About 15 people participated in a test ride of a potential muni course in Appin on 17 January. The course provided for a variety of riding, incorporating creek beds, fire trails, single track, tree roots and drops. While there may be another site test closer to Wollongong, Appin looks quite suited to the diversity of skill levels that Uninats attracts. Thanks to all who came along and offered their input.
At the last Uninats, there was a pennyfarthing and a bike with two offset wheels and some pogo sticks (pogo sticks aren’t wheeled but they are jolly good fun) getting around on the first day. Great fun. Please bring your fun contraptions along. For example: ultimate wheel, impossible wheel, kangaroo unicycle, giraffe, wheel on top of wheel unicycle etc.
Keith McKay, that octarian unicyclist from Wollongong, (who built a unicycle and learnt to ride that same unicycle at the age of 65 and still rides most days and has since built a couple of geared unicycles), is in the process of building an off centre impossible wheel that he plans on bringing along.
For those who are into hopping, grinding and sliding in our hard surfaced, concreted, giant purpose-built city jungle gym, then check out the following map for street and trials areas around Wollongong city:
Howl at the moon! Its full and the time for stuff is ripe. What stuff I hear you ask? Drumming, Fire Twirling and Dancing. Whatever you dig. Bring a friend or five, pack a bunch of smiles and do your thing. A mix of amateurs, professionals and you. Family friendly, everyone friendly. Participate as much or as little as you like. Bring a drum, bring your dancing feet, bring something to play with or laze back and soak up the happy vibe. See the map for the location:
Join the facebook group: full moon drumming
Here’s the plan, take the golden an, in the tan van, give it to Dan, who will take it to Fran, ya understan...
Interpretation: A social ride is planned for Friday. We’ll meet at the Keiraview Accomodation (where you will be staying) at 4.30pm for a 4.45pm ride. The ride will take us past Smith’s Hill High School (where hockey, freestyle, workshops and trials will be held and is only a minutes ride away), past the grassy patch at North Beach where folk will be meeting up for Full Moon Drumming, Dancing and Fire Twirling at 7pm that night (see above article for details).
You will dine on Wollongong’s coastline, harbour and Flagstaff Hill before retiring to the Five Islands Brewery (a micro brewery) for dinner and drinks.
Upon completion, make your way back to that grassy patch at North Beach for Full Moon Drumming and Fire Twirling.
You might want to bring a torch...
Here is a map of the course, outlining various features along the way:
There are a couple of scenic entries to Wollongong depending on which direction you will be arriving from. If you are coming from the south along the Hume, take the 1st exit to Wollongong. This will take you along the Illawarra Highway, through the Southern Highlands and down Macquarie Pass through the Macquarie Pass National Park. Very scenic.
Coming from the north along the Princes Highway, take the Stanwell Park exit to follow Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Quite a nice drive in itself as you meander through Wollongong’s northern suburbs nestled between escarpment and ocean. Take note of the Sea Cliff Bridge at Coalcliff.
Both routes will add about 15 minutes onto your journey.
Beaton Park Leisure centre (where the track and field competitions are to be held) has many facilities available to the modern unicyclist. Spa for relaxing before, during and after races; unicyclemills (treadmills) for warming up and down and around and; a giant inflatable island in the middle of the pool from 12pm to 3pm on the same day as the track and field. The canteen will also be open from 9am onwards.
Uninats 2009 is now on facebook!
We have a Uninats 09 Event for your calendar and a Uninats 2009 Facebook group you can join.
Remember we also have an Australian Unicycle Society Group and an Australian Unicycle Society Page as well!
(If anyone can explain the difference between all these things, please let us know, but I do know that if you subscribe to our Facebook page, you will get updates every time something new goes on our website!)
Registrations for Unicon XV in Wellington, NZ are open, as of 1 March 2009. Registration costs will increase over the year, so register early!
Competitor
01-JAN-2008 to 01-APR-2009 Fee: NZ$ 200
01-APR-2009 to 01-SEP-2009 Fee: NZ$ 250
01-SEP-2009 to 01-DEC-2009 Fee: NZ$ 350
01-DEC-2009 to 08-JAN-2010 Fee: NZ$ 500
Non-competitor
01-JAN-2008 to 01-APR-2009 Fee: NZ$ 75
01-APR-2009 to 01-SEP-2009 Fee: NZ$ 100
01-SEP-2009 to 01-DEC-2009 Fee: NZ$ 125
01-DEC-2009 to 08-JAN-2010 Fee: NZ$ 150
At current exchange rate:
NZ$1= US 49c = AU 77c = UK 35p = Euro 39c
Register Here
Hope to see you in Wellington this year!
Join us for the traditional Uninats party - open to all - at Smith’s Hill High School on Saturday night.
Theme: The theme is red and black, so get creative!
Catering: You can bring your own food or pre-order pizza (fixed menu) at the registration desk on Saturday. Pizza will be served during the video comp at the party.
