Taylor Stark took his first pedals atop a unicycle when he was 10-years-old.
While attending a friend香蕉视频直播檚 birthday party in his hometown of Canmore, Alta., Stark says he was distracted from taking in the planned celebration by an older sibling香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚nstead of interacting with any of the other kids, I spent three hours desperately trying to ride more than a meter,香蕉视频直播� Stark recalls. 香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 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.香蕉视频直播�
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 world香蕉视频直播檚 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 master香蕉视频直播檚 degree in the fall.
香蕉视频直播淚 was talking with a friend two years ago, almost to the dot, and we were kind of joking and they offered up, 香蕉视频直播榳hy don香蕉视频直播檛 you just unicycle across Canada with that summer?香蕉视频直播� And it was like, 香蕉视频直播楬a! That香蕉视频直播檚 funny香蕉视频直播� Wait a minute,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Stark says of the trip香蕉视频直播檚 origins. 香蕉视频直播淎nd we talked for a while and it香蕉视频直播檚 actually possible, so I decided to do that.香蕉视频直播�
Stark香蕉视频直播檚 not the first to traverse Canada香蕉视频直播檚 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 Stark香蕉视频直播檚 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 didn香蕉视频直播檛 originate from a desire to travel across the nation.
香蕉视频直播淭he conception of the trip was never 香蕉视频直播榣et香蕉视频直播檚 go across Canada.香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播榣et香蕉视频直播檚 unicycle a great distance and Canada might as well be it,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 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, Stark香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝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,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 all about just you and that tire. You can香蕉视频直播檛 think about anything else or you香蕉视频直播檙e going down,香蕉视频直播� explains Stark. 香蕉视频直播淪o it香蕉视频直播檚 a really good exercises for mental clarity, if I香蕉视频直播檓 going through a stressful period or an anxious period, riding a unicycle will dispel that right away, because I can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to be ruminating or thinking about stuff like that when I香蕉视频直播檓 riding.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 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 I香蕉视频直播檝e got my unicycle leaning against somewhere, everyone just walks up to me and starts up a conversation,香蕉视频直播� says Stark. 香蕉视频直播淚f I香蕉视频直播檓 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.香蕉视频直播�
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 he香蕉视频直播檚 embarked on atop his one-wheeled vehicle of choice.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 probably just the sense of joy that I get every once and a while when I香蕉视频直播檓 riding a section of road, the sun香蕉视频直播檚 out, the birds are out and there香蕉视频直播檚 just this wave of contentment and joy that kind of washes over you and you香蕉视频直播檙e just like 香蕉视频直播榳ow, I香蕉视频直播檓 doing this,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 says Stark of his favourite moments. 香蕉视频直播淎nd that evaporates as soon as you hit a hill, and suddenly you香蕉视频直播檙e swearing.香蕉视频直播�
To learn more about Stark香蕉视频直播檚 trip and how you can help, visit .
nathan.kunz@revelstokereview.com
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