New Zealand Unicycle Federation

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NZ Competition Rules

High Jump

Unicycle high jump in NZ is run under the same rules as normal high jump competitions. These rules are based on the international high jump rules found on the website answers.com.

The rider must begin and end the jump in control of their unicycle, with only the wheel touching the ground. For this reason no crash mats are used.

In a competition, the bar is initially set at a relatively low height, which will depend on the abilities of the riders competing. For beginners a starting height of 5cm is appropriate. For experienced trials riders a start of around 20cm is more appropriate.

The bar is moved upward in set increments (usually 3 or 5 centimetres). For record attempts the bar can be moved up in 1 cm increments.

Each competitor has the option of choosing at which height they wish to start, but once a height has been cleared other competitors may not start at a lower height. Once a competitor has elected to begin, they can choose whether or not to attempt subsequent heights. A competitor may choose to pass at a given height or, after failing to clear the bar at a given height, may "pass" on subsequent attempts at that height.

To clear a height the rider must jump over the bar, without causing it to fall and land in control of the unicycle on the other side. They may touch the bar as long as it does not fall. If there is doubt that the rider was in control on landing use any of the following definitions:
- at least 3 revolutions of the wheel
- five hops
- five seconds on the unicycle

Any competitor who records three consecutive misses is out of the competition.

The competitor who clears the highest jump is declared the winner. If two or more competitors clear the same maximum height, the competitor with the lowest number of failed attempts (at any height) wins. If that fails to break a tie for first place, a jump off is conducted. Heights obtained in such a jump off are eligible for records.

Long Jump

Unicycle long jump is run differently from normal long jump competitons. This is because the rider must remain in control of their unicycle after jumping and hence a sand pit cannot be used.

In a competition, two bars are used to mark out a distance. To begin with the bars are set close together at a relatively short distance. For beginners a starting distance of 10cm is appropriate. For experienced trials riders a start of around 50cm is more appropriate.

One bar is moved outwards in set increments (usually 5 to 10 centimetres). For record attempts the bar can be moved up in 1 cm increments.

The rules are then identical to unicycle high jump with the following difference:

To clear a distance a rider must jump over both bars without touching either of them. This means the rider may not touch either of the bars with their tyre, body or any other part of the unicycle. As with high jump the rider must land in control.