By Dan Ninham
The Sanford Center in Bemidji, MN presented “Unicon 21” in July. Organizers handpicked Bemidji “to create the ideal Unicon experience” according to its website. The Unicon experience included 1200 unicyclists coming to town from throughout the world. Unicyclists were seen in and around Bemidji heading to and from venues including the Sanford Center, home of the Bemidji State University NCAA D1 hockey programs, the Bemidji High School, a few elementary schools, and the Buena Vista ski hill.
The 21st Unicycling World Convention and Championships included six disciplines for the competitive part of the program. These included freestyle with individual, pairs or groups performing to music with costumes and props, hockey and basketball team sports, track events including 100m, 400m, 800m and shorter races in one foot riding, “wheel walking,” and coasting, urban with flatland, trials, jumps, and street categories, road racing including 10k and around Lake Bemidji distances, and Muni, off-road races with varying and unpredictable terrain.
There were a number of unicyclists at the entry to the Sanford Center riding on the concrete and the block walls and on a variety of one wheeled cycles. They appeared to be preparing for competition or just doing what unicyclists do in their free time.
Erick Gonzalez wa among the unicylists. He has lived in Flagstaff, Arizona for the past five years. He identifies as ethnic Mexica, or Aztec. He is hopping on and off the wide block walls in the front of the entry way on his unicycle. His long black hair hanging loosely past his waist may be one of the trademarks of this world traveler.
“I recently left my job teaching physics at a school in Flagstaff to start my own business,” said Gonzalez. “Speaking Earth Productions, has a mission to connect us to the possibilities of connection with the seen and unseen worlds in nature and the magic of who we are as human beings made of earth.”
“I make videos on YouTube which are portals into these possibilities, am available for video production work, and create experiences both in person and online to deepen our understanding and connection with the earth and who we are,” added Gonzalez.
Indigenous core values dictated how the athletes train and compete. Gonzalez chose not to compete in Bemidji in a world class event and these core values also guide him as an active observer.
“For me, riding at the highest level in mountain unicycling became less of a physical practice and instead a practice of training and understanding the mind to allow for extreme movement,” said Gonzalez. “To ride at this level became a practice of physical, mental, and emotional composure, and the techniques and practices that allow me to ride down things that push the possibilities of motion and carry high risk, for example riding down an incredibly steep 60ft tall slab on the Private Reserve trail in Flagstaff.”
There is always a story within a story. The filming of the “Muni” technique in Sedona, AZ also has another story. “I spent eight months filming and editing this video,” said Gonzalez. “My goal was to try and push the possibilities of what had ever been done before by finding the biggest and craziest possible lines to ride down in Sedona, which offers endless red rock features.”
“But at a deeper level it is also an exploration of intentional movement, of riding in relationship with land, and a love letter to Sedona itself. While my main goal was to blow people’s minds with my riding, the deeper goal, like the rest of my work, is to connect others to the magic of being human and all the possibilities we hold when we know ourselves and are intentional with our lives.”
Gonzalez shared the technical components of riding and making a connection to the land. He said, “Two important elements for me are riding in relationship to land, and the power of intentional movement. I have a deep understanding and connection to the land I ride on through many different dimensions of the human capacity for understanding, to ride is to leave a line of gratitude on the rocks I ride on, and there is immense power in this relationship.”
“Our movement is also expressive, and choosing what I want to express or an intention for the motion I create, all while also following the joy of movement that my body is made for, has led me to great power and impeccable command of my body and unicycle in the motion I want to create,” added Gonzalez.
While watching the freestyle competition at the Sanford Center, one would witness world class athletes performing amazing movements in head-to-head competition with two people taking turns with short timed routines. This was one of the disciplines that was experienced by several hundred spectators.
The Unicon 21 had been to South Korea and France the few years after Covid first came into the world. Now the stop in Bemidji, MN was definitely memorable for competitors and spectators alike.
Sedona Mountain Unicycling: https://youtu.be/kgw-Og4Bkg0?si=gbPd97X5JMTp_feS.
Speaking Earth Productions: https://speakingearthproductions.com.
