Jan 5th, 10. RoadCycling.co.nz has been following the Unicon XV Unicycling World Championships and is amazed at the mixture of speed and skill from these athletes across varied disciplines.

World record equaller Max Schulze shows some air in the high jump

The ease with which these athletes move on and off their cycles is incredible - not to mention what they can do while on them.

From 800m sprints to high jump, 10km races, basketball, downhill, mountain biking, street skills and artistic freestyle events, Wellington has been given a unique opportunity to watch the world's best perform.

Early last week Newtown Park played host to the track and field events and despite changeable weather a strong field enjoyed some fine competitions at world record levels.  

American Max Schulze equalled the world record for the unicycle high jump when he cleared 1m15cm.

After failing to clear the 1m22cm jump in the allocated three attempts he raised the bar to 1m25cm to play up to the crowd and successfully cleared it - although it can't be considered for the record books.

Seeing a unicyclist doing high jump is quite extraordinary but these athletes are quick to remind you they aren't performing circus clowns.  

In fact the unicyclists have a great range of t-shirts educating people about their sport. From, "I'm a unicyclist, but no, I'm not in the circus", to, "Give blood - ride a unicycle".

On the track the Japanese ruled, winning all the Gold medals and most of the minor podium positions.  Multiple world champion Seisuke Kobayashi was the star winning the 800m, 400m and 100m men's races.

Winning artistic unicyclist pairing ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The competition then moved to the TSB Arena where the artistic unicyclists had their opportunity to compete.  

Artistic Freestyle appears very similar to ice skating where incredible skill and dance manoeuvres are mixed together for winning points.

These unicyclists made the most phenomenal moves on their cycles while also presenting a great show to the audience.

It was disappointing when the sheer amazement wore off, it was so easy to watch the shows rather than focus on what great feats they were achieving.  

This was particularly so in the Artistic Pairs event where David Maillard and Gilles Saudan from Switzerland had the packed crowd enthralled.

The duo started their performance fully clothed but stripped off during the routine, all while performing extremely difficult technical moves on their unicycles, to show off upper bodies that any road cyclist would be mad jealous of.

Maillard and Saudan were the reigning champions having also won in Denmark in 2008.

Last night the unicyclists competed in the 10km race around a waterfront circuit in much better conditions that the gale force wind and rain on the previous night when the event was scheduled.  

Korea was well represented in the 10km race ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The big wheeled 36inch two geared unicycles have to wait for their big day, the Marathon around a tough Shelly Bay route this Thursday.

The atmosphere at all of these events is fantastic, particularly due to the range of languages and accents which can be heard. The 700 odd international competitors are vocal in their support regardless of their own speciality events.   

There has been local support too, with many joggers and families enjoying the action in and around the headquarters at the TSB Arena.

Ben from RoadCycling.co.nz promised to join the public "learn to unicycle" workshop today, but he has sneaked out for a ride on his two wheeled cycle.

Hopefully he'll make it back in time but given the comments from the 1st training workshop held on New Year's Eve, I suspect he'll be suitably too late.

Among the dozens of people who turned up to Frank Kitts park to try out unicycling, "Many were able to get on, and even go a few metres" said the organisers.

After a week of watching these top unicyclists, it is so easy to forget that simply getting on a unicycle and travelling a couple of metres is beyond most of us.

For those in Wellington, the road race marathon on Thursday begins at 9am at Shelly Bay's Chocolate Fish cafe. It would be great to give these cyclists some support from the local cycling community.

The course is four laps from Shelly Bay looping around the peninsula, but instead of returning on the flat, a short sharp hill over into Miramar provides the most challenging course these unicyclists have faced in a World Championship event.  

Related articles

• Gallery 1: Opening ceremony photos
• Gallery 2: Track and field photos
• Gallery 3: Artistic pairs photos
• Article: Unicycling World Championships here in NZ

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