John Foss wrote:
> Julian Orbach: Suggests that a level can be finished by substituting a skill
> from a higher level, if necessary. This would even things out a great deal, at
> least until riders reach level 10, where they would then have
to
>do all the skills they hate. I think it’s a novel idea, and would like to hear
>more opinions on it as well.
> Though I like Julian’s idea above, I don’t think it’s a good one for our skill
> levels, because they are supposed to be more of a simple list. I,
too,
> am stuck on a level, and able to do all the skills in the level above. You saw
> me demonstrate level 9 in the video tape, but I won’t pass level 8
unless
> I learn the dreaded " hand wheel walk." It’s the same problem, only at a
> higher level. I’m content to wait a few more years and see how many riders
> actually reach the level where this becomes an important issue . . . .
bkonarsk wrote:
>To expand a bit on Julian’s idea, and perhaps meet John’s desire for a
simple
>system, here’s my idea. Provide a list of skills, possibly the current
skill
>list. Level 1 still requires mounting, riding, and dismounting. Level 2
>requires 10 more skills from the list, and an additional mount, which can
>include the left & right standard mount. Level 3 requires 10 more skills
and
>another mount, etc.
>Benefits: Each unicyclist can choose the skills that they care to learn. They
>won’t get stuck at a level due to a single skill that may be difficult for them
>or that they don’t want to learn.
>As a corollary, people will be motivated to learn useful skills first. I admit
>that riding seat on stomach isn’t very hard, but I learned to ride backwards
>and idle 18 years ago, but didn’t learn the full procedure for seat on stomach
>until two years ago.
>No more disputes over which skills are really harder than the others. This way
>the people who follow the advice of some to learn to ride backwards while they
>learn to ride forward won’t have to wait four levels to get credit for it.
>Disadvantages:
>Someone has to keep track of what skills each person has passed. A person could
>carry around a checklist with them, but something would have to be arranged if
>the list was lost. This is a serious problem that may doom the idea. Unlike
>mounting, it isn’t practical to ask someone to do 30 skills to pass level 4.
Aside from the recordkeeping problem, the main disadvantage of this otherwise
good idea is that it changes the meaning of the levels. To say you are level 5,
using the above system, another rider would then have to ask you what skills you
can and what skills you cannot do. Riders from widely different geographic areas
would not have an easy way to compare their skill levels.
That is why I didn’t push this idea any farther with the committee.
Stay on Top, and keep those fresh ideas coming! John Foss, Chairman IUF Skill
Levels and Rules Committee unicycle@aol.com