Workshops
Please check the events notice board each day for new additions or last minute changes to workshops and non-competition rides. For workshops that have a limited group size, you can sign up on a first-come-first-served basis on the events notice board. Some workshops have additional costs such as ferry or bus tickets.
If you would like to conduct a workshop, let us know at unicon15@gmail.com or at the Information Office when UNICON starts.
*NEW
Face Painting Workshop*
A motivational introductory course to all aspects of materials and techniques for face painting, you will be entertained, inspired and energised and learn everything from fast simple designs 14 – 30 seconds, to detailed art work.
By Chantal Fairy, 1 Jan, 12:00 – 13:00, outside VIP room, TSB Arena
Improvised Pairs Freestyle*
You get a random partner, random music and one minute to improvise a fantastic pair freestyle. Don’t be shy. The winner will get a secret present!! Bring a funny prop if you’ve got one.
By Danish Freestyle Team, 5 Jan, 11:00 – 12:00 at Gym, TSB Arena
Unicycle Sumo*
Sumo sparring the unicyclists’ way!
By Martin Turner, 6 Jan 18:00-19:00, outside Mac’s Brewery Bar
Judging and Refereeing Workshops
There are also several compulsory workshops for unicyclists interested in judging the Freestyle, Standard Skill, Street, and Flatland events. There will also be refereeing workshops for the Hockey and Basketball.
Learn how to Unicycle Public Workshops
We want to spread our love for unicycling by teaching the public how to unicycle. Grab your wheel and help us out!
Racing for New Competitors
The workshop will cover starting, curves for the obstacle course, one-foot, general information and rules. Limit: 20 riders.
Racing for Advanced Riders
The workshop will cover starting, racing line for obstacle, wheel walk and one-foot racing as well as individual questions. Limit: 20 riders.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean traditional martial arts and sport that enable people to do physical and mental training regardless of age and gender. The workshop will go through stretching, taekwondo basic operations, some kicks, strikes, blocking and simple Poomsae.
Advanced and Spontaneous Freestyle
This will be a workshop on advanced freestyle skills, from transitions to mounts, as well as how to put together an effective routine on the spot.
UNICON 14 Wristband Photo Session
This is for everyone who still has a UNICON 14 wristband. We will get a group photo, and for those who wish, a removal ceremony. Bring a camera.
Karaoke
Come sing along and have fun as we celebrate the start of UNICON XV with new and old friends.
Ride to Weta Cave
The easy ride along Wellington’s coastline will bring you to the heart of New Zealand’s movie making industry. Weta Cave is the mini-museum of Oscar winning studio that produces blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong and Avatar. Along the way, pass by the ship that brought King Kong to New York. Distance is about 10km each way. Non-riders can take a bus.
Makara Peak Day Trip
Come explore Makara Peak, a great place to mountain unicycle. Makara Peak is a mountain bike park purpose built by local mountain bikers over the last 15 years. It has over 35km of singletrack, ranging from beginners to ultra technical downhills.
Adventure Unicyclists Dinner
This is a dinner/reunion for everyone who has attended an Adventure Unicyclist Unitour. Also for people interested in the upcoming Mongolia Unitour in 2010. Come and share your stories, experiences and photos.
Disc Golf
Disc Golf is an awesome sport where you throw a flying disc (frisbee) at a target (usually a metal basket). The course near Wellington is described like this: Absolutely gorgeous park with very picturesque tee-offs. You need a car or carpool to get there.
Marathon Course Practice and Scenic Ride of Harbour
We will ride leisurely from the city to the Miramar peninsula where the marathon course is. We will then do one leisurely practice lap of the course so that people can become familiar with it before riding back to the city, after a stop at a cafe. Total riding distance is about 35km.
Uni Hurdle Race
Hurdle race from 60 m to 100m. You should be able to jump higher than 30 cm. Bring your kneepads.
Beersketball (Beer Pong) Champs and Workshop
This is a fun drinking game/workshop played in teams of two. The objective of the game is to bounce or throw a ping pong ball into cups of beer filled with a little beer belonging to your opponent team. Only for 18 years and above.
Trials for Beginners
Learn how to handle obstacles on your unicycle, different hops and techniques.
“Tuina” Chinese Medical Massage
Learn basic techniques of Tuina including handtools, body areas and application of techniques to acupressure points. Useful for those who want to learn how massage can be given without feeling tired afterwards. Limit: 6 per session. This workshop is conducted 6 times.
Ride to Pencarrow Lighthouse
We’ll be catching the Ferry to Eastbourne and riding mainly on an unsealed dirt road to Pencarrow Lighthouse. It’s a two-hour ride with a picnic by the sea before taking the ferry back to Wellington.
The Art of Street Performing
Want to learn how to make some extra money by street performing? Learn all the tips and tricks of the art of working on the streets from a professional street performer: building a crowd, keeping a crowd, tricks to do and most importantly, the hat line.
Make Pop-Up Unicycle Cards
Learn how to make up pop-up cards with a unicycle using old magazines! Suitable for all ages.
Museum to Museum Kids Ride
Dress up your children’s wheels (whether it’s unicycle, bicycle, tricycle or buggy) with lots of colours before we all go on a mass ride along the waterfront, hopping from one museum to another.
Muni Course Practice Ride
Mt Victoria is home to some good single track, very close to the city. It’s also where the Muni events will be held. We’ll ride the cross country, uphill and downhill courses as well as plenty of other tracks.
Gliding Workshop
Learn how to glide from an expert. Must be able to one-foot wheel walk.
Open Stage Night
Hosted by the inimitable Vinyl Burns, this is a night where you, the participants of UNICON XV are the stars of the show. All and every kind of act is invited to perform on stage, in the style of Renegade Shows at juggling festivals, in front of a friendly audience. Any kind of skill, unicycling or otherwise, is permitted and encouraged.
Mongolian Overtone Singing
Throat singing (overtone singing) is the art of making 2 musical notes at the same time with your mouth. The singer manipulates the resonances created as the airflow travels through the lungs. A drone is produced by the throat while a higher tone (the harmonic) can be heard by resonances.
Wheel Walk Workshop
Learn how to wheel walk for beginners.
Mounts for All Levels
This is a mount workshop with loads of different mounts for beginner to advanced riders.
Wainuiomata Trail Project Night Ride
Night ride through the singletrack of Towai Park in Wainuiomata, fantastic hand built trails for all levels. The WTP team are local MTB riders and trail diggers. They have kindly sponsored the cost of shuttle van for 11 riders. Additional riders have to arrange their own transport or carpool.
Wheelbuilding
Learn how to build your own wheel!
Pirouette Workshop
Learn from the Japanese freestyle experts how to twirl around on a unicycle with grace.
Hutchinson One Wheelers Trials Levels
Andy Cotter and Irene Genelin have put together Trials Levels 1-10 and are using them with their club, Hutchinson One Wheelers. Come and learn about the different levels, what you would need to complete them, then take the ideas home to try yourself.
Accelerated Coasting
This is a workshop for advanced coasters on how to pick up speed while coasting as well as continuous coasting.
Unicon 16 Presentation
It’s confirmed: Unicon 16 will be held in the historical town of Bressanone in northern Italy. Find out more from the organisers and start saving for your next Unicon trip.
Unitouring
We will cover training, equipment, planning and anything else the participants would like to discuss. This workshop offers a chance to ask questions of experienced Unitourists. Corbin Dunn has volunteered to show his Africa Tour video from summer 2009.
Juggling Workshop
Want to learn how to juggle? Or advance your current skills? Ball juggling for all levels.
Speed Trials Contest
Compete to complete a trials course in the least amount of time.
Night Rider
We’ll explore the city by night, including some sights, nice views, good places to do freestyle/trial/street at and might stop by one or two pubs for a hot chocolate.
Hawkins Hill Hell Climb
For those who want a challenge! Ride up one of the steepest, gruntiest climbs in Wellington. This goes from sea level to the top of Hawkins Hill (495m) in about 10-11km. There are spectacular views of the Wellington Coastline at the top and often seals playing out on the coast. Recommended wheelsize 29′er or 36” with long cranks.
Best Trick Contest
We’ll have a contest to give credit to riders who come up with new, creative tricks on their unicycle and give them an opportunity to show their new ideas. There will be a jury that judges the tricks shown according to criteria such as Creativity, Level of Difficulty, Execution.
Easy Poser Tricks
Learn easy skills that look really good to the general public. All skill levels are welcome.
Unicycle Wharf Jumping
Jump off the Wharf on the Wellington Waterfront with your unicycle. Only for those who can swim and don’t mind getting wet.
Brainstorming Ideas for Unicon 16
Bring lots of ideas and dreams to the oranisers of Unicon 16.