Convention wobbles into Butler County

By Jared Stonesifer Eagle Staff Writer

July 10, 2013 Last Updated: July 10, 2013 03:15 PM Community

Isaac McKeever of the Butler Wobble, a group of unicycle enthusiasts from around the county, participates in the 2012 North American Unicycling Convention and Championships in Michigan.

A miniature version of the Tour de France is coming to Butler County, albeit a much shorter competition with only half the wheels.

The North American Unicycle Convention and Championship arrives in late July for a weeklong flurry of events. The convention is designed to showcase the disciplines and art behind the sport.

Competitions, workshops and events will be scattered across the area from Seneca Valley's secondary campus in Jackson Township to Moraine State Park. The event begins July 21 and will run through July 27.

Spectators won't have to pay to watch any of the events, which include basketball and hockey tournaments on unicycles, as well as obstacle courses and races. But only those who have registered will be allowed to participate in the events.

There will be plenty of fun and quirky activities for spectators to enjoy, but the event also takes on a serious tone when the competitions start.

There will be distance races, mountain races and a segment where the riders perform tricks.

The unicycle convention and championship is an annual event that is hosted by a different unicycle club each year.

This year's edition is being sponsored by the Butler Wobble, a group of enthusiasts who practice outside during the summer and inside at the Butler YMCA during the cold months.

Dave Krack is one of the longtime members of the Butler Wobble and played a large part in organizing the championship event coming here.

Krack said he and his wife have traveled all over the country to unicycling events and always believed Butler County would be a perfect host for such a unique event.

“I've lived here for 19 years and always thought that here in Western Pennsylvania, we have something very special with our terrain and our people,” he said. “Some of the roads around here are very challenging, and we're looking forward to showcasing that.”

That's why he spearheaded the effort to get the event to come here, along with help from the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

Krack said he's put in hundreds of hours in the process and added he's excited it's about to finally come to fruition.

While there will be plenty of fun and informal events for spectators, Krack added the competition is very serious for those participating.

He noted there will be participants from Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

“We just want to make sure the general public gets the idea that, at the very top level of this sport, we are athletes,” Krack said. “I've been doing 30-mile plus rides on my unicycle to get ready, going at about 13 mph. There's definitely an endurance aspect to it.”

Krack added he's put so much time and energy into the event for a reason: any unicycle club across the country can host the championship event, but only if it hasn't done so in the past.

Or, as Krack said, the upcoming weeklong event is a once-and-done kind of experience for those in attendance.

Jack Cohen, president of the county tourism bureau, said from an economic perspective, the unicycle convention will be a big deal for local businesses.

“The event is six nights, and they're going to have more than 300 people participate,” he said. “That's a lot of money right there for hotels. And of course they have to eat and will probably partake in other local recreational events.

“It's a win-win for everybody.”

Cohen also said it's been a great partnership between the tourism bureau and the Butler Wobble members, adding that both groups worked together diligently to bring this unique event here.

Those who wish to learn more about the unicycle championship can visit the event's website at www.uninationals2013.com.

Following is a list of events for the North American Unicycle Convention Championship in Butler County this month:Saturday, July 20 7 to 9 p.m. — Welcome reception, Bottlebrush Gallery in HarmonySunday, July 21 9 a.m. — Registration opens at Center of HarmonyNoon to 2 p.m. — Zelienople Community Park, Criterium2 to 4 p.m. — Center of Harmony (COH), judges meeting/training4 to 6 p.m. — Harmony 10K — Start at COH6 to 6:30 p.m. — COH, first-timer Q&A6:30 to 7 p.m. — COH union meeting7 to 9 p.m. — COH USA meetingMonday, July 22Standard skills, freestyle advanced and expert and hockey 7 a.m. — Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS), doors open7:30 to 8:30 a.m. — SVMS gym, standards set up8:15 to 8:30 a.m. — SVMS gym, judges meeting8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — SVMS, multi open gym/standards/free practice8:30 to 10 a.m. — SVMS gym, standard skill9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Moraine muni fun ride/preview10 to 11 a.m. — COH, yoga with Dana Lowers, $1010 a.m. to 1 p.m. — SVMS gym, freestyle advanced and expert, individual and pairs1 to 2:30 p.m. — Harmony Square, historic walking tour of Harmony, $51 to 2 p.m. — COH, dance lessons — jitterbug, free1 to 5 p.m. — SVMS gym, hockey preliminaries and finals2 to 3 p.m. — COH, dance lessons — cha-cha, free3 to 4 p.m. — Parking lot, swap meet workshop #13 to 4 p.m. — UDC Mobile Unit, uni maintenance workshop7 to 9 p.m. — The Strand, movie night, free. Bring a canned good.Tuesday, July 23Marathon, Level Testing & Freestyle 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Moraine Area Marathon11:30 a.m. to noon — SVMS gym, judges meeting11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — SVMS, multilevel tester workshop/openNoon to 3:30 p.m. — SVMS gym, freestyle novice, intermediate and adult individual and pairs12:30 to 2 p.m. — SVMS, multilevel testing/open1 to 2:30 p.m. — Harmony Square, historic walking tour of Harmony, $52 to 3 p.m. — SVMS, multi-freestyle — XStyle2:30 to 3:30 p.m. — SVMS Multi Sumo3 p.m. — Wheel Mill, Wheel Mill field tripWednesday, July 24Track, Speed Trials & Flatland 7 a.m. — Seneca Valley High School Stadium, doors open7:30 to 8 a.m. — SVHS Stadium, officials meeting8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — SVHS Stadium, track racing8 to 9 a.m. — SVHS Parking Lot Street Build10 a.m. to noon — SVHS parking lot, obstacle courseNoon to 2 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, high jump and long jump2 to 4 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, speed trials5 to 9 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, flatlandThursday, July 25 Time Trial, Beg. Muni, Basketball, Street 9 to 11 a.m. — Moraine, time trial11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — SVMS, gym basketball prelims and finals10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — SVHS parking lot workshops10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, trials build1 to 3 p.m. — SVHS parking lot — obstacle course beginner muni up/down5 to 7 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, street4 to 6 p.m. — SVMS gym, group/club practice7 p.m. — Harmony Inn, free concertFriday, July 26 Freestyle Group, Beg. Muni & Trials 8:30 a.m. — SVMS gym, judges meeting9 to 11 a.m. — SVMS gym, freestyle group/club10 to 11 a.m. — SVHS parking lot, uni polo workshop12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, beginner muni obstacle course10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, workshops10 a.m. to Noon — SVHS parking lot, swap meet workshop #21 to 2 p.m. — COH, Geocaching workshop — Please bring a smart phone or GPS receiver1 to 2:30 p.m. — Harmony Square, historic walking tour of Harmony, $51:30 to 2:30 p.m. — SVHS, obstacle course muni cross3 to 6 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, beginner and advanced trials6:30 to 8 p.m. — SVHS parking lot, expert trials9 p.m. — COH Noble Hunter concertSaturday, July 27(Muni, Final Party) 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Moraine, expert/advanced muni XC11 a.m. to noon — Moraine, marina nautical nature tour2 to 5 p.m. — Moraine, expert/ advanced muni down and up6 p.m. — COH, final party/awards dinner