Let's take your example with the pole vault. In track and field there are two sports where a human must launch himself or herself over a bar set a certain height above the ground: the high jump and the pole vault. These are considered two different sports due to the fact that one event uses the aid of an implement that, over the years, has improved with technology, and the other event uses no implement. So even though the sports appear similar on the surface (i.e., humans launching over a bar), these are two separate sports. A pole vaulter does not say that he or she is an "equipped high jumper."
Pole Vaulters Are "Equipped"
No matter how you twist it, Pole Vaulters are "Equipped" with a Fiber Glass Pole that elicits essentially the same effect as a Powerlifting Shirts and Suits.
The Fiber Glass Pole bends at the bottom, then spring back, assisting the Vaulter up off the ground, enable to move more weight up higher over the bar.
The Powerlflifting Shirt and Suits bend (stretch at the bottom of the lift), then spring back, assisting the lifter in getting the weight off the chest in the Bench Press or out of the hole in the Squat.
The Vaulter isn't wearing the Fiber Glass Pole. However, the effect is still the same.
The intelligent lifters will actually say that geared and raw are actually different sports. Using the gear demands its own technique and skill that is different from a raw lifter.
Different Sports
Raw and Geared are two different sports. The technique for one is different from the other.
That applies to Pole Vaulters who used the Fiber Glass Pole that bends compared to the Pole that was used decades ago that was stiff, had no spring or lift.
The technique of the Fiber Glass Pole Vaulter is complete different from the Pole that was used decades ago that was stiff and unyielding. They were two different sports.
Anytime you change something in any sport, technique changes. Something as simple as going from Squatting in a Flat Sole Shoe to an Olympic Shoe with an elevated heal changes a lifter technique.
High Bar Squatting is completely different from Low Bar Squatting, etc.
Another way of looking at it is the...
Ice Cream Analogy
Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream aren't the same. Both are ice cream but different.
Some geared lifters look down on raw lifters, or they think raw federations are bad for the sport. I actually read an interview with Louie Simmons where he was asked about raw federations and he replied that this was making the sport go backwards.
Childish
That is a childish, immature attitude.
Louie has put out a book on Olympic weightlifting using Westside methods. It was widely discredited by many Olympic lifting coaches. So why would Louie think that he could write a book on Olympic weighting and why would any person buy this book? Because of this logic: Both Olympic lifting and powerlifting involve lifting a barbell and requires strength. Louie has coached many lifters in lifting and barbell and they were strong. Therefore, Louie knows how to coach Olympic lifters. This is like saying pole vaulters should coach high jumpers.
Westside Olympic Lifting Program
I am familiar with Simmons' belief that he know how to train Olympic Lifters.
"This is like saying pole vaulters should coach high jumpers."
Excellent example!
Since I haven't read or seen Simmons book on the Westside Olympic Weightlifting training, I cannot really comment on it.
However, I believe that Simmons has ventured into an area that he doesn't belong.
With that said, one sport can learn from another in regard to training.
The Ironic Example
The foundation of Simmons' Westside Program is built on the methods utilized by Olympic Lifters.
1) Conjugate Training: Combining Limit Strength Training with Power "Speed" Training.
2) Cluster Sets:
Geoff Chafe, an Olympic Lifter, addressed this in one of his post. I believe it he posted it on the "Assistance Lifts" Topic; smart guy, good information.
Another interesting fact is...
Original Westside Vs Simmons Westside Box Squat
The Original Westside Box Squatting Method developed by Gerge Frenn and Joe Demarco are not the same.
I met Joe Demarco through another lifter about 10 years ago, when I lived in California. I went to Demarco's gym. He demonstrated and had me perform the Original Box Squat Method.
The only thing the Original Westside and Simmons' Westside Box Squatting Method have in common it the Box.
The Original Westside and Simmons Westside Box Squatting Method each are effective training methods. Each provides a different training effect.
One of the biggest differences is...
The Original Westside Box Squat: Simply put, this method uses a rocking action that generates momentum prior to driving your butt off the box.
Simmons' Westside Box Squat: This method has you pause on the box, killing the Stretch Reflex, then driving up from a Dead Stop.
The technique of one is different from the other.
Why The Differnce?
Joe Demarco stated that Simmons never visited, saw or talked with anyone who trained the Original Westside Method. So, how would he know the technique of the Original Westside Box Squat and how they trained it?
Kenny Croxdale