Sandstorm Vault Jumps to Larger Space at 6655 Dobbin Road in Columbia as Participant Volume Soars to New Heights

Concept which trains area athletes in the sport of pole vaulting expands from 3,600 to new 14,523 square foot space several months after opening its first location in Halethorpe

Apparently, the popularity of pole vaulting in the Maryland area is soaring to new heights. This explains why, shortly after opening its inaugural location within 3,600 square feet of space at Sulphur Spring Business Park in Halethorpe late last year, Sandstorm Vault recently jumped to a new 14,523 square foot space within 6655 Dobbin Road in Columbia. Founder and owner Jacob Sanders signed a lease with Hill Management Services, Inc. at the nearly 80,000 square foot building with Andrew Beyrodt, Leasing Representative for the company representing the landlord in this transaction. Hill Management Services owns and manages both properties.

Sandstorm Vault, founded by Sanders in 2018, trains area youth in the sport of pole vaulting and has become a key player in Maryland’s pole-vaulting community. With more than 500 student-athletes competing in the sport across the state, Sanders estimates that his program works with about 100 participants, including 30 regulars. He explains that the reception to his opening in late 2024 was “considerably better than expected” and averaged more than 20 participants per day.  It explained that he decided to “seize upon this momentum by taking more space,” which also “alleviated some cramped quarters and produced a more comfortable environment and higher-quality experience.”

Sanders added that Sandstorm Vault has “taken off.” The concept rented space near BWI Airport last winter and was operational on weekends only. This winer, he explained that the space “became a lifeline for many high schools when their outdoor facilities were unavailable due to bad weather and snow.” He added that many of his students buy or rent poles from Sandstorm Vault and they are back to training outdoors.

“It takes a certain amount of courage to sprint down a track at full speed while carrying a 15-foot-long pole and preparing to be launched into the air,” explained Sanders. “Of course, next comes the tricky part of navigating yourself over the bar and the thrilling sensation of skydiving onto the landing pads. For those that master this sport comes the confidence to tackle and accomplish seemingly anything in their lives,” he added.

Getting his start at the high school level  

Following a high school sprinting career, in addition to participating briefly in college, Sanders entered the world of pole vault while coaching it as one of 16 different events of track and field at Westminster High School. Surprisingly, the vault squad found immediate competitive success, despite Sanders’ relative lack of experience, which led to a pole vault coaching position at York College in Pennsylvania. Several achievements followed for the team, including placing seven different men into the top eight finishers in the conference’s final pole vault standings within the same year, accounting for York College’s most dominant pole vault performance in school history.

“Parents started asking me to provide private training for their kids, and a few adults showed interest in continuing after college,” Sanders explained. Recognizing a need, he launched his business to fulfill it. The enterprise includes Pole Vault Mall, an e-commerce business specializing in the sale of pole vault equipment and supplies which is also housed in 6655 Dobbin Road.

Sanders says that he teaches coordination skills, force generation and proper technique and counters the misconception that pole vaulting is not for everyone. “Absent a debilitating back, hip or shoulder condition, pole vaulting can be attempted and mastered by people of all ages. It is certainly not easy to start, but once beginners rise into the air for a few feet they get hooked, and the sport is a great way to get into shape,” he said. “It is very punishing at the outset and then extremely gratifying when you master the technique.”

New Columbia location expected to broaden horizons of the company

Moving so quickly, and choosing Columbia as the new home of Sandstorm Vault, will enable the company to broaden its horizons and reach the Howard County community, and possibly the Washington, D.C. suburbs. “The location off Interstate 95 will also allow us to draw athletes from an even larger radius and we remain accessible to our students in the greater Baltimore area. The ceiling heights are a bit higher at the new building which is an added plus,” he said.

This is important because Sanders is working with Dunbar High School coach, Dale Stalley, who introduced the sport of pole vaulting after not fielding it for decades due to lack of funding and coaching resources allocated to it. “Pole vaulting is now part of the event schedule for Baltimore City Public School track and field meets, and we are training some athletes,” he said.

“People seem to love the premium experience of having daily access to multiple climate-controlled pole vault pits and 200 poles,” he said. “I have been helping people advance their pole-vaulting skills for many years and Sandstorm Vault is being taken even more seriously, and expanding quickly, now that we have a legitimate facility.”

For more information, visit www.sandstormvault.com

“Sandstorm Vault’s extremely rapid expansion is a testament to the excellent business acumen of Jacob Sanders, as well as his commitment to grow the sport of pole vaulting in the greater Maryland region,” stated Danielle Beyrodt, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer of Hill Management Services. “This concept can only be located in buildings with a clear height of at least 20’, and fortunately we were able to accommodate his real estate requirements in two different buildings in our portfolio. We believe his business will continue to grow as more people learn about the opportunity to experience this highly-unique sport.”

Founded in 1976, Hill Management Services, Inc. is a privately-owned, full-service real estate development company.  Located in Timonium, Maryland, Hill Management owns more than four million square feet of office, industrial and retail space as well as several hotel and self-storage facilities.  Hill Management Services seeks to provide long-term investments, exceptional customer service, and develop long-lasting tenant-landlord relationships.  For more information visit www.hillmgt.com.

Source: CityBiz