UCS Spirit
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods manufacturing |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Lou Schwartz and family |
| Headquarters | Minden , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Track and field equipment, including fiberglass pole vaulting poles, throwing equipment, hurdles, landing mats |
UCS Spirit operates out of Minden, Nevada, and focuses on manufacturing track and field gear, with a particular emphasis on fiberglass pole vaulting poles. Their offerings also encompass throwing equipment, hurdles, and landing mats. The business commenced production and distribution of track and field apparatus in 1987.
History
Originally established in the late 1960s under the name Universal Canvas and Sling, Inc. by Lou Schwartz and his family in Hackensack, New Jersey, the company’s early products consisted primarily of canvas items such as awnings and boat covers. Jeff Schwartz recognized a niche for creating pole vault and high jump landing pits, collaborating with Coach Bill Bowerman of the University of Oregon track team to present their pole vault mat at the 1971 AAU National Championships. This exposure led to increased demand for their landing mats.
As the firm grew, Jeff’s brother Larry Schwartz became involved, working alongside Steve Chappell—who, together with Lane Maestretti, had been pioneering fiberglass pole vault poles in Carson City, Nevada. At that time, fiberglass poles represented cutting-edge technology. In 1987, they introduced the UCS Spirit fiberglass vaulting pole. One year later, Sergei Bubka achieved his initial world record out of twelve using a UCS pole.
In February 2017, UCS Spirit transitioned from its Carson City location to a new 6,000-square-foot facility situated in Minden, Nevada.