YoYoNews

YoYo Related News From Around The World

  • Home
    • All Posts
  • Learn To YoYo
  • Video
  • Interviews
  • Clubs & Events
  • YoYo Spotlight
  • YoYo Guides
  • Contact
    • About Us
    • Advertising

Archives for October 2, 2013

First Look – Duncan Freehand AL

October 2, 2013 By Steve Brown

Duncan Toys Freehand AL

Looks like the Freehand is finally getting its first real upgrade in almost ten years! Precision made in Japan, the Freehand AL is definitely more of a high-end model than we were hoping for…I think players would absolutely kill for a reliable aluminum Freehand with modern bearing/response in the $60 range. But at $110 – $120, I don’t think these are quite the Freehand revolution we were hoping for from Duncan. These being produced in Japan definitely bodes well for the quality control, though, as Japanese factories have an incredible reputation for quality control…especially for small, precision objects like these.

The Duncan Freehand, the original counterweight yo-yo, has been a player favorite for over a decade. It’s a model that has seen many different versions such as the FH Zero, Metal Zero, Hyper Freehand, and Freehand MG to name a few. A popular request has been to produce an aluminum version based on the original Freehand, fitted with original Freehand/FH Zero style side caps and to have a modern response and bearing system. Freehand AL gives the players what they have been asking for with a large ball-bearing axle and SG Sticker response for unresponsive play! Freehand AL will be available at the 2013 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest in limited quantities and will begin shipping to retailers November 1st!

Duncan Freehand AL Specs:

Diameter: 57 mm
Width: 39.95 mm
Weight: 64.60gm without caps, 70.2gm with caps
Gap: 4.05 mm
Bearing: Size C
Response: SG Sticker
Price: $110 – $120
Colors: Red, Black, Silver, Nickel, Blue
Comes with 1 Counterweight Die and 2 Sidecaps

Filed Under: Manufacturer, YoYo Drop Tagged With: aluminum, duncan toys, freehand, freehand al, national yoyo contest

Three Minutes From The Cup | Top 3A Contenders

October 2, 2013 By Steve Brown

Three Minutes From The Cup

The 3A division has come a long way, considering it was born in the Holiday Inn parking lot at the US National YoYo Contest. With each passing year, this style gets faster and smoother, with players going further and further out on a limb to harness the best aspects of 1A play and make them exponentially more incredible by doing them two at a time. Here are our picks for the top contenders the 3A division.

3A Division

Patrick Borgerding – Defending National Champion

Patrick blew minds at Worlds with his crazy horizontal 3A tricks, and a routine packed with an incredible number of bangers. Any dozen of his tricks could have been the grand finale of someone else’s routine, and Patrick just keeps ’em coming. His only weakness are his transitions…his tricks have a lot of set-up and can sometimes be slow to get out of. With so much talent nipping at his heels, Patrick has his work cut out for him, but he’s definitely the leading contender.

Alex Hattori

Alex Hattori is just about due for a break-through. With a solid 4th Place finish at this years World YoYo Contest and plenty of other Top 5 and Top 10 finishes over the past few years, Alex Hattori is ready for his time at the top. His Worlds routine was top notch, and an impressive finish in a field of amazing talent…but it was still a 4th Place finish to Patrick Borgerding’s 2nd Place. Will this be Alex’s year?

Eric Tranton

Eric Tranton stomping out that last amazing stall/regen trick of his routine (seriously, watch the end of his routine before you even finish this sentence) was one of the absolute highlights of the 3A Division at this years World YoYo Contest. Everyone in the room was on their feet, and every single other competitor felt a sink in the pit of their stomach as the saw the bar being raised for routine-ending bangers. If Eric can pull off at Nationals what he did a Worlds but go a little cleaner, he could walk away with his first National title.

Elliot Ogawa

Elliot has a lot of talent, but faltered heavily in his Worlds prelim and didn’t make it through to finals. He’s an up-and-coming talent with a lot of promise, but he’s got a lot of work ahead of him if he’s going to knock off players with smoother, more polished routines. But on any given Saturday, it’s just a matter of who hits it and who doesn’t….and we think that if he goes clean, Elliot could have his shot at the cup.

Ian Smith

With a 5th Place finish at the Bay Area Classic (one of the toughest contests in the country) and a 3rd Place finish at California States, Ian Smith is starting to make a name for himself in the 3A Division. His play isn’t as polished as some of the rest of the competitors, but he’s got the skills to make Top 5 on a good day.

Ryan Lai

Ryan Lai is a legend in the 3A player community, and one of the earliest competitive 3A players. His play is polished and smooth, but not on the cutting edge of difficulty. But never underestimate the power of someone who can hit everything they go for, and with his stage experience Ryan isn’t going to be as spooked on stage as younger players may be. With smooth style and high skill, Ryan is definitely a contender for the cup.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: 3A, alex hattori, elliot ogawa, Eric TranTon, featured, ian smith, national yoyo contest, Patrick Borgerding, ryan lai, three minutes from the cup, us national yoyo contest

Follow Us

Recent Posts

  • Scales Open Vol. 3 Results & Video
  • Goodbye Collin
  • Duncan Toys Presents: Javier Augusto X Sebastian Lavin
  • First Look – CLYW BOY
  • SFTUTS: Keiran Cooper “Derek Jeter Was An eBoy”

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Scales Open Vol. 3 Results & Video February 19, 2020
  • Goodbye Collin January 25, 2020
  • Duncan Toys Presents: Javier Augusto X Sebastian Lavin January 8, 2020
  • First Look – CLYW BOY December 16, 2019
  • SFTUTS: Keiran Cooper “Derek Jeter Was An eBoy” December 3, 2019
  • Colin Beckford – Biennium December 3, 2019
  • Polo Garbkamol – Trick Dump November 1, 2019
  • Bryan Jardin – What’s Your Setup? October 21, 2019

Follow Us

Posts By Date

October 2013
M T W T F S S
« Sep   Nov »
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Tags

1A 4a 5A 5a may 2013 2014 c3yoyodesign cabin tutorial charles haycock clyw contest counterweight Czech Republic drew tetz duncan toys eyyc featured freehand gentry stein Harrison Lee japan kendama offstring one drop recess results Russia tyler severance video Werrd world yoyo champion world yoyo contest yoyo yoyo contest yoyo contest results yoyodrop yoyo drop yoyoexpert yoyofactory yoyofficer YoYoJam yoyorecreation yoyo tricks yoyo tutorial yoyo video

Search YoYoNews.com

All content copyright YoYoNews.com, 2016. All rights reserved.