greatest unicyclist?

[this end up]

since we now have a greatest american (i apologize to those in other countries for the use of only "american") i think we should nominate who we think the greatest unicyclist is.

rules:
post to nominate
you may not nominate yourself.
if you second a nomination then post the name of the person and then second or third or however many people have agreed.
at the end of this week i will create a poll with the top five nominees for us all to vote for them.

happy nominating :)

[Tassilo]

Trial? MUni? Street? Freestyle? Hockey? Basketball?

What type of unicyclist should be nominated? Everyone is allowed? Weird poll than :P

[harper]

Raphael Lasar.

[Evan Byrne]

Alex Toms.

[Jethro]

Claydoh (http://www.claydohtheclown.com/claydoh%20unicycle%20(2).jpg)

[The Yang]

I second the nomination of Alex Toms AKA Tomsey

[TheoELind]

Andrew Carter

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Well not necesarily for unicycling ability but for contributions to the unicycle community and promotion of the sport in general.

John Foss

[Evan Byrne]

Originally posted by TheoELind
Andrew Carter


Oh comon!

[DustinMichels]

Sem Abrahams

[JJuggle]

Originally posted by harper
Raphael Lasar. Oh comon!

And while we're on the subject, I think that while Andrew Carter may not be the "greatest" unicyclist (and I wouldn't venture to guess who that is), I think that from observing his behavior on this forum and his development as a unicyclist from a teen to a young adult he has displayed the most helpfulness, decency, spirit of sharing, and all around progress of anyone else.

Andrew is an absolute Mensch in my book.

But Greg is way sexier.

[harper]

Originally posted by JJuggle
Oh comon!



I think you meant, "uncommon," am I correct?

And, although you could not nominate yourself, you could have at least seconded. I don't think that's against the rules.

[johnfoss]

How about Reino, the guy in 'this end up's avatar? He did the hardest unicycle trick I've ever heard of.

But before I picked Reino I'd pick Mel Hall.

For contemporary riders I'd have to pick Kris Holm, as he has done much to transform not only our sport, but our equipment, and worldwidw awareness of both!

Thanks for your bid, ThisGuyIKnow. If it makes you feel any better I've been:
- Individual Freestyle world champion 3 times (+ 2 bronzes)
- Pairs Freestyle world champion 1 time (+1 silver)
- Racing world champion the equivalent of 4 times (it's a long story)
- Also won the world championship cross-country race once, gliding once, and a few other things here and there.

And I invented at least one Freestyle trick all on my own!

[DanDan]

ME!:D J/K i suck. mmmm I say Kris Holm

[Catboy]

Originally posted by DanDan
ME!:D J/K i suck. mmmm I say Kris Holm

I second.

Not only is he an excellent rider, but he's a nice guy, great teacher, and the greatest pioneer to the sport. IMHO.

I've been lucky enough to talk to him quite a bit and am proud to say we know eachother.

[JJuggle]

Originally posted by harper
And, although you could not nominate yourself, you could have at least seconded. I don't think that's against the rules. I am avoiding the appearance of any conflict of interest here.

[chosen]

I gotta say jsm. He's young, really good, and seems to have a real good attitude and isn't to cocky. I think if he keeps going he'll be even more amazing.

[Unitik908]

juilien monney or however you spell his name.. and xavier collos

Chase

[jsm]

juilien monney
I second that! (It's Julien Monney)

I gotta say jsm. He's young, really good, and seems to have a real good attitude and isn't to cocky. I think if he keeps going he'll be even more amazing.
Huh? This is for "greatest unicyclist," not "greatest unicyclist in ten years." Even then I'm VERY far qualifying.

[this end up]

Kris Holm 3 nominations
rapheal lasar 2
alex toms 2
andrew carter 2
julien monney 2

[johnfoss]

Did you count my vote toward Kris? I'm sure Kris will do fine, so I'd like to leave mine with Mel Hall.

Also I still think you should have Reino on your list, if only to go with your avatar.

[this end up]

i only named the top five nominees. but te entire list goes like this:

kris holm 3
rapheal lasar 2
alex toms 2
andrew carter 2
mel hall 2
julien Monney 2
Claydoh 1
john foss 1
sem abrahams 1
jsm 1
xavier collos1
reino 1

[yoopers]

My vote goes to Dustin Kelm. Not only is he the greatest rider but he is top-knotch as a person as well. None better. As a family, we have been honored to have Dustin and Katie as guests in our home a couple of times.

Bruce

[DustinMichels]

Do I get to change my vote to Kris Holm? It seemed a bit TOO obvious at the time...

[sevenasterisks]

Hmmm, since right now I am most interested in freestyle riding, I will probably vote for one of those incredibly great freestyle riders. If it is based on current ability to do amazing tricks, I would say Julien Monney, but if it is based purely on "natural ability" I would say JSM, seeing as he has not been riding that long, and is already doing all sorts of tricks that seam on the very edge of what is possible, and he is doing a great job at aswering peoples questions, and generally encouraging people that freestyle riding can be, and is, really cool.

I think for now I will cast my vote for Julien Monney, as he can do that insane coasting standing on the seat trick.

I can't even do regular coasting:(

[James_Potter]

my favorite right now is Xavier Collos. he's aaaawesome!!
and Julien Monney gets second place.

[UniBrier]

Wile E. Coyote (http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/jetuni.html)

[DK]

what about Yoggi

[brockfisher05]

Originally posted by James_Potter
my favorite right now is Xavier Collos. he's aaaawesome!!
and Julien Monney gets second place.

At this time in my life and in my unicycle life Xavier is my favourite. But kris is like lance armstrong or wayne gretzky, or any other great in a sport.

[James_Potter]

Originally posted by brockfisher05
At this time in my life and in my unicycle life Xavier is my favourite. But kris is like lance armstrong or wayne gretzky, or any other great in a sport.

yeah, Kris is the most famous to non-unicyclist, like Armstrong is the most famous to non-bikers, or Tony Hawk is most famous to non-skaters....not necessarily the best, but the one who's done the most to make it a popular sport. well, okay, more popular than it used to be anyway....

[UniBrier]

Originally posted by DK
what about Yoggi It's Yogi...
http://unicyclist.org/pics/YogiBear.jpg

[jsm]

Actually, based simply on terms of "natural ability," there are two names that come to mind.
1. Ryan Woessner. From the videos I have watched, I would say his technical ability is almost on a par with Julien Monney's. And I'm pretty sure Julien Monney had won the standard skill competition at Unicon IX before Ryan even started riding. Ryan passed level eight after a year of riding, and level ten in less than two years, at the age of thirteen, and he's gone on to win two Unicon freestyle competitions, as well as the standard skill competition and the pairs competition. (with Amy Shields)
2. nickvb123. I don't know how many of you remember this guy, since he stopped posting regularly almost a year ago, but I do know that after only about five months of riding, he was doing coasting, side ride, backward wheel walk, seat drag, and stand-up wheel walk, which certainly implies a LOT of natural ability.

[vivalargo]

The one time I rode with Kris H. I´d only been back to riding for about a month after a 30 year lay off. We knew each other from the rock climbing world and trade shows we´d both attend for demos and book signings and so forth.

Here, in Venice, Ca., Kris was doing a commercial shoot for Horney Toad. First thing I saw he rolled off the top of an 8-foot high old Jeep International, lands the drop, and in the next 30 feet goes into one foot riding, wheel walking, one foot wheel walking, gliding, seat drop, then whips around and side rides back, then turns around and coasts the same distance, all on a beat up 20 trials. Then we went riding and he absoultely tore up the skate course, rode atop every skinny fence around till the rangers came and chased him off. Then we went over to a big (20 inch) stair set and he shot up it like he was spring loaded and forward dropped the same set in five or six big bounds. The guy was rediculously good. And in absolutely killer shape.

Kris might not be the very best at any one discipline but for overall mastery on any terrain and any style (he calls himself a lousy freestyle rider), he´s got no match.

JL

[harper]

I third the nomination for Raphael Lasar.

[tomblackwood]

Originally posted by vivalargo
Kris might not be the very best at any one discipline but for overall mastery on any terrain and any style (he calls himself a lousy freestyle rider), he´s got no match. Actually, in the still-standing discipline, not sure there's anyone in the same ballpark. Below results from Moab 2004:

8. Ride the Rail (Mortal Div.)
Ryan Atkins 22.24 s
Joey Cohn 15.65 s
Jeff Groves 15.62 s

8a. Ride the Rail (Immortal Div.)
Kris Holm 3 min 23 s

[jsm]

Actually, in the still-standing discipline, not sure there's anyone in the same ballpark.
Actually, at the last UNICON, some guy, a Mexican I think, did a 15 minute stillstand, breaking Julien Monney's six minute record.

[tomblackwood]

Originally posted by jsm
Actually, at the last UNICON, some guy, a Mexican I think, did a 15 minute stillstand, breaking Julien Monney's six minute record.
That's impressive. Kris's stand at Moab was on top of a 5 foot long piece of steel railroad rail, roughly 3 inches wide. Not sure how much a factor that is, but would be interesting to see a "bake off". I'm conjecturing that a rail and gym floor are different.

[johnfoss]

World's greatest stillstanders:

http://unicycling.smugmug.com/gallery/235111/1/9137655/Large

It was Richam Almacera and his brother, from the Philippines. This one shows that the balancing surface, once you get started, doesn't really matter much. Their final (15 minutes plus) competition was done on the track infield:

http://unicycling.smugmug.com/gallery/235242/1/9143549/Large

When it comes to ripping it up on dirt or any kind of rough terrain, Kris Holm is still #1 in my book. Up there with him are Krazy Karl Thompson and Ryan Atkins. They are both amazing riders, but much lower on the scale of greatness.

[alexmay]

I nominate the mutant child of a lab experiment involving Yoggi and Kris Holm's DNA.

[brockfisher05]

Originally posted by James_Potter
yeah, Kris is the most famous to non-unicyclist, like Armstrong is the most famous to non-bikers, or Tony Hawk is most famous to non-skaters....not necessarily the best, but the one who's done the most to make it a popular sport. well, okay, more popular than it used to be anyway....

i dont know if i completly agree with you i have seen him ride the mountain and he is pretty smooth and super fast

[halfbike]

I'd sat Kris Holm. He may not be the best, but he is one of the most influential unicyclists of all time, if not the most. He also rocks and has his line a unicycles.

Yoggi's gots mad skills to!!! I'm sure most of us have seen the koxx team vids. He is pure insanity!!!

[dogbowl]

I would have to cast my vote for Raoul Bowden. His performance at Uni-Rex Central 2004 was amazing and his roof-tile mount technique has never been repeated. I personally think the judges at the C.S.W. T. (Competitive Single Wheel Tournament)2005 this year were a little bit unfair to take away his trophy for winning the Coker-Drag just because it turned out that his coker had a 37 inch wheel instead of the normal 36 inches, saying that the extra inch gave him a slight competitive edge, but I think that's a moot point considering the fact that he did the race with 180 cranks.

Raoul Bowden scored an unbelievable 387 on the Rounder X-turns, maintained a clear lead during the Salt Path Wrapathon (beating out Charles Kingway and Harvey Zangwell, which in itself was a major upset) and scoring a full 50 (50!) on the Schaffer Mountain Descent.

He invented not only the roof-tile mount technique, but also the Blitzkrieg Mount, the Double-Razor mount, and the Moo-Moo turn. A lot of you may not know this, but he is in the Guinness Book of World Records for doing a full loop-de-loop inside a wind tunnel at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

He is the only unicyclist to complete the Pan American "Miller-Time" Run that stretches from Anchorage Alaska all the way down through the Panama Canal and finally ends at the Terra Del Fuego on the southern tip of Argentina. He did this in 2002--no one has beaten his record.

The amazing thing is that he does all this on a cheap Sun28, (with the exception of doing the Coker-Drag on the 37-inch coker) which is another reason I think he is way-cool. A journalist from USA Today asked him why he does almost everything on a Sun28, and his reply was simple “Because it's the best, and it's also excellent for drops and wheel-winging.”

Raoul Bowden was instrumental in getting the Olympics to feature Unicycling in 2008. (His older brother is some kind of, I don't know, congressman or something like that) He's also a really nice guy—I exchanged a couple of emails with him because I had a couple of Sun28 related questions, and he was nice enough to take the time out and answer me.

Oh, and on a side note: a lot of you may not know this because Raoul is a pretty secretive guy, but he is actually married to Claudia Schiffer's younger sister. Who is also a unicyclist (Sun28).

Raoul Bowden: He is the Greatest Unicyclist of All Time. He definitely gets my vote.

[harper]

Originally posted by dogbowl

Raoul Bowden scored an unbelievable 387 on the Rounder X-turns, maintained a clear lead during the Salt Path Wrapathon (beating out Charles Kingway and Harvey Zangwell, which in itself was a major upset) and scoring a full 50 (50!) on the Schaffer Mountain Descent.



Wait a minute. Isn't Schaffer Mountain a slab of flat asphalt in Peoria, Illinois? And I thought Kingway died in '87 and Zangwell has been locked up in Sing-Sing since '94?

[caw89]

ALEX TOMS!!! (Tomsey)

[dixon]

I am new to the game, but what about Kris Holm?
Maybe that is far too mainstream.

[alexmay]

yeah, he's mainstream for a reason after all!

[fcwegnm0b]

Andrew Carter

[dogbowl]

Originally posted by harper
Wait a minute. Isn't Schaffer Mountain a slab of flat asphalt in Peoria, Illinois? And I thought Kingway died in '87 and Zangwell has been locked up in Sing-Sing since '94?
Very true, Dr. Harper, very true, and you are correct to point these things out...

Schaffer Mountain is indeed a huge slab of asphalt in Illinois, yet is is situated on a unique zone of the earth there the gravitational axis is just slightly off, resulting in an extraordinary "pull" from one end of the parking lot to the next--few unicyclists make it across (bicycles NEVER get more than 10 feet), and only the very, very best unicyclists have a chance. To score a 50 in that competition is beyond outstanding, it is a downright bending of physics...

I goofed when I wrote Charles Kingway, because it is true, as you have pointed out, that he is dead. It was Charles Kingway Jr (the brilliant son of Kingway) who was beaten by Bowden in the Salt Path Wrapathon.

You are also right about Harvey Zangwell being in prison. However, due to his celebretory status at Sing Sing, he is allowed the occasional ferlough for unicycle compititon. He was at the Salt Path Wrapathon (and most of the events held at C.S.W. T. 2005) but his name was not on the program so maybe that is why you thought he was still in jail. On a side note, Zangwell did get into a little trouble when he tried to escape from his guards during the Rolohundra Uphill event, so he's back behind bars, doing trials and stuff like that in the prison yard.

Very good points brought up by Dr. Harper, and I hope my answers have cleared up any confusion.

[harper]

Originally posted by dogbowl

Very good points brought up by Dr. Harper, and I hope my answers have cleared up any confusion.

Professor Dogbowl-

Thank you for clarifying these points for me. I apologize for failing to do the further research required with regard to these topics.

[xavcollos]

Dan Heaton is the best Street Rider

Xavier

[fexnix]

Xavier Collos

[UniTyler]

I'd have to say Irene Genelin just because she's really really nice, I've met her, she's level ten, and she is really really graceful on da uni. And she has a really awsome uni, too.

[kapoute]

I would say Kris Holm.

[IsaacUnicycle]

Ok well I am tired of seeing everybody put Yoggi as the best unicyclist. Everybody is looking at the wrong thing when it comes to the best unicyclist. The best unicyclists are the ones with the best skill. Not the ones that do a few crazy drops or one crazy thing. You have to look at consistancy and skill. For trials I would have to say Zack Baldwin (trials champ in 04) and Ryan Adkins who is simply amazing and makes unicycling kickass. Dan Heaton is incredible considering he does very little riding and a hell of alot of filming and editing. He has the best skills and is the most innovative rider. Brian Lundgren is my favorite street rider followed by Kevin McMullen. These are the best riders in my opinion. Everybody need to look up to these guys and not Yoggi who posts a crazy drop or riding on a bridge.

[caw89]

Well Alex has some great street but...... the greatest unicyclist is good ole zackie b!

(ZACK BALDWIN)

[zack]

im gonna have to say Mike Clark! HES SO FUCKING CRAZY!!

-Zack

[James_Potter]

Originally posted by IsaacUnicycle
Ok well I am tired of seeing everybody put Yoggi as the best unicyclist. Everybody is looking at the wrong thing when it comes to the best unicyclist. The best unicyclists are the ones with the best skill. Not the ones that do a few crazy drops or one crazy thing. You have to look at consistancy and skill. For trials I would have to say Zack Baldwin (trials champ in 04) and Ryan Adkins who is simply amazing and makes unicycling kickass. Dan Heaton is incredible considering he does very little riding and a hell of alot of filming and editing. He has the best skills and is the most innovative rider. Brian Lundgren is my favorite street rider followed by Kevin McMullen. These are the best riders in my opinion. Everybody need to look up to these guys and not Yoggi who posts a crazy drop or riding on a bridge.

I disagree....Yoggi can't only do one cool thing. He's an INSANEly awesome unicyclist, go look at the video Joe posted in RSU and then try and argue that he's not good enough to be the best unicyclist.

[zack]

ya yoggi is insane, when it comes to doing big drops and LIEING! not trying to dis on him or anything but on his website it says yoggi-2004 trials world expert champion. If im not mistaken I thought that was me?

[zack]

hey,i wanted to say a little more...actually, that video of yoggi is very easy to argue that he isn't the best. he is getting a lot better, but the stuff he is presenting in the videos in no where near the level of the riding that many other people have been doing for years. the riding in that video is quick and flashy, but not very challenging trials. for the most part, very simple surfaces and lines. the car stuff is nice, but riders have been doing that in demos and at trials comps for years. he seems to be improving quick, who knows, if he develops his technical trials ability, he can get up there with the best riders.

[Murde Mental]

I'd have to agree with Zack. Many (if not all) of the trials lines he did in the video I'm pretty sure I could've stuck...

It's your pretty basic "big-jumps", "big-gaps" trials with large surfaces to land on.

As for the bridge... well... It's not challenging persay but then again it takes balls to do it and honestly I don't think it's that worth it. I mean it doesn't warp your mind like when Mr. Baldwin over here decides to pop 42".

So, I wouldn't personnaly pick Yoggi as "THE greatest" he's good. No denying. But I can't say that anyone is "THE greatest" cause there's always someone that could do a specific skill better than someone else...

Santa Claus would be a good pick though. He's Magic.

[jsm]

Mike Clark? I believe I saw him at a unicycle meet a few months ago, and while he was definitely a good rider, his skills, at least as far as he was able to demonstrate them, were by no means exceptional. (Assuming that's the guy I saw.)

I don't think any street or trials rider out there has put in enough practice time to have an ability level on par with Julien Monney's.

[vivalargo]

I think it's impossible to accurately contrast freestyle with street with Muniing, especially in terms of difficulty or 'What's harder?'

You simply can't put in the same time on a Muni that you can on a freestyle uni, one because of all the shuttling to and fro to get on the single tracks, and two, if you were to try and put in the same hours on hardcore Muni that great freestylers put in at the gym, you'd surely perish. Even when I'm putting in 3 strenuous Muni sessions a week, a big shuttle ride up in Santa Barbara and I am hobbling the next day--and only part of that's due to advanced age and incompetance.

I look at great freestyling like a classical musical exercise, working for hours to polish a given routine. Muniing is more like freeform jazz, where everything is basically improvised on the spot. Though my experience is limited, from what I've seen, the guys who really rock on Muni are skillfull and bold, and those skills have taken hundreds of rides to cultivate. And the street riders are just crazy good.

My sense of it is that the best folk in all three disciplines are riding, in their own way, at basically the same level, which is pretty damn high.

JL

JL

[uni_zorro]

I do not know who any of these people are, except for Chris Holms and that is because his name is everywhere, especially on prodycts that are for sale, and that is good because he is helping to spread the word on unicycling.
But because his unicycles are too expensive for me, I will have to refrain from voting for the man, no offense meant chris, but I never saw a video of you. The onbly videos I watch are old clips of the three stooges and of course zorro.
I am voting for Raul Bowden because I think he may not even exist in the first place. Either that, or some of the guys here were making fun of a real guy by writing all that insane stuff about wind tunnels and such.
So, I second Raul Bowden.

[this end up]

top five so far...
kris holm to many nominations to count
and a 5 way tie between
rapheal lasar
alex toms
andrew carter
xavier collos
julien monney

nominations end wednesday the 20.

[JJuggle]

Originally posted by this end up
top five so far...
kris holm to many nominations to count
and a 5 way tie between
rapheal lasar
alex toms
andrew carter
xavier collos
julien monney

nominations end wednesday the 20. Please withdraw my name from this list as I do not wish to be the comic relief unless it is deliberately so.

[harper]

Originally posted by JJuggle
Please withdraw my name from this list as I do not wish to be the comic relief unless it is deliberately so.

If I look raelly carefully, I don't see yuor name on the list.

[DustinMichels]

I don't see my name on it either, who messed with the results? :/

[JJuggle]

Originally posted by harper
If I look raelly carefully, I don't see yuor name on the list. Yes, well, I was trying to figure out how to work that into my comment. Thanks for working that out. :)

[onetrack]

my vote is for Gilby. Not only is he the master of all that is two wheel stack, he has done alot for the sport.

[James_Potter]

onetrack user title
street unicycling sucks

?

[andrew_carter]

Originally posted by JJuggle
Please withdraw my name from this list as I do not wish to be the comic relief unless it is deliberately so. Ditto for me.

[johnfoss]

My main vote is still for Mel Hall. Isn't anybody going to ask who the hell he is?

To go further, we'd have to get a better idea of what's meant by 'greatest.' The vast majority of people posting here are focused on Trials and MUni so many of the votes are focused in that relatively new area of unicycling.

Greatest could mean many things, or means many different things to many people. For some it seems to mean most famous. For others, it's hardest tricks done in a gym with your shirt off. For others it's highest hop or grab. Or highest, most outrageous drop, whether landed or not. What about people who have made a living at it? Any credit for getting rich through unicycling (if anybody's ever done it)? Or contributions to our sport, or to awareness of it? Or to the equipment we ride (back to Kris)?

It's all a matter of your idea of greatest. This has been a fun thread to read, but mostly it reinforces the fact that the majority of people posting here are focused on Trials and MUni.

[dogbowl]

Originally posted by this end up
top five so far...
kris holm to many nominations to count
and a 5 way tie between
rapheal lasar
alex toms
andrew carter
xavier collos
julien monney

nominations end wednesday the 20.
And.....Raoul Bowden?

[James_Potter]

Originally posted by johnfoss
My main vote is still for Mel Hall. Isn't anybody going to ask who the hell he is?

Who the hell is Mel Hall?

[this end up]

1 hour left as of 10:44 central standard time. 11:44 eastern standard.
andrew you are history. gone. no longer on the list and too bad for you...........

your welcome.

[lancerfan119]

it depends on what type of unicycling
Freestyle: Ryan Whoosner (how do u spell his name?)
Trials: Ryan, zack baldwin, or Yoggi
Muni: Kris Holm
Street: Dan Heaton
for contribution to the sport: John Foss and George Peck

[lancerfan119]

sorry, the thing had already endind, but i felt i should put in my input

[this end up]

it ain't over yet you still have 2 minutes left. so hurry

[this end up]

okay now its over.

[this end up]

please no more nominations.

[onetrack]

Originally posted by James_Potter
?

It hurts, but i can't stop.

[JamesH]

Originally posted by onetrack
It hurts, but i can't stop.
Hahah... like every Sunday morning "I have the worst hang over ever, I'm never drinking again..." but somehow it happens every Sunday morning...

[James_Potter]

Originally posted by this end up
please no more nominations.

I nominate myself!!

[fexnix]

Raphael Lasar is winning!

[fcwegnm0b]

Originally posted by andrew_carter
Ditto for me.

I was serious with your nomination, Andrew. You've helped create one hell of a website that helped me, as well as many others, start riding. Your videos - riding, filming, and editing - are inspirational, to say the least.

I guess my nomination was more of a personal, what-you've-done-for-me vote than a what-you've-done-for-the-entire-sport-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things one.

[fcwegnm0b]

Bah double post

[yoopers]

Originally posted by fexnix
Raphael Lasar is winning!
Way to go Rapheal Laser.

[unifreak7]

I believe the unicycling system has recently seen a new style emerge. Thanks to the one and only Dan Heaton. Though most might disagree Flatlanding is the newest style. Similar to freestyle (kinda, pretty much nothign alike, haha) , flatlanding is just what its name implies.

Trials - Ryan Atkins, Zach Baldwin, Kris Holm (Are we all forgetting this guy rips trials too)

Muni - Kris Holm (Come on with around 18 years of riding, you get pretty good)

Street - Dan Heaton, Alex Toms, Mike Clark

Freestyle - Kaori, Julien Monnel (spelling?) Most Japanese haha, there so good!

Flatlanding - Dan Heaton

[johnfoss]

Originally posted by James_Potter
Who the hell is Mel Hall? The greatest unicyclist of all time, of course. :)

What did he do? Well here's a good one. Inverted riding of a 9' unicycle, that he would freemount. Two shoulder holders, with his head hanging down in between, and pedaling with his hands. I haven't heard of anyone else doing that!

As for Flatlanding, so far I fail to see the difference between it and Freestyle. Freestyle actually has a definition, as does Street now:
http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/committee/rulebook/2005/proposal.php?id=19

I give Dan Heaton full credit as the originator of Street. I think the definition of Flatland you are thinking of is the same as street, but just on flat ground. That's not the same as Freestyle, but not real different either.

[caw89]

Originally posted by unifreak7
I believe the unicycling system has recently seen a new style emerge. Thanks to the one and only Dan Heaton. Though most might disagree Flatlanding is the newest style. Similar to freestyle (kinda, pretty much nothign alike, haha) , flatlanding is just what its name implies.

Trials - Ryan Atkins, Zach Baldwin, Kris Holm (Are we all forgetting this guy rips trials too)

Muni - Kris Holm (Come on with around 18 years of riding, you get pretty good)

Street - Dan Heaton, Alex Toms, Mike Clark

Freestyle - Kaori, Julien Monnel (spelling?) Most Japanese haha, there so good!

Flatlanding - Dan Heaton

I couldt really agree more...but i think Shaun( ;) ) should be in the street section....

[Jethro]

Originally posted by unifreak7
Freestyle - Kaori, Julien Monnel (spelling?) Most Japanese haha, there so good!
[/B]

How do you leave out the current two-time world champion?

[Unitik908]

i still say xavier collos and juilin monney

Chase

[caw89]

Because he felt like it....

[pete66]

he is actually married to Claudia Schiffer's younger sister. Who is also a unicyclist
Woah...

[Probailer2]

1.Kris Holm
2.Yoggi
3.Xavier Collos ( you know who I mean,he is with Koxx-one)

[pete66]

I would have to say

1) KH, he's just so solid. I think there's quite a few young unicyclists out there who maybe think they have more skills than him, usually those pesky freestylers who would actually get completely schooled by KH anywhere outside the gym floor. As far as i'm concerned, he's a professional athlete who's done it all and when you look at his skills in terms of ALL genres of unicycling, he's the king.

2) Kaori Matzusawa. OK, so she can't "stand on seat coast" but come on she's so cute!

3) gotta be one of the street/trials riders... It's hard to say despite the fact I've seen all the videos millions of times. Ryan Atkins is awesome and his sheer potential at 17 is kinda mind blowing (imagine how good he'd be if he "peaked" at 29?). Mind you, he doesn't seem to have the technical ability of Heaton, Arditty, Alex, Collos or Johannson but maybe that's simply an aspect he doesn't show much of in the videos? I should mention Zack too, I didn't realise him or Mike C were actually good until I saw Defect...

So I guess it's between Dan Heaton, Ryan Atkins and Zack for my pick of 3rd greatest unicyclist. They all seem about the same, Dans style would be better if he was more like the other 2 (seat out, sketchy gaps, minimal prehop trials). Meanwhile Zack and Ryan could improve if they nailed more technical skills like 540 jump spins etc.

It's gotta be Dan Heaton at the moment because he's so original and taking into account that he's made 3 great videos. He's gonna have to fight not to fall behind the others in the future but I doubt that that's how he sees it.

[Lutz]

Trial: Ryan Atkins and Kris Holm
MUni: Kris Hom
Street: Dan Heaton
Freestyle: Sayakan and Simon Wells

[this end up]

what the? who revived my thread? and why?

[unitic]

Kris Holm is so awesome! I'd say he's a great unicyclist.

[tomblackwood]

I would have to say KH, he's just so solid. I think there's quite a few young unicyclists out there who maybe think they have more skills than him.
You're probably right about that, but hopefully taking their turn Riding the Rail (http://www.moabmunifest.homestead.com/files/MMF04_Results.htm) will set them straight. Let there be no confusion on this topic.

[john_childs]

1) KH, he's just so solid. I think there's quite a few young unicyclists out there who maybe think they have more skills than him, usually those pesky freestylers who would actually get completely schooled by KH anywhere outside the gym floor. As far as i'm concerned, he's a professional athlete who's done it all and when you look at his skills in terms of ALL genres of unicycling, he's the king.
Don't belittle the freestylists. They have skills. In ternms of number of skills and volume of skills the freestylists have KH beat. There are freestyle riders who have a still stand equal to Kris. There are freestyle riders who have balance and control equal to or exceeding Kris. The balance and control and practice time to do freestyle well and make it smooth is more than it takes to do street or trials or North Shore muni.

Comparing pure freestyle to trials or muni is impossible. It's like comparing apples and oranges. But I'd put my money on the top freestyle riders.

[tomblackwood]

There are freestyle riders who have balance and control equal to or exceeding Kris. The balance and control and practice time to do freestyle well and make it smooth is more than it takes to do street or trials or North Shore muni. I'd put my money on the top freestyle riders.
Arrrgh...I know it's not Talk Like A Pirate Day, but me thinks you've been hittin' the rum a bit too hard today matey. Yer brains been fogged.

PPP: Proof Points Please, especially on the still stand claim.

[john_childs]

Arrrgh...I know it's not Talk Like A Pirate Day, but me thinks you've been hittin' the rum a bit too hard today matey. Yer brains been fogged.

PPP: Proof Points Please, especially on the still stand claim.
15+ minute stillstand (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34639)

[jagur]

PPP: Proof Points Please, especially on the still stand claim.you my drunkin friend need to raize up off the Night-train and all other fortified wines you have been pounding tonite.

Freestyle is most hard. any bloke can luck into a good run down the mountain but no-one lucks into riding backwards with thier feet under the pedals.

[abbabibble]

i give my nominations to Kris Holm and Xavier Collos.

[vivalargo]

Jaguar wrote:

"Freestyle is most hard. any bloke can luck into a good run down the mountain but no-one lucks into riding backwards with thier feet under the pedals."

I have the greatest regard for freestylers, but the previous statement doesn't square with my experience of riding technical Muni.Though I ride mainly in Santa Barbara, I've never found that luck enabled me, or anyone else, to throw down a "good run down the mountains," at least not on the steep, rocky single tracks.

One of the reasons Muni takes so master (whihc never really happens) is that you can't practice Muni as much as you can freestyle. Freestyloe is a smooth operation--Muni pounds you into submission. More than three long, hard Muni runs a week is basically impossible to maintain for very long. For a weekend meet, sure. Ride till you drop. But over the course of 6 months, you just can't sustain it. At least I can't.

While you can't compare frestyle with Muni, for my money, anyone who can clean all of "Tunnel Trail" (basically a 5-mile long, single track, rock gauntlet) in SB is riding at a Level 10 competancy. Or maybe more, since nobody has yet made it.

JL

[johnfoss]

I'd put my money on the top freestyle riders.
Speaking of money, how about the unicyclists who do/did it for a living? That's where my money is, and why I voted for the people I did back when this thread was a young'n.

And if you had to categorize what the pros do, it's Freestyle and maybe a little Street.

[johnfoss]

Though I ride mainly in Santa Barbara, I've never found that luck enabled me, or anyone else, to throw down a "good run down the mountains," at least not on the steep, rocky single tracks.Just a little backing up here, by someone who has experienced a very wide variety of trails. The trails vivalargo is referencing are *way hard.* For a comparison that Jagur has been to, imagine a shorter and more intense version of Downieville. More bumpy, more rocky, more drop-offs to the side, and almost the same amount of altitude change.

The Friday ride at MUni Weekend was one of the most challenging "rollable" trails I've ever ridden. Rollable meaning that with practice, probably all but a few spots could be rolled, and it doesn't require mad Trials skills just to get through it. I was really beat after that ride, even though the mileage was pretty low. I can't wait to tackle it again someday!

So, MUni on difficult trails is definitely hard. But Freestyle is definitely hard as well. Two totally different kinds of hard. Including hard (if not impossible) to compare.

[musketman]

ME!:D J/K i suck. mmmm I say Kris Holm


kris holm is the best, hands down!

[vivalargo]

Because it’s relatively new, Muni has few superstars and on the whole, has some catching up to do with freestyle, street and trials. Only a dedicated and gifted expert has a chance of stand up coasting or hucking a 45 inch forward hop, while many street and trials monsters can get down many top end Muni runs. But if Cal Muni Weekend was any indication, the day is fast approaching when people start cleaning trails possible only by riders as dedicated to Muni as others are dedicated to freestyle, street and trials. For example, Tunnel Trail in Santa Barbara is one of the most legendary DH single tracks in California. When someone cleans Tunnel, top to bottom, that day will have arrived.

In a few years I think Beau Hoover will be such a rider. Most of us might never get there, but we'll have a hell of a ride trying.

JL

[jagur]

yeah, Luck is probobly not the best word to use camparing the two... my bad.

i also withdraw my earlier statment since after thinking it over, i agree with what John said "Two totally different kinds of hard,(if not impossible) to compare "

[tomblackwood]

15+ minute stillstand (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34639)
Cool, thanks for the reference, although it doesn't change my mind.

One other note: my wife was the "Ride the Rails" judge at Moab, and KH's dismount at 3:23 was by choice, not a fall. Boredom, perhaps, and the realization that he had probably set a high enough bar. Could he have done 15 minutes? Who knows, but he definitely could have done more than 3 minutes 23 seconds.

I'm also wondering if anyone else could have pulled off the ride down the side of the volcano seen in Unizaba.