Kick-Up Mounts

General
1

The kick-up mount is made by pushing up the seat with one foot while the other
foot is on one of the pedals. Audiences love it, and since it frees up your
hands, you can do other things like juggling wile mounting.

Who invented Kick-up mount? I asked John Foss (unifoss), present IUF President
and many times World Champion in both artistic and Racing on unicycles. John
credited Daniel Dumeng from Puerto Rico.

I found Daniel, who now lives in NYC, and asked him about the origin of the
kick-up mount. He credited Jack Halpern, also known to all of you thru this
Mailing List.

During UNICON VII, at Minneapolis, I asked Jack Halpern. He credited Daniel
Dumeng. I told him Daniel credited him. Apparently, Jack thought of the idea,
but had not been able to do it. During a convention he asked Daniel to try it,
and after some minor adjustments on the positions of the pedals, Daniel was able
to master it.

I hope that Jack will write something on the genesis of this great trick on the
near future.

Daniel Dumeng is the first rider from Puerto Rico to be internationally
recognized. His father started organized unicycling in Puerto Rico around 1969.
Daniel was an outstanding artistic rider, a good fast rider and a few years ago
may have been the best basketball on unicycle player on the world. Although he
is retired, he still is only around 30, so I hope he makes a comeback.

Jack Halpern wrires often to the list. He was President of the IUF for many
years. An accomplished rider himself. Older than Daniel. Always beats me on the
Master’s category.

Somebody else thought of the idea of a two-wheeler, but Jack was the first one
to do it. With kick-up mount, Jack designed the idea, but coulsn’t do it, until
he gave the idea to Daniel. Afterwards, Jack learned the trick. That is how
important communication is.

2

Re: Kick-Up Mounts, unicycling history

Ruizb@aol.com wrote:
|>
|> Who invented Kick-up mount? I asked John Foss (unifoss), present IUF
|> President and many times World Champion in both artistic and Racing on
|> unicycles. John credited Daniel Dumeng from Puerto Rico.
|>
|> I found Daniel, who now lives in NYC, and asked him about the origin of the
|> kick-up mount. He credited Jack Halpern, also known to all of you thru this
|> Mailing List.
|>
|> During UNICON VII, at Minneapolis, I asked Jack Halpern. He credited Daniel
|> Dumeng. I told him Daniel credited him. Apparently, Jack thought of the idea,
|> but had not been able to do it. During a convention he asked Daniel to try
|> it, and after some minor adjustments on the positions of the pedals, Daniel
|> was able to master it.
|>
|> I hope that Jack will write something on the genesis of this great trick on
|> the near future.

I think Alberto got it just right. I was the first to think of it, and Daniel
was the first to actually do it. But if I’m not mistaken, I did learn how to do
the same day. So let “history” credit us both.

Speaking of history, wouldn’t it be great if we could start an archive recording
the stories of the genesis of major unicycling skills (will ye guys out there
stop calling it tricks, please. This has been IUF policy for a long time…).
I think that John Jenack, who has his father’s extensive records, could probably
contribute there. I wonder if he is email accessible…

Charlotte Rogers, being the world’s only “unicycling historian” that I know ,
would no doubt be ineterested (I hope you’re reading this, Craig). I urged her
in the past to publish her research in the form of a book or booklet on the
history of unicycling. It would be fascinating to find out who and under what
circumstances first idled, rode a giraffe, etc… How about it?

|>
|> Somebody else thought of the idea of a two-wheeler, but Jack was the first
|> one to do it. With kick-up mount, Jack designed the idea, but coulsn’t do it,
|> until he gave the idea to Daniel. Afterwards, Jack learned the trick. That is
|> how important communication is.
|>

No “tricks” please, Alberto, since that word promotes the idea that we are
circus perfomers or magicians (-:. (Actually, watching Jose Roman and Brett
Bernard does create the impression that they are past sport and in the realm
of magic ;->). Remember, the basic meaning of a trick is an act intended to
deceive. It also means a clever act intended to entertain. It could create
the wrong image in our promotion of unicycling as a sport (but of course it is
also a circus art). Let’s stick to skill.

Stay on top,

Jack Halpern IUF Vice President

P.S. Alberto, will you please sign your messages. (Did you get the disk?)

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