IUF UNICYCLE TRIALS REGULATIONS
FOR UNICON X
June 18, 2000
Author: Kris Holm (danger_uni@yahoo.com)
Contents
Section 1: A Definition of Unicycle Trials
The object of Unicycle Trials (or Observed Unicycle Trials) is to ride over obstacles without any part of a rider's body touching the ground or obstacles. A competition takes place on a "course", which is composed of three to ten "sections", each marked by tape. Riders are observed through each section, and after a specified number of laps of the course, the rider with the lowest overall number of penalty points is the winner. Sections can consist of natural terrain or human-made obstacles.
This set of rules is adapted from the general IUF Observed Unicycle Trials Rules, for specific use at UNICON X. Generally, phrases such has "at the discretion of the event director" have been replaced with more specific instructions particular to this event.
Competitors are divided up into different categories based on ability. Different lines will be set within each section to accommodate each category.
Riders will be divided up into the two ability categories: Beginner and Expert.
There will will be one category for all unicycles used. Restrictions on unicycle design are described in Section 13.
3.3. Gender and Age Categories
The course is defined as all of the sections (defined below), and the track or path which joins them together. For competition held in substantially natural terrain, the total length between all sections should not exceed 3 km. If the course describes a loop, the sections should be numbered in sequential order, to minimize the distance the riders must travel. Where sections are made close together, they must not interfere with each other. A rider in one section must not be able to get in the way of a rider in another section. Thought should also be given to crowd control. Spectators should be at least 6 feet back from any obstacle over three feet high, and at least 10 feet back from any obstacle over six feet high.
Riders will be permitted to ride on the sections for a period of time before the competition commences. Once the competition has commenced, riders will not be allowed to ride on the sections, except to compete.
The rider may select which section to begin on. After that, he or she must ride the sections in order. For example, if a rider starts on section two out of three, he or she must ride, two, three, one, two, etc.
A section is a path marked out with boundary markers, through which the rider must ride while penalty points are assessed for various infractions.
At the discretion of the event director, routes can be set the use of which can subtract points from the rider's score. The negative line is laid out like any inter-category line in a section, marked with an appropriate arrow, and inter-category boundary tape if necessary. A negative line can be used in the following cases: ·
The Event Director is responsible for appointing at least one Observer per section. The Observer has maximum authority in the section he or she is observing. The Observer must judge according to the rules and strive to be as impartial as possible. The Observer must endeavor to score all riders in the same manner. If the Observer is in doubt in a ruling, the benefit of doubt goes to the rider. The Observer must make up his or her own mind however, and is under no obligation to consult other witnesses.
Section 7: Rider Responsibilities
Riders are to be issued a scorecard at the beginning of the competition. It must indicate the rider's name and category, and have space for the rider's score on each lap of each section. Riders must give their scorecard to the Observer before attempting a section. The Observer will record each rider's score.
Lost cards: The rider is responsible for his or her scorecard. If a card is lost, a new one can be issued with five points punched for every section the rider had hitherto completed on that lap.
9.1. Section Entrances and Exits
The rider enters a section when his or her axle crosses the plane defined as the line between the left and right ends of the section tape at the entrance. (See figure 1) The rider likewise exits the section when his or her axle crosses the plane defined by the exit ends of the left and right section tape. This means that once the rider exits, he or she can get off the unicycle without incurring further penalties. Timing should being when the rider enters the section, and end when the rider exits the sections, as defined above.
9.2. Inter-category boundaries
If there are inter-category boundaries in the section, a rider can enter a route not intended for his or her category, but that rider must return and ride the correct route to the section end to avoid a gate foul.
When a rider enters a negative route, the section Observer subtracts the indicated amount from his or her score. If the rider enters with a one, for example, and the line is negative two, the rider's score then lies at negative one. The rider then gains points for subsequent dabs. As with other inter-category routes, the rider must ride the route in its entirety to get the negative points. If a rider finishes with less than zero points, the Observer should punch the number corresponding to the negative number, then add a minus sign, "-"in front of it. The Observer should then initial the card next to the negative score.
At each section, the Observer must note a rider's total score, and then punch the appropriate location on the scorecard, using a hole punch provided by the Event Director. Each time a rider scores a penalty, a specified number of points is added to his or her score. The maximum number of points that can be scored in one section is five, and the minimum is zero, except where there are negative point routes. It is not possible to score four points. If a rider gets a total of four points he or she is awarded a three on the scorecard.
Riders are allowed to come to the Observer and have their scorecard punched with a five without having to ride the section. They must not however deviate from the correct order of sections, so each section must be visited in sequence.
After the scorecards are collected, the Event Director and/or assistants must add the scores. The number of cleans (no infractions) should also be noted. In the event of a tie, the winner will be declared as:
The time limit for each section is two minutes. Within that period, there is no time limit on any individual dab.
These regulations do not mandate an overall time limit, but it is recommended that the overall competition time not exceed five hours. To reduce the overall time, riders must exit the section immediately upon scoring five points.
10.3. Guidelines for numbers of laps
Riders will do 3 laps on each section.
The maximum score allowed for a section is five points. After the rider
has incurred five points they must exit the section. If time allows, the
Event Director may allow the rider to complete the section.
| Type Of Dab (touch-down) or Infraction |
Points
|
| One foot down/in or out of bounds. |
1
|
| Foot sliding (more than one foot width). Note that the rider may pivot their foot without additional penalty, as long as the foot does not slide |
3
|
| Four successive non simultaneous dabs |
3
|
| More than four non simultaneous dabs |
5
|
| Two feet down simultaneously |
3
|
| Any body part touching to maintain balance, other than feet (e.g. touching with hands, hips, knees etc.) |
3
|
| A pedal down or pedal rest |
0
|
| A toe or heel down on either side of the pedal. Note that, invariably, flexible shoes may touch down on either side of the pedal, especially on impact during a "pedal grab". This is a judgment call: the Observer should award points if the competitor is persistently weighting the toe or heel on either side of the pedal. |
1
|
| Foot crosses the unicycle center line/no dab |
0
|
| Foot crosses the unicycle's center line with a dab |
3
|
| Body brushes against object without providing support |
0
|
| Seat or frame touching (leaning on) any part of the section |
1
|
| Pedal and tire touching (leaning on) any part of the section |
0
|
| The tire touching the ground outside the boundary line. |
3
|
| Stretching tape without breaking it or having an axle cross the tape. |
0
|
| Breaking tape or moving a "well secured" (judge's discretion) marker. |
3
|
| Exceeding section time limit |
5
|
| Exceeding competition time limit. |
DQ
|
| Negative lines (where applicable) |
-1
to -3
|
| Intentionally modifying the section |
5
|
| Losing score card (discretion of ED who can replace it) |
5
x no. of sections
|
| Pre-riding the course after competition has commenced |
5
|
| Use of abusive language or throwing unicycle: 1st time = warning, 2nd and subsequent infractions give penalties. |
2
|
| Gate Foul (entering or exiting the section from the wrong place) |
5
|
| Intentionally dabbing to surmount an obstacle, with one foot on the ground, and the other straddling the unicycle (a "stratodab"). The rider must straddle the unicycle at all times during a stratodab, to incur only a 1 point penalty. |
1
|
| Intentionally dabbing to surmount an obstacle, with one foot on the ground, and both feet on the same side of the unicycle (i.e. the foot not on the ground has crossed the centerline of the unicycle). |
3
|
Section 12: Remounting the unicycle after a dab or other infraction.
The general intent of the rules described below are to require each rider to remount his/her unicycle at a location at or before (i.e. closer to the start line) the point where the dab or other infraction took place. These locations are defined in terms of the last place the rider was in control of the unicycle before dabbing or going out of bounds.
Section 13: Unicycle Design Regulations
There will be one class for all unicycles competing in Observed Trials at UNICON X.
13.1. General Unicycle Regulations ·
Section 14: Protests and Dispute Settlement
A protest can be lodged by anyone against an Observer's ruling. Protests typically arise when a bystander (another rider, or a spectator) observes a rider making an infraction that is not recorded by the Observer, or when an Observer gives the wrong penalty. Protests must be lodged with the event director within fifteen minutes of the official results being posted. Protests must be in writing to the Event Director, and must note the rider, and section number and a description of the protest. In the event of a protest, a Jury must be convened to evaluate the protest and make a ruling.
The Event Director will be the sole Jury member and will make the final decision on all protests against an Observer's ruling.
The jury will base its ruling on the input from the relevant parties, including the rider, the Observer, and the person who lodged the protest. In the evaluation of protests the benefit of the doubt must go to the Observer. The Jury is not obliged to overrule the Observer based on testimony from witnesses. Only if all parties present at the incident agree on the facts, and the Observer accepts that he or she made an error in assigning penalties, can an Observer's decision be overturned. Example: 1. A rider puts both feet down, but the Observer does not see it because his or her view is blocked by a tree. In this case, the jury must rule for the Observer. Example 2. On lap 1, a rider exits a section with a five, then reenters from the end to attempt the last obstacle. The Observer assigns a five for the section, and allows the re-attempt In a subsequent protest, with agreement from the Observer as to the nature of the incident, the rider is awarded another five point penalty for a Gate Foul.