What makes a UNICON to something special

Of course I'll be at Unicon - wouldn't miss it for anything. I've been
going to Unicons since Unicon 3 (1987) and the biggest part that keeps
me going back isn't the competitions or the location (although the
competitions this year will be probably the most diverse and the
location is incredible). The thing that keeps my interest in attending
Unicons is the people and the friends I have made over the years. We
have been able to talk over 40 people from just TCUC into attending
Unicon - who else is going?

I know I will see old friends and make some great new friends in
Switzerland this summer! Of course - all on a unicycle.

Connie Cotter
IUF President

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We just did a count last night and it looks like there will be over 40
people going to Unicon just from Minnesota. That is an amazing number
and I think is the biggest showing from Minnesota to a Unicon since
Unicon VII (which was held in Minnesota).

One of the workshops (if you want to call it that) that is being talked
about is a video competition for Unicon is a video competition. It will
be modeled much after the video competition done at the French Cup. I
think the rules have already been translated to English but from what I
remember, the video content has to be unicycling related and only have
a length of 10 minutes.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the MUni daily rides. After being
in the Alps last summer doing AUT, I realized that there is some
amazing potential for some great MUni rides. I am even toying with the
idea of planning an overnight MUni trip where a chalet could be rented
(some are really cheap in the summer) and then there would be two back
to back days of heavy MUni in the Alps. Anybody interested?

-Andy

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What makes Unicon special for me is the people, the chance to meet up
with and ride with new friends from all over the world. I'll probadly
be competing in even less this year than previous (I'm not big on
competitions) but I'm going to go along and enjoy the event.
I enjoy being part of such a BIG group of unicyclists , its so nice
for unicycling to be the normal thing for people to be doing. I also
like seeing what the inovators in our sport are up to, be they
invovations in equipment like the geared hubs or in riding like Simon
Wells freestyle routine.
At past unicons my favourite activities have been social rides - Muni
in USA , City tours in China and Japan and the fun games & hockey
sessions in USA.
SArah

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What would make Unicon special for me would to actually be there. But at
best I could only make it for a few days and as the price is set for
all 11 days it looks like I’ll not be there at all 🙁

I’ve spoken to other people in a similar position who would like to go
but…I don’t suppose they’ll be a day rate will there?

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This'll be my first UNICON, and I'm really looking forward to a good
trials parcours, and a chance to get help and advice from fellow
trialers. I'd love some workshops on trials, and street. I'm really
interested in the Muni rides too.

Edit:

And ofcourse making lots of new friends. It's not a convention for
nothing.

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As I told Andy when he last came to France, our club "HLM" organizes a
week long gathering in the French Alps every year.
This year it will be right after Unicon, it would be more of a hangout,
camping in the Alps and riding from that camp, rather than a tour,
going from one location to the other.
I have never attended it (I hardly knew how to ride last year) and need
confirmation from my folks but I heard that they expected a lot of
peoplke to come this year.
Will keep you posted on that.

Matayo

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Andy Cotter said:

One of the workshops (if you want to call it that) that is being talked
about is a video competition for Unicon is a video competition. It will
be modeled much after the video competition done at the French Cup. I
think the rules have already been translated to English but from what I
remember, the video content has to be unicycling related and only have
a length of 10 minutes.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the MUni daily rides. After being
in the Alps last summer doing AUT, I realized that there is some
amazing potential for some great MUni rides. I am even toying with the
idea of planning an overnight MUni trip where a chalet could be rented
(some are really cheap in the summer) and then there would be two back
to back days of heavy MUni in the Alps. Anybody interested?

-Andy

Andy,
That video things sounds pretty cool and that overnight MUni trip would
be sweet. Count me in! 2 days of Muni in the Swiss Alps staying at a
chalet.....WOW!

My first Unicon was in 1994 and I've been hooked ever since and been to
everyone since then and plan on going to everyone for the rest of my
life. Not only does it give you a great excuse to travel and see the
world, but you meet so many cool people and actually become real good
friends with some of them. If you are even thinking of going, I
strongly suggest you to go and try it out. I can almost garuntee that
it'll be well worth your while and most of you will come back for the
next one!

--
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My first UNICON was in Seattle (UNICON XI). I have gone to every one
since, and I hope to attend them for the rest of my life. I remember
walking into the gym and seeing Japanese unicyclists stand up gliding
with one leg extended all over the gym. Next, I met unicyclists from
Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the UK, Puerto Rico,
and the Philippines. I now have unicycle friends in all parts of the
world, which is fantastic.

If you have never been to a UNICON but have a small inkling to go, I
urge you to consider making the trip. It is an amazing experience that
you will remember for the rest of your life.

I really like the idea of a video competition. I watched the video
competition at the French Cup (La Coupe de France de Monocycle) this
past year, and it was one of my favorite events.

Count me in for the 2 day MUni ride chalet trip.

Irene

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Going to Unicon, whether it be in your local country or far away, is
like going to the Olympics. Except I've never been to a "regular"
Olympics, so I guess I'm just assuming that. There are similarities and
differences to what I imagine a real Olympics would be like:

Similarities:
- You get to see the best athletes in a wide range of disciplines
- You will see firsthand what's new in the different sports
- There are athletes/participants everywhere
- You will learn more about the various areas of unicycling than you
would almost any other way
- You will be surrounded by like-minded people
- You will understand each other, even if you can't speak the same
language
- If you didn't already know it, this will help remind you that we have
a lot in common regardless of our poilitics, religion, race or
background
- You will meet interesting people from around the world

Differences:
- You get to watch up close
- You get to meet and talk to the athletes
- Aside from Unicon registration, getting into the events is all free!
- The town won't be as crowded
- You can help out and be a part of unicycling history
- You can enter nearly any event
- By comparison, it's dirt cheap; the world's best bargain in
unicycling experiences!
- No Wheaties box

Okay, explanation of that last one: Wheaties is an American breakfast
cereal (from Minnesota) that usually features a famous athlete on the
box. Many Olympians have been featured on the Wheaties box. Unicyclists
don't get their pictures on the Wheaties box (unless they've worked for
General Mills, like Andy Cotter, which is another story). The same goes
for large endorsements, contracts, and otherwise careers built on
competitive unicycling. Though that will change someday.

But there is much more to Unicon than being at unicycling's Olympic
village. Mostly it's the social experience, as people have already
mentioned. You will meed unique and fascinating people from all over
the world. Some may become your friends for life. One of the big
reasons for returning to Unicon is to be together with them again.
Competition or not, you will ride with these people as well, or learn
from them in workshops, or informally, or you may even teach *them*.

As a side benefit, you will travel to places you may otherwise never
have gone. Don't forget to make a vacation of it! This Unicon looks
like it may have the best "convention side" we've ever had. As the
convention part gets better, the numbers of attendees will continue to
grow. It's going to be quite a Unicon village!

--
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John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
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and truth is measured only by how fervently they believe it." --
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I went to my first Unicon almost two years ago (Unicon 12 in Japan).
Like others have said, one of the most exciting parts of the
experience
is meeting others from around the world, making friendships, and then
seeing everyone again in two years. That kind of sounds like a cheesy
summer camp advertisement, but it's unbelieveably true.

When you get a lot of people together that are as interesting and
kooky as unicyclists, you get something really special. Then add in
both fun and hardcore competitions, throw on the latest unicycle
innovations that everyone checks out, and pour over the notion that
Unicon's location changes -dramatically- to make every event unique and
incredible.
Mix it up, add a pinch of beersketball, and you've got a conconction
that
has me saying "I'm going for sure!" with only 1/3 of all the money I'll
need in my bank account. Which brings me to my next point:

If you want to go, but don't have the money, don't give up. There are
waaay too many ways to fundraise. Put on a unicycle demo somewhere,
and have posters describing your quest to travel to the "Unicycling
World
Championships" and include a donation box. Probably the best way to
fundraise is design a T-shirt that is obviously about unicycling
(maybe
even with text like "I helped <your-name> go to Switzerland for the
13th International Unicycling World Championships!"😉 Get the shirts
printed, then send flyers out to all your friends and relatives
explaining
your quest. Ask them to help support you by buying a shirt or two, or
if they want, donating as well. The nice thing about shirts are that
people are willing to buy one for $15 bucks since they are not
only supporting you, but they get something!

Also, if you really get your stuff together, you might be able to get
businesses to sponsor you. I know that the Danish National Team
had a lot of their trip payed for when they went to Japan. Maybe
they can share their fundraising secrets.

See you all at Unicon!!

Jess

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Hi,

My first Unicon was the Seattle one and I didnt managed to make the
last one but Im sure I will be able to make this one.

My Favourite things about Unicon:

Other Unicyclist's
Taking Photo's
Atmostphere

At The last unicon i didnt really do any of the events or anything as I
was out riding in the nice area where Unicon was being held, hopefully
Switzerland will be the same, memorable moment for me was riding back
from the trials comp on the roads and seeing some great views.

Trev

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www.unicycleboy.unicyclist.com

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Jester2000 said:

....Mix it up, add a pinch of beersketball[/B], and you've got a
conconction that
has me saying "I'm going for sure!" with only 1/3 of all the money I'll
need in my bank account....

I second that Jess!! Both beersketball and being short on money! See ya
there.

--
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Jamey (formerly known as tuna6869)

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UNICONs are probably the best two weeks of the year. The atmosphere is
amazing and the people are incredible. I especially love the
competition aspect of the convention. It is a competition for the best
unicyclists in the world. My first UNICON was in Beijing in 2000.
Since then, i wouldn't miss one for the world! Being able to cheer on
people from around the world, inventing new skills, traveling across
the globe, and just being submersed in the uni culture is truly
unbelievable. If there is one thing in your life that you never
regret, it will be going to UNICON. Where else can you see the
premiere of new skills? No where!! See ya in Switzerland!

Ryan Woessner
UNICON XI & XII World Champion

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Wow, when are they going to have a Unicaon in the USA again? Seattle is
pretty darn close (sorta) and we would definitly go to one that close.

But anywere we have to fly to, isn't gonna happen....

--
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Jester2000 said:

Put on a unicycle demo somewhere,
and have posters describing your quest to travel to the "Unicycling
World
Championships" and include a donation box.

That was not just an idle thought, Jess and Zack Baldwin did just that
to help pay for Japan. Japan was expensive! I'm not sure if he did the
T-shirt thing though. I don't remember being hit up for one...

When will Unicon be in the USA again? Soon as somebody offers to host
one. My wife and I have talked about the possibility of 2012 in Davis,
CA. We'll see.

--
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John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
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Quoted message said:

I know that the Danish National Team
had a lot of their trip payed for when they went to Japan. Maybe
they can share their fundraising secrets.

Off course we will..🙂
Make a flyer where you write a little about UNICON, yourself and your
unicycle career... then take your unicycle and maybe a unicycle t-shirt
and visit all local shops, give them your flyer and tell them that
you'll make a note in the local newspaper and thank everybody, who has
given you money to the journey. Give them a couple of days to think,
come back and then some of them maybe will give you something... Then,
if you work really hard, you will be able to travel all the way to
swiss without using any (of your own) money.
In Denmark, the best people to ask are friends with big companies,
banks and the local authority... Can't promise it's as easy to find
money in US as in Denmark... But i guess it's worth trying?

--
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My first Unicon was Puerto Rico in 1988. I didn’t realize it at the time
but that was a life changing event. Since then I have been to every
Unicon and helped organize Unicons since Unicon VII. Even though I am a
bit burned out of organizing, the benefit of a Unicon for the world
wide unicycling community and the people that attending it outweighs
any feelings of being tired of helping organize. I have friends from so
many different places around the world that it is not a question of
where to travel but who should I visit next. Thanks to unicycling, my
life goal is a new country ever year and to travel outside the North
America at least twice a year.

Ironically, unicycling has even got me the job that I have today. For
Unicon VII I wrote the first version of Unicycling Convention Program,
an Access database. I had to learn the program and understand
relational databases. Having that skill turned out to get me one job,
then another and then to my job at General Mills (hence the reference
in an earlier email from John about me being on the Wheaties Box with
my unicycle).

It may be many decades before Unicon goes back to Switzerland so if
Switzerland is on your list to visit, there is not a better time. As
for future Unicons in the USA, there is nothing planned and the
earliest opening is in eight years but most likely it will be a lot
longer.

-Andy

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johnfoss said:

Some may become your friends for life

... or even mary!

johnfoss said:

- If you didn't already know it, this will help remind you that we have
a lot in common regardless of our poilitics, religion, race or
background

...as long you don't mix political statements into your "free"style
route, which use to be against the IUF rules. Or is that one finaly
dropped by now?

Anyway, I second your statement.
And as well confirm that for sure unicon is an event you have to be!

--
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bbraf said:

Currently, 14 days after 'online registration'
(http://www.unicon13.ch/registration/) opened up, the count is at 240
registrations.

ive never been to unicon before so this will be my first. will there be
a list of all the people that have registered?

--
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