Unicycle makes the man

    Everyone knows Josh Powell when they see him. Even if you don’t know his name you can always identify him. He’s the guy on the unicycle.
    “When I’m on the unicycle it seems I have a lot more friends,” Josh said.
    His statement is easily proven, because curious bystanders are always stopping to ask questions or to watch him ride.
    “Some people are just wierded out like, ‘what’s this kid doing riding a unicycle?’” Josh said. “And some people come up and talk to me, which I don’t mind.”
    “What is that?” Some ask pointing at his unicycle with dumbfounded looks in their eyes. “How do you ride that?” is another popular question. But Josh doesn’t mind the extra attention. He calmly answers everyone’s questions in a friendly tone that makes them feel like they’ve known him all their life.
    He will even give people the chance to learn his unique skill. First, the curious student gets to fly solo, but after falling a couple of times Josh will step up and give a few pointers.
    Josh does more than just ride a unicycle. He is fully trained in several circus acts, including juggling (regular objects and torches), stilt walking and tight rope walking.
    “I actually went to a camp when I as a kid,” Josh explained. “Circus camp. I loved it and I would go every year.”
    He went on to say that he loved circus camp so much that he became a teacher at the camp and passed his expertise on to others wanting to learn the skills of circus performing.
    Oddly enough, when Josh was a child he never considered joining the circus.
    “I like the circus,” Josh said. “But when I was a kid I never wanted to grow up and be in the circus, which is sort of weird considering what I can do.”
    Instead Josh used his childhood talent in street performances and festivals.
    “When you are 10 years old and you are riding a unicycle around and juggling, people are very impressed. They give you a lot of money,” he said with a proud smile on his face.
    But these talents come at a price, usually a physical one. Josh has several scars on his shins and ankles from falling off his unicycle.
    One can actually do tricks on a unicycle, much like BMX cycling, and Josh has memories of his tricks embedded in his legs.
    “I finally got smart and bought shin guards,” Josh said.
    On top of the trick unicycling Josh also juggles fire. Plus he made his own torches. Josh explained that regulation torches cost $30 a piece. So he logged on to the Internet and found the materials he needed and a blue print.
    Since unicycling and juggling are not widely popular activities Josh also uses the internet to draw inspiration. YouTube provides numerous videos demonstrating people doing insane things. Josh doesn’t try all of them, he sticks with the sensible ones, that wouldn’t cause too much bodily harm if something were to go awry.
    Josh doesn’t just use his circus abilities in his personal life, he likes to take his “toys” with him to the classroom on special occasions.
    Being part of the special education cohort, Josh spends two days a week working with special needs children at different school for six week periods. You can just imagine the faces of the children when Josh walks in with his juggling balls and unicycle. 
    “The kids like it,” Josh said with that same proud smile. “They enjoy having a teacher with talent. I’m just a big kid, too.”
    Part of that day would be spent learning how to juggle and watching Josh perform. Probably a much need break from the usual curriculum.
    And this reveals Josh’s true talent.
    “I have always had a passion for helping disabled kids,” Josh said.
At his home in Dekalb County Josh’s mother is the head of Special Olympics. Josh was an avid volunteer and always enjoyed the experience. In fact, he fronted his own swim team.
    “That was an experience, because I take these kids who couldn’t swim at all and I taught them how to swim competitively, which was awesome,” Jsoh said.
    Emily Ballard, Josh’s girlfriend, is very proud of his accomplishments.
    “He was the state swim coach for the Special Olympics this year. He loves working with children and being the center of attention, but not in a selfish way. He just loves to make people happy,” Ballard said.
    When he’s not in the classroom, he’s back to his unicycle and juggling balls. His roommate, Lance Ballard, can account for this.
    “He is crazy,” Josh said. “He’s always on his unicycle and juggling.”
    Josh may sound odd to some, but he is a unique individual who knows how to have fun and help people along the way.
    So next time you see a guy on a unicycle, wave at him. It’s probably Josh, and he’ll talk to you like he’s known you all of his life.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 16 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry