Seen around the world?

August 17, 2010 7:22 PM

2010 yo-yo chamion. (SLYT)
posted by twirlypen (28 comments total)

Yo, he has mad skillz, Yo.
posted by Fizz at 7:29 PM on August 17, 2010

Pshh. He didn't walk the dog once.
posted by itchylick at 7:32 PM on August 17, 2010 [2 favorites]

I commend ANY human who gets cheers on stage and ass backstage because of yo-yo skills.

yo-hos?
posted by itchylick at 7:33 PM on August 17, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'd like to see the guy or gal who got second place. Are they all relatively that good, or is he like the one and true King of yo-yo tricks?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:34 PM on August 17, 2010 [4 favorites]

Pfft. He's no Smothers Brother.
posted by Brittanie at 7:36 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Second place. Cool shoes.
posted by event at 7:49 PM on August 17, 2010 [2 favorites]

Off topic: You ever notice that the logo for Duncan Yo-Yo's is similar to Dunkin' Donuts? Those companies should merge together and make yo-yo donuts.
posted by cazoo at 7:58 PM on August 17, 2010

cazoo: yonuts.
posted by komara at 8:02 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Have you guys ever hung out with someone who is really into yo-yoing? Either I'm under some hardcore confirmation bias, or they tend to be practicing constantly, and regardless of circumstance. It's like they're almost unconscious of the fact that, in the middle of talking about some band, they've whipped out their yo-yo and did a bunch of tricks, all while keeping eye contact.
posted by griphus at 8:05 PM on August 17, 2010 [4 favorites]

Also: holyshit moment at 2:50.
posted by griphus at 8:08 PM on August 17, 2010

must be hard to differentiate between the top competitors, that is some fast action both 1st and 2nd place where blistering.
posted by edgeways at 8:12 PM on August 17, 2010

I could totally do this. But I choose not too.

it's a young man's game
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:20 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Why do they never pass the yo-yo between their legs? Is it illegal for some weird reason, or is it 'just never done' for some other weird reason?
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:30 PM on August 17, 2010

fast and loose, man, fast and loose.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:42 PM on August 17, 2010

!!!!
posted by tomplus2 at 9:00 PM on August 17, 2010

2nd place dude was so much more artful. I mean I may not know from yo yos, but I know me some artfulness, and #2 was dancing up there with the yo yo.
posted by ericost at 9:03 PM on August 17, 2010

Have you guys ever hung out with someone who is really into yo-yoing? Either I'm under some hardcore confirmation bias, or they tend to be practicing constantly, and regardless of circumstance. It's like they're almost unconscious of the fact that, in the middle of talking about some band, they've whipped out their yo-yo and did a bunch of tricks, all while keeping eye contact.

My buddy wrote the Yonomicon (no, really), and, yes, totally like that. It's not just you.

OTOH, apparently the life of a pro yoyo demonstrator is pretty nice if you're into world travel and things like getting sent an entire cooler full of exotic game meat because your South African sponsors wanted to throw a barbecue for you but your schedule wouldn't permit. My friend had yak steaks for weeks.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:46 PM on August 17, 2010

yos before hos yos.
posted by special-k at 9:46 PM on August 17, 2010

"Have you guys ever hung out with someone who is really into yo-yoing?"

I know one of these people. That's how I discovered, only recently, that they actually make yo-yo holsters.
posted by HopperFan at 10:02 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

He should go on tour with K Strass
posted by jpdoane at 10:40 PM on August 17, 2010 [3 favorites]

Not bad, but he's no Dale Myrberg.
posted by mmoncur at 12:09 AM on August 18, 2010

Needs a Satriani soundtrack.
posted by Ritchie at 2:26 AM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Damn you, Ritchie! You just beat me to the snide Satriani reference!
posted by Decani at 3:04 AM on August 18, 2010

I thought runner up Hiroyuki Suzuki's set(?) was a bit more enjoyable to watch, but I suppose he must have had less technically impressive things going on. I can't really tell, it all moves too fast.

It almost makes me want to get my old yo-yos out, but then I remember the feeling of thread cutting off my blood supply and the sting of a spinning lump of metal slamming into my fingers at speed. I was never very good with yo-yos.
posted by lucidium at 5:27 AM on August 18, 2010

I'll bet this guy breaks out a yo-yo at bars, and I don't blame him at all.
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 9:25 AM on August 18, 2010

re: yo-yo under the leg. Check out this video at 1:17.
posted by armisme at 10:01 AM on August 18, 2010

Can't watch this without thinking of Frank Conroy's memoir Stop Time. And look how that turned out.
posted by chavenet at 3:45 AM on August 19, 2010

The performances were awesome, but the sound of the crowd going totally apeshit made me grin like a fool.
posted by hot soup girl at 11:21 AM on August 20, 2010