You may spot them riding down Southwest 13th Street on their way to Krispy Kreme, or perhaps going through the drive-thru at McDonald’s — balanced, poised and beaming with enthusiasm and talent.
This is the one-wheeled club called the Unicycle Unit.
The club is preparing to participate in a unicycle polo tournament at the 33rd Annual Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival in Atlanta from Feb. 4 to 6.
The Unicycle Unit is an offshoot of Objects In Motion, the official juggling club at UF. It started six years ago as a contact-juggling club but now includes other types of juggling as well as unicycling.
“The club is not competing for a prize or admiration, but because it sounds fun and gives us a chance to practice what we love,” said club president Ian Elsner.
Elsner, a geography junior, joined the club his freshman year. He has been juggling since he was 5 years old, when his father taught him.
“A family that juggles together, stays together,” Elsner said.
Even though Elsner doesn’t remember how he heard about Objects In Motion, he does remember the first meeting he attended. The members greeted him without judgment.
“It’s really about learning and being a part of a community, being humble, willing to teach what you know and learning about what you don’t,” he said.
The Unicycle Unit meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Reitz Union Colonnade and new members are highly encouraged to come and check it out with little or no experience necessary.
