UNICON X - Dishijie Guoji Dulunche Dasai - August 1 to 8, 2000 - Beijing, China

Summary of Competition Events

What follows is a brief summary of Unicon events and rules. For the complete rulebook, see http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/

RACING EVENTS

Racing Restrictions
Safety Equipment
Riding the Race
Special Races
Expert Races and World Champions

ARTISTIC COMPETITION

Standard Skill
Entering Standard Skill
Freestyle
Pairs Freestyle
Group Freestyle
Artistic World Champions

RACING EVENTS

Racing is very similar to running track. We use the same track and lanes. The racing events are: 100 m, 400 m, 4 x 100 m relay, and 1500 m (800 m for young children); one-foot 50 m; 30 m wheel walk; a coasting competition for as far as you can go; downhill gliding as fast as you can go; obstacle course; 10 m slow races; MUni race; and a high jump competition. More events may be added.

Racing Restrictions

Maximum wheel size is 24". Minimum crank arm length is 125 mm. (Smaller children have smaller maximum wheel sizes and smaller minimum crank arm lengths). Other than the above, unicycles must be of the standard variety (no chain or drive system), and must be propelled by human power only.

Safety Equipment

All riders are required to wear shoes with full uppers, kneepads, and gloves or wristguards for all racing events. In addition, helmets are required for the gliding competition. Helmets and elbow pads are recommended for all events as well.

Riding the Race

Most races start at a standstill, with the rider holding a post or other support. Dismounting is not allowed in most track races; if riders fall off, they are disqualified. To win or place, racers must ride completely across the finish line.

Special Races

The relay race uses a standard baton and follows the normal rules for track relays.
The one-foot race starts normally, but riders must be using only one foot at the 5 m mark.
Wheel walking is pushing the tire with your feet. No pedaling at all.
Coasting is complete freewheeling, and quite difficult. Riders have a 30 m acceleration area, then must coast across a starting line. The distance is measured to where they dismount.
Gliding is controlling the unicycle down a hill by dragging one or both feet on top of the tire. No pushing. The rider who completes the course in the shortest time wins.
The obstacle course is an arrangement of 10 cones, through which you must ride the prescribed route without knocking down any cones.
In slow races, participants ride as slowly as possible without stopping, while staying on a board 15 cm wide. (A wider board is used for smaller children.)
MUni stands for Mountain Unicycling. The racecourse is on dirt, with lots of bumps and hills. Details of the actual course will be available at the convention.
Observed Unicycle Trials is an event where you ride or hop over obstacles. Rules are available that will be used at UNICON X.
In the high jump competition, participants must jump over a bar or string without knocking it down and then continue riding.

Expert Races and World Champions

Based on the fastest eight overall age group times, the following races will have a final heat: 100 m, 400 m, 50 m one-foot, and wheel walk. Winners of these expert heats are the world champions in those events. For all other events, the rider with the best time or distance overall will be the world champion. The overall world champions of racing are the male and female riders with the best combined finishes in the 1500 m and the expert 400 m and 100 m races.

ARTISTIC COMPETITION

The artistic events take place in the gym and fall into two categories: Standard Skill and Freestyle.

Standard Skill

In this event the purpose is to show mastery of a fixed set of unicycling skills. Riders design their routines based on a list of possible skills, each of which is worth a fixed number of points. They then perform those skills in order within a time limit of 3 minutes. Deductions to the score are made for mistakes such as dismounts, poor form, or riding the figure shape improperly. Skills are performed in straight lines, circles, or figure 8s. A rider's finishing score can potentially be lower than the starting score, since riders have a certain number of points to begin with, based on the skills they have chosen to perform. The rider with the highest finishing score wins.

Entering Standard Skill

Riders must follow the Standard Skills List, which can be found on the IUF web site in English at: http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/iufrules/7sslist.html Riders decide which skills from the list they can fit into 3 minutes, within the restrictions in the Standard Skill rules. They fill in the skills on a Standard Skill Judging Sheet and submit it to the judging staff by the published deadline date (usually a day or two before the competition). Riders must read the full set of rules to effectively compete in this event.

Freestyle

This event is more of a show, with 50% of the score based on difficulty and mastery of skills, and the other 50% based on originality, creativity, showmanship, and other aspects of performance. Music, costume, and props are also judged if used. There is much freedom in designing routines, which makes Freestyle much harder to judge. Individual Freestyle uses a time limit of 2 minutes for smaller children, 3 minutes for all other age groups, and 4 minutes for Experts. Expert is open to all riders, regardless of age, who think they have a chance to become a world champion.

Pairs Freestyle

Same as above, but with two riders. The age group of the pair is determined by the age of the older rider.

Group Freestyle

Same as above, but with a group of at least three riders. Judges are looking for good use of all riders, regardless of skill level, and how the riders interact and work together to enhance the overall performance. This event may be divided into two age groups depending on number of entries. There is no Expert category for Group Freestyle.

Artistic World Champions

The male and female Standard Skill champions are the two riders, regardless of age group, with the highest finishing scores. For Individual and Pairs Freestyle, the world champions are the first place finishers in the Expert category. For Group, the winner of the Expert, or oldest age group, if any, will be the world champion.

TEAM SPORTS

There will be two team sports tournaments at Unicon X--hockey and basketball. Each of the countries in attendance may assemble one or more teams. Mixed teams, with riders from different countries, also can be formed.

Unicycle Basketball

This game follows the rules of regular international basketball, with a few exceptions to accommodate unicycles. In general, riders have to be on their unicycles to be active players.

Unicycle Hockey

This is similar to street hockey, using standard hockey sticks and either a dead tennis ball or a standard street hockey ball. The playing area is roughly the size of a tennis court. Teams consist of five players, plus substitutes.

WHO SHOULD ENTER?

Many of these events are entered by riders of various levels. The serious riders, who have trained all year, will ride beside people who have never tried it before. That is the nature of unicycle competition at this stage in our sport's development. Everyone should at least try one event, because we don't just play to win, we play to play. Take home what you've learned and use it to inspire the unicyclists of your country.

THAT'S NOT ALL

Those are the main competitive events. But that's not all there is to Unicon. Other events will be held just for fun, such as an informal unicycle sumo match. Plus, there will be many workshops and group rides, plenty of open gym time, and some special once-in-a-lifetime tours to experience with fellow unicyclists. In summary, Unicon offers a terrific opportunity to compete, share, learn, travel, tour, meet people, make friends, and have a great time!