Rhys Kember, Unicycle Backflip

[napalm]

Rhys is a rider here from Canberra. I remember his claims to doing a unicycle backflip (not landing afaik) but i have never seen any footage of it- or seen him attempt it since. He still rides and attended the australian Uninats this year and competed in the trials comp. Not sure how he went but there was not any ground breaking riding or flipping from him this year.

Mark

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by napalm

I remember his claims to doing a unicycle backflip (not landing afaik) but i have never seen any footage of it- or seen him attempt it since.

From what we've seen of Adrian, the frontflip is pretty hard and takes a ton of committment. Also I think a backflip would be harder, due to the mechanics of the body (harder to carry that unicycle around against the direction your waist bends). I think you would need more height to pull it off.

I knew a guy who could do a forward flip on a tightwire. Interestingly, the forward flip is the hard one there, where you can't see your landing spot until the last second. Backflips are much easier (and more common in performances) because you can spot your landing much earlier.

[unicycledood]

Oh Rhys from Aus!

A few people said he attempted frontflips off some pallets and that he had landed it before but I don't know if anyone believed him. I've never heard anything from him about a backflip. But if its in guinness, must be official.

[mtnjeffe]

From my quick research it also looks like the drop record is not held by him as well, but rather Alex Toms who dropped a little over 8ft on tape with Guinness watching.

[madmattunipro]

Being from Guinness doesn't mean much as far as I'm concerned. Just because Guinness was there to watch does not mean someone hasn't done the same thing better or higher or longer. The whole tallest unicycle in the world records that Guiness has watched over kinda leaves me with little faith in their ability to ensure a proper record.

[Isaac Conyers]

yea i remember rhys telling me he had landed a backflip but ive never seen any proof. he also attempted front flips about a year ago now at the Newtown Trial Demo but he didnt land them. id never heard about his 3m drop record tho, i thought it was just tomsey with his 2.5m drop (and there is proof of alex toms doing that). i might send him a message on facebook to find out if there is any video etc.

[richgrundy]

Originally Posted by madmattunipro

Being from Guinness doesn't mean much as far as I'm concerned. Just because Guinness was there to watch does not mean someone hasn't done the same thing better or higher or longer.

Agreed, I thoroughly dislike Guinnesss World Records because they get to choose what they watch/monitor and what they decide isn't worth it.

I have friends who have the record for various things on jumping stilts but because Guinness haven't recorded it, it means it isn't an official record.

Who put Guinness in charge of what is a record and what isn't!

[sofauxboho]

Originally Posted by richgrundy

Agreed, I thoroughly dislike Guinnesss World Records because they get to choose what they watch/monitor and what they decide isn't worth it.

I have friends who have the record for various things on jumping stilts but because Guinness haven't recorded it, it means it isn't an official record.

Who put Guinness in charge of what is a record and what isn't!

Sadly, having a Guinness World Record doesn't even necessarily mean anyone from Guinness was there.

We were contacted by Guinness regarding one of our projects a while ago, and they basically just wanted us to provide some information and a witness they could contact.

Perhaps they handle things differently in the world of sports.

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by madmattunipro

Being from Guinness doesn't mean much as far as I'm concerned.

They do make mistakes, and sometimes what they have on record has been surpassed. But what they do have is a huge international audience, so it's a great resume credit to have a Guinness listing. Assuming one actually has one. Some people have been known to claim it without an actual record to back it up...

The whole tallest unicycle in the world records that Guiness has watched over kinda leaves me with little faith in their ability to ensure a proper record.

Which record? I assume you mean Steve McPeak in 1980? Sure, the cable was clearly (to us) supporting the unicycle the whole time, but he did actually "ride" it. Or pedaled it? I got the impression that there had been so much money and possibly advertising/marketing wrapped up in that event that the show "had to go on" as it were, and they did the show (it was a TV special). Separately, the Guinness people had to decide that this was a legitimate ride though. Not sure how they managed that...