Ride Hard

The unicycle is no longer relegated to the realm of clowns or novelties acts. Angel Serda and Marcus Garland are changing the perception. A new generation of unicycle enthusiastic are touting the unicycle’s transportation and more interestingly, athletic possibilities. Unicycle football is taking Texas by storm.

Angel Serda and His Team

Inspiration

Marcus had been a unicycle rider since the age of eleven. As a kid daydreaming on his unicycle, he first had the inklings of unicycle football. Years later, as an adult he began mentioning the idea to his fellow employees and friends at bike shops.

“The conversations about unicycle football were always brief back then because it didn’t seem likely. Years later, I was a few beers deep at the Tantra Coffeehouse when I got this huge spontaneous inspiration to make unicycle football happen.  I called Ozone Bike and asked them if they would sponsor us if I started a league and they agreed.  Within six months we had sold nearly fifty unicycles out of Ozone and several more from the Hub Bicycle Shop in San Marcos,” said Marcus.

Unicycle football came into existence in the summer of 2008 in San Marcos, Texas. To the best of Marcus’s knowledge, that was the first and only time the sport has been played.

Not surprisingly, when people heard this idea, there was a combination of shock and confusion.

“Most people were skeptical that I would get this off the ground at first, but when they started seeing how many people were buying unicycles and actually learning how to ride them, my credibility increased,” said Marcus

Angel Serda is trying to spread unicycle football to Austin. When he tries to get people to play the sport, they are not sure they can even ride a unicycle much less play football while on one.

“People usually say, ‘Oh man, what if I bust my ass?’ or ‘I’m not going to do something ridiculous like that and make a fool of myself.’  I simply respond, ‘Yeah, well I left my pussy at home, so try and ride one of these wheels or shut the hell up.’”

Action

Angel first saw unicycle football being played on Youtube and as a unicycle rider it piqued his interest. Initially it seemed that the sport would not be for him, since he thought it was only played in San Marcos and he did not have a car. Weeks later, a bus ride would all change that.

“I was on the bus with my wheel and some dude asked if I had heard of the sport. I said ‘Hell yeah’ and he told me that some of his friends were starting a team in Austin to play in San Marcos’ league. I met the boys and here we are,” said Angel.

Angel has been dedicated to the sport since that fateful bus ride.

“It is five on five flag football, following NFL rules, aside from a few accommodations where necessary.  I’d say it’s a half contact sport. Ten dudes head to head on unicycles. There’s room for collision but we are not out to kill each other. On the other hand, you can’t just let the other guys win,“ said Angel.

This full contact fun is not for the timid or fearful of punishment. Spills and crashes are inevitable once the whistle blows.

“We’ve had injuries, fortunately nothing serious. The sport is half tackle, half flag football and we play on pavement so we do get pretty beat up sometimes. I’m usually limping for a couple days after a game,” said Marcus.

The sport is more than just competition and winning. It is about hanging out with friends and having a good time.

“This is a beer drinking sport. If you are going home and lifting weights to play unicycle football you’re playing the wrong sport. This is about drinking beer, partying with your friends and having a good time,” said Marcus.

Angel says that just attempting the sport gets you some respect and new friends.

“Hell, if you are actually trying to play and get with it, that’s pretty much instant respect among the boys. Though you got to work at it, give respect to get it and not be a complete jackass,“ said Angel.

Dreams

The future of unicycle football is wide open. The first step in conquering the world of sport is bringing the sport to Austin. Angel is spearheading that campaign.

“Austin is a Mecca for crazy independent sports. The Lonestar Rollergirls were the first all female Roller Derby League established here. The excitement that they generated and publicity gained spread the sport nationwide.  Why?  Because they are badass. We could be that badass,” Angel continued, “the only problem I see is that San Marcos is small and though it is well known there, most people I tell about in Austin have never heard of the sport. Marcus and I feel that if we can get this wheel rolling in Austin, it will be the first big break in the wave we have been waiting to ride into national attention.”

For more information about unicycle football, visit their web site.

- Bill Bowman

photos: Samantha White, Jose Ole & Nathon Polowski