Competitive Events

Freestyle

In Freestyle (Individual, Pairs, Group, and Club), riders perform to music, with costumes, props and any kinds of unicycles. Riders are judged not only on skill (technical execution), but also on how well they entertain and put on a show (artistic presentation). Competitions are organized by age groups, and Expert. Please note that Freestyle registration must be completed by July 1, 2023 (see Registration page for details). Due to music requirements, there is no late or on-site registration for Freestyle.

Required Safety Gear:  None

Freestyle Director:  Greta Koehler and Patricia Wilton

X-Style

X-Style is an event for riders from across disciplines to show off their most difficult skills. Competitors are judged solely on the difficulty of the skills that they complete in their run; performance and falls do not count either for or against them. In X-Style, riders are broken into starting groups of up to ten. The participating riders themselves typically judge the other groups. The best riders of each group advance to the next round. The final round consists of only one starting group, and the best three riders are awarded first, second, and third places.

Required Safety Gear:  None

X-Style Director:  Dale Grzych 

Muni Cross Country/Uphill/Downhill 

Mountain Unicycling (Muni) refers to off-road races over any type of terrain. Terrain can be anything from dirt to paved areas, hills, ditches, curbs, rocks, sand, mud, or grass. The cross country races use a mass start, and traverse a mountain bike trail. The uphill and downhill races have individual starts and you are timed over a short course. 

At registration, you may choose to compete in the Beginner, Advanced, or Elite categories. Men and women compete at the same time, but are awarded separately and by age group. 

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes, knee pads, gloves and/or wrist guards, and helmet. Riders must wear their race number clearly visible on their chest and on their back so that it is visible during the race and as the rider crosses the finish line.

Muni (Cross Country/Uphill/Downhill) Director:  Mike Schatz

Click here to view the maps of the routes

Cyclocross 

Cyclocross is a multi-lap event featuring cross country trails, grassy fields, pavement, and natural and man-made obstacles where the rider must dismount and lift the unicycle over the obstacle. The race uses a Le Mans style start, where riders run to their unicycle. Riders try to complete as many laps as they can within the allotted time, and are scored on how many laps they complete. Want to up the fun factor? Wear a costume! Bring your own, or borrow one of ours! Thinking of coming to watch? Please do! Cyclocross is a great spectator event, and much of the course will be visible from several vantage points.

Required Safety Gear: Shoes, knee pads, gloves and/or wrist guards, and helmet. Riders must wear their race number clearly visible on their chest and on their back so that it is visible during the race and as the rider crosses the finish line.

Cyclocross Director: Dave Krack

Road races are long distance races held on paved roads or paved bicycle paths. Riders compete by age group and male/female. 

Criterium, 10k, and Marathon

A Criterium is a short road race where riders of various speeds complete multiple laps. This fun-to-watch race includes turns in both directions. Two races are held, an “unlimited” race using any unicycle (usually a 36” wheel), and a “standard” race of 4 laps (a standard racing unicycle with a 24” or smaller wheel).

The 10k and Marathon are fixed distance races. The 10k includes two races – limited, where competitors ride a standard track unicycle (24” with 125mm minimum cranks or 20” with minimum 100mm cranks) and unlimited, where there is no unicycle restriction.

For all Road Races, NAUCC 2023 will use the "One False Start Allowed Per Rider" method for False Starts (see IUF 2019 Competition Rulebook section 3B.5.3). 

Please note that Road Races at NAUCC do not qualify for world records.

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes, gloves, and helmet. Knee and elbow pads are recommended, but not required. Riders must wear their race number clearly visible on their chest, and on their back so that it is visible during the race and as the rider crosses the finish line.

Road Racing Director:  Kim Donohoo

Click here to view more 10k event info

Basketball and Hockey

Unicycle basketball is generally played using the rules for regular basketball, with some unicycle-specific rules and modifications. Unicycle hockey is a non-contact variant of floor hockey, played on unicycles with a tennis ball. Hockey, can be fun, even for beginners. If you can free mount, you can play! If you are not already on a team, you will be assigned to a team by the hockey director. Basketball and hockey will both be played indoors in the gym, and use a tournament style bracket. 

Basketball Director:  Laura and Teagan Schoenecker

Hockey Director:  John Guss

Track

Track races are run from longer races to shorter races, and we will use the following order: 800m, 400m, 100m, 50m one-foot, 30m wheel walk, and 10m wheel walk (for 0-10 year olds). Competitors are grouped by age groups (determined by the number of registrants), and males and females compete in separate divisions. The races are run in descending age order, beginning with the female oldest riders then  the men’s oldest age group. 

In addition to traditional track events, NAUCC hosts a Slalom course. The Slalom course is run continuously during the set time period. You have two tries to get your best time for completing a course around traffic cones without a fall or knocking over a cone.

Important: Track racing requires that riders using a 24” unicycle use a specific configuration. Generally, a 24” muni is not legal for track racing. NAUCC uses a box to measure 24” wheels and confirm they meet the standard. Want to confirm your unicycle is legal before track day? The measuring box will be available both when you check-in to NAUCC and at the track.  You may use a unicycle smaller than 24", though this might put you at a disadvantage in the event.

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes, knee pads, and gloves. Helmets are strongly recommended. Your race number must be clearly visible on your chest.

Track Director:  Kevin Coleman

Flatland

Flatland is a skills competition where riders perform tricks on a flat surface. Please join us for this high-energy event! Riders are judged based on the level of technical difficulty and variety, as well as combinations and transitions between skills. The competition consists of preliminary rounds, with each competitor allowed a timed run and two attempts at a last trick. The top-scored competitors go on to compete in the battle-style finals. In a Flatland battle, two riders compete head-to-head, taking turns performing tricks. Each rider then has the opportunity to land a last trick. The judges determine the winner of each battle immediately after the battle ends.  

Male and females compete separately in three categories: Junior Expert (0-14), Advanced (15+), and Expert (15+). Please note that if there are an insufficient number of competitors in a category, categories may be combined. 

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes

Flatland Director:  Scott Julian

Street

Street shows off unicycle tricks that can be done on a series of “urban” obstacles. The competition area includes a large stair set with handrails, as well as smaller obstacles such as rails, ledges, ramps, and boxes. During preliminary rounds, competitors complete timed runs on the course. During finals, competitors complete timed runs as well as attempt best tricks—each individual’s attempt at landing difficult tricks.

The Street competition is the final event of NAUCC 2023. Don’t miss this high-energy skatepark competition! The Game Day Grub food truck will be available at the skate park before and during this event, from noon to 6:00 p.m. See the Food and Lodging tab for the menu, or look in your registration packet.

As in Flatland, male and female competitions are offered in three categories: Junior Expert (0-14), Advanced (15+), and Expert (15+). If there are an insufficient number of competitors in a category, categories may be combined.

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes and helmet. 

Street Director:  Scott Julian

Trials

A unicycle trials competition is a technical skills event which takes place on a “course” containing different obstacles called sections or lines. The goal is to complete as many lines as possible in the time allowed. Each line is given a point value depending on difficulty (easy, medium, and hard). Sections may include narrow beams or logs, steep climbs, rocks, pallets, unstable elements, etc. Riders earn points by successfully and cleanly riding each section from start to finish. The NAUCC 2023 Trials competition will include a Beginner category. Beginners are allowed to use a helping hand for half credit on a line. A trials unicycle works best for this event, but beginner trials can easily be done on a 20” freestyle unicycle or a 24” racing unicycle, as long as it doesn’t have a narrow tire.

During Registration, you will choose whether to compete in the Beginner or Advanced/Expert categories. The top 6 riders from the Advanced/Expert category will compete in a finals competition. Tiebreakers will be based upon the scores in the preliminary round.  Results and awards are tabulated by age group, and male and female riders are tabulated separately. 

Please note that the Trials course is closed to all riders until the start of the Trials event. 

Required Safety Gear:  Shoes, helmet, gloves, and knee pads. *Due to a rule change by the USA Board, gloves and knee pads will be required at NAUCC 2023.* Shin guards are highly recommended. Riders must wear their assigned number where it is easily visible.

Trials Director:  Owen Farmer

High Jump and Long Jump

In High Jump, the rider and unicycle jump over a bar, without knocking it down, and ride away in control without a dismount. In Long Jump, the rider jumps as far as possible from a jump marker, to an under-control landing. 

The High Jump and Long Jump competitions are run continuously during the set time period. Riders may compete at any time within the scheduled window, although you may need to wait for an appropriate starting height or length. 

Required Safety Gear:  Long Jump – shoes, gloves, knee pads, and helmet. High Jump – shoes and helmet (knee pads are highly recommended). Riders must wear their assigned number where it is easily visible.

Jumps Director:  Nick Braun