Both days the Y is closed.
If you get a uni over the holidays, you can show it off January 7th, 2012.
It's also a good time to kick off those New Year's resolutions. Unicycle yourself into better shape!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Phew, alot of information - all about the different uni disciplines.
There are many disciplines with in the unicycling community. North American Unicycling Convention and Competition (NAUCC or “Nationals”) are held every year and there are competitions in the various disciplines at each NAUCC event. Nationals are a great way to see how the various disciplines work and meet others who love to ride their unis. It’s also an amazing learning experience, as sometimes the best way to learn a new trick is to watch others and ask them how they learned it.
The Butler Wobble - that’s what we call ourselves - will be attending again in 2012. Nationals in 2012 will be July 10-15 in Saline, MI. Saline’s only 4 ½ hours away! Mark you calendars now! Beginners are welcome in all events. There are age groups for everyone. Because UNICON (World’s) is also in the summer of 2012, this year’s Nationals may be less heavily attended - which will be great for new riders!
There is a registration fee for competiiors. It’s not too expensive, usually around $100. So, since we are able to meet at the Y free, start saving now by setting aside a few dollars each week you attend at the Y as your “fee” and you’ll have saved up much of the Nationals entry fee!
Also, you are required to be a Unicycling Society of America (USA) member to participate in Nationals. We don’t ask that you join USA to participate at the Y. However, when the Wobble participates in parades or MUni events we ask that those participating be USA members because one of the benefits of USA Membership is insurance for the club as a group, and for the individuals who are participating as part of that group. Membership is $20/individual or $35/family (all members at the same address). See http://uniusa.org/membership/ for more information. When you do join USA, please let us know so that we can update The Wobble Roster.
Below is a brief description of each discipline, the uni ridden and any other requirements as well as some video links. Many of the disciplines overlap and therefore there are often multiple events for each competitor to enter. Many disciplines require knee pads and gloves. A helmet is required for MUni and Trials.
Distance/Racing - Uni: Standard is under 24”, ungeared w/ cranks no shorter than 125mm. Unlimited class is anything with a virtual wheel larger than 24”.
Distance racing is racing that is not on the track, and is longer than 1500m. It may include a Criterium (crit), Marathon, and 10K. Not all distance events are held at all Nationals. It depends on the hosting city and their resources. Distance races are most often pack starts and raced as a group - there are gaps in the pack as the races progresses.
A Crit is a short circuit course, often a small city block where the racers complete a set number of laps. There are often standard and unlimited heats as well as age and gender classes. It’s a fast race, because the course is short, and is very spectator friendly. The 10K often has both standard and unlimited class as well. It’s often part road, part park, part bike path. Again, it depends on the host city’s available accommodations. A marathon is 42K (26.2 mi) and often is only offered for the unlimited class. It is often, mostly, a road race.
Flatland - Uni: 20”
Flatland riding is a combination of Street and Freestyle. It’s a combination of tricks and spins performed outdoors like Street, but without the obstacles in Street. The idea is to combine tricks and spins into a smooth set of motions.
Freestyle - Uni: 20”
Freestyle is one of the oldest disciplines and is considered and artistic discipline. It utilizes many skills and tricks that are arranged in a routine that is performed to music, and is often compared to figure skating. There are Individual, Pairs, and Group routines. Presentation and showmanship are a big part of the discipline. The routines are performed in a gym and are judged.
Hockey/Basketball - Uni: Any that’s set up for indoor use (plastic pedals) but most often a 20” for hockey. Basketball is 20 or 24 (to get a bit closer to the hoop.)
Just like it sounds, Uni Hockey and Basketball are played on unis in a gym. The courts are “enclosed” by barriers - often tables or bleachers with padding. There are teams of 5 on the court and the team may have subs, there are no age requirements and teams can be comprised of all ages and both male and female.
MUni - Uni: Varies. Most commonly a 24” or 29” with wider and knobbier tires. The frames are often more sturdy to withstand hops, drops, and rocks.
MUni means Mountain Unicycling. At Nationals, there are uphill technical, downhill technical and distance MUni races. All are also available as Male or Female Beginner, Advanced, and Expert. The uphill and downhill races are (really) short courses designed to test your ability. The distance is a longer course, similar to a mountain bike race.
Skills - Uni: Varies, but most often 20”. It’s suggested that you ride the uni on which you are most comfortable.
Skill Levels are a set of skills that are grouped and ranked so as to allow for levels. A rider must test at a lower level before progressing to a higher level. Testing is done by a certified Skills Tester and there are times set aside at Nationals just for testing for your level. There has been some discussion about altering and updating the skills, but for now, these are the accepted levels.
There are also the Hutch or Trials levels. The Trials levels were developed to incorporated more skills related to Street/ Flatland/ Trials and MUni riders. There is some overlap, but the two systems are not interchangeable and the Hutch Levels are not officially recognized.
Standard Skills
Standard skills combines Freestyle and Skills. The riders completes a routine that demonstrates the skills they are able to complete. They are not judged on music or costuming. They are awarded points for each skill mastered and demonstrated in the routine. A routine may contain up to 18 skills and be no longer than 3 minutes.
Street - Uni: Most often a 20”
Street is often compared to BMX riding and is done in skate park type settings. Street riding involves jumping off steps, huge flips, grinding rails and spinning the uni. For some competitions, depending on the host city and available facilities, the obstacles or “street” part are sometimes built site specific just for the competition.
Track - Uni: Varies, based on age, w/ younger racers allowed smaller wheels, but the standard is 24” with cranks no shorter than 125mm.
Track events are held on a track. They include 100m, 400m and 800m as well as 1-foot, wheel walk, and an obstacle course. Each National Host can add additional races, such as a slow race or backwards. All track races start from a “block” (upright post) and except for the 800m, you are disqualified if you dismount (you get 1 dismount in the 800). Track day is a great day for beginners to participate, if you can ride unassisted.
There are heats based on age and gender with the top riders competing in an Expert Heat. Scoring is timed and point based. The top 5 riders are awarded points. All riders are timed. So even if you don’t earn points, you are giving a time - this is great for shooting for personal bests or comparing yourself to others in different heats.
Trials - Uni: Usually a 20”, some larger men ride 24”
Trials riding is the riding of obstacles made up of pallets, stairs, boards and similiar objects without dismounting or touching anything. Trials are also called Observed Trials. During the competition there are a number of obstacles each rider may attempt to complete. Each obstacle is worth a set number of points based on which “line” you choose. A line is the designated order of completion for that obstacle. Each obstacle can have up to 3 lines for you to choose from, ranked from easiest to hardest. Each rider is given a card that must be signed by the obstacle judge upon completion of that obstacle. Observed Trials is also a good competition for beginner riders, as it is a point based system and you can try and best your points from the previous competition.
The Butler Wobble - that’s what we call ourselves - will be attending again in 2012. Nationals in 2012 will be July 10-15 in Saline, MI. Saline’s only 4 ½ hours away! Mark you calendars now! Beginners are welcome in all events. There are age groups for everyone. Because UNICON (World’s) is also in the summer of 2012, this year’s Nationals may be less heavily attended - which will be great for new riders!
There is a registration fee for competiiors. It’s not too expensive, usually around $100. So, since we are able to meet at the Y free, start saving now by setting aside a few dollars each week you attend at the Y as your “fee” and you’ll have saved up much of the Nationals entry fee!
Also, you are required to be a Unicycling Society of America (USA) member to participate in Nationals. We don’t ask that you join USA to participate at the Y. However, when the Wobble participates in parades or MUni events we ask that those participating be USA members because one of the benefits of USA Membership is insurance for the club as a group, and for the individuals who are participating as part of that group. Membership is $20/individual or $35/family (all members at the same address). See http://uniusa.org/membership/ for more information. When you do join USA, please let us know so that we can update The Wobble Roster.
Below is a brief description of each discipline, the uni ridden and any other requirements as well as some video links. Many of the disciplines overlap and therefore there are often multiple events for each competitor to enter. Many disciplines require knee pads and gloves. A helmet is required for MUni and Trials.
Distance/Racing - Uni: Standard is under 24”, ungeared w/ cranks no shorter than 125mm. Unlimited class is anything with a virtual wheel larger than 24”.
Distance racing is racing that is not on the track, and is longer than 1500m. It may include a Criterium (crit), Marathon, and 10K. Not all distance events are held at all Nationals. It depends on the hosting city and their resources. Distance races are most often pack starts and raced as a group - there are gaps in the pack as the races progresses.
A Crit is a short circuit course, often a small city block where the racers complete a set number of laps. There are often standard and unlimited heats as well as age and gender classes. It’s a fast race, because the course is short, and is very spectator friendly. The 10K often has both standard and unlimited class as well. It’s often part road, part park, part bike path. Again, it depends on the host city’s available accommodations. A marathon is 42K (26.2 mi) and often is only offered for the unlimited class. It is often, mostly, a road race.
Flatland - Uni: 20”
Flatland riding is a combination of Street and Freestyle. It’s a combination of tricks and spins performed outdoors like Street, but without the obstacles in Street. The idea is to combine tricks and spins into a smooth set of motions.
Freestyle - Uni: 20”
Freestyle is one of the oldest disciplines and is considered and artistic discipline. It utilizes many skills and tricks that are arranged in a routine that is performed to music, and is often compared to figure skating. There are Individual, Pairs, and Group routines. Presentation and showmanship are a big part of the discipline. The routines are performed in a gym and are judged.
Hockey/Basketball - Uni: Any that’s set up for indoor use (plastic pedals) but most often a 20” for hockey. Basketball is 20 or 24 (to get a bit closer to the hoop.)
Just like it sounds, Uni Hockey and Basketball are played on unis in a gym. The courts are “enclosed” by barriers - often tables or bleachers with padding. There are teams of 5 on the court and the team may have subs, there are no age requirements and teams can be comprised of all ages and both male and female.
MUni - Uni: Varies. Most commonly a 24” or 29” with wider and knobbier tires. The frames are often more sturdy to withstand hops, drops, and rocks.
MUni means Mountain Unicycling. At Nationals, there are uphill technical, downhill technical and distance MUni races. All are also available as Male or Female Beginner, Advanced, and Expert. The uphill and downhill races are (really) short courses designed to test your ability. The distance is a longer course, similar to a mountain bike race.
Skills - Uni: Varies, but most often 20”. It’s suggested that you ride the uni on which you are most comfortable.
Skill Levels are a set of skills that are grouped and ranked so as to allow for levels. A rider must test at a lower level before progressing to a higher level. Testing is done by a certified Skills Tester and there are times set aside at Nationals just for testing for your level. There has been some discussion about altering and updating the skills, but for now, these are the accepted levels.
There are also the Hutch or Trials levels. The Trials levels were developed to incorporated more skills related to Street/ Flatland/ Trials and MUni riders. There is some overlap, but the two systems are not interchangeable and the Hutch Levels are not officially recognized.
Standard Skills
Standard skills combines Freestyle and Skills. The riders completes a routine that demonstrates the skills they are able to complete. They are not judged on music or costuming. They are awarded points for each skill mastered and demonstrated in the routine. A routine may contain up to 18 skills and be no longer than 3 minutes.
Street - Uni: Most often a 20”
Street is often compared to BMX riding and is done in skate park type settings. Street riding involves jumping off steps, huge flips, grinding rails and spinning the uni. For some competitions, depending on the host city and available facilities, the obstacles or “street” part are sometimes built site specific just for the competition.
Track - Uni: Varies, based on age, w/ younger racers allowed smaller wheels, but the standard is 24” with cranks no shorter than 125mm.
Track events are held on a track. They include 100m, 400m and 800m as well as 1-foot, wheel walk, and an obstacle course. Each National Host can add additional races, such as a slow race or backwards. All track races start from a “block” (upright post) and except for the 800m, you are disqualified if you dismount (you get 1 dismount in the 800). Track day is a great day for beginners to participate, if you can ride unassisted.
There are heats based on age and gender with the top riders competing in an Expert Heat. Scoring is timed and point based. The top 5 riders are awarded points. All riders are timed. So even if you don’t earn points, you are giving a time - this is great for shooting for personal bests or comparing yourself to others in different heats.
Trials - Uni: Usually a 20”, some larger men ride 24”
Trials riding is the riding of obstacles made up of pallets, stairs, boards and similiar objects without dismounting or touching anything. Trials are also called Observed Trials. During the competition there are a number of obstacles each rider may attempt to complete. Each obstacle is worth a set number of points based on which “line” you choose. A line is the designated order of completion for that obstacle. Each obstacle can have up to 3 lines for you to choose from, ranked from easiest to hardest. Each rider is given a card that must be signed by the obstacle judge upon completion of that obstacle. Observed Trials is also a good competition for beginner riders, as it is a point based system and you can try and best your points from the previous competition.
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