The Cardiff Unicycle Hockey group is ‘a little community’ for people who are interested in ‘the same unique, random sport’
A UNICYCLE hockey group wants people of all ages, genders, and abilities to know they will support anyone who wants to give it a go.
The members say they found a sense of community through joining the group which plays the unique sport.
The group meets every Sunday at 8pm at the roller rink in House of Sport Hall 3 at Cardiff City House of Sport in Grangetown.
It is a supportive space for everyone to get involved. They have a separate session on Wednesday for professional competitions.
Ben Tullis, 46, started playing unicycle hockey when he was 15 years old and has run the group for the past 12 years.
“We are always super inclusive,” he said. “We try and make sure everyone at every level gets to participate in all the games.
“It’s not so much about scoring goals or who wins, it’s about making sure that everyone has fun.”
The group doesn’t charge for membership, and you don’t play a game until you can ride the whole length of the rink unassisted.
When you start playing hockey games, it costs £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
He said “the crowd erupted into cheers” when one member first managed to unicycle a length and a half of the rink.
“You will see we’ve got father son, daughter combinations here, which you don’t really find in other games,” he added.
“You don’t get real benefit from being older, younger, bigger, or smaller, or male or female.
“It’s all about how good you are on a unicycle and what your stick control is like and what your teamsmanship is like.”
For hockey games, they break up into four teams and play six to seven eight-minute games.
“You will see a lot in game play like maybe the more experienced players making opportunities and passing to less experienced players.
“When you are learning it is very important people don’t get disheartened because you do keep getting on and off,” he said.
Bron Evans, 22, has unicycled since the age of 11.
“It’s a little community who are all interested in the same unique, random sport,” they said.
“It’s very much like we are all trying to better each other and improve as a community. I wouldn’t even say team. I would say community, because we are all friends, it’s great.
“I actually ran away to the circus when I was 10, I made friends with someone called Sid who was doing unicycling at the circus.”
Two years ago, they saw two people from the group unicycling in the park.
“I looked at them and was like ‘I want to do that’, and they were like ‘do you want to give it a go?’ We exchanged contact information and then I came. Sid was here, coincidentally. It was really fun,” they said.
Alun Roderick, 59, tried to learn how to unicycle in the past but struggled without help.
In 2019, he saw man in a park riding a big 36in wheel unicycle and told him about his past attempts.
He had a spare unicycle and gave him a lesson in a park down the road from where he lived.
Then he found out about the Cardiff Unicycle Hockey group online and gave it a go.
“I came along and, just like the people you see here on the sidelines trying to learn… I was one of them once, persevering.
“I persevered and learned to ride it. Everybody has been in this position at some point.”
Joseph Lewis, 18, joined the group two and a half years ago.
“It took me six hours over three sessions and then another couple of sessions before I was playing. It’s something I’m not going to quit. It’s my favourite sport,” he said.
“It’s like you are in and no-one ever wants to leave. Everyone is quite happy to get involved. People bring friends and family along because everyone really enjoys it.
“You can come in an environment where everyone is learning at the same time.”
To find out more email info@cardiffunicycle.co.uk or find where to reserve a spot at their next session here.
