Pole vaulters are fearless.

You have to be when you turn yourself upside down on a bending pole up to 20 feet in the air.

Some people call the vault the coolest event in track and field and believe that once it hooks you at a young age you're a big fan forever.

In a way, that's the thinking behind Air Time 2008, the annual gathering of pole vaulters at Maine South High School.

They arrive every June and July in Park Ridge, men and women, boys and girls.

All ages are welcome as you get the chance to refine your technique for next season, go for that new personal best or just see if you can still clear even 10 feet.

The ability to do some pole vaulting on your own comes June 5, 12, 19 and 26 and July 3, 10 and 17.

For $5 per session ($4 with current USATF membership), you can vault from 5-8 p.m. on each date into three pits.

Bring your own poles because borrowing poles includes responsibility for damages.

For more information, call (847) 392-7046 or e-mail to Jlonergan@Maine207.org.