Pole sports

Pole sports, often called poling, is a discipline that combines dance and acrobatics. Athletes use a vertical metal pole to perform various physical feats. These movements include climbing, spinning, flipping, and hanging from the apparatus. Some athletes even perform inversions, which means they hang upside down. To succeed, a poler must possess agility, strength, balance, and endurance. They also need a high level of flexibility to complete complex maneuvers.

Performing on a pole requires a deep understanding of body contact. Athletes use their skin to create friction and grip the slippery metal. Because of this, competitors often wear clothing that exposes the shoulders, arms, legs, and waist. The International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) has specific rules for this attire. Competitors must cover their pelvis, gluteal muscles, and, for women, their breasts. When using thicker Chinese poles, athletes wear heavier clothing for protection.

In formal competitions, athletes perform a choreographed routine set to music. They typically use two different types of poles: static and spinning. A static pole does not rotate, while a spinning pole turns during the routine. Judges evaluate the performance based on several specific criteria. They look for the difficulty of the tricks, such as strength and flexibility poses. They also score the athlete on choreography, personal style, and expressiveness.

Poling has many ancient roots in different cultures. In India, the practice of mallakhamba uses a wooden pole and a cotton rope. This tradition traces back to 12th-century malla-yuddha, which was a form of wrestling. Chinese pole-climbing was also documented as far back as 2,000 years ago. These early techniques likely developed from practical tasks like climbing trees for agriculture. Today, these acrobatic traditions are seen in famous shows like Cirque du Soleil.

Modern pole sports emerged as a fitness activity during the 1990s and 2000s. Much of this growth came from the history of poling in strip clubs and bars. In the 1980s, studios like Image Studio in Canada trained dancers in choreography and floor work. Fawnia Mondey-Dietrich is credited with creating some of the first instructional videos in the 1990s. Since then, specialized pole studios have opened across Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. These studios offer classes for fitness, athletics, and other purposes.

The sport is now governed by formal organizations like the IPSF. Tim Trautman and Katie Coates founded the IPSF in 2009. The federation aims to eventually make poling an Olympic sport. They have hosted world championships since 2012. In 2017, the Global Association of International Sports Federations granted the IPSF observer status. Professional leagues also exist, such as Oksana Grishina's O.G. Pole Fitness. This league holds championships at the Mr. Olympia event. Another group, the Pole Championship Series, competes at the Arnold Sports Festival.

While many enjoy the sport, it has also faced social tensions. Some feminists argue that poling contributes to the sexualization of culture. There has also been debate regarding the relationship between fitness polers and strippers. Some hobbyists have used the hashtag #notastripper to distance themselves from the adult industry. However, others argue that this distancing is divisive or ignores the contributions of strippers. Despite these debates, a 2017 study of 52 female dancers found that pole fitness improves posture and strength. Poling continues to grow as a complex, athletic, and evolving global activity.