Great article in the main section of the NY Times today about how years ago the Dutch farmers crossed canals dividing their fields by vaulting over them with a pole, since bridges were few and far between.  Recently, in Linschoten, Holland, Jaco de Groot won the competition by vaulting 67 feet!  As the article points out, it is more about distance than height, so the vaulters plant their pole in the muddy bed of the canal near the bank and take a running start before leaping on to the pole.  Once they connect with the pole - as they sail across the canal - they scramble to climb up it before it lands on (hopefully) the other side.  Some 30% of jumpers find themselves in the water.  But a 67-foot vault is pretty impressive by any standard!  Welcome to the world of canal-vaulting:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/world/europe/little-known-dutch-sports-experience-a-revival.html?_r=1