2nd Annual Rolling Trials Competition – Rays MTB, Cleveland: April 8, 2006

[HardcoreCokerRider]

I had intended to post this thread a while back, but life has been pretty hectic for me lately and so Tigger actually kind of beat me to it when he suggested the event (or at least a group ride at Rays, anyway) in this thread:

Uni Ride at Rays

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rolling Trials, the quick description is the following:

The rules are nearly identical to the rules developed by Kris Holm for unicycle trials, but with one important additional rule – you can’t hop. You can however “get air” naturally from drop-offs, jumps, or other terrain along the course (known as a “section”) that causes the wheel to leave the ground without the riders help.

This single additional rule (no hopping) makes a RT competition a completely different form of competition than a standard unicycle trials competition. Thus for an RT competition, the person who completes (“cleans”) the most Sections (rides from the start line to the finish line of the Section without dabbing or hopping) wins. Rolling Trials tests the rider's ability to roll over a variety of challenging terrain, including obstacles such as: ramps, bridges, skinnies, swing bridges, rock gardens, log piles, teeter-totters, and much more. Because hopping skills are not required, the sport of Rolling Trials has the potential to appeal to a large number of unicyclists that have not yet learned how to hop and/or are not as interested in hopping, as well being of interest to trials riders because it helps develop the non-hopping skills needed for standard unicycle trials.

For more information on the development of the sport, rules, last year’s event, etc., please refer to the following threads:

New Uni Event...

Rolling Trials

Rolling Trials Sections @ Rays...

TWNR US Release: Updated Info


Here are some comments from last years event:

“All in all, this was a great competition. I definately believe that rolling trials has the potential to be a new form of unicycling. It is certainly challenging enough. Also, the terrain at Ray's forced the riders to do things and make lines they thought they couldn't do, which was the best part in my opinion. I will attend the next annual competition.”

- digitalattrition

“Andrew - Fun competition and a great concept. It requires a different type of riding and approach which I found enjoyable. I hope more events will have rolling trials and the concept will grow.”

- billham

“The rolling trials went really good. I really liked it.”

- Tim

“I totally enjoyed the rolling trials. I finally found a situation where I liked riding a 26" and didn't wish I had a different wheel. I found the 26" gave me the speed and momentum that you need on a lot of these lines, but still I had a lot of the control you would have with a 24".”

- nbrazzi

You can read more comments from last year’s competitors here:

Rolling Trials Competition Results

This year’s event doesn’t conflict with a major trials competition (as last years did) and promises do be a much bigger and better event, with over 50 riders planning to attend, including some of the greats!

Hope to see you there...

[HardcoreCokerRider]

Ray (the owner of Rays MTB) is helping to arrange local new coverage for this year's competition and I will be contacting the producers of a cutting-edge extreme sports show that is aired in million of homes in the next few days to see if they would be interested in covering the event as well (I think they will be).

Brian MacKenzie will be at the event to shoot some footage for his upcoming film which promises to be even better than his first (and hopefully to compete as well)!

The prizes will be much better this year, too, as I have already obtained a commitment from the first corporate sponsor for the event and will be adding additional sponsors in next couple of weeks.

I am extremely happy and proud to announce that Coker is our first sponsor of the event. The first place winners of the two classes of competition that are definitely scheduled so far, the 36” class and the 24”/26” class (other classes may be added, such as 28”/29” and/or “unlimited” if there is sufficient interest) will receive a $100 discount on the purchase of the new and improved Coker, once they become available. Your $100 Gift Certificate will enable you to be amongst the first few people in the world to own the new and improved Coker! I will be receiving additional information about the specs and features of the new and improved machine from Coker pretty soon and will be posting that information to this thread as soon as I receive it, so check back if you’re interested!

If any owners or executives of unicycling-related companies are reading this post and would like to co-sponsor the event (and possibly get national exposure on TV), please contact me by email or through the messaging system on this site.

I will keep updating this thread with information about additional sponsors, prizes, and media coverage as I make further progress.

It should be a really great event!!!

Please reply to this thread if you plan on attending! Thanks.

I look forward to seeing you in Cleveland this April!!!

[hell-on-wheel]

Of course I'll be there to defend my title. Thanks for putting so much time and effort into this.

[vivalargo]

That looks like a total blast. Wish I was there. That log pile type stuff ain't easy, and when it goes for a ways you're looking at one of the hardest things you can do on a unicycle.

JL

[HardcoreCokerRider]

Originally Posted by hell-on-wheel

Of course I'll be there to defend my title. Thanks for putting so much time and effort into this.

Thanks, Frank… it’s worth it to hold this contest just to see you ride! You really blew me away with your RT skills last year and I really look forward to watching you conquer the new Sections this year! I’ll be sure to plan some real nice ones for you !

Originally Posted by vivalargo

That looks like a total blast. Wish I was there. That log pile type stuff ain't easy, and when it goes for a ways you're looking at one of the hardest things you can do on a unicycle.

I agree, totally… the place is just filled with all sorts of the most challenging terrain you can ride – it’s absolutely incredible!!!

The good part is, there is also a decent amount of beginner stuff, so riders of all skill levels can compete and develop their skills while having fun!

[HardcoreCokerRider]

OK… I spoke to Ray Home, the owner of Rays so here’s some more information on this year’s event:

Date:......Saturday night, April 8, 2006
Location: Rays MTB – Cleveland, OH (see web site for more info: http://www.RaysMTB.com)
Time:..... 9pm – 2am (exact hours to be confirmed, but it will be at night around these hours)
..............(Like last year, we will have an exclusive rental, but we may have to share the place with bikers for the first hour.)
Classes:. 24”/26” class
..............36” class
...................(If there is enough interest, we could add a 28”/29” class)
...................(We could also have an “unlimited” class where you can use whatever size uni you like, similar to golfers using different clubs).
Price:.... $20.00/per person
...................(entitles you to compete in one or more classes - no extra charge to compete in multiple classes)
...................(like last year, there may be a $5 discount for the first 10 riders that register; I’ll update this thread to let you know).

If you want to ride during the day there is, of course, an additional fee of $18 (for the whole day of riding) or you can buy a weekend (or three day) pass and get a discount.

Ray may have a deal with Fox Sports real soon… so it is possible that they may cover this event. Check back for more info…

Also Ray is going to inform the local media of the event and I’d like to give him an idea of how many competitors there will be, so please respond to this thread if you plan on attending and also indicate the class you will be competing in (24”/26” and/or 36”) and whether you would like to also compete in a 28”/29” class or “unlimited” class.

The new course looks awesome, so get psyched to have an amazing time!!!

[HardcoreCokerRider]

OK, so I posted this thread almost a week ago thinking there would be a substantial amount of interest in this event (based on input from some of last year’s competitors as well as others who had responded to Tigger’s thread: Uni Ride at Rays), but apparently (so far, anyway)... I seem to be mistaken.

I don’t know if the reason for this seeming lack of interest is due to:

1. Those people who are interested in the event simply missed this thread since it didn’t stay on the first page for very long,
2. I waited to long to start actively promoting the event and thus didn’t give you guys enough advance notice that the event was definitely going to take place (and so now it is too late), or
3. Those people who had expressed an interest are no longer interested for whatever reason

Although I am quite eager to promote the sport of Rolling Trials and would very much like to organize this year’s competition at Rays, it doesn’t make any sense for me to do so if there isn’t sufficient interest.

Being that I have arranged for sponsors, prizes, and possible media coverage… I really need to know ASAP if it looks like there is enough interest to warrant holding this year’s competition.

If you want this event to happen, say so and help keep this thread on the first page so that it will be easily seen by others who are interested (who will also respond to this thread and indicate their interest).

If this thread dies quickly due to lack of interest, I may try to bump it once or twice if it seems like nobody really had a chance to see it, but that would be about as much as I can do and then if there is still minimal interest… I’ll have no choice but to cancel the event.

[hell-on-wheel]

Based on the interest people seemed to have at Motorama, I know this competition is worth holding. People are probably just too shy or something to post, or else they're only 90% sure they can make it up, so they don't want to commit to it.

[Brian MacKenzie]

You think Frank Brown is keeping his title???

I'm in

[Brian MacKenzie]

One thing that would speed up the laying of the course, is to instead of lining the lines with marking tape like we did last year, we could make it like ski slaloms, a (these colours may be wrong) red tape if you need to go on the right of the tape, blue if you need to go on the left of the tape. Most lines are already predetermined by Ray, of course, but this would be a good idea for places we need to mark off.

[njmuni]

I am planning on attending. I just need to secure a car ride.

My plans would probably be to travel to Ohio after work on Thursday night, play around at Ray's on Friday and Saturday, and drive home Sunday.


Jeff Prosa
New Jersey Unicyclist

[digitalattrition]

HOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY CRAP

This is insane, such a big deal this year. I'm definately digging it. I'm gonna try real hard to make it.

I'd say count me in.

[HardcoreCokerRider]

Maybe there is a glimmer of hope...

Seems like there is quite a high population of Muni riders on the forum... and Rays is like a Muni rider's paradise - so where are you guys???

(Please respond even if you are interested in attending but aren't 100% sure.)

Originally Posted by digitalattrition

HOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY CRAP

This is insane, such a big deal this year.

Yeah, but holding the event is contingent upon having a decent turn-out... so I hope a buzz develops on the forum about this event and a whole bunch of people decide to attend.

I don't even think it's possible to have a bad time at Rays, regardless of your skill level!

[Brian MacKenzie]

I will be bringing 3 guys with me

[forrestunifreak]

I'm absulutely interested, that sounds awsome, I would love to come, but I can't.