The New Zealand Unicycle Team will return home this weekend after an successful world championships in Ansan, South Korea. The 19th Unicycle World Championships and Convention is a biennial event which hosted over 1100 unicyclists from 30 countries.
Sam La Hood won gold in the women’s slopestyle street competition, but was unable to defend her previous flatland title, finishing fourth. Slopestyle street involves racing an urban obstacle course and demonstrating tricks in a creative and fluid way, while flatland is a tournament style battle between two unicyclists demonstrating trick combinations on flat ground.
Christian Huriwai, the three time former street world champion, won bronze despite an injury mid-competition which saw him taken to hospital.
Our racing unicyclists also performed well. Ken Looi won silver in the 100km road race. Looi was leading for most of the race, building a lead of over 6 minutes, before a puncture saw him drop to second place by the finish. “I’m glad I salvaged a podium spot after that puncture- unicycle wheels aren’t made to be taken out quickly!” Looi said.
The other team members, Chris Aitken and Tony Melton, both achieved age group placings in the street competition and road races, respectively.