I started to ride in 5th grade after seeing Twin Cities Unicycle Club in my Minnesota hometown parade. Since then I've unicycled in 15 countries, competed and won titles nationally and internationally, participated in 4 UniTours, and gotten engaged to my unicycling pairs partner during a Mountain Unicycling Weekend. :) Right now I teach unicycling and French at a Montessori school, and I'm looking forward to UniNam, long distance unicycle tour in Vietnam, in March 2008.
Irene Genelin, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, June 2007, photo by Andy Cotter
Irene Genelin, Hadrian's Wall, UK, October 2007, photo by Andy Cotter
Irene Genelin, Gubbio, Italy, June 2007, Day 7 of the Mediterranean Unicycle Tour, photo by John Stone
Louise Lovelle
I learned to ride a unicycle in 2002 when suggested to me that few women have put in the time it takes to ride a unicycles on a trail. I was not a natural, but since then the hours have added up and one of my greatest joys is experiencing nature on one wheel. I took a hiatus in ’05-’06 when I moved to Barcelona and then ran away with the circus (literally). Now that I’m back in California, I have been enjoying many Muni rides and I'm looking forward to touring Vietnam and Africa on the 36" in the upcoming months and years.
Louise Lovelle, Half Moon Bay, California, USA, December 2007, photo by Andy Cotter
Louise Lovelle, California, USA, October 2007, photo by Nathan Hoover
Louise Lovelle, Pacifica, California, USA, December 2007, photo by Andy Cotter
Michele Manna-Hastings
Having come to Santa Cruz in 1991, I soon became an avid mt. biker-I loved the feel of shredding downhill and the great cardio workout grinding up hills-all in the beautiful hills of Wilder Ranch and redwoods of Nisene Marks State Park. I learned how to ride 3 years ago, with the help of my garage, soon my husband Mark and I were addicted. Muni is my favorite-a great workout, surrounded by natural beauty and friends-who could ask for more? I ride my Coker around town and have enjoyed long rides in and round Santa Cruz County. I supported the Aids Ride 2007 ( bicycle) and had a blast mt biking from Durango to Moab last spring.
Michele Manna-Hastings, University of California - Santa Cruz, California, USA, December 2007, photo by Andy Cotter
Michele Manna-Hastings, Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz, California, USA, September 2007, Day 1 of RTL qualifying ride
Michele Manna-Hastings, Santa Cruz, California, USA, September 2007, Day 1 of RTL qualifying ride
Andy Cotter
I started unicycling in 1986 while in high school; they needed a unicyclist for the play called Barnum. Learning to unicycle for the school play was quite a challenge; I managed to balance my way across the stage for the performances without falling. From those unstable beginnings I have proceeded to unicycle my way across the globe. In the process I attended twenty national and ten international unicycle conventions taking several national and international titles.
In 1999 I got into long distance unicycling organizing Unicycle Across Minnesota, the first long distance ride of its kind. Since then I have participated in six long distance unicycle tours.
Andy Cotter, Hutchinson, Minnesota, USA, July 2005, self portriat
Andy Cotter, Hadrian's Wall, UK, October 2007, photo by Irene Genelin
Andy Cotter, Hwy Overpass, Hutchinson, Minnesota, USA, July 2005, self portrait