Mount Diablo Challenge Unicycle Results (1998–2025)

General
1

I have compiled a set of unicycle results from the Mount Diablo Challenge. Below is a table containing 74 results from 30 individual riders, spanning 25 races from 1998 to 2025. The entries are sorted by chip time.

The set is almost complete, however:

  • Results for 2010 and 2011 are missing.
  • Three or four unicyclists raced the Challenge in 2000. I found the first three times but not their names (except for the winner). Two riders probably traveled from Minnesota, and another was Scot Cooper (@scot). There is also a photo of David Politzer finishing the race, probably in 2000 as well.
  • Who is the 9th unicyclist in 2002?
  • Official results for 2013 and 2014 are still available online, but I was unable to identify any unicycle riders in those years.

If you have knowledge about these races, please share it below so I can update the table accordingly. Details about 2000, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 would be especially useful, as well as any other information about pre‑2016 unicycle participation. @Nathan mentioned that Gary Kanuch rode a unicycle in at least one of the years, but I am not sure which years these were.

Name Time Year Place MPH Unicycle Cranks
1 Harrison Hsueh 1:05:11.2 2021 155 10.31 700c geared 150
2 Ben Soja 1:06:59.8 2019 1 10.03 29" geared 137
3 Harrison Hsueh 1:09:06.6 2019 2 9.72 29" 125
4 Glenn Drummond 1:13:08 2003 318 9.19 36" 165
5 Harrison Hsueh 1:13:56.4 2018 1 9.09 29" 125
6 Harrison Hsueh 1:14:02.9 2015 1 9.08 29" 125
7 Geoff Houghton 1:14:14.7 2012 383 9.05 36" geared 165
8 Beau Hoover 1:14:51 2009 459 8.98 36" 125
9 Harrison Hsueh 1:16:02 2016 1 8.84 29" 125
10 Gary Kanuch 1:17:41 2002 339 8.65
11 Geoff Houghton 1:18:31 2009 519 8.56 36" geared 165
12 Scot Cooper 1:19:47.0 2005 502 8.42 36" 152
13 Glenn Drummond 1:19:59 2002 368 8.4 36" 165
14 Gary Kanuch 1:20:39 2003 440 8.33 36" 210
15 Tom Holub 1:20:52.5 2008 576 8.31
16 Gary Kanuch 1:21:40 2000 393 8.23 28"
17 Tom Holub 1:21:59 2009 571 8.2 29" 125
18 Steve Nash 1:22:03.2 2008 587 8.19
19 Scot Cooper 1:22:29 2001 319 8.15
20 Beau Hoover 1:22:30.7 2006 645 8.14 36"
21 Nathan Hoover 1:24:32 2001 346 7.95
22 Gary Kanuch 1:25:00 1998 7.91 28"
23 Gary Kanuch 1:25:15 1999 423 7.88 28"
24 Harrison Hsueh 1:25:20 2017 262 7.87 29" 150
25 Nathan Hoover 1:26:02 2003 527 7.81 36" 152
26 Unicyclist 1:27:16 2000 443 7.7
27 Bronson Silva 1:28:10 2002 474 7.62 36"
28 Beau Hoover 1:28:42.0 2005 619 7.58 36" 152
29 Joshua Ehrlich 1:29:01.1 2019 3 7.55 26" geared 137
30 Nathan Hoover 1:29:11 2009 647 7.54 36" 152
31 Unicyclist 1:29:13 2000 464 7.53
32 Nathan Hoover 1:29:24.0 2005 625 7.52 36" 152
33 Steve Nash 1:29:54.4 2007 769 7.47
34 Nathan Hoover 1:29:58.1 2006 724 7.47 36"
35 Nathan Hoover 1:32:49 2004 574 7.24 36"
36 Jim Sowers 1:33:08.0 2012 537 7.22 29"
37 Joshua Ehrlich 1:33:23.3 2021 449 7.2 26" geared 165
38 Nathan Hoover 1:33:42 2002 538 7.17 36" 165
39 Tom Holub 1:34:46 2002 549 7.09 29" 150
40 Jayden Hirsch 1:35:20.7 2025 620 7.05 28" 125
41 Gary Kanuch 1:35:44.3 2007 821 7.02
42 Jim Sowers 1:35:48 2009 695 7.01 29" 125
43 Glenn Drummond 1:36:09 2001 440 6.99
44 Joshua Ehrlich 1:36:33.3 2018 2 6.96 26" geared 137
45 Steve Nash 1:37:01.2 2006 795 6.93 36"
46 Kostya Antonov 1:39:13.4 2025 655 6.77 700c (28") 102
47 Scot Cooper 1:39:57 1999 556 6.72
48 Rob Bowman 1:40:23.1 2006 813 6.69
49 Bronson Silva 1:41:20 2001 464 6.63
50 Kevin Chang 1:41:35.1 2006 820 6.62 28"
51 Jim Sowers 1:43:54.9 2019 4 6.47 29" 125
52 John Hooten 1:45:13 2003 709 6.39 36" 170
53 Jim Sowers 1:45:37.0 2008 805 6.36
54 Irene Genelin 1:47:20.9 2006 848 6.26 36"
55 Scot Cooper 1:47:48 2009 757 6.23 36" 152
56 Stefan Carpentier 1:50:35.4 2018 3 6.08 29" 137
57 Scot Cooper 1:51:00 2002 667 6.05 Giraffe
58 Jim Sowers 1:52:08.0 2018 4 5.99 24" 125
59 Kostya Antonov 1:54:31.2 2024 685 5.87 700c (28") 102
60 Mike Scalisi 1:56:47.0 2005 808 5.75 36" 152
61 Jason Little 2:00:21.4 2018 5 5.58 29" 125
62 Jesus Lopez 2:01:05.9 2023 773 5.55 36" 170
63 Andriko Zavadell 2:01:19 1999 683 5.54
64 Bruce Bundy 2:07:22 2002 721 5.28
65 Tom Holub 2:07:49 2003 814 5.26 29" 125
66 Jesus Lopez 2:09:45.8 2022 677 5.18 36" 125
67 Keelan Evans 2:10:02 2003 821 5.17 24"
68 Jayden Hirsch 2:11:08.1 2021 594 5.12 24" 125
69 Keelan Evans 2:23:44 2002 750 4.68 24"
70 Jayden Hirsch 2:27:24.8 2018 6 4.56 29" 137
71 Maximillion Duran 2:27:52.0 2018 7 4.54
72 Ryan Leard 2:35:02.4 2018 8 4.33
73 Anthony Ladd 2:38:54.0 2021 615 4.23 36" 150 or 165
74 Marcus Hertlein 3:07:17 2003 850 3.59 26"
1 Like
2

Wow that’s a cool list, spanning 27 years! I don’t think I have more data to add to it. I didn’t do the race in 2000, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

3

This dataset cannot answer a simple question: what is the optimal wheel size / crank length combo for this race? The critical factor is the rider’s fitness.

Just for fun, here are some basic stats:

Unicyclists at Mount Diablo Challenge each Year
Unicyclists at Mount Diablo Challenge each Year987×590 10.9 KB

Fastest Rides

1:05:11.2 (10.31 mph) Harrison Hsueh in 2021
1:06:59.8 (10.03 mph) Ben Soja in 2019
1:09:06.6 (9.72 mph) Harrison Hsueh in 2019

Fastest Female Rides

1:47:20.9 (6.26 mph) Irene Genelin in 2006

Slowest Rides

3:07:17 (3.59 mph) Marcus Hertlein in 2003
2:38:54.0 (4.23 mph) Anthony Ladd in 2021
2:35:02.4 (4.33 mph) Ryan Leard in 2018

Slowest Time to Win

2:09:45.8 Jesus Lopez in 2022
2:01:05.9 Jesus Lopez in 2023
1:54:31.2 Kostya Antonov in 2024

Youngest Riders

10 Jayden Hirsch in 2018[1]
13 Beau Hoover in 2005[2]
16 Kostya Antonov in 2024

Oldest Riders

57 Jim Sowers in 2019[3]
55 Maximillion Duran in 2018
53 Stefan Carpentier in 2018

Average Time, Speed and Age

1:39:22 (7.1 mph) and 35 years for unicycle riders
1:20:33 (8.3 mph) and 43 years for all riders (bicycle, unicycle, tamdem, etc.)
Median Time
1:33:33 (7.2 mph) and 38 years
1:15:42 (8.9 mph) and 43 years for all riders (bicycle, unicycle, tamdem, etc.)
Unicyclists are slow, but young :slight_smile:

Known Unicycle Wheel Size

24" 4 attempts
26" 1 attempt
28”[4] 21 attempts
36" 22 attempts
26" geared 3 attempts
28”[5] geared 2 attempts
36" geared 2 attempts

Known Crank Length Extremes

102mm (28”) by Kostya Antonov in 2024 and 2025 (he successfully climbed “the Wall” in saddle both times)
210mm (36”) by Gary Kanuch in 2003

Multiple Rides / Wins

Rider Rides Wins
Nathan Hoover 7 1
Gary Kanuch 6 4
Harrison Hsueh 6 5
Scot Cooper 5 2
Jim Sowers 5 0
Tom Holub 4 1
Glenn Drummond 3 1
Beau Hoover 3 2
Steve Nash 3 1
Jayden Hirsch 3 1
Joshua Ehrlich 3 0
Bronson Silva 2 0
Keelan Evans 2 0
Geoff Houghton 2 1
Jesus Lopez 2 2
Kostya Antonov 2 1
Ben Soja 1 1

Jesus Lopez and Ben Soja won all of their starts.

Winners each Year

Year Name Age Time MPH Place Unicycle Cranks
1 1998 Gary Kanuch 31 1:25:00 7.91 28"
2 1999 Gary Kanuch 32 1:25:15 7.88 423 28"
3 2000 Gary Kanuch 33 1:21:40 8.23 393 28"
4 2001 Scot Cooper 40 1:22:29 8.15 319
5 2002 Gary Kanuch 35 1:17:41 8.65 339 36" 165
6 2003 Glenn Drummond 41 1:13:08 9.19 318 36" 165
7 2004 Nathan Hoover 45 1:32:49 7.24 574 36"
8 2005 Scot Cooper 44 1:19:47.0 8.42 502 36" 152
9 2006 Beau Hoover 14 1:22:30.7 8.14 645 36"
10 2007 Steve Nash 42 1:29:54.4 7.47 769
11 2008 Tom Holub 40 1:20:52.5 8.31 576
12 2009 Beau Hoover 17 1:14:51 8.98 459 36" 125
13 2012 Geoff Houghton 45 1:14:14.7 9.05 383 36" geared 165
14 2015 Harrison Hsueh 19 1:14:02.9 9.08 1 29" 125
15 2016 Harrison Hsueh 21 1:16:02 8.84 1 29" 125
16 2017 Harrison Hsueh 22 1:25:20 7.87 262 29" 150
17 2018 Harrison Hsueh 22 1:13:56.4 9.09 1 29" 125
18 2019 Ben Soja 31 1:06:59.8 10.03 1 29" geared 137
19 2021 Harrison Hsueh 25 1:05:11.2 10.31 155 700c geared 150
20 2022 Jesus Lopez 28 2:09:45.8 5.18 677 36" 125
21 2023 Jesus Lopez 29 2:01:05.9 5.55 773 36" 170
22 2024 Kostya Antonov 16 1:54:31.2 5.87 685 700c (28") 102
23 2025 Jayden Hirsch 17 1:35:20.7 7.05 620 28" 125

Personal Bests

Year Name Age Time MPH Place Unicycle Cranks
1 2021 Harrison Hsueh[6] 25 1:05:11.2 10.31 155 700c geared 150
2 2019 Ben Soja[7] 31 1:06:59.8 10.03 1 29" geared 137
3 2003 Glenn Drummond 41 1:13:08 9.19 318 36" 165
4 2012 Geoff Houghton[8] 45 1:14:14.7 9.05 383 36" geared 165
5 2009 Beau Hoover 17 1:14:51 8.98 459 36" 125
6 2002 Gary Kanuch 35 1:17:41 8.65 339 36" 210
7 2005 Scot Cooper[9] 44 1:19:47.0 8.42 502 36" 152
8 2008 Tom Holub[10] 40 1:20:52.5 8.31 576 29" 125
9 2008 Steve Nash 43 1:22:03.2 8.19 587 36"
10 2001 Nathan Hoover[11] 42 1:24:32 7.95 346 36" 152
11 2000 Unicyclist 2 1:27:16 7.7 443
12 2002 Bronson Silva 1:28:10 7.62 474 36"
13 2019 Joshua Ehrlich[12] 30 1:29:01.1 7.55 3 26" geared 137
14 2000 Unicyclist 3 1:29:13 7.53 464
15 2012 Jim Sowers[13] 50 1:33:08.0 7.22 537 29" 125
16 2025 Jayden Hirsch 17 1:35:20.7 7.05 620 28" 125
17 2025 Kostya Antonov 17 1:39:13.4 6.77 655 700c (28") 102
18 2006 Rob Bowman 43 1:40:23.1 6.69 813
19 2006 Kevin Chang 31 1:41:35.1 6.62 820 28"
20 2003 John Hooten 1:45:13 6.39 709 36" 170
21 2006 Irene Genelin 22 1:47:20.9 6.26 848 36"
22 2018 Stefan Carpentier 53 1:50:35.4 6.08 3 29" 137
23 2005 Mike Scalisi 32 1:56:47.0 5.75 808 36" 152
24 2018 Jason Little 41 2:00:21.4 5.58 5 29" 125
25 2023 Jesus Lopez[14] 29 2:01:05.9 5.55 773 36" 170
26 1999 Andriko Zavadell 2:01:19 5.54 683
27 2002 Bruce Bundy 2:07:22 5.28 721
28 2003 Keelan Evans 22 2:10:02 5.17 821 24"
29 2018 Maximillion Duran 55 2:27:52.0 4.54 7
30 2018 Ryan Leard 42 2:35:02.4 4.33 8
31 2021 Anthony Ladd 51 2:38:54.0 4.23 615 36" 150 or 165
32 2003 Marc Hertlein 3:07:17 3.59 850 26"

Race Records and Record Holders

Male

1998–2002 Gary Kanuch
2003–2018 Glenn Drummond
2019–2020 Ben Soja
2021–now Harrison Hsueh

Female

2006–now Irene Genelin (1:47:20.9)

Year Name Age Time Speed Unicycle Cranks
1 1998 Gary Kanuch 31 1:25:00 7.91 28"
2 2000 Gary Kanuch 33 1:21:40 8.23 28"
3 2002 Gary Kanuch 35 1:17:41 8.65 36" 165
4 2003 Glenn Drummond 41 1:13:08 9.19 36" 165
5 2019 Ben Soja 31 1:06:59.8 10.03 29" geared 137
6 2021 Harrison Hsueh 25 1:05:11.2 10.31 700c geared 150

  1. 13 in 2021 ↩︎

  2. 14 in 2006 ↩︎

  3. 56 in 2018 ↩︎

  4. including 29”, 700c, 622mm ↩︎

  5. including 29”, 700c, 622mm ↩︎

  6. @unicycleharry ↩︎

  7. @muni_ben ↩︎

  8. @naturequack ↩︎

  9. @scot ↩︎

  10. @tholub ↩︎

  11. @nathan ↩︎

  12. @JoshuaEhrlich ↩︎

  13. @spincycle ↩︎

  14. @Unijesuslopez ↩︎

2 Likes
4

Nathan, thanks so much for the reply — and for ending your four-year dormancy! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

You seem to hold the record for the most unicycle ascents at MDC!
If you happen to remember your and Beau’s unicycle setups from 2001, 2004, and 2006, I would love to include those details. Also, do you recall what happened in 2006? There is a post from Mike Scalisi suggesting that he and Chris LaBonte rode the Challenge that year, but their names do not appear in the official results. Did they finish the race?

Thanks again, in fact, I relied heavily on your old comments to identify the unicycle riders. The table would have been impossible to compile without them.

5

I had a Coker with 152mm cranks in 2001. In 2004, it would’ve been Hunter 36 w/150mm for me and Coker with 150mm for Beau. 2006, both of us rode Hunter 36 w/150mm. We didn’t have G36 until 2008. In 2006, I have photos of Steve Nash, Chris Labonte, Kevin Chang, Irene Genelin, Mike Scalisi crossing the line on top and know Beau and I did it that year too. From the times in the photos, Chris finished at 10:15, Steve at 10:18, Kevin at 10:22, Irene at 10:28, Mike at 10:35. Beau and I must’ve already finished to take the photos. You have that Rob Bowman did it that year, finishing between Stave and Kevin. Maybe I just didn’t take a photo of him.

I hardly ever kept records of people’s times - although here I have 2009: Mount Diablo Challenge 2009 - nhoover

It would be fun to do it again - maybe next year. I could get oldest old man now - would beat Jim’s record from 2019 by 10 years!! I haven’t been unicycling much lately - just a few rides a year. Did a fun scavenger hunt with Tom Holub last year, beating all but one team of bikes! The Ultimate Alleycat on Uni! | Strava