dismounts

[d.kathrens@genie.com]

Wolfgang Stroessner <Stroessner@Math.Uni-Augsburg.DE> writes:

>There are a lot of nice and spectacular (at least some of them) mounts. But has
>anyone yet thought about dismounting in another manner than the ususal one?
>Perhaps someone out there could suggest some good dismounts.

Ken Fuchs was kind enough to copy some footage from a Unicon held in Japan. and
send it to me a while ago. I saw one very talented rider do a classy dismount
which I will try to describe.

It appeared to be exactly the reverse of a spinning rear mount (which I
learned to do recently). Someone correct me if I have given it the
wrong name.

The dismount was simply a spin which ended with the rider planting the
outside foot with the uni in front. The other foot was still on the pedal
and the rider's backside was still in contact with the seat. Much like the
preparatory stance for a freemount from the rear.

From the way he did the dismount, he seemed to have switched somehow from a
forward spin to a reverse spin at some point. Probably a half pirouette just
before the dismount occurred.

A smooth follow through with the arms made for a nice flourish at the end
of his routine.

Anyway, I kind of liked it and have put it on my list of moves (my non-
confrontational alternative to the skill/trick controversy) to learn.

Dennis Kathrens

[Unicycle@aol.com]

>In a more serious note, Wolfgang makes an excellent point. Unicyclists have
>made some great progress as far as riding skills, mounting skills, transition
>skills, but have neglected dismounting skills.

I agree. I have thought of a few, but now everybody does them. Somebody else
think of some others please.

>Please, keep it safe for yourself and the judges. A flying unicycle can be a
>weapon. Hurting a judge will not gather any extra points.

Sounds like it was written by a guy cowering behind the Judges table!

John Foss the Uni-Cyclone unicycle@aol.com

[Unicycle@aol.com]

>If they come anywhere near you, check out the Cirque du Soleil show
>Saltimbanco. There you should see a back somersault dismount from a giraffe
>unicycle on an approximately 10m high tight wire with the rider landing on
>the wire.

I saw Saltimbanco in 1994, but the wire artist did not use the unicycle. I saw
it backstage after the show (we got to meet Pietro Biondo, who rode his unicycle
10,000 miles around NA in 1983-4, and was a masseuse for the artists).

Just my luck! That *always* happens to me with circuses!! Every time I decide to
go and see Ringling, for instance, the show is lame and without unicycles. Each
time I skip it (it seems), there is some kind of awesome cycling act! This year
it was a guy doing rolling mounts to ultimate wheels, and jumping from one to
another while they were moving. He also would spin one, and jump on it while it
was spinning!

I did not see that show. On the other hand, I got to meet the guy (his name
escapes me at the moment, something like Sirotkin) in 1990 when I was in the
Soviet Union. His father was the star clown at the Riga Circus, where we were
performing, and he showed me most of the moves he is doing in the Ringling show
this year. If you have the chance, go and see him.

Sorry, but I can't remember which RBBB unit it was, but it's the one that was in
Sacramento last Spring. Sorry also to you folks in the UK and elsewhere. There
are good (or better) circuses there as well.

John Foss Still an ultimate wheel beginner after all these years
unicycle@aol.com

[Unicycle@aol.com]

d.kathrens@genie.com (Dennis Kathrens) wrote:
>Ken Fuchs was kind enough to copy some footage from a UNICON held in Japan. and
>send it to me a while ago. I saw one very talented rider do a classy dismount
>which I will try to describe. The dismount was simply a spin which ended with
>the rider planting the outside foot with the uni in front. The other foot was
>still on the pedal and the rider's backside was still in contact with the seat.
>Much like the preparatory stance for a freemount from the rear.

Hey Ken, was this UNICON III? That was the only UNICON held in Japan. I'm
curious to see that dismount and find out who it was. Do you know? Dennis, could
you identify the rider (what did he look like) or the specific event? Let's give
the guy credit!

>Anyway, I kind of liked it and have put it on my list of moves (my non-
>confrontational alternative to the skill/trick controversy) to learn.

Moves? That's when you put your furniture in a truck, or take a laxative. Why
not call them tricks? Hold on, someone's knocking at my door. Oh no, it's the
TRICK POLICE! Help! Hide me! I guess I'd better move!

John Foss unicycle@aol.com