At the AVA, we’ve done plenty over the past few years to ensure that the sport isn’t nearly as unknown as it used to be. Despite the puzzled looks we sometimes get in airports when we travel (“what IS that on your T-shirt?” they ask, if they see a vaulting graphic, or if there’s no picture and just the word “vault” they tend to jump right to pole vaulting or the gymnastics apparatus) we are making headway in getting our sport noticed in the U.S. And we need to do even better.
How many of you vaulters, vaulting parents and vaulting alumni spend time on the internet these days? If you do a Google search for “vaulting”, the American Vaulting Association’s site is at the top of the list!
Four of the first five listings for “vaulting” are equestrian vaulting sites. (Note to AVA marketing: gotta get Webster’s online dictionary to recognize the word as a very for our sport!) The YouTube video of Megan Benjamin’s 2006 World Championship Freestyle performance in Aachen, Germany (posted three years ago by a very forward thinking former vaulter, Briana Olsen, WAY before most of us even knew what YouTube was!) has garnered more than 103,000 viewers thus far. And there are more than 1,100 YouTube videos listed when you search under “equestrian vaulting.”
So…what, we want more? Yes! And here’s what you can do to spread the word THIS WEEK about vaulting:
- Get your AVA vaulting decal out of your registration packet (yes, the one you got several months ago), and make it “work” for us—put in on the rear or side windows of your car or truck! Can’t find or don’t have the new, cool AVA car decal? They’re available from the National Office by clicking on the “AVA Store” button on the website—just $8 for 8! Get “slap happy” and make sure these decals are placed on at least one car per vaulter at your club (and get the grandparents to put one on their car as well!). Really, go find it now, get out some Windex, make a clean spot on your dirty car window, and get this sticker ON. (And remember “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” so do it now.)
- Register on any of the popular equestrian community websites (and definitely on the USEF’s new ClubEquestrian.com) to spread the word about vaulting. Post interesting and fun photos of vaulting, or you taking care of your horses, etc. Get that community more interested in vaulting. Tell them how much fun you’re having in our sport!
- Upload a YouTube video of someone vaulting. Make sure you’re helping the AVA put its best foot forward here, with a routine that looks fun and is safe (no matter what the level), and a horse that is workin’ it and happy at the same time. Be sure to use the key words that will get us most noticed: vaulting, equestrian vaulting, horse vaulting, horses, gymnastics, dance.
- Make it a game: how many new people can you introduce to vaulting in a single week? My own record is 23 in a seven-day period. Anytime someone tells me they have school-age children I ask the leading “Hey, do they like horses?” “How about dance or gymnastics?” “How about just plain fun?” Or if a parent is complaining about how bored their children will be this summer, I recommend that they come up to our local arenas to watch either the Mt. Eden or Woodside kids practice.
How much vaulting evangelism could you do in a single week? I want to hear your stories and your successes! You’ll hear from me much more often thru this Vaultopia! blog. And I want to hear from you too!
Sheri Benjamin
AVA President (and Dedicated Vaulting Evangelist!)