Levels 5 and 6

[unimail@njackn.com]

I think kens conclusion about people passing level 5 and 6 at the same
time is missing something. Yes, it could mean that they learnded five and
six simultaneously, but that really ought not be how levels work. Levels
should result in some type of curve, there shouldn't be this nice curvy
line until level 5 where it drops off and then starts over again. It would
be nice to see a new format where this happened but i think a total
overhaul of the current levels system is unlikely. Look at this; two
skills changed places and there's been heated debate and some pretty
pissed off people as a result of such a minor change. Anyway, my point is
that i think the change should stick and unless evidence suggests
differently in japan, maybe iuf ought to consider making the change also.
I am not just backing up this "America's better" attutide either, i don't
even think that's an issue. To me it wouldn't matter where the idea came
from, i think it's better than the existing system. If the swiss team all
decided that the skill levels were dumb and dropped them all I wouldn't
care, i'de say good for them for changing the system to fit their needs.
(Not to demean the swiss team:P) I'll admit, the USA is a wee bit larger
but do the japanese care? From what i understand most of the japanese
unicyclists don't even like the IUF and aren't members so would they even
care if IUF changed their levels? (someone correct me if i'm wrong, this
is just what i heard at unicon) And do people like kato test for levels?
Would it make that big of a difference to them?


I'm not realy a levels supporter. I don't like the way it keeps people in the
ruts of unicycling by telling them what tricks they should do next and by giving
them a notion that any trick in level 10 is _way_ out of their league. It really
makes me happy to see people who don't seem to care what level a trick is, they
just learn it because they think it looks neat or they want a challenge,
unfortunatly though i think too many people out there who see something like
sideways wheel walk or coasting in level 10 and just think "i could never do
that, it's level 10!" That's the attituide that i think levels gives many people
and that's the exact opposite attituide needed to breed really good unicyclists.

I know that by saying what i did i'm probably not making friends but it's what i
think and this is an issue that i used to real big on, even before tha change in
levels occured so i'm just happy to see it happen and think the USA should not
change. My 6 cents worth. (that's the price of a phone call here) Karl.

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o o o o :* Karl Frankowski *: o o o o // // /|\ /|\ /|\ /|\ *: Unicyclist
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[Ken Fuchs]

Karl Frankowski wrote:

> I think kens conclusion about people passing level 5 and 6 at the same
> time is missing something.

OK, maybe they want to stick with even numbered levels, so they always learn and
pass two levels at a time? :) At a club meeting, it really bothered me that the
only topic of conversation seemed to be "What level are you working on? I'm
working on level x." and "Do you know what level Sam/Mary is working on?". Its
OK to be concerned about what skill level you and others around you are working
on, but when is becomes the dominant topic of conversation, it has become an
obsession.

Some people are driven to pass skill levels, like they try to pass exams in
finals week. One right after another!

>Yes, it could mean that they learned five and six simultaneously, but that
>really ought not be how levels work. Levels should result in some type of
>curve, there shouldn't be this nice curvy line until level 5 where it drops off
>and then starts over again. It would be nice to see a new format where this
>happened but i think a total overhaul of the current levels system is unlikely.

So the skill levels should form some nice bell curve centered over level 1,
diminishing toward level 10?

>Look at this; two skills changed places and there's been heated debate and some
>pretty pissed off people as a result of such a minor change.

I noticed some firmly worded opinions, but I don't think any one is pissed off
or angry as a result. Of course I've grossly misread a few people in this regard
in the past, so please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

>Anyway, my point is that i think the change should stick and unless
>evidence suggests differently in japan, maybe iuf ought to consider making
>the change also.

No matter what any of us say, the USA, Inc. is unlikely to reverse its decision.

>I am not just backing up this "America's better" attitude either, i don't even
>think that's an issue. To me it wouldn't matter where the idea came from, i
>think it's better than the existing system. If the swiss team all decided that
>the skill levels were dumb and dropped them all I wouldn't care, i'de say good
>for them for changing the system to fit their needs. (Not to demean the swiss
>team:P) I'll admit, the USA is a wee bit larger but do the japanese care? From
>what i understand most of the japanese unicyclists don't even like the IUF and
>aren't members so would they even care if IUF changed their levels? (someone
>correct me if i'm wrong, this is just what i heard at unicon) And do people
>like kato test for levels? Would it make that big of a difference to them?

America tries to take the leading role in almost everything, and the USA, Inc.
is perhaps no exception and I think it is definitely an issue here.

It's not where the idea for the Skill Level change came from that is the issue;
it is how the decision was made by the USA, Inc.

Before we start saying non-USA members don't care about Skill Levels, perhaps we
should ask them. Well very few people from the JUA came to UNICON VII, so they
must not care about IUF Skill Levels, right? :)

The IUF Skill Levels apply to all unicyclists around the world, so all
unicyclists around the world should be consulted about changes, not just people
who showed up at last year's USA, Inc. General Membership meeting.

>I'm not really a levels supporter. I don't like the way it keeps people in the
>ruts of unicycling by telling them what tricks they should do next and by
>giving them a notion that any trick in level 10 is _way_ out of their league.
>It really makes me happy to see people who don't seem to care what level a
>trick is, they just learn it because they think it looks neat or they want a
>challenge, unfortunately though i think too many people out there who see
>something like sideways wheel walk or coasting in level 10 and just think "i
>could never do that, it's level 10!" That's the attitude that i think levels
>gives many people and that's the exact opposite attitude needed to breed really
>good unicyclists.

Maybe we can abolish Skill Levels and Competitions. :) The sport of unicycling
would be a lot better off without them and everything connected to them.

>I know that by saying what i did i'm probably not making friends but it's what
>i think and this is an issue that i used to real big on, even before the change
>in levels occurred so i'm just happy to see it happen and think the USA should
>not change. My 6 cents worth. (that's the price of a phone call here)

Again, I don't think the USA, Inc. will reverse its decision, unless USA members
cry out in protest against the change.

Stay on Top,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com