It is not everyday you see someone unicycling while simultaneously juggling. That is, if you don’t go to UNH. This week’s campus celebrity is Bruno Pape, the infamous and talented man we’ve all wished we knew more about!
Name: Bruno Pape
Occupation: Software Engineer, Space Science Center
Hobbies: Waterskiing, unicycling, and trying to do lots of other things that I am not very good at.
Hey Bruno! You’re notorious around the UNH campus as the “juggling unicycle man,” and so many of us are so curious as to know why it is you do what you do!
“Notorious? I don’t run that many people over, do I? Well, ok, it is an interesting challenge not to run people over. I guess I just like clowning around and having fun, and it is a nice way to get out of the office at lunch time.”
When did you learn how to juggle/unicycle?
“I started unicycling about 10 years ago when I bought my youngest daughter a unicycle for Christmas. Initially I practiced in an office building using the cubical partitions for balance, and then in the parking lot once the weather warmed up. Some friends were cleaning out their garage and gave me the juggling clubs. They told me to learn how to juggle them while riding my unicycle. I wasn’t smart enough to realize how long it would take me to learn how to do either, or both at the same time.”
Why did you decide to start practicing your hobbies around the UNH campus?
“I started working in the Space Science Center in July of 2007. The campus is pretty quiet in the summer so I didn’t run too many people over, even though I was still rather clumsy on the thing. It is a beautiful place to ride a unicycle, with lots of nice smooth sidewalks and paths.”
How long have you been cycling here?
“Too long, yet not long enough. A little over six years now.”
How many times a week can you be found juggling/riding around campus and do you have a routine that you follow?
“Sometimes it is every day of the week, if the weather is nice. I usually leave Morse Hall around lunch time, head towards Demerit, out to Main Street, towards Holloway Common, then past the front of the MUB, and back down Academic Way to Morse Hall. I usually go up and down Main Street a couple of times and stop at the basketball courts out by B Lot to ride backward or to try to shoot a few baskets.”
Tell us about some funny or interesting reactions you have received from people you’ve seen over the years.
“The smiles and giggles are the best. Saying hello to people is always nice. The occasional person that is walking and texting, and looks up at the last minute to see a guy juggling on a unicycle right in front of them is pretty good too.”
What do you hope to accomplish by cycling around this campus?
“I hope to avoid becoming an office potato. It is nice to get outside, get some exercise, and see everyone smile.”
Have you ever fallen off or seriously messed up while performing?
“A long time ago. I had started on a muddy path and rode out to parking lot, I was trying to scrape the mud off my shoes using the peddles. One foot slipped off the peddle and I landed flat on my face. I just scraped the side of my nose a bit, so it wasn’t too bad. (Note to self, don’t do that again.)”
How do you not get super sore from riding around on that tiny seat all day?
“Some seats are better than others. The seat on my first unicycle was terrible. Anyway I really only ride around for an hour, or so, if that, so it’s not too bad. If I ride five days in a row, and back and forth from B lot every day, then I am happy to have the weekend off.”
So how long do you plan on entertaining students and continuing your unique traditions here at UNH?
“I have a grant funded position here at UNH, and the funding for my position is currently expect to run out at the end of this year, so I might fade off into the sunset one of these days. Currently I am using up some of my accrued vacation, so the fading has probably already started. Have a great semester and year!”