What I understood from @Klaas_Bil, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but the term extreme unicycling was used to describe a discipline just like you would now call mountain unicycling.
Of course the term extreme is used in different sports as well, but for me I wouldn’t call it extreme until you’re at a level where a single mistake or equipment failure can make the difference between life and death.
From that point of view I have yet to see any extreme unicycling to be honest, with only a few exceptions like some guy who rode a 10m high giraffe…
That might be very true, it always grabs my attention as well if something is called ‘extreme’. Yet it’s often a disappointment when I’ve watched the corresponding video
I have the same feeling/reaction on some “muni” video that are more “riding in the park” or “strolling in the woods”.
(Disclaimer: I am not trying to start a debate and I know that compared to “extreme” that is misused but clear to visualize, “muni” is broader/blurier and was already debated on this forum )
I would personally define an extreme sport as one where death or serious injury is a very likely possibility, but if being one mistake away from death is your yardstick, then the Romanian guys on the smoke stack or Kris Holm on the cliff edge or the bridge railing would both qualify.
I used to do a lot of diving and I met people who were a lot braver and more hardcore than myself. One of them died and another got extremely bent. I would call what both of them did extreme, but they had probably both done thousands of dives before it caught up with them.
I don’t know when you got that from me. In the draft description for our unicycling disciplines project (of which I am the main author), we have this (translated):
“Extreme Unicycling” (not in the diagram) was/is a collective term for the most spectacular disciplines within Urban and Muni, such as Street, Trials and Downhill. Nowadays this collective term is used less frequently, possibly because meanwhile unicycling has specialised more.
But you probably haven’t seen this text, it is not officially published yet.
For me, “extreme” is not specifically linked to possible death. I think that literally, “extreme” means on the end of the range/spectrum. If we ignore the ‘easy’ end of the spectrum, it means (in connection with unicycling) riding with a high difficulty or spectacle level that you don’t see often.
Riding where a single mistake or failure could result in death, I would perhaps call “daring”. This might be performed without a high skill level, just with a high death threat tolerance.
These are the two videos which got me into the sport:
The first was filmed in my hometown (Salt Lake City). I first saw it when I was about 12 years old and was HOOKED. I knew I needed to get a unicycle. I still go back and watch it regularly when I want inspiration.
Since some of the discussion has turned to things ‘extreme’ – for anyone with a crossover interest in climbing, and a tenuous connection to the ‘unicycle on the chimney’ video I linked above, I came across the following film on Red Bull TV tonight while looking for something to watch – “360 Ascent”.
It documents the ‘world’s longest artificial multi-pitch route’, 360m up the tallest chimney in Europe. I initially thought it was the same chimney the guy unicycled round but I was mistaken (I’ve seen others climb this using the ladders) and I’d guess it seems the accolade of unicycling round the rim of this one is still up for grabs
It is 110m higher and looks a bit narrower so I’d imagine that would fit in to anyone’s definition of extreme – just in case, by way of disclaimer, I am not trying to encourage anyone to go and try it…
That Alex Honnold El Capitan film was also on Red Bull TV at one point, I can’t see it there now, they must take them down after a while. It all goes to show that everything is relative, as said above…
Rewinding back to the topic of this thread, I do find these films very inspirational, they show what can be achieved with dedication, focus, persistence and a sheer desire to succeed. The flip side is the realisation that you won’t ever reach that level – that said finding balance in life is important (pun intended…) and if these sorts of documentaries can push you on to do what ever ‘your thing’ is a bit better, then they have been pretty successful I’d say.
Oh yes indeed @Setonix , just raring to go, unfortunately I think if I was to try that you’d need to try to talk to me though a medium or some other supernatural method.
I admire you attitude Mark who dares wins etc… to be fair though I’ve been reasonably successful in what I chose to focus on in my career/life (don’t want to appear conceited) – I’m not the best in the world at anything, but I’m not the worst either – and well, I’m scared of heights
Yesterday I watched that video of the mountaineer who climbs without ropes, with my family. I was wondering if I have a fear of heights, because I get sweaty hands just by watching the video or those other videos of those guys riding on a railing high up on a bridge.
When I was smaller I certainly had a fear of heights, but then with school we went rappelling down a rock with ropes, which was I think 16m. That sorta made me conquer my fear and a few years later I had no problem standing at the edge of a 300m waterfall in Australia without any fence.
It works a bit weird for me. Though riding a unicycle at such an edge would be irresponsible, as I can’t even do a standstill for 2 seconds on flat ground
I think whether one can’t get over certain fears, partially gets over them, completely conquers them or never has them in the first place is mostly a matter of an individuals mental state.
I work aloft nearly every day. I’m taking a break right now after having spent the last half hour 8m up a power pole. Even on my days off it’s pretty common for me to be working on a ladder or a rooftop. I’m still not a big fan of heights however. More than 12m in a bucket truck is not something I enjoy. More than 8m on a ladder is also something I’m not comfortable with. I’ve been doing this for decades and I still don’t like heights. I can deal with them though and most of the time the heights I work at don’t bother me.
Some people however can just slap on a pair of gaffs and are comfortable 50 feet up in a tree with only a little bit of practice. Those are the kinds of people who climb mountains without ropes and ride unicycles on top of smokestacks. In my experience, most people are like me. They never completely get over their fear of heights, but after a few days working on ladders, lifts or rooftops they develop some confidence. Then there are the people who can’t seem to overcome their fear. With heights, I’d guess they’re 5-10% of the population. They don’t like even modest heights and they never will.
I’m not really a big fan of encouraging that last group to conquer their fears. Nothing against those people, but they tend to be a hazard to themselves and others when you put them in that situation. You don’t want to be relying on someone who is having a panic attack.
If you want to compare yourself to the best, you also need to put in the same effort, commitment and sacrifices as them. Therefore I choose not to believe in talent, since it’s mostly an excuse used by people not achieving anything to provide them with a good reason why someone else is better than they are. If you talk to a top performer, they will never say that they are talented, but they will talk about effort, commitment and the sacrifices that they had to make.
If I could fly, then I wouldnt be afraid of heights. That means that I’m not actually afraid of heights, but I’m afraid to fall and know that I wont survive it.
Accidents happen all the time on ground floor as well, so taking it up in the air is a realistic consideration to be scared for.
I have no trouble climbing a 12ft ladder, but I’d rather walk near the edge of a 100ft building than be on a 20ft unsecured ladder.
So it really is a aafety thing for me ;).
I could work on the 20 foot ladder all day long. The edge of a 100’ building would absolutely rattle me. There’s a lot to be said for confidence. The fact that I would be comfortable and confident on the ladder really means I would be safer in that situation.
You should test your limits and see what you are capable of, but once you’ve determined what they are it’s best to respect them. I did a deep air dive to 165’ once. I was narced out of my mind, scared and absolutely useless to my dive buddy. It kind of woke me up to the fact that I was out of depth, (pardon the pun), and didn’t belong that deep. There are divers who can do it, no problem, but I am not one of them and I stay above 100’ now.
In Phil Sanders’ latest Unicast podcast he talks to Jason Auld. Jason mentions the Voodoo Unicycles ‘High Maintenance’ DVD – so here is a link to that for some British inspiration:
Now that video was created by @Eddbmxdude , and on Edd’s latest #UnicycleLife podcast (with Ed Pratt) he discusses ‘long-form’ unicycling videos. Now Edd modestly doesn’t mention his own video (so check it out above ) but he does discuss UNiVERsE (and links it in his show notes, along with another link to “Unicycling is Not a Crime”) which has recently found its way from VHS to YouTube, so for some other retro inspiration you can find that here:
who dares wins etc… to be fair though I’ve been reasonably successful in what I chose to focus on in my career/life (don’t want to appear conceited) – I’m not the best in the world at anything, but I’m not the worst either – and well, I’m scared of heights 
) but he does discuss UNiVERsE (and links it in his show notes, along with another link to “Unicycling is Not a Crime”) which has recently found its way from VHS to YouTube, so for some other retro inspiration you can find that here: