Lesson in balance provides pupils with wheel poise

Tim James (11, left) and William Scown (12) have mastered the art of balancing on a unicycle....
Tim James (11, left) and William Scown (12) have mastered the art of balancing on a unicycle. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.
Pupils at Queenstown Primary School got a lesson in balance on Wednesday when they were given six unicycles to use for the term.

John Potts, of Bikes for Fun, said the unicycles were provided to the schools by the business to encourage co-ordination and help children to try something they otherwise might not.

"The idea, of course, is balance and co-ordination and trying to get the kids to do things that are outside their comfort zone.

"They take turns at the school using them themselves and taking them home at the weekend and they're starting up a unicycle club, meeting at lunchtimes.

"Hopefully, this is going to be available for all the schools in the area."

Mr Potts said after a "bit of instruction" on how to balance on the unicycles, the children were able to play around on them, building up their skills to ultimately perform tricks on the one-wheeled bikes.

At the school on Wednesday, the pupils were able to use a training unicycle, designed by Mr Potts, before moving on to a unicycle on its own.

Supported by chairs, they learnt the fine art of balancing, clapping once, twice, then three times, before rolling forwards and backwards.

It wasn't long before the first of them began unicycling with the support of classmates, spurred on by the skills of two pupils who have been using the bikes for a year.

Tim James and William Scown were introduced to the unicycles by Mr Potts and haven't looked back.

"We just picked it up," Tim said.

"There's always new things that you can do - I can jump up and down now."

William said it gave him a new challenge, although he "face-planted once" and has had a few "grazed legs and grazed arms".

Mr Potts said next term the unicycles would be going to the Queenstown Primary School for the pupils there to use.

 

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