Why UNICON in Bemdiji Minnesota USA?

General
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Summary:

Allow me to express my reservations: Bemidji, Minnesota appears rather unsuitable to host a Unicon. It is exceedingly remote, diminutive in size, lacks renown as a tourist destination, and is devoid of proximity to other attractions. Additionally, it proves costly and bereft of public transportation.

How and why was this locale selected? The website mentions consideration of various locations in the USA. What were the alternatives? Is there a procedure for proposing, voting on, or suggesting venues?

Extended Critique:

Upon reflection, it appears that the last Unicon held in such a remote location was in 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand? Prior to that, there was Bottrop, Germany in 1998 – albeit merely an hour by train from a sizable city.

It appears the event is to take place at a university. While the website suggests most facilities are nearby, the main Sanford Center is 5 km from the dormitories. Dormitory accommodation begins at 420 Euros. One might assume university lodgings are chosen to minimize costs, offering modest, economical options with flexibility, rather than mandatory 14-night stays.

The registration fee appears exorbitant. Nearly 400 Euros plus IUF registration, totaling close to 500 Euros. What does this fee cover? Insurance, emergency services – but are these expenses truly warranted? Previous Unicons seemed considerably less costly.

There is no regular public transportation to Bemidji. The nearest major city is a four-hour drive away. This appears to be a significant oversight. While the USA may not boast extensive public transit, surely there are smaller towns accessible by transit or closer than a 4-hour drive.

Bemidji has a population of 15,000. Previous Unicons have been held in larger cities (Montreal, Ansan) or smaller towns with tourism appeal (Donostia, Brixen). Bemidji falls short on both counts – neither near a major city nor recognized as a tourist destination.

Only 140 Americans are registered, with 25% from the state of Minnesota. There are more Germans registered than Americans?

Recent Unicons have been situated in either major cities or smaller, tourist-friendly locales with ample transportation options:

  • Grenoble: Accessible public transport from Paris and Switzerland; situated in Europe.
  • Ansan: One hour from South Korea’s largest city, Seoul.
  • Donostia: An hour from Bilbao, a 5-hour bus ride from Barcelona.
  • Montreal: A major city with proximity to Europe.
  • Brixen: Regular daily 3-hour bus rides from Munich, boasting a major airport; 5 hours from Venice.
  • Wellington: Remote, akin to Bemidji, perhaps the most challenging to access recently.

Comparing further back may not be entirely equitable due to differences in social media, rideshare apps, accommodations, and transportation options. In short, I merely aim to articulate and share the reservations shared by myself and many peers. This is not an attack on anyone just attempt to understand.

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There has been some previous discussion on this which may cover some of the points you’ve raised. Also the podcast I mention there (post 16) has some discussion with Kirsten Goldstein on the location choice:

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I don’t think you’re the only one who had these reservations. I’ve spoken with a handful of local unicyclists and many have said things along the same lines as you.

This will be my first UNICON, as I was too young to afford international travel when I first started riding. I then took a 12 year hiatus from riding. Only until recently (as of December 2023) did I renew my interest in the sport. Hence, I was excited that my return to unicycling coincided with the return of UNICON to the United States.

My excitement diminished significantly realizing, despite being in the U.S., this UNICON seems even less accessable than international destinations. What a catch-22.

I’ll still attend and I’m sure I’ll have an amazing time. But I can’t help but wonder if it could’ve taken place elsewhere in the U.S.

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Thank you. The other conversation is enlightening. With the benefit of hindsight my questions come down to:

  • On the podcast summary it was said that Bemidji was eager and clamoring to host this. That a large university would make for spacious and available accommodation. However, with the benefit of hindsight: The dorms are very expensive and do not offer any flexibility. Where are the 3-night, 7-night packages for a nominal fee? The only option is the entire duration, 450 euro per person.
  • That the small city would offer intimate accommodation. Dorms to Sanford Center is 5 km. This is much to large to traverse multiple times per day.

The purported benefits, again, with hindsight, are not panning out. Not ample flexible accommodation, and not intimate closeby facilities. :slightly_frowning_face:

Were other cities really were considered?

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I’m with you on the cost. I live about 20 hours driving from Bemijdi and though I’d love to go, I could go on a trip to Europe for the price of attending. As someone who lived closer to that area and went the post secondary school nearby it’s quite perplexing.

Even some of the smaller locations in Canada will have a regional airport, nature nearby for Muni, and facilities to host the needed events.

As someone who mostly commutes and does gravel riding too I found the events taking place to make it seem mostly like a sports competition.

I get the social parts probably get self organized but keeping our sport to the traditional disciplines leaves out a good chunk of other parts I find like why not do a workshop about commuting by uni, or a race where each person carries 2 bags of groceries for 5km lol.

Though I’m sure the event is well worth the cost and is an amazing time for many of the attendees, it’s not for me this time around.

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I’ll answer a couple questions I can answer. I’ve been to the 5 last Unicons and I have no plan to miss another one.

How and why is it selected: Anyone really can submit a potential location. Whoever submits (usually clubs) need to provide information on venues, accommodation, areas for the 35 different disciplines, information on tourism, the city, etc. There is a lot to plan, and anyone who has been to a Unicon can see that, so there aren’t tons of application. I dont know exactly how it’s choosen, but it is choosen by the IUF based on what application offers what is best to host a large group like us.

I have never been to Bemidji, so I can’t speak for how remote it is. The city seems to offer everything we need for 2 weeks. Smaller cities are very nice to visit, there is apparently lots to do in Bemidji (Unicon eats a lot of that time!). Having Unicon in a big city can create problems too. And not everyone wants to be close to a big city during the event. USA is huge, most places are remote to cities people would know.

Accommodation in America is expensive. There are other choices, but more expensive. Even at the current price, it is still cheaper to get the dormitory for the whole period and stay half that period of time. So it is very economical.

The registration fees cover a lot more than insurance and emergency services. They cover other fees like renting the race track, permits for certain events (like Muni, Road, CX), road closure for road races, road closure for the parade, materials for urban events, chips for races, ect. Everyone is volunteering, none of the directors or organisers are paid for any of the work we put in. 2 weeks of events can get expensive fast.

Public transportation in North America sucks. You dont need to go visit the nearest major city, I do understand many people might want to do so though. I’ll be driving and arriving from North, so I wont see any major cities (and I have no plan to do so), I’m sure Bemidji will be a great place to visit.

There has always been more Germans than any other at Unicons. Montreal had about 1/3 or registrations from Germany. There is just a huge number of German unicyclists, and it’s awesome that they join event further away.

I hope that answers some of your questions :slight_smile:

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I would argue the main reason for choice of a location is you need to find someone willing to host the thing.

Hosting takes years of work, is stressfull, and to a large degree (when you see posts like this) fairly unrewarding.

I don’t believe they have dozens of people asking to host so the best location is a small list with top of that list being will the people who are planning to host it likely to achieve it or will it all fall apart.

The current organisers all had large roles in Grenoble, know the system inside out and therefore were probably a safe bet, and potentially there were also no other realistic bids.

If you want UNICON in a location that you think is better, pay someone $100,000 for two years to organise it there for you.

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Hello,

I used to be very involved into unicycling, being part of the board committee of the IUF, the IUF Rulebook committee as well as being involved locally in Monotréal, (The Community that organised Unicon in Montreal, also being on the board, although I wasn’t personally involved in the organisation of the event), and also organising and running (alongside a few awesome people) Winter EUC for 5 years.

Here are a few harsh realities;

-Yes location for this Unicon really isn’t great, it’s really inaccessible, and that’s a huge bummer.

-There is no money in unicycling, and most thing that happen in this world is out of passion for unicycling, events, parts, shops, R&D, etc.

-Choosing a host for the world champ is basically who’s proposing? (Usually a few, 2 or 3) and who’s done 100 hours of work to find locations, sponsors, and have half-approved venues for the event.

People don’t understand how insane of a job organising a world championship is. People whine it’s expensive, yet the people organising it basically do it for free. It’s years worth of work.

The registration fee appears exorbitant.

It’s expensive because we live in a post covid world, where prices have skyrocketed for so many things. That is just the reality. That would be like saying why is a brand new KH trials unicycle not 300$ like it used to be.

Wellington: Remote, akin to Bemidji, perhaps the most challenging to access recently.

Wellington is not remote, it’s the second biggest city in NZ. Maybe you personally geographically live far from NZ, but Wellington is not remote. It has an international airport with plenty of flights.

I think accessibility is very important, but you know what even more important? Actually having the World Champs happen.

Only 140 Americans are registered, with 25% from the state of Minnesota. There are more Germans registered than Americans?

I would have to look it up, but I’m pretty sure Germany has been in the top 3 represented countries at Unicon over the past 20 years no matter where the event happened.

*Montreal: A major city with proximity to Europe.

You sound very euro biased

//

Sounds like you have a good critical view of unicycling and organisation, I suggest you get involved into keeping the community alive by involving yourself with organisation, whether it’d be from a local to an international level. There needs to be more people that do it.

I’ve personally done my fair share, and I’m burned out, just like so many others that have done it before me. It is so much work, no money, just passion. There are not enough people involved into making things happen in unicycling.

EDIT: Everything @Pinoclean said.

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An update having been in Bemidji since Thursday last week.

I can see the benefits of this town. If you make the effort to get here there are many many benefits over a big city.

The town is big enough that it has all facilities but small enough that the town is extremely excited to have us here.

Local businesses have “Welcome Unicon 21” on their roadside LED signs. General public talk to us in the street and ask us about our events

Local businesses have donated huge amounts of time to the event. E.g. the local hotel is running a shuttle between the venues all day for the entire event being driven by their employees. The local fire department are running the flaming hockey event.

Locals are coming to watch our events and paying to watch finals.

We have run out of volunteer shirts because of the unprecedented locals who have come and volunteered to run events.

The accommodation is the best mix, of the 5 UNICON’s I have been to. Being in a room with two people is more comfortable than a room of 20 and the location is close to all other riders. Their are cooking facilities on every floor if you want to cook your own food and an ALDI 2 km ride away. I have heard that the food hall for breakfast and dinner is a buffet, has good quality and healthy options and is cheaper than eating out.

There are plenty of restaurants/fast food options on the main street between 300m-2km away if that is preferred.

The town is also extremely picturesque.

There are certain benefits that a smaller town provides that large towns do not, if you make the effort to get there, you are rewarded handsomly.

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I live in WI but I’ve never gone to Unicon before but I definitely want to in the future when I have money lol. But I do think they should change the location every year or something and do it in other areas for people who are farther like Florida, or Texas. And they should have UNICON international! (EDIT: if that isn’t a thing already) For people who are not in the US. This is just my personal opinion but I do like it being in MI because it is close to me.

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I wish unicycling was a bigger thing but also then it wouldn’t be as unique either. (and people wouldn’t be as impressed by us, i do like to show off sometimes lol don’t we all have those moments) But I always try to get my friends to learn but they never want to but they always tell me how cool it is.

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It may only be a lamp post but I think it counts.

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Forgiveness for being a cringy geek. Can’t help it. I’m having a blast right now.

The locals do ask “what’s with all the unicyclists” as some didn’t know it’s going on. Most seem pleased to have us here. Although there was one motorcyclist that was extremely disgruntled about our parade. I overheard him talking to his girlfriend/wife riding as passenger behind him “we only came here because you wanted to and now we’re stuck” which was the :chefs-kiss: for me about the parade.

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Good point. Maybe, the should consider this for the Olypics and World Championships of other sports too.
Jokes aside: this is all reality since the beginning. Pleas read: Unicon (unicycling) - Wikipedia

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Personally speaking, I’ve felt more welcomed and befriended by the local townspeople of Bemidji than I have by the members of the unicycle community itself so for that I’m extremely pleased on the choice of location.

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I’m here at Unicon in Bemidji, and it’s been amazing so far. I hope you are too!

Cost

  • The event runs for almost 2 weeks, with multiple venues, multiple events and hundreds of volunteers donating thousands of volunteer hours. There are very few two week events which cost as little as Unicon.
  • A venue like a stadium or event centre (without sponsorship) costs tens of thousands to hire. Sponsors want a return on investment- in case of a city sponsor, the use of their venue is in exchange for bringing tourists into their town/city.

Accommodation

  • student accommodation is about as cheap as you’re going to get, anywhere, short of camping. For those not on budget, there are hotels available.

Remoteness

  • I’m surprised this is remote, considering it only took me a couple of days to get here from the other side of the world.

City size

  • I have attended 10 Unicons, and by far my favourite have been in smaller towns and cities, with Langenthal (*population 15,000) being particularly memorable. In a small town, Unicon makes an impact. The locals come to help, come to meet you, wave as you ride past. When you walk downtown or waterfront in Bemidji, you see unicyclists everywhere. In a city of 3 million, you can have a 1000 riders, but no one knows there is a World Championship/Convention happening. You’re a sideshow, not the main event.

Wellington, NZ
-That’s my home city and I was part of the organising team. I find it a really odd comment, considering this is a World Championship/Convention, not an American or European Championship. It is readily accessible to the Asia/Pacific region, which is home to 60% of the world’s population.

  • Wellington is our capital city, population 200,000 (city), and 500,000 in the greater region. It has an international airport which connects to Australia, and is only an hour flight from Auckland which has direct connections to North America, Europe and Asia.

It’s about time for another Southern Hemisphere Unicon. Remoteness and accessibility is relative.

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I always thought it would be cool to have unicycles in the Olympics but the chances of that even happening are very slim-it would have to become very popular and then people would actually have to dedicate and be motivated to continue to do unicycling like us people here!

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There are too many disciplines in unicycling to make sense putting a single one in the Olympics.

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Makes sense but I was talking about long distance riding or like short distance racing. Not like freestyle/performance

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And people who do high jump would think high jump should be there, and people who do street would think street should be there, and people who do cyclocross would think cyclocross should be there.

I don’t think you would even get unicyclists themselves to agree on a discipline to be entered.

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I agree, there’s just to many different categories but not enough people for each one