It takes poles, a helping hand and skill to ride this unusual two-person unicycle. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
UNICON 21, THE INTERNATIONAL UNICYCLING competition and convention held recently in Bemidji, is history. But the memories wheel on for attendees and competitors. That I attended as an observer, if only for a day, proved an incredible experience. I had no idea so many types of unicycles existed or the level of talent among unicyclists.
The museum featured assorted unicycles (many available to check out and ride), plus unicycling merch. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Among the most unusual unicycle wheels. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
As if riding on one wheel isn’t difficult enough… (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
I shot hundreds of photos and have shared many with you. It is my hope that, via my photography, you, too, have learned more about the international unicycling world. Today I bring you an assortment of images, most from the pop-up Unicycle Museum inside the Sanford Center and the unicycling happening outside. Others are simply pix I took throughout the day.
Trying out unicycling outside the Sanford Center. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
An experienced unicyclist rides with confidence and speed. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
A fat tire unicycle and one with two basketballs below the wheel intrigued me. The woman to the left attempted to unicycle, supported by bars on two sides and helping hands. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Enjoy this collection, which I hope grows your appreciation for the ordinary people who choose to ride unicycles. Some ride simply for leisure while others excel as athletes and entertainers. No matter their skill level, anyone who can ride a unicycle impresses me.
One of the more unusual unicycles, with four wheels. How do you even ride that? (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
This unicyclist, from Bemidji, received a medal for the closest attendee at Unicon 21. A unicyclist from Australia traveled the greatest distance. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
An entire group of attendees painted their arms. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
I saw how focused they were, how much fun they were having, how connected they seemed as a unicycling community. And perhaps that is the biggest take-away—this coming together of people from around the world to share their passion for unicycling. No politics. No conflict. No differences. Just people on unicycles enjoying Unicon 21 in northern Minnesota.
Unicon 21 participants got Paul Bunyan-themed swag bags promoting Bemidji. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
A fitting bumper sticker displayed in the Unicycle Museum. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Among the items shown in the museum. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Competitive events included marathons. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
A collection of tees from past Unicon gatherings was displayed in the museum. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
If you couldn’t attend in person, live streaming was an option. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
It took a lot of dedicated volunteers to make Unicon 21 happen in Bemidji. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Members of The Wonders Unicycle Club, in themed t-shirts, compete in the freestyle group competition at Unicon 21.(Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
WHILE THE SUMMER 2024 OLYMPICS are now well underway, I’m still focused on another Olympics of sorts held in northern Minnesota. Unicon 21, a convention and competition for unicyclists from around the world, recently wrapped up in Bemidji. I spent one day watching competitive events with my husband and our son, who flew in from Boston to attend. Caleb unicycles as a leisure sport, not competitively.
From Germany, The Black Pearl Group circles during their routine. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
I’ve already recapped Unicon 21 and showcased competitive basketball, relay races and freestyle group performances. But I have more to show you. Today I take you back to the freestyle group competition at Bemidji State University. This was, by far, my favorite organized unicycle competition. This seemed more performance art than sport, although it certainly is an athletic contest. As a creative, I lean into art more than sports.
Another team from Germany, the TSV Dudenhof Group, performs. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
A pause in the performance, and even that takes skill to balance in place. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Now this takes skill, guts and daring. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
I didn’t see every performance. My schedule didn’t allow me to stay until the 10 pm end time. But I watched seven groups perform—two from Japan (previously featured here), one from the U.S. and the others from Germany.
The Dragon Age Group from Germany performs. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
The skill, talent, precision and more required to perform choreographed routines is impressive.
A helping hand at the start of The Wonders Unicycle Club performance. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Themed t-shirts worn by The Wonders unicyclists. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
Success for the littlest Wonder. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
“THIS IS HOW WE ROLL,” printed onto tees worn by four unicyclists from The Wonders Unicycle Club, succinctly summarizes unicycling. This U.S. team won the hearts of the crowd not so much via a high level of performance skills, but rather with a cuteness factor. To watch a young girl wheel her way around the gym floor with two adults (presumably her parents) while helpful little brother assisted and then waited court-side, left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
The Dragon Age Group circles during their routine. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
But everything about the freestyle group show left me feeling just plain happy. These were athletes, performers, entertainers who wowed the crowd, who absolutely deserved to be on a world stage showing off their athletic and performance skills.
Another German team, The SV Boostedt SG Group performs. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
There’s probably a technical name for this, but I call it “the wheelbarrow.” (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
I can’t tell you who won the freestyle competition because I don’t know and, frankly, I don’t care all that much. These young people are all winners in my book. They chose a sport that few have mastered, that sets them apart, that requires patience, persistence, practice and a genuine devotion to the act of unicycling.
It’s all about the wheel, one wheel. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
There’s something to be said for someone who steps outside the norm (riding on one wheel rather than two) and embraces something that would challenge most of us. I recall my son relentlessly attempting to get on his first unicycle as a grade schooler, He would place one hand on a work bench in the garage and then try to get onto the unicycle seat. Eventually he could stay on the seat, then pedal forward out of the garage. Soon he was circling the driveway and riding along city bike trails with ease and speed that, admittedly, scared me. Yes, he fell off, breaking a finger once when his outstretched hand hit the side of the van parked in the driveway. And, yes, even the international performers fell occasionally.
A seemingly impossible feat with two team members of The Dragon Age Group balancing on one unicycle. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2024)
But none of these competitors fell short of creating a fun evening for those of us watching from the bleachers at Bemidji State. They entertained and wowed us, one wheel at a time.
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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