Here are answers to some common Uninats questions:

• Will there be anything for me to do as a beginner/new rider if I come to Uninats?

Although Uninats is called a competition, it is intended to also be a festival and celebration of unicycling. Any rider, of any age or ability, is welcome to take part. There will be plenty of non-competitive activities, such as workshops and games, and there are separate age and gender categories for riders in the competitive events. You are guaranteed to learn a lot and be inspired!

• Do I have to register in advance or can I register when I get there?

It's cheaper if you register in advance on the AUS website, but if you can't manage that, you can still register when you get to the event.

• Do I have to be an AUS member? How do I join?

Yes, you must be a current AUS member to take part in Uninats. This ensures you are covered by our public liability insurance. You can join by filling out the form on this website (under membership) and posting it in or bringing it with you to Uninats, or you can fill out the form and join when you get to Uninats. AUS membership fees are separate from and in additon to Uninats entrance fee.

• Can I just come and watch? Do I have to pay if I just want to go in a few events?

Anyone can come and be a spectator or non-rider at Uninats. If you want to ride a unicycle at any time, you must register, pay, and be a current AUS member. You could pay for just one day if you are unsure if you want to take part (although this will be more expensive).

In the British Medical Journal, Sam Shuster, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology, analyses the responses he received from the general public over the course of one year when he was out riding his unicycle. Public responses to unicycling were quite different between people of different genders and ages - from openly supportive and praising to verbally and physically aggressive.

See the entire article in the BMJ 2007, vol 335 (22 December) pp. 1320 - 1322. Thanks to David Buchanan for sending this one in!

If you like to mix circus and juggling with your unicycling, then make sure you're at the Sydney Juggling Convention next weekend - 24-26 January 2009! 
If you can't make it to the Convention, don't miss Sirkus Circus at the Factory Theatre on Sunday 25 Jan, featuring many top performers from SJC.

While UniNats is only a few months away, don't forget that next summer UNICON is coming to a country near you. Check out the website for information on the program, registration, venues, and accommodation in Wellington and have your say in the forums:  http://www.uniconxv.co.nz/about/unicycling/
Hope to see you all in the land of the long white cloud.

Skill level testing is important as it reinforces a rider’s skill standards and provides a graduated development plan. It is good to know your skill level, especially if you want more higher level challenges and if you want to go to overseas competitions.

To be able to test riders for skill levels, you have to attend a skill level testing workshop at UNICON every two years or be trained and tested by someone who has been to the UNICON workshops. There are a few sites with information but the official IUF site is a good one because it gives hints on how to do some of the harder skills.

More than 4000 cyclists are currently making their way around Victoria in the Great Victorian Bike Ride.

Mathew Thomas from Caulfield (VIC) is taking part on his 36" unicycle as part of his training for the upcoming Kenya & Tanzania unicycle tour.

The Warrnambool Standard newpaper has done a quick article up - IF you think cycling for 600 kilometres on two wheels is tough, try riding on one.

All the best, safe travels!

Update: Barry Clearwater is doing the GVBN with Matt and has been interviewed by Stateline on ABC1.

The Spring Cycle is one of Sydney's most popular rides to and around Olympic Park, Homebush. Tens of thousands participated this year in the rides and events.

This year, Sydney Unicycle Hockey players were invited to give a demonstration game at Homebush. On a sweltering court, the riders put on a competitive and closely fought match, providing great entertainment for spectators. Thanks to everyone who played and helped out!

This year the Newtown festival (9 November) saw a bumper crowd, with thousands of people getting down with the beats and yummy food on a hot and steamy Sunday in Sydney's inner west – with a special unicycle treat.

It's pretty rare to see unicyclists go up against two wheeled riders on a trials course. 

Lucky revelers got to see just that, as local champs Rhys Kember, Dan Cowling, Matty P, Kev Wharton and Isaac Conyers demonstrated their amazing skills and, let's face it, balls in a trials demonstration with bicyclists. 

The riders drew a pretty big crowd for most of the day, with highlights (for this observer) being the uni jumps off the roof of the truck and Rhys' attempts at a unicycle front-flip from a pile of pallets, amid chants of 'Flip! Flip! Flip!' from the crowd. While he didn't quite get there – but oh so close – we hope to see a second attempt at UNINATS 2009 or UNICON in NZ!

 

Southern Cross Cultural Exchange has contacted the AUS to let us know that a 17 year old student from Germany who is a keen unicyclist will be coming to Australia in February 09 to attend a high school for the year.

Maire-Christin is a champion unicyclist. She does unicycle freestyle, racing and group training, as well as being interested in art and learning to surf. SCCE is looking for an Australian family to host her during her stay.

If you are a unicycling family or your club would benefit from a keen unicyclist and you are interested in hosting this student (anywhere in Australia considered), please contact Robert Lindsay at Southern Cross Cultural Exchange.

Tel: +61 (0)3 9775 4711
Fax: +61 (0)3 9775 4971
Toll Free: 1800 500 501
Post: Locked Bag 1200, Mt Eliza , Victoria , 3930
Web: www.scce.com.au
email: robert [dot] l [at] scce [dot] com [dot] au

The organising is underway with dates set for the Easter long weekend, 11- 13^th April 2009 in Wollongong NSW.

The hall and outdoor courts of Smith’s Hill High School have been booked as the venue for freestyle and hockey competitions, as well as workshops on the Saturday. There are three courts available, so at this stage it is anticipated that we’ll have one court dedicated to hockey and other team games, another to free play, and another for workshops. There are also a few fun obstacles and a gliding challenge course around the courts. This venue will also be available on Easter Sunday.

Nearby, the synthetic athletics track at Beaton Park Leisure Centre has been booked for races on the Sunday. The leisure centre also features other facilities for those interested in winding down in a spa, sauna or pool (or warm down unicycle on treadmill).

P.S. Ashley Curtis, I have started training for the 10km. You can win all the track races but you won’t win the 10km. Third at the world champs just won’t cut it for UNINATS 09!

Down the Mountain

The Chronicle (14 November 2008) reports on on Kevin Wharton's ride down Toowoomba's Table Top mountain on his unicycle. Footage:

We welcome our robotic unicycling overlords..

It was only a matter of time before we saw the first unicycling robot. At the Ceatec electronics show which opened in Japan in September 2008, the Kyoto-based electronics company, Murata Manufacturing, showcased Seiko, a robot that rides a unicycle.

 

Sunday 9 November 2008, Newtown, Sydney, NSW

In conjunction with Sydney Bicycle Film Festival, AUS is holding an invitational trials competition at the Newtown Festival Top Australian riders - Rhys Kember, Dan Cowling, Matty P, Kev Wharton and Isaac Conyers will be competing against 2 wheeled riders for honour and glory! There's also a chance that one of these guys will attempt a unicycle back-flip, which would be a world first in competition! The trials will be held between 12.00pm and 3pm at the trials site at the festival - approximate location is shown on the map below. The Newtown festival is on all day, with stalls, food, shows and bands, so make a day of it! Full details at the festival website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Riding and Hockey at Sydney Spring Cycle

Sunday 19 October 2008

Ride in the Spring Cycle event or come and entertain with your uni skills at Olympic Park in Sydney on Sunday 19 October. The Spring Cycle is one of Sydney's most popular rides. There are four routes to choose from: Ride North Sydney (40km), Ride The Park (7km), Ride Liverpool (20km), Ride Blacktown all finishing at Olympic Park, Homebush.

Sydney Unicycle Hockey will be playing a demonstration match on the Olympic concourse at 1pm till 2pm. The organisers are also planning on doing a live cross to the hockey demonstration, so people can watch it on the big screen. If you want to join in the game, bring a red and black T-shirt!

You can read more details about Spring Cycle and register on the website.

Unicycle Trials at Sydney Bicycle Film Festival

9 November 2008, Newtown, Sydney, NSW

If you are a keen unicycle trials rider, Sydney Bicycle Film Festival is building a trials course at the Newtown Festival, and is inviting the AUS to select riders to participate.

If you are keen to ride, contact the aus_secretary [at] unicycling [dot] org [dot] au (AUS Secretary) ASAP with your contact details. This should be a blast, with a big crowd ready to be wowed by your skills!

Upcoming events

UNICON XIV

26 July - Copenhagen, Denmark.
It's too late to register, as the event is full and registration is closed, but for information and updates check the UNICON website
Good luck to all the Australian unicyclists (go you good things) in Denmark for UNICON!

AUS at the Melbourne Juggling Convention

26-28 September 2008, Collingwood College
With support from the AUS, the Melbourne Juggling Convention will host a mini unicycling festival for the first time as part of its festivities. Melbourne AUS members are working to put together a programme of organised unicycle events, in addition to the free riding in the dedicated unicycle hall - see below.
CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Special Guests
• Dedicated Unicycle Hall
• Lentil As Anything - Caterers
• Juggling and Unicycle Olympics
• Open-Stage "Renegade Show"
• Huge Juggling Gymnasium
• Large Outdoor oval
  
• 2 Public Shows
  

MJC Pre-registration is available now through the MJC website.
To be covered by insurance, riders need a 'Unicycling Pass' - this is FREE for AUS members, or otherwise can be obtained for $5 at the event. (The pass provides a 3 day temporary AUS membership). Non-riders (spectators and "just jugglers") can enter the unicycle hall and watch, but can't ride.
With many fun activities planned over the weekend, the Unicycle Pass allows everyone involved to have as much fun as possible whilst still being legal! Expect some good hockey matches each day and Coker rides as well as freestyle & some racing (eg 100M and maybe a slow board), as well as tours of the area!

Upcoming Events

Ride The Lobster

16 June Nova Scotia, Canada

35 teams representing 13 countries, many from the US as well as South Korea, Singapore, UK, will take part in Ride The Lobster, an 800km unicycle race in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on June 16th, 2008. There's still time to arrange your trip to Canada if you've recovered from Vietnam! More details at the website.

Australian Team for UNICON XIV

25 July-4 August, Copenhagen, Denmark

A reminder that unicyclists are still wanted for the Australian team to participate at UNICON in Copenhagen. This is your chance to participate in the biggest international unicycling event, meet other unicyclists from around the world and learn new skills. The draft program is now available, as well as information about registering, facilities, accommodation etc. from the UNICON website. For those intending to go, please contact Ashley chickenloaf_au [at] yahoo [dot] com (Curtis) who is co-ordinating the Australia team.

Unicycling Mini Festival at MJC 2008

26-28 September, Collingwood College, Melbourne VIC

With insurance assistance from the AUS, the Melbourne Juggling Festival will be able to welcome unicyclists for the first time in 2008. The plans include a dedicated unicycling hall and unicycling events and workshops. More details will be forthcoming at the MJC website.