[markemajor5596]

Virtually everyone is "familiar" with this activity through media presentation of it as a form of exotic dance. When you tell your 53 year old father you do this all he'll understand is you're practicing to be a stripper; at best he'll tolerate the idea because he loves you, and might keep an open mind but isn't likely to encourage you. Practice discretely and regularly, building skill and strength. When he asks how that "stripper pole" thing is going perhaps share a video of some of the stellar performances out there. When shopping for a pole flatter him by asking his advice (though he knows nothing and you've already decided) and ask his help setting it up- he wants you to be safe, after all, and he'll be impressed with the design and workmanship that goes into these things. I guarantee you he will take a clumsy spin if nobody is looking. Then take daddy out to a regional competition and he'll be delighted by the lovely spectators but more importantly be so impressed with it he'll call it what it is; pole atheletics.

Pole atheletics will never be divorced from the "stripper pole" entirely- it seems our society cannot see women apart from sexualism (yet to be fair I must say women do much to perpetuate this). For whatever reasons we find the image of a man in a battle, alone, coughing his last blood-foamed breath more acceptable than a woman celebrating her sensuality in public, so being as it is don't expect a hero's welcome upon announcement of your avocation. It will be generations before this is widely accepted. Don't give up.