YoYo Related News From Around The World
Jeffrey Pang, owner of Luftverk, dropped details for his next titanium yoyo release and for fans of responsive pocket yoyos, it’s just what you’ve been waiting for. Taking design cues from a bunch of mid-school designs, the Daytona is the latest masterpiece from a guy who has gotten really good at creating masterpieces. Specs and pics are below, and you can head over to the Luftverk site for Jeffrey’s full write-up of the project.
Who wants to win this two-tone Luftverk Evora Ti7075?
Luftverk owner Jeffrey Pang is picking new colors for his plastic yoyo, the Skyva, and he wants your input. Just head over to the YoYoExpert forums and cast your vote for your two favorite colors, and one lucky voter will win this Evora Ti7075!
Check out full specs for the Luftverk Evora Ti7075 here, and click HERE to vote for your chance to win it!
The Luftverk x CLYW Tundra has been fully revealed, and it’s a beauty. From an intensive blog post by Luftverk founder Jeffrey Pang:
By now you’ve likely heard about the Tundra – the project involving both Luftverk and CLYW. It was something we worked together with, using design language from both companies. Its always really interesting when a brand can make a yoyo that has a universal design language across the board. And even though the CLYW line up has expanded to more experimental designs lately, its always very obvious it is a CLYW product – even without looking at logos or engravings. I try to do this with Luftverk as well, where when you pick one up you just know who produced it.
The design of the Tundra seems simple but is actually a mash up of all sorts of things. If you take a look at the profile – you can see that the catch zone was inspired by the Chief and original Yeti. Getting closer to the pad, the step is similar to the Borealis. And don’t forget the pad itself: the very loved CLYW “Snow Tire” which makes the yoyo feel very, very different than any Luftverk throw in the past. In fact – I feel that the pad itself makes this yoyo play the way it does. You need to try it in person to know what Im talking about.
The Tundra will be first available at the 2016 World YoYo Contest, beginning August 3rd in Cleveland, Ohio, and then online August 5th at 8 pm EST, only at Luftverk.com. Check out the full blog post about the design and assembly process here, and then check out specs and more pics below.
Jeffrey Pang’s company, Luftverk, has built quite a name for themselves with creative design, beautifully executed packaging, and some pretty fantastic yoyos. So, of course, they’re trying to completely outdo themselves with their latest release, the Fulvia.
Two versions of the Fulvia will be release on May 31st: the Fulvia BTM-R and the Fulvia-R. The R is the standard version, an all-titanium yoyo with a new body shape and weight distribution. The Fulvia BTM-R is something else entirely; a titanium/steel bi-metal yoyo with weight distribution that is absolutely insane.
You can visit the Luftverk website for the full story (and I highly recommend that you do), but I’ve been talking to Jeffrey through this whole process and it’s more than a little amazing to talk to him every morning and get a progress update as he works with the machine shop, day in and day out, figuring out how to make this project happen. The last time I talked to him he’d figured out that he was going to have to hand-attach the steel rims to the titanium bodies himself, because the process was too delicate and his machinists didn’t want to touch it for fear of ruining the parts. Crazy.
The Luftverk Fulvia-R will retail for $290, and the Fulvia BTM-R will retail for $510. Quantities for both of these are extremely limited, and pre-orders will open Tuesday, May 31st at 9:00 pm EST, only at Luftverk.com.
Jeffrey Pang never disappoints. Doesn’t matter if we are talking about contest videos, 3D printed yoyos, or the most glorious titanium yoyo releases we’ve ever seen, if you want something done right then you hand it to Jeffrey Pang.
Which brings us to Jeffrey’s latest video, his recap of the 2016 European YoYo Championship. The quality of the footage, the clean editing, the choice of shots….if you want to know how to make a yoyo video, watch this and take notes!
Luftverk has been steadily working to prepare the release of their second yoyo, the Octavia. Following the successful release of their acclaimed first yoyo, the Evora, the new yoyo is designed with performance in mind. Every detail was thought over and inspected meticulously with the intent of bringing nothing but the best to table. The Octavia is to release with two separate release times, a “North American” release and a “European” release on December 6th. Be sure to follow Luftverk’s Facebook for updates on specific time of releases. Everything about this yoyo is spectacular and well worth the anticipation!
So here we are – what you, and I have been waiting for for a long time. All the pictures, all the flights. The shipping delays and hours spent on the details. It all comes together with the final and arguably the most important aspect of any high end product. The finish – the visual eye candy that draws you closer. I often ask myself what a product would look like if money was not a deciding factor. And the Octavia demands the highest of quality.
Anodized in the USA from a company who dedicates most of its time to the medical and military world, the quality and consistency is an absolute treat. Both the Navy and Bronze are deep – rich in color with a certain depth that you can not experience with anything made from aluminum.
Returning again is the ultra limited AMS2488 Type II (Grey). Only the AMS2488 will include both the Full Ceramic bearing, the NSK Platinum as well as white CBC pads and HS pads.
As usual, you can see how the titanium finish reacts to the natural oils on your fingers. One wipe with a clean cloth removes the swirls and finger prints that you can paint on the finish. The thin layer of oil cause the titanium to refract light in a strange way – creating this beautiful iridescence that people who purchased the Evora raved about. Its truly something you need to experience in person.
There will be 30 Navy, and 30 Bronze Octavias available. 10 AMS2488, at a higher price. All numbered with certificates. The release will be interesting to say the least considering the Evora sold out in just 3 and a bit hours. To battle the insanity, I will be doing the release slightly differently. There will be a “North American” release time, and a “European” release time.
The release will be split in half. The initial release will be in a time convenient to most people in North America. Regardless if they sell out or not, the remaining half of the stock will be added 6 hours later, which will be more convenient to Europeans. So Europeans have a better chance this time around – and if an American misses out on the initial release they can pull an all nighter and try again. Europeans will likely be less fatigued so beware.
So that is a wrap. 3/3 done. One thing I will leave you with is a release date: Sunday, December 6th. I will finalize everything with the exact NA and EU times on Facebook. And last but not least your beloved specs.
It’s always exciting when a new yoyo company pops up, but when they pop up with a titanium yoyo as their first release it’s REALLY worth checking out!
Jeffrey Pang, the mad genius behind Fluid Print Dynamics who make some of the coolest 3D printed yoyos I’ve ever seen, has a new brand called Luftverk and their first release is a titanium yoyo called the Evora. There have been a few pics here and there, but we have more images for you as well as full specs and price! Here are some details from Evora designer Jeffrey Pang:
I wanted something that could spin up fast. There seems to be way too many yoyos out there with a massive kickback and dare I say – too much rim weight. The Evora has a certain airyness to it without feeling too light. And it spins up quick when you throw it hard. The shape is super ergonomic and no production titanium has had such an aggressive shape before. It will be interesting to see how people react to it once they go on sale. I took these pictures before I sent them out. The first run of 35 will be glass dusted and anodized purple. Annodizing with titanium is quite different than aluminum. Aluminum uses pigments, compared to titanium where the oxide layer is grown. Depending on the thickness, it will refract light differently, giving you an “anodized” look. Anodized titanium looks very different than aluminum – its very iridescent and will turn different colors in different lighting conditions. Even the oils on your finger will make the yoyo turn from purples to golds. It really looks incredible – I can’t wait to see when they get back. I also have a super slippery SAE type II finish I want to do – maybe in small quantites. It would make for a cool special edition.
I went with a full ceramic bearing because it is completely corrosion/rust proof. It’s stupid expensive compared to a stainless steel bearing, but you can wash this bearing with soap and water if debris ever gets inside without any worry. I travel a lot, and it’s great peace of mind that I can just go to the nearest sink if the bearing ever gets gritty. Another benefit we dont really think about is how much acetone we go through by cleaning bearings. In a way – its an enviromentally friendly bearing too. Plus side it looks great sandwiched between the titanium halves.
If you’re anything like me, EVERYTHING about this yoyo sounds pretty amazing! There’s clearly a tremendous amount of attention to detail here, and I’m super intrigued by the 100% ceramic bearing. It looks amazing…like the ghost of every bearing I’ve ever ruined and thrown away, ha ha! No word yet on a release date for the Evora, but be sure to follow Luftverk on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information.
Looks like we have another titanium yoyo in the works! This one from new company Luftverk Titanium Supply Co., operated by Jeffrey Pang. You know, the guy that was responsible for these yoyo videos? That guy. I’ve heard great things about his 3d printed yoyos as well, which he manufactures under the name Fluid Print Dynamics, although I haven’t tried one yet. Check out pics and specs below…we’ll add more info as we have it!
MagicYoYo has long been a standard for super affordable, entry-level yoyos but with recent projects like the Skyva and Metal Skyva with Jeffrey Pang they have begun moving into higher quality, specialty releases. The MagicYoYo REX is the culmination of this…a titanium/stainless steel bi-metal yoyo designed in collaboration with Yixing Tan. The result is absolutely stunning…the MagicYoYo REX plays with speed and power only available with this kind of extraordinary weight distribution.
The body is machined out of titanium, a high strength/low weight ratio material that has become more popular among yoyo companies. According to MagicYoYo, processing each piece of titanium body takes more than 45 minutes, and when you include processing and assembling the stainless steel rim it takes approximately 1 hour to fabricate one half of a REX yoyo; that’s almost 15 times as long as making a normal aluminum yoyo half. The REX has a body thickness of only 0.5 to 0.7 mm…the same thickness as a few sheets of paper.
The rims are made of high-density stainless steel. The edge of the outer rim is only 2.17mm, which makes the whole yoyo seem to possess a homogeneous thickness, like a single, smooth arc. This makes the REX feel very comfortable in the hand and very pleasing to the eye, but the real function is weight distribution. The rims account for over 55% of the total weight of the yoyo, making for absolutely incredible spin times.
The MagicYoYo Rex is one of the absolute fastest and most stable competition yoyos on the market. There is always a lot of discussion about “speed combos” among competitive players, and this is the kind of yoyo that can help make you a speed player or accelerate your existing speed combos in a way that you have to try to believe. Some yoyos have a natural tendency towards faster or slower play, and while equipment is not a substitute for practice, having a yoyo that just naturally plays faster can definitely give you an edge. The MagicYoYo REX plays faster. From the gap to the materials to the weight distribution, everything about the REX is built for pure speed, and it definitely delivers.
It’s very easy to buy into hype for a high-end release, but the MagicYoYo REX really does deliver a play experience on-par with the Luftverk Fulvia BTM or the Something Anglam TISS…extraordinary speed, stability, control, and quality at the highest-end of the production spectrum.
There is a lot of beauty to be found in simplicity, and the MagicYoYo REX delivers on a very simple aesthetic that makes it feel even more like a premium art object. The REX was designed with heavy inspiration from the Bauhaus art movement. From TheArtStory.org:
The motivations behind the creation of the Bauhaus lay in the 19th century, in anxieties about the soullessness of manufacturing and its products, and in fears about art’s loss of purpose in society. Creativity and manufacturing were drifting apart, and the Bauhaus aimed to unite them once again, rejuvenating design for everyday life.
With this aesthetic and philosophy in mind, the REX was created to be functional, simple, pleasing to the eye and hand, and reflect an ideal of creativity into an inanimate object. The result is incredibly appealing to the eye and to the hand.
The MagicYoYo REX retails for $469 USD. This is a truly premium item, manufacturing to exacting tolerances out of the best materials available, and the price tag definitely reflects that. That said, it’s still $100-$400 less expensive than similar titanium/steel bi-metal yoyos from other manufacturers…so if you are looking to try out the ultra-high end of the market for titanium bi-metals, this is a perfect way to start with great quality and value.
The MagicYoYo REX is available now at YoYoExpert.com.
Jeffrey Pang loves to travel, throw yoyos, and create beautiful things. His latest beautiful thing is the Luftverk x CLYW Tundra, which he’s throwing (quite nicely, I might add) in this latest love letter to his well-worn passport. Watch as Jeff travels through Macau, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Kyoto with the Tundra. Amazing, as always.
Yoyo used is the Luftverk x CLYW Tundra.
Jeffrey Pang, the guy behind Luftverk, shows off the design and production process behind his new plastic yoyo collaboration with Magic YoYo. The SKYVA is a $20 plastic yoyo that’s optimized for horizontal and fingerspin tricks, and it looks amazing. Check out this great peek behind the curtain of how a yoyo gets made.
Yoyo used is the Jeffrey Pang x Magic YoYo SKYVA.
Jeffrey Pang announced a new collaboration with Magic YoYo…a plastic yoyo designed for optimum horizontal and fingerspin play at only a $20 retail. If anyone could do it, it’s Jeffrey. Check out full details on the project below, including specs and price. No set date for release just yet, but they should hit shelves in the next couple of weeks!
This is my first NON-Luftverk product in a long time. Plastics specialists Magicyoyo China contacted me like 6 months ago asking if I would help design and brand a plastic yoyo for them.
I knew Id never sell that many titanium yoyos which has always been sad to me – I would be designing a product for such a small audience. So here’s my chance to design something that nearly everyone can afford – 20USD.
Fingerspin style play has pretty much taken over everywhere. I wanted ahub that could outperform any yoyo at fingerspin style tricks. Its the reason why the hub of each yoyo is machined after injection molding making it super slick and seamless. There is a dual stage hub – one that is super easy to hit and the second smaller one to lock your finger in place. The ones who have tried it already know what I’m talking about.
And of course – simple minimalistic logos only. Packaging had to be as beautiful as my other stuff. The foam has an exact string cutout. And we even found suppliers for black elastic bands because they looked more aesthetically pleasing than brown ones. I wanted something that looked and felt ultra premium in the hand – without the premium price.
The best part of this project was learning so much – from helping them design the mold CAD to standing in front of the injection molding machine watching the first one come out – so hot you can barely hold it in your palm. But its surreal watching something you designed become reality right in front of your eyes.
So if you’ve read this far – hope you can pick one up from your favorite online retailer dropping in the next few weeks. Orders are being shipped out to stores as we speak.
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I’m so jealous of everyone who got to attend the 2016 European YoYo Championship this year…it was another fantastic event, run by great people, filled with amazing players. But luckily there have been a slew of great EYYC recap videos (like this one from Jeffrey Pang) and now my homies at CLYW have dropped this fantastic bit of video showing off some amazing tricks and good times. I really need to get out to more contests.
The CLYW team is scattered across eight countries and three continents, so when they get together it’s filled with laughter, camaraderie, great tricks, and good times.
A huge chunk of the team converged on Prague for the 2016 European YoYo Championship. They had a great time. Featuring Petr Kavka, Tessa Piccillo, Palli Gudmundsson, Alec Campbell, Riccardo Fraolini, Ayumu Harada and Nuu Gatowsky. Special guest appearances by Eiji Okuyama, Jake Mulvey and David Stejskal.
(And here’s a Vimeo version…a few people reported problems viewing the YouTube version on mobile.)
Jeffrey Pang released his latest video masterpiece, Lost in Prague, and it’s absolutely stunning. Filmed at the 2015 Czech National YoYo Contest and featuring some incredible talent, this video is one of his best to date. Jeffrey also sneaks in a great shot in the beginning of his new yoyo from Luftverk Titanium Supply Co., the Octavia.
Jeffrey Pang has established himself as one of the best creative young minds of the modern industry, and if you aren’t following his work closely you are definitely missing out.