January 23, 2007 by deftguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byline Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 (edited) I'm proud to say I snapped my pole in half during OTL my Rookie year and it was a metal pole! The last year I taught guard (1993), at the very last competition (state championships; it snowed that day, and the field was a sea of mud), one of my guard members snapped her flagpole during the closer. Fortunately, the flag casing held it together, but it was hanging at this weird angle. Because anything odd or out of line immediately catches my eye, I saw that and was thinking, "What the heck?" I asked her about it after they came off the field, and she said she'd broken her flagpole. Only time anyone in any of my guards did that. Edited January 26, 2007 by byline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 10, 2007 Author Share Posted February 10, 2007 Byline: did you used to teach at Madisonville North Hopkins High school in Madisonville, KY??? It snowed at state championships in 1993.... and my sister used to be in the guard there in 1986 The last year I taught guard (1993), at the very last competition (state championships; it snowed that day, and the field was a sea of mud), one of my guard members snapped her flagpole during the closer. Fortunately, the flag casing held it together, but it was hanging at this weird angle. Because anything odd or out of line immediately catches my eye, I saw that and was thinking, "What the heck?" I asked her about it after they came off the field, and she said she'd broken her flagpole. Only time anyone in any of my guards did that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byline Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 (edited) Byline: did you used to teach at Madisonville North Hopkins High school in Madisonville, KY??? It snowed at state championships in 1993.... and my sister used to be in the guard there in 1986 Yes, I did! I taught in Madisonville from 1985 through 1993, so I should know who she is. I'm trying to remember if we were the last band on in prelims in '93. I think we were, so the field was pretty chewed up by the time we went on. Mud and dirt clods . . . and the flag line basically slinging mud into their faces. Instant facial! I also remember that at one point in the opener, my guard captain slipped as she was backwards-marching, and she went down, literally, into a splits position (and got back up incredibly quicly; I don't know how she did it). What a year! Edited February 10, 2007 by byline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 Her name is Erin Stevenson.... she was in band all 4 years, but did color guard her freshman year ( the year Madisonville did Don't cry for me Argentina, SImple gifts, and Jupiter).. she's what got me started! Will Stevenson Director of Colorguard Lexington Christian Academy Union County High School Yes, I did! I taught in Madisonville from 1985 through 1993, so I should know who she is. I'm trying to remember if we were the last band on in prelims in '93. I think we were, so the field was pretty chewed up by the time we went on. Mud and dirt clods . . . and the flag line basically slinging mud into their faces. Instant facial! I also remember that at one point in the opener, my guard captain slipped as she was backwards-marching, and she went down, literally, into a splits position (and got back up incredibly quicly; I don't know how she did it). What a year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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