What's your unicycling skill score?

General
1

If you want to see how your unicycling skills in several areas compare with others, check out the new UniRater.

The UniRater is an Excel program. To get it, just send me an email:
unicyclecentral at hotmail dot com

The UniRater was developed by Jeffrey Huffman of Georgia based on the USA’s new skills program. It allows riders to get a point total based on the skills they can do.

This is the first system that’s ever been available, as far as I know, that allows riders to get a ranking based on a full range of skills. It includes basic riding, Artistic, Technical, Juggling, UW, giraffe (Tall), and Pairs. It’s not final yet, since we still need to finish some of the skill divisions, but most of it is there.

We’re also working on translating it into other languages so riders across the world can use it along with the new skills program.

For details on the new skills program, definitions of skills, testing rules, and USA certified skill testers, check out the web site:

http://home.comcast.net/~carol.mclean/Home/unicycle_central.htm

The UniRater allows any rider to get an unofficial skill score. To get an official skill rank, locate a certified skill tester. Details are on the web site.

The highest Overall Cross Division score (for all the skills that have been entered into the system so far) is 139.38. To get that high of a score, you’d need to be able to do everything from Artistic skills to Technical skills, UW, Juggling, and a bunch more. So riders who are good at several different kinds of riding would get high scores on the UniRater.

The UniRater will also be posted on a web site soon.

Thanks to everyone for their work on this new skills program!

Carol
USA Skills Development Committee Chair
unicyclecental at hotmail dot com

2

Does it go into minus?
That’s what my skill level is.

3

lol, I think I’m a 5.

4

me too, im a level 7 on the one i was looking @ @ first though… i think i like being level 7 better :slight_smile:

5

lol

6

UniRater Skills Scoring Tool

I have posted a UniRater scoring tool that uses the new Skills here for download.

It’s an Excel Spreadsheet and is pretty easy to use.

The categories are still in development, but the spreadsheet is up to date for now. Once the skillsets are all hardened, and the calculations are refined, it should be pretty easy to convert to a web application.

We have tested it a bit, but it may still contain errors. Let me know if you find any, and I’ll correct them as quickly as possible.

Good luck!

7

I like the approach the program designers took. It works well for me because I haven’t worked straight through the traditional levels.

I also don’t know what many of the skills they use mean, like a spike, so I couldn’t rate myself on any of those, but I am certain some king of glossary is in the works somewhere.

My Master score was: 80.07, marking off only skills that I can confidently achieve 90% of the time. I think in the old system I am level 4 on a good day, with a couple higher skills.

8

im a level 6, go me:D

9

How do you guys get level x scores out of it? Which sheet is that on?

Will there eventually be coker skills or muni?

10

I’ve sent the UniRater out to about 40 people so far. It really is a great program!

We’re working on fixing some of the bugs now. For example, the Artistic Advanced classes 8-3 to 8-5 still need to be updated on the version I sent. I’ll send an updated version when it’s available.

Working on a project this large has taken the efforts of many riders of all different kinds and levels of skill. And, we’re still looking for more help. It’s amazing how even the smallest suggestion has ended up making a huge improvement in the new program.

Skill testing isn’t for everyone, and it will never be a perfect system. But it’s come a long way, and we’re excited about how this new approach will help us bring in more riders and keep them challenged.

If you have suggestions for the UniRater or the new skills program, please send them to the committee:
unicyclecentral at hotmail dot com

Also, a “spike” is a hop up to another elevation. We can use a different term, but it has to be clear that it’s more than just a hop or jump, since it results in landing on a higher elevation.

As for muni and distance skills, those aren’t included at this point. They are too subjective to test, but there may be a way we can include them as a point system in the future.

Thanks for your comments!

Carol

11

the old score levels
im going to do the test thingy now

12

Why include Juggling??? It is not a unicycling skill and (in my opinion) absolutely doesn’t belong in a unicycling skill rating system!!!

The main thing it has in common to unicycling is the fact that they are both often performed in a circus… which is an association most people on the forum seem to be trying to break!

If you are going to include juggling (I assume while unicycling) you might as well include plate spinning (and/or cigar boxes) while unicycling as well.

Am I alone on this? What do the rest of you all think about juggling being included?

13

well most people on here I assume don’t juggle, so I don’t think it’s fair.

14

The juggling bit is among the ‘issues’ (there are others) that I have with the system under development. It’s not that I have anything against juggling; quite the contrary in fact. Juggling is a complete art form in itself, as diverse and complex in its range of skills as unicycling is. There’s no rationale that I can see for including it in a unicycling skills system, any more than there would be for playing musical instruments or any of the million other things that one can do while operating a unicycle. You may be doing it at the same time as you are riding a unicycle, but it is not inherently related to unicycling in any way. If you are juggling seven clubs while idling one-footed on a unicycle, the only unicycle skill that you are demonstrating is one-footed idling, sorry. I’ve read the FAQ and all, but counting juggling as a unicycling skill still makes no sense to me. If it were a more generalized Circus Arts skills system, then yes, but this is the Unicycling Society, and juggling is a separate discipline.

15

Well, look around. Juggling has been accepted by the Unicycling Society of America and the IUF for a long time. It has often been included in routines that are judged at the national and international competitions. The ability to ride and juggle takes skill, and it’s rewarded with a higher score in a competition.

It’s also a primary skill that’s used in performing and in parades. Riders who can juggle while riding a giraffe in a parade are very valuable. Clubs make money by providing this kind of entertainment, and it’s a great skill to have.

There’s nothing wrong in helping people learn this skill by offering goals. It’s accepted by the judges, and by just about everyone who participates in parades.

The good thing is that no one will force you to use the juggling division. For those who are interested in increasing their range of skills, it’s available.

However, if you feel that strongly, I guess your next step would be to try to ban juggling from all competitions and parades. I hope that doesn’t happen. I really enjoy the diversity in unicycling.

Carol

16

I happen to agree that juggling should not be included in the UniRater. After all, it was excluded years ago from the accepted levels by the USA and IUF since it involves outside apparatus. Including juggling makes sense only if you also include other apparatus-related items.

Here are some suggestions:

Category: Eating ___ while riding ____ (points in parentheses)
Apple/20" uni (0.1)
Banana/29" (0.2)
Sushi, using fingers/Coker (0.3)
Sushi, using chopsticks/Coker (0.4)

Category: Playing an instrument while riding:
Harmonica (0.1)
Bongos or other drum (0.1)
Flute, recorder, or other wind (0.2)
Melodion or other keyboard-type (0.2)
Banjo, guitar, or other plucked string (0.3)
Violin or other bowed string (0.5)

Category: Dressing/Undressing while riding:
Hat (0.1)
Tie/scarf (0.1)
Gloves (0.2)
Cardigan (0.2)
Shirt (0.3)
Pullover (0.4)
Pants (0.8)
Shoes (0.8)

If all of these seem silly, I guess that’s because it’s almost as silly to include juggling. Yes, juggling is seen by many as a related skill, but then, so is jumping rope. Either we include everything related to uni’ing (like shopping) or we try to keep it all related to the rider and the uni. So include various types of unis (like giraffes) and uni’ing (like trials), but don’t include tangential things like juggling that many of us can’t do or do well. I don’t think that the fact that I am a sucky juggler diminishes from my uni’ing in any way, and the Rater should not take it into account.

17

f you take the viewpoint that skills systems are about testing skills that use only a unicycle (and nothing else) then juggling should be excluded.

If you take the viewpoint that skills systems are about testing skills that many unicyclists practice and work towards mastering, it makes sense to include things like juggling, jumping rope and other such skills.

The inclusion of juggling is based on a long historical association. For example: during the first 5 years I rode a unicycle 95% of the riders I met were also jugglers. This percentage has changed radically in the last few years, especially with the explosion in popularity of trials and Muni. Now I meet many unicyclists who cannot juggle and express no desire to learn.

It is good to remember that the people who post on this forum are only a tiny percentage of the unicycling population and are not a representative sample set. Just because you personally have no desire to learn to juggle (and do not think juggling is at all associated with unicycling) does not mean that is the viewpoint held by all unicyclists. A believe a sizeable minority do connect the two skills. Both have similar appeal; they are physical skills requiring a lot of practice to master.

I see no problem with including a juggling section in a unicycle skill set system, as long as it is optional and it is possible to exclude that skillset from your rating. This rewards people who learn a difficult skill without penalising people who are working on some other skill.

Why then not include David Stone’s suggestions on such things as removing clothes as a skill? I think that if removing clothing were to become a skill used often in performance and practiced extensively by a large percentage of unicyclists out there, then you could make an excellent case for including it as part of a skill system. So far I have only seen two performances which make use of costume changes on a unicycle. I have seen many which use juggling. As unicycling evolves the skill system will also need to change. There may come a point where such a small percentage of unicyclists juggle that it makes no sense to have juggling as part of any skill system.

My 2c worth.

18

Where in my post did I state that I have no desire to learn to juggle???

As a matter of fact, I already know how to juggle and I like juggling… i just think that including it in a unicycling skill rating system makes no sense whatsoever.

Do any juggling organizations include unicycling in their juggling skill rating systems? I don’t know the answer to this question because I am not a member of any juggling organizations, but perhaps someone who is a member of such an organization(s) could answer that question definitively. I would be surprised if any juggling organizations did include unicycling. According to your logic, they should though. If they don’t… why don’t they??? Hmmm

Based on your logic, you should definitely include playing basketball and hockey while unicycling in the unicycling skill rating system as well because those activities are commonly done on a unicycle.

In my opinion, your logic is flawed.

19

Level 2, almost a 4,:stuck_out_tongue: . I’ll be a five probably in a month or 4 weeks, i’m a fast learner.

EDIT- I changed it, I meant to say a 4, not 5.

20

My apologies, that was intended as a generic “you” (the unicycling public), not a specific “you”. I do not presume to know your attitudes on juggling.

The only level systems I know of for juggling were developed by Dave Finnigan (and published in the complete juggler).

They include a certification path for “Balance and Auxliary equipment”. The level patch for that skillset even includes a little juggler riding a unicycle. It is possible to pass this level without riding a unicycle though. For the unicycling section equivalents to riding while juggling are listed like juggling while balanced on a rola bola.

Yes, I have no problems with including levels for basketball and hockey (assuming it is possible to develop an appropriate set of ordered skills) Certainly enough riders take these sports seriously and work on them. Again such a system should not penalize people who are working on other aspects of unicycling such as long distance riding or trials. Unicycling is an extremely varied sport with many different avenues for expression, this is one of its strengths.

For me the main benefit of skill levels is that they provide a short list I can look at for ideas of what to learn next, with some idea of their relative difficulty. When I first began unicycling the IUF skill levels were one of the first resources I found. They made me aware of many skills I had never even heard of which I subsequently worked towards and learnt. This was especially valuable since I did not have access to a club and knew no proficient riders.

With this benefit in mind, having a skillset path for things like juggling or hockey may be useful to anyone who is wanting to get into these things and would provide some idea of what to work on next.

I can envisage a skill system where unicycling is divided up into many disciplines. Within each discipline you could have levels. Qualify for the first level within a discipline you get a nice circular patch. Qualify for additional levels you get chevrons to put underneath them. Imagine all the merit badges you could design! NOTE: if this sounds strange you have to remember I always wanted to join scouts - just because I liked the concept of merit badges and patches :slight_smile: