Pairs Skills

International Ranking of Unicycling Skills

Revised: 4-7-05, 8-2-05, 10-02-05, 11-8-05, 2-10-06

 

Prerequisite:  Rider Base 6

 

All skill testing guidelines apply. See the Unicycling Skill Testing Handbook for complete testing guidelines.

 

Hand/Arm Positions:

Single-hand grasp: Single r/l hand grasp, riders face forward.

 

Closed double-hand—riders face each other, one riding forward while the other rides backward with hands joined r/l and l/r.

 

Definitions:

 

Closed crossover: Riders are side-by-side facing front. Riders join hands (r/r and l/l) with right arms above left and with the leader on the right side of the follower. To crossover, partners raise arms while riding, the leader guides the partner to cross in front, and they smoothly switch sides (rider on right side becomes the rider on the left side) without dropping hand grasp.

 

Single-hand twirl: Riders approach one another from opposite directions; as they meet, they join their right hands (or their left hands), and ride smoothly in a circle, both traveling clockwise or both traveling counterclockwise. Each rider’s other arm may be extended straight out to the side, placed on hip, or in another position that is in sync with the partner.

 

Chase—riding position where one rider is directly in front of the other.

 

High chase—hands are joined (r/r and l/l). The rider in front holds his/her hands up (palms facing forward) at shoulder height. The other rider reaches over the partner’s shoulders to grasp both of the partner’s hands.

 

Box chase—rider in front extends both arms down and to the back to grab the hands of the rider in back (r/r and l/l).  From this position, riders drop right hands, rider in front turns sharply to the left, rides behind partner, and rejoins hands.

 

Wrap turn—Partners face each other with hands joined r/l and l/r. While riding, with one partner going forward and one backward, the leader draws the right arm up and across the front of the follower, causing the follower to rotate and reverse riding direction. Arms are wrapped, so the pair is riding very close to each other. Unwrap is reversing this motion to regain the original position.

 

Spin out turn—From wrap position, the leader lets go of the l/r hand grasp, and gently pulls the follower’s other arm, causing the follower to spin out and pivot turn, still holding the leader’s right hand.

 

Notes: All freemounts and dismounts must be done in unison, unless stated otherwise.

 

Ride into and out of all skills, unless stated otherwise.

 

Pairs should be of about equal ability. Both riders in a pair may test at the same time, or just one rider may test (if the other rider is already of that skill class). For example, a rider may test for Class 7-2 with a rider who has already passed Class 7-2. However a rider who is testing for Class 7-2 may not have a pairs partner for testing who is Class 7-3 or higher.

 

Both riders either pass or don’t pass as a team, if both riders are testing.

 

“With contact” means partners must be touching or have some contact with each other, such as hand to hand, hand to shoulder, back to back, or other contact.

 

Skills that do not specify “with contact” or “no contact” may be done with contact or without, riders’ choice. One-footed skills may be done with either foot; pairs do not have to use the same foot.

 

Skills must be performed with required form (for example, arms extended on a twirl) for the attempt to be successful.

 

Pairs Intermediate Skills

 

Class 7-1

1.   Freemount, no contact, using the standard mount.

2.   Freemount, with contact, using the standard mount.

3.   Ride in a box chase position, 7 revolutions, break to the right, ride 7 revolutions, dismount.

4.   Ride in a box chase position, 7 revolutions, break to the left, ride 7 revolutions, dismount.

5.   Single-hand twirl to the right, 3 times.

6.   Single-hand twirl to the left, 3 times.

 

Class 7-2

1. Freemount, no contact, using the same Intermediate mount.

2. Freemount, with contact, using the same Intermediate mount. (Freemount may be the same one as used in Class 7-2 Skill 1.)

3. Single-hand twirl to the right, 3 times, reach over, reverse direction, and single-hand twirl to the left, 3 times, ride out, dismount.

4. Closed crossover, 4 times, dismount.

5. Idle with contact, 10 times.

 

Class 7-3

1. Freemount, no contact, using the same Intermediate mount, and repeat with a second Intermediate mount.

2. Freemount, with contact, using the same Intermediate mount, and repeat with a second Intermediate mount. (Freemounts may be the same as those used in Class 7-3 Skill 1.)

3. Ride in a high chase position, 7 revolutions, alternate positions, 7 revolutions, dismount.

4. Ride with seat in front against body or stomach on seat, 7 revolutions.

5. Ride backward with contact, 3 revolutions.

6. Idle one-footed, 5 times.

 

Class 7-4 and Class 7-5

[to come]

 

Nine Intermediate Mounts:

Back

Jump

Moving

Seat ext. in front

Stomach on seat

Side

Side reverse

Standard to one-foot idle

Spin 180 degrees

 

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