Having successfully made her selection, Julia Belk scrolled down and happily clicked on the “Add to Basket” link. Few students can relate to the excitement Belk felt that summer day of 2008 as she fantasized about the gift she had just bought herself from online. No, it wasn’t a pair of new shoes. Neither was it simply a good book. In fact, it was something so unique, so special, that Belk wouldn’t realize the benefit or enjoyment of her purchase until much later.

The equipment Belk bought herself from RenegadeJuggling.com was none other than a greatly cherished unicycle, and it could not have arrived to a more capable rider.

“It took me about a week to learn to ride,” junior Belk said. “It’s pretty similar to riding a bike or skateboarding or anything like that. It just takes a bit longer to learn and get used to. I’ve been doing it for a while now, so it’s second nature.”

If truth be told, it has been more than three and a half years since she began riding, and in all that time, Belk reports no injuries.

“Unless you count perpetually bruised legs!” she said.

Unfortunately, Belk’s junior year is taking away from her training.

“This school year has been terrible. Ideally, I’d be riding an hour or two every day, but now I’ll be lucky to ride once every week or two. Next year will be better.”

Despite her lack of practice time, Belk continues to advance her unicycle pursuits. She strives to increase the attention and participation of her sport within her own community. The Dallas Fort Worth Unicycle Club, which was founded by Belk, has been a great step in the right direction.

“In the Dallas Fort Worth area, there are more than 50 riders, but I’d say only about 5 riders like me, and they’re still learning,” Belk said. “I’ve taught a bunch of people how to ride. Every week, the Dallas Fort Worth Unicycle Club meets at Celebration Park and we all ride together, so I mostly help people there.”

Belk and her friends in the DFW Unicycle Club are not alone in their hobby.

“The U.S. has probably a couple hundred serious flatland, street riders, and the world has, I dunno, a few thousand. It’s definitely growing, though,” Belk said.

Recently, Belk was able to ride alongside athletes from other countries in an international unicycle competition held in Cologne, Germany.

“The competition was called EUC Winter, and basically 150 riders are allowed to attend, and we all live in this big room attached to a skate park for 3 to 4 days,” Belk said.

At her competition, there were 3 main events. The first two, which Belk competed in, are called Flatland and Street. The third is an event called Trials.

“For Flatland, there are preliminary runs,” Belk said. “Each person gets 2 minutes to ride in an open, flat space and land whatever they can.”

It was in this Flatland competition that Belk won first place.

“In the final battle I landed a 720 for my last trick, and I’m the only girl who can land it, so, yeah, I was pretty happy,” Belk said.

Still, the first place finish and the spirit of competition were not Belk’s only memorable experiences.

“The event is a lot more than the competitions,” she said. “It’s just fun to ride with everyone because a lot of people don’t live near other riders.”

Over the years, Belk has been supported and guided by her parents.

“Julia is an amazing, dedicated rider,” Julia’s mom Ellen said. “We are proud that she is able to teach what she has learned to others and hopes that she continues to ride and teach.”

Belk hopes to teach even more friends to ride and will continue improving as a rider herself.

“I don’t think I’ll ever perfect it,” she said. “There’s always more to learn.”