Progress, One wheel at a time

Australian Unicycle Champion 2010 – Jaryd Harris

October 18th, 2010

Campbelltown student wins unicycle comp

OTHER kids may have given Campbelltown Performing Arts High School student Jaryd Harris grief for being a one-wheeled wonder, but the 15-year-old has had the last laugh after being crowned the Australia’s best unicyclist.
The Tahmoor resident is not only officially Australia’s fastest human on one wheel (using both one and two legs), but is also the best basketballer, hockey player and relay competitor.
GALLERY: Champion unicyclist Jaryd Harris
Pedalling at the Unicycle National Championships in Canberra from October 1 to 4, Harris said it was an incredible feeling to be number one in the county.
“It was my first time in the opens event, and it was unexpected for me to win ,” Harris said.
“I went in every event which got me points. I was placed well in some of these events which also helped me get there.”
As a junior, Harris has 10 Australian records and holds 17 Australian titles.
But although he’s the best in his field, he still cops flak from others not accustomed to getting around on one wheel.
“It’s difficult and hard because everyone’s looking at you and other people are talking to you when you’re riding,” he said.
“Some people are just ignorant. The way I see it people who use push bikes are on training wheels.”
Harris now has his sights on the Asia Pacific Games in South Korea in August next year, as well as another competition in Italy in 2012.
With his profile growing, he also has a swag of sponsors and his own website: jaryd-harris.info
Mum Lyn Harris said he didn’t think he stood a chance of winning any events in the open field
“He was happy to compete and to place if at all possible,” she said.
“We have been in absolute shock since the announcement.
“Jaryd has made us so very proud and exceeded everyone’s expectations. I can’t be any happier.”

BY KIMBERLY LENNARD

13 Oct, 2010 01:00 AM

UNICYCLIST Jaryd Harris, 15, who attends Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, has won his first open unicycle national championship. He was the junior national championship and easily made the transition into the senior competition this year. He attends Campbelltown Performing Arts High School where he used his unicycling skills to earn selection to attend the school in 2007. The national championships, or UniNats, were held in Canberra from October 1 to 4.

In his first attempt at the open competition Jaryd managed to snag the national title away from his coach and mentor Ashley Curtis, who was the former open championship holder. As a junior, Jaryd had 10 Australian records and held 17 Australian titles. As an open competitor he has broken two Australian records. In the five-kilometre race where he made a time of 17 minutes, beating the old record of 22 minutes. His second record was in the 50-metre one-footed scoring a new time of 12.48 seconds surpassing the previous record of 13.40 seconds. Jaryd was awarded the championship after he had achieved the best overall scores in the most events. He was first in the unicycle hockey, unicycle basketball, forward slowboard, 50-metre backwards, gliding and 400-metre relay.

Jaryd’s mum and supporter Lyn Harris was proud of her son’s accomplishments in what was an unexpected result.

“We have been in absolute shock since the announcement,” she said. “Jaryd has made us so very proud and exceeded everyone’s hopes at the championships.” Mrs Harris said Jaryd thought he didn’t stand a chance of winning any events in the open field. “Opens are between age 15 and age 40 and it’s very tough,” she said. “He was happy to compete and there was always an outside chance he may place in a couple of events. I took him to the Australian national unicycle championships in Canberra to compete, have fun and to hand over his Australian junior unicycle champion title but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be bringing home the Australian national champion.”

Jaryd’s goal is to now travel to the Asia Pacific Games in Seoul in August next year and to reach the world championships in 2010 in Italy. He needs sponsors to help him achieve these goals.

Anyone who wants to help can contact Jaryd via his website: jaryd-harris.info.