If you do all pattern riding, it gets boring. If you have no routine at
all, there's really very little for your audience to look at. My
favorite presentation in a parade is to do some pattern riding, some
other "entertainment-oriented" stuff, and maybe also some freeform
riding.
Beginners, even if they can't freemount, should be encouraged to join
the parade. It's a great way to work on solidifying your riding skills.
Bring a walker along if possible, to help with the likely frequent
mounts.
The easiest pattern move is follow-the-leader. Make a line, and then the
lead person can shape that line in many ways. Circles, snakes or
whatever. Don't attempt a figure-8 unless you've practiced it ahead of
time. It probably won't look good otherwise.
The other thing my small club used to do was to make "the V." This looks
the most impressive if your line goes from the tallest rider to the
shortest. Everyone in the line takes turns splitting to the left or
right, and joining hands. In the end, you have a line all the way across
the road, with your tallest uni in the center. This is very visual and
is one way to get a picture in the paper. You can turn this line into a
V shape by having the tall rider go ahead of the others, so they trail
off to either side like birds in flight.
If you practice, this line can even stop and do a stillstand. It's
pretty easy for riders of all levels to do stillstands when they're
holding onto each other.
If you have riders that can't be in the pattern stuff, they should stay
behind where the pattern is. This gives people a more clear presentation
for them to see. Also if you have someone who just zooms around on a 45"
wheel (my preferred modus operandi), they should stay to the front or
rear most of the time, so the focus stays on the pattern stuff.
When you break up for other things, again try to keep it clear enough so
people know where to look. When I'm on a tall uni, I like to ride up to
the front of the people and make it look like I'm about to fall on them.
Work the crowd! That's the most fun part of all. There are many little
comedy bits & things you can do. But I'll stop now.
--
johnfoss - The wilder Wilder
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
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