Unicycle Hockey Finds New Home In South Africa

Uni-Hockey finds a venue from where to start the work of establishing this emerging sport.

(PRWEB) July 4, 2004 -Unicycle Hockey is a game that's been descibed as 'a jolly good workout, great fun and not entirely serious'. 'Quite so' says Dave Walters, member of the steering committee working to establish this emerging sport in South Africa, 'since a unicycle can't coast, your legs are permanently engaged in propelling and balancing. The body's constant micro-adjustments for balance is beneficial in the same posture-enhancing way as Pilates training.

Doing all of this while concentrating on an unfolding game of hockey forces the riding to become almost automatic. Think about the skating in ice-hockey or, more pertinently, In-Line Hockey. '

More pertinently indeed as South Africa's Uni-Hockey found a new home at Randburg Rangers In-Line Hockey Club, opposite the Linden SAP. Richard Cook of Rangers said they are only too happy to make their facilities available to the Uni-Hockey players. "We know first hand how difficult it can be to establish a sport and we're happy to help."

The first Uni-Hockey meeting at the Ranger's venue will take place on Saturday the 3rd of July at 13h00. Dave invited everybody. 'If you've always wanted to learn to ride a unicycle, you are more than welcome to come around on Saturday. There will be more than enough unicycles to try and more than enough people to help. Once you've learnt how to ride, I can almost guarantee that you'll want to give Uni-Hockey a go. And if you just want to come around to make sure that we're ACTUALLY going to play hockey on Unicycles, it'll be good to have you.' After this initial session, they hope to meet regularly on the first Saturday of every month.

Despite being 'not entirely serious' there are international Uni-Hockey competitions and, among others, Germany and the UK have National Leagues. Games are played on 20- or 24inch unicycles using In-Line Hockey Sticks and a tennisball. According to Dave the tennisball is a fairly recent German trend and allows for a more aerial game without the need for helmets.

'Remember' says Dave, 'it takes twice the athlete to ride half the bike!.'

for more info please contact:
Dave Walters
G.U.S. (Gauteng Unicyclist Society)
0826847399

Richard Cook
Rangers In-Line Hockey
0823303766

NAMASTE!
DAVE