Swiss Pole Sports Federation (SPSF)

Pole & Aerial Sports in 2024 includes 8 disciplines

Pole & aerial sports refers to all disciplines in which a person performs a mixture of acrobatics, technical movements and dance, all generally structured according to the code of points (discipline reference). The athlete evolves on and around the apparatus concerned, for example with the vertical metal bar, more commonly known as the “pole”, or the aerial hoop (suspended ring).

Just like skating, skiing and swimming, Pole & Aerial Sports come in a variety of disciplines (mainly competitive), all defined by the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF), the international umbrella association:

  • Pole Sport
  • Artistic Pole
  • Aerial Pole Sport
  • Artistic Aerial Pole
  • Aerial Hoop Sport
  • Artistic Aerial Hoop
  • Para Pole
  • Ultra Pole

The studios mainly teach these disciplines to people looking for a fun and recreational physical activity. Nevertheless, the practice of Pole & Aerial Sports at a high level, with the aim of taking part in national and international competitions, is becoming increasingly popular in our country.

Pole & aerial sports represent a demanding form of physical activity, requiring real strength and flexibility to move gracefully, but which can also take a very artistic and creative form. Because of their aerial nature, pole & aerial sports disciplines are often very spectacular, but they are nevertheless accessible to the greatest number of people, from beginners to the elite, from children to senior citizens.

In fact, even people with no particular sporting background can really improve their physical fitness. Pole & aerial sports are a fun and original way of quickly learning aerial tricks and pushing yourself to the limit.

COMPETING SUBDIVISIONS:

Pole Sports,Aerial Pole Sports andAerial Hoop Sports are based above all on sporting performance and the execution of particularly demanding technical elements. They are judged and governed by a “Points Code” which has been drafted in line with the Olympic standards used for other sports such as gymnastics or figure skating. This emblematic sporting component of these disciplines evolves in strict compliance with Olympic standards.

TheArtistic Pole,Artistic Aerial Pole and Artistic Aerial Hoop are very similar to the sporty version. It does, however, encourage a more artistic and creative approach, emphasizing musical interpretation, choreography and scenic expression. These disciplines also comply with the usual Olympic sporting standards.

Ultra Pole embodies the explosive and spectacular version of pole & aerial sports. Competitions take the form of “battles”. Two competitors compete against each other, displaying maximum inventiveness, acrobatic skill and creativity. They involve the public, who are invited to cheer them on. The Ultra Pole attracts some of the world’s most impressive athletes, who find it an ideal backdrop for their unique tricks.

The final competition is the Para Pole. Aimed at all athletes with a disability, they are judged and governed by the same “Points Code” as the sporting version. The discipline is organized according to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) classification system. In para-sport, athletes are grouped according to their degree of limitation and type of disability, to avoid giving an advantage to the athlete least affected by a handicap.