Newsletter #10 - Updates on venues

 

Hello fellow unicyclists,

 

This week, we are presenting more locations for Unicon 17: the Étienne-Desmarteau athletics track, Le TAZ skatepark, the Esplanade Financière Sun Life and the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau.

 

ÉTIENNE-DESMARTEAU ATHLETICS TRACK

We are extremely happy to finally announce the location of the athletics track for the racing competitions. Located only 2.3km away from the Collège de Maisonneuve, the Étienne-Desmarteau Park will host all the races on track. Not only is it the closest track to Unicon 17’s convention center and to most other venues, but it was also restored in 2009, making it one of the best tracks in Montréal.

 

Please note that in order to maintain the quality of the track, the facility requires that participants use non-metal pedals and tires with very small knobs. All Muni, cross, trials or street unicycles equipped with knobby tires will be strictly forbidden to enter the area of the track. We would also like to remind everyone that the dimensions allowed by the IUF Rulebook for 20" categories are a maximal wheel diameter of 518mm and minimal crank length of 100mm, and for 24" categories a maximal wheel diameter of 618mm and minimal crank length of 125mm. All unicycles will be measured prior to the start of competitions.

 

Also note that some slight changes to the track schedule have been made in order to better distribute the physical stress on the athletes. The 100m and 800m races have swapped days, and the finals will now be done at the end of each competition day. For the complete and most up-to-date schedule, please refer the online schedule.

 

The Étienne-Desmarteau track offers 6 lanes all the way around, and 2 extra lanes on one of its sides, for a total of 8 lanes usable for the shorter races. As mentioned in the IUF Rulebook, the number of participants taking part in the finals will be the same as the number of usable lanes on the track, therefore 8 finalists for the 30m Wheel-Walk, 50m One-Foot and 100m, 6 teams of finalists for the Relay 4x100m, and 6 finalists for the 400m and 800m (provided that women and men compete in two different categories).

 

Participants will have access to the adjacent building for washrooms, changing rooms and showers. A skatepark is also located right beside the track for riders who would like to practice their urban tricks.

 

The park is accessible by unicycle via the 18th Avenue (10-15 minutes, depending if you turn on the race-mode) or by bus on the [139] (13-19 minutes).

 

LE TAZ SKATEPARK

The Street competition will be hosted at Le TAZ Skatepark, one of Canada’s largest indoor sports center. Already well-known amongst the international communities of sports on wheels and alternative sports, it offers almost 2 300 m2 of endless fun for Street and Trials riders with obstacles for all levels.

 

Le TAZ has a restaurant, free WiFi, lockers and showers for participants. The mezzanine on the second floor will offer a perfect view for the public during the finals. A concrete outdoor skatepark is also open to public behind the building.

 

The skatepark is accessible by public transport via the [97]+[45] or [29]+[45] or Metro (Papineau)+[45] or Metro (Crémazie)+unicycle (around 50 minutes).

 

ESPLANADE FINANCIÈRE SUN LIFE

The Esplanade Financière Sun Life, part of the Montréal Olympic Park, hosted the 1976 Olympic Games. It is now the site of many sport events, festivals and activities all-year-round. You will also find nearby the Space for Life, consisting of 4 natural sciences museums: the Biodôme, the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden and the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.

 

The Unicon 17 team is proud to host most of the Urban competitions on the Esplanade, which will offer fantastic views in front of the Olympic Stadium.

 

The Esplanade is right beside the Collège de Maisonneuve, as well as being directly accessible by metro from the Pie-IX station. An indoor parking is also available for $15/day (payable on site).

 

CENTRE PIERRE-CHARBONNEAU (CPC)

Centre Pierre Charbonneau is the competition gymnasium for all Freestyle events and Team Sports finals. It is 36m by 36m and has room for over 1 300 spectators to sit down around you during your big moment.

 

A caterer will be present on the nights of finals, and showers and changing rooms are available for competitors.

 

CPC is located 1 400m from Collège de Maisonneuve and is therefore also easily accessible by unicycle (5-10 minutes). The Viau metro station, on the Green line, is also right around the corner, and parking is available for $10/day (payable on site).

 

Venues are the cornerstone of any Unicon and your dedicated team of organizers is not only excited but proud to host all competitions in installations of the highest standards. We are convinced that everyone will have the best experiences competing at the Unicon 17 venues.

 

Stay tuned for our next newsletter coming next week on important reminders for the end of the registration period coming soon!

 

Ride on,
The Unicon 17 Organization Team