Taylor Stark took his first pedals atop a unicycle when he was 10-years-old.
While attending a friendB次元官网网址檚 birthday party in his hometown of Canmore, Alta., Stark says he was distracted from taking in the planned celebration by an older siblingB次元官网网址檚 unicycle perched in the backyard.
From there, he was immediately pulled in by the challenge, which held his complete attention for the rest of the afternoon.
B次元官网网址淚nstead of interacting with any of the other kids, I spent three hours desperately trying to ride more than a meter,B次元官网网址� Stark recalls. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 that day, but my dad, when he came to pick me up, saw how intensely focused I was on it, so he came home a week later with a unicycle to give to me.B次元官网网址�
Thirteen years later, Stark is looking to travel quite a bit further than the initial meter goal, stretching his distance to over 6,500 kilometers as he attempts to be the first unicyclist to travel coast-to-coast across Canada.
Stark, now 23, began his journey across the worldB次元官网网址檚 second largest land mass on May 7, dipping the tire of his Kris Holm brand unicycle in the Pacific Ocean before departing from Vancouver towards his destination of Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The trip originated from a joke cracked by a friend surrounding how Stark could spend his summer before heading back to school to begin his masterB次元官网网址檚 degree in the fall.
B次元官网网址淚 was talking with a friend two years ago, almost to the dot, and we were kind of joking and they offered up, B次元官网网址榳hy donB次元官网网址檛 you just unicycle across Canada with that summer?B次元官网网址� And it was like, B次元官网网址楬a! ThatB次元官网网址檚 funnyB次元官网网址� Wait a minute,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Stark says of the tripB次元官网网址檚 origins. B次元官网网址淎nd we talked for a while and itB次元官网网址檚 actually possible, so I decided to do that.B次元官网网址�
StarkB次元官网网址檚 not the first to traverse CanadaB次元官网网址檚 diverse landscape on a unicycle, but would be the first to span from coast-to-coast.
In 2014, activist Joseph Boutilier traveled from Victoria to Ottawa in order to raise awareness of climate change before the 2015 federal election. Unicyclist Dave Cox planned a trip similar to StarkB次元官网网址檚 in 2009, but ended his ride in Alberta.
Though the across Canada title offers a convenient shorthand for the trip, Stark says his choice to bookend the ride with the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans didnB次元官网网址檛 originate from a desire to travel across the nation.
B次元官网网址淭he conception of the trip was never B次元官网网址榣etB次元官网网址檚 go across Canada.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址榣etB次元官网网址檚 unicycle a great distance and Canada might as well be it,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Stark.
When completely loaded with all of his supplies, which includes a tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, electronics, books, clothing and repair equipment among other miscellaneous items, StarkB次元官网网址檚 unicycle weighs approximately 60 pounds (27 kg). The bulk of his equipment sits in pannier bags affixed to a homemade aluminum frame.
| Taylor Stark takes a running start at his fully loaded unicycle, which weighs approximately 60 pounds when packed with equipment. Stark describes the mounting process as a "leap of faith" which has to be made when starting the cycle. (Nathan Kunz/Revelstoke Review) |
On average, Stark figures he travels about 17 km/h on the fully loaded cycle. As the unicycle does not have gears, he is reliant on the large 36 inch wheel to help climb hills along the shoulder of highways.
Throughout his ride, Stark is raising money for the Canadian Mental Health Association, a cause he decided to support due to direct connection between mental health and people close to him.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just seen a lot of people my age struggle with mental health. I feel like any benefit we can add to programs that increase resources and increase support for that is good to do,B次元官网网址� says Stark.
In his own life, Stark says unicycling has offered therapeutic qualities in terms of his personal mental health through the required focus riding offers.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all about just you and that tire. You canB次元官网网址檛 think about anything else or youB次元官网网址檙e going down,B次元官网网址� explains Stark. B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 a really good exercises for mental clarity, if IB次元官网网址檓 going through a stressful period or an anxious period, riding a unicycle will dispel that right away, because I canB次元官网网址檛 afford to be ruminating or thinking about stuff like that when IB次元官网网址檓 riding.B次元官网网址�
Through his first 565 kilometers from Vancouver to Revelstoke, Stark says he has been consistently greeted by extremely enthusiastic support. Whether it be through offers of accommodations to allow for breaks between camping excursions or general curiosity, Stark says people have been eager to learn more and offer support for his trip.
B次元官网网址淚 definitely get a lot of honking. In towns I get a lot of people leaning out the windows and stuff. And especially when I stop - when IB次元官网网址檝e got my unicycle leaning against somewhere, everyone just walks up to me and starts up a conversation,B次元官网网址� says Stark. B次元官网网址淚f IB次元官网网址檓 beat at the end of the day and still have ten kilometers to go and someone walks up to me and is so enthusiastic about it, that energizes me as well.B次元官网网址�
Looking back at the first completed section of his trip, Stark says his favourite moments have been when he can step back and take in his surroundings, offering an opportunity to reflect on the grand scale journey heB次元官网网址檚 embarked on atop his one-wheeled vehicle of choice.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 probably just the sense of joy that I get every once and a while when IB次元官网网址檓 riding a section of road, the sunB次元官网网址檚 out, the birds are out and thereB次元官网网址檚 just this wave of contentment and joy that kind of washes over you and youB次元官网网址檙e just like B次元官网网址榳ow, IB次元官网网址檓 doing this,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Stark of his favourite moments. B次元官网网址淎nd that evaporates as soon as you hit a hill, and suddenly youB次元官网网址檙e swearing.B次元官网网址�
To learn more about StarkB次元官网网址檚 trip and how you can help, visit .
nathan.kunz@revelstokereview.com
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