Tallest giraffe ever freemounted?

[john_childs]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

It's a DM giraffe, but it's not clear if the step has any tire-stopping mechanism on it. My guess is no, but you can't tell from the pictures. Also there's a technical error in the sequence of photos. In 1, his right foot is on the tire, in 2, his right foot is on the step. On my giraffe, being right foot dominant, I'd have to start with my left foot on the tire.

In the pictures, it's possible he's jumping straight from the ground to the step in picture 2, but I don't buy it. The jump, plus straightening out that long leg on the step, takes a while. Something needs to hold the wheel or drivetrain from rolling out while he's doing that.

Wolfgang is pretty tall, an aid in giraffe mounting. No, I haven't seen him since Unicon VIII or IX ('96 or '98). I believe he has a PhD in Mathematics; typical unicyclist.

It's more amazing than that. The giraffe has no step. He's going from right foot on the tire to left foot on the pedal. Once his left foot is on the lower pedal the wheel will theoretically not roll freely.

I found his web site. Here's the pictures and a text description of each picture during the mount. The web site has him named Dr. Wolfgang Schaper.

[Peripatet]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang Schaper

When marrying, I changed my last name from Strößner to Schaper. Some original documents within this homepage are still tagged Strößner. Due to authenticity reasons, I will not change this.

Ah, it all makes sense now.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by Peripatet

Is this guy still around?

Yes, I am.

Originally Posted by johnfoss

It's a DM giraffe, but it's not clear if the step has any tire-stopping mechanism on it. My guess is no, but you can't tell from the pictures. Also there's a technical error in the sequence of photos. In 1, his right foot is on the tire, in 2, his right foot is on the step. On my giraffe, being right foot dominant, I'd have to start with my left foot on the tire.

Actually there's no step or tire-break or anything like that. It's just a normal giraffe unicycle.
So there is no error in the pictures, because there are only two steps to make: first on the tire, second on the pedal.
In fact these pictures origin from different mounts, as there was no camera around at that time that would make 10 pictures per second. So each picture shows a different mount.

No, I haven't seen him since Unicon VIII or IX ('96 or '98). I believe he has a PhD in Mathematics; typical unicyclist.

We met at Unicon in Copenhagen last year. You remember? I bet you in gladiators ...

I have to admit that I didn't freemount that giraffe for some years now. When I tried a couple of months ago, I failed. So currently I am not able to demonstrate that freemount. Don't know, if I will succeed with some practicing, or if I am already too old for that.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by Yeti

We met at Unicon in Copenhagen last year. You remember? I bet you in gladiators ...

Missing letter 'a'. Of course it's not about betting, but about beating John.

[johnfoss]

Hey Wolfgang! Sorry I forgot about that last summer. I think my brain is full when it comes to unicyclists! Or it was early or something. Now that you've taken me down, you must try some of the Danes. Lars, Christian, Jesper are all really great at Sumo!

Thanks for your description of the mount. Now the pictures make sense, and it even helped me remember why those pictures were so important; that big jump from the tire to the pedal! Perhaps this is the understatement of the century (people can argue about which century...):

"It takes some nuts doing it the first time when the pedals are at eye level or above. The foot not catching the pedal may cause pain. "

My guess would be that it would still take some nuts to do it the 100th time. I can't blame you for being a little worried about doing that mount. Same for me with my "easy" 9-footer. The climb is easy, but all those landings while holding the unicycle are hard on the feet/ankles/legs.

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Now that you've taken me down, you must try some of the Danes. Lars, Christian, Jesper are all really great at Sumo!

I tried them all. Sometimes they won, sometimes I lost. Anyway, it was great fun.

My guess would be that it would still take some nuts to do it the 100th time.

Yes, that's true.

I can't blame you for being a little worried about doing that mount. Same for me with my "easy" 9-footer. The climb is easy, but all those landings while holding the unicycle are hard on the feet/ankles/legs.

I am not worried about the mount, I just can't do it anymore. Maybe I should not have had that long break on the tall giraffe. My feet/ankles/legs are fine. No problem with them. But I won't get high enough when jumping off the wheel. Is it my age, the lack of practicing, or both? I don't know. And I am sure, it won't become easier for me over the years, when getting even older.

You remember Chris Mimkes? He was the other German guy who was able to freemount that tall giraffes. He is just selling all his toys. So he's out of business as well.
The third one I know about is Javier Ruiz from Puerto Rico. Didn't hear from him for some years. So I don't know, if he can still do the freemount.
Then there is Jean-Michel Paré from the Flying Dutchmen. He has an injured knee that won't allow him to dismount tall giraffes. So he also won't do it anymore.
Is there anyone left to freemount these beasts?

[Super G]

Wolfgang,

I'm glad you piped in here. Wether you can do it now or not, you have done it - and that's very impressive.

I have read your webpage about the physics of spins. Good stuff. I've noticed that people rarely talk about them or post videos featuring back spins, front spins, etc... On occasion, but not as much as I would expect. I find that odd because I think backspins, frontspins and pirouettes are very impressive manuevers. The videos I do find tend to be freestyle performances by asian people.

Back to our topic. What is the tallest giraffe you know of anyone ever freemounting? So far it looks like you have the record with a 9 1/2 footer.