We’ve got official video of the winners in each division from the 2015 California State YoYo Championships, and Top Five from the 1A Divisions! For players interested in scoring breakdowns, we have full scores from all divisions here.
First Look – General Yo Prophecy
Ernie from General Yo just shared this first look at the prototype of the next General Yo release, the Prophecy! Ernie will have the prototype with him at the upcoming California State YoYo Championships if you’d like to try it out before the retail release.
For the longest time I have wanted to design a yoyo that lends itself to finger spins without having all the center weight. As the styles and tricks change, it forces the evolution of yoyos into areas that push the envelope of design and function. To be honest, I wasn’t thinking of yoyos when the idea just hit me. I would like to think it is a predestined shape that was meant to be…I introduce the “Prophecy”.
General Yo Prophecy Specs:
Diameter: 56.8mm
Width: 44mm
Weight: 64 grams
Gap Width: 4.35mm
Bearing: Size C (.250 x .500 x .187) General Yo AIGR Bearing
Response: General Yo Smooth Hat Pads
Monkeyfinger & G-Squared Announce Collaboration
Monkeyfinger & G-Squared have announced a new collaborative design, named the “Co-Lab”. Based on Monkeyfinger’s Ape-X and G-Squared’s Triton, the Co-Lab will be released first at the 2014 California State YoYo Contest at an early release price of $100. Full production will be in stores shortly after, and will run $110 – $130.
***UPDATE***
Production has been delayed, and these will NOT be available for sale at California States. Here’s the word from Monkeyfinger:
Fans and Friends: While we were boxing up the new Co-Lab project, a manufacturing flaw was found that would shorten product play life. As yo-yoers ourselves, MFD and G2’s would never release a product with a known defect. Our Integrity and commitment to our fans prevents us from passing a flaw’ed yoyo to you, the community. While Chris Allen will have a few prototypes you can try at Cal States, the Co-Lab will not be for sale and the retail run will be delayed as we re-work the production phase.
Monkeyfinger x G-Squared Co-Lab Specs:
Diameter: 56.5mm
Width: 44mm
Gap: 4.25mm
Weight: 67.8 grams
Bearing: Size C (.250 x .500 x .187)
Response: G-Grip Pads
2014 California State YoYo Championship Registration OPEN
The 2014 California State website went live today, and it is extremely slick with a redesigned logo featuring the California Grizzly bear; with the live website came the opening of registration. With over $3000 in cash prizes, it will be well worth the $25 to enter. The event has been attracting tons of talent for years and has grown accordingly. This is an event you will not want to miss! The contest takes place on March 1st, 2014, in Sacramento, California.
Here is an official statement from contest organizer Johnnie DelValle:
– All Championship Divisions WILL have prelims
– We hope to take 25 Finalists into 1A
– Championship and Sports Ladder Registration is ONLINE only
– Prelims will have 15 set songs to choose from, once you register; a list of songs is emailed to you for you to choose from.
– There will be a Friday night even (Coming soon)
– Sponsors will be coming soon
– 1A Championship Division will have a minimum of $1,000 CASH for first place.
– Junior 1A will also be awarded for highest placing contestant under the age of 13
Good luck and get registered!
In the meantime, check out the winners from last years event:
1A:
2A:
3A:
4A:
5A:
YoYo News From Around The Web
Yoyo player Jacob Cross got some nice press from the Sonoma Press Democrat this weekend, mentioning his trip to the California State YoYo Contest. Really nice article…congratulations, Jacob!
The 15-year-old yoyo aficionado can send an Arctic Circle spinning or an Eight8Eight flying with gravity-defying ease.
He’s the leader of a small but dedicated group of Sonoma Valley High School students who pull out yo-yos during lunchtime and breaks to perfect their tricks and maneuvers.
They have yoyos sleeping (spinning rapidly at the end of the string) and whirling with such nonchalance that yo-yoing appears almost easy.
Don’t expect them to yank on the string of a clunky old-fashioned Duncan yoyo, though. Cross and his pals prefer contemporary models – like the Arctic Circle or Eight8Eight – that command prices exceeding $100.
“Including the ones I’ve lost, I have 15 in total,” says Cross, a sophomore who picked up his first yoyo as a fifth-grader “just as another toy.”
Click through for the full article.
Julian Semenza got a nice write-up in the Manteca Bulletin, along with some embedded video of him showing off his skills. Julian will be competing at the 2013 Bay Area Classic soon…good luck, Julian!
Last weekend Semenza took first place in his age group at the California State YoYo Competition in Sacramento for what he calls “the ladder” – the escalation of up to 25 tricks that are called out on-the-spot by a judge that determines whether or not they qualify to move up to the next on the list.
He’ll compete in the Regional Competition in San Francisco in May before taking his skills to Chico later this year for Nationals, squaring off against some of the best in the world in the city that houses the National YoYo Museum.
“It gets really crowded when you’re there,” Semenza said. “They blast music and a lot of the people do their tricks to music. There are professionals from around the world that are there. I go to each one – they’re a lot of fun.”
Click through for the rest of the article.
And in the UK, David Braden Holmes got a nice mention (and picture of himself with Hiroyuki Suzuki) in the Derbyshire Times. Congrats on your 2nd Place Sport Ladder finish, David!
CLYW x One Drop – The Summit Trailer
CLYW x One Drop are filming a documentary about the ridiculous speed at which they’ve conceived, designed, prototyped, and produced their new collaboration yoyo, the Summit. CLYW team member Charles Haycock is handling the filming/editing duties, and they’ve released this trailer to get us ready for the project. The Summit will be available this weekend at the California State YoYo Contest, and the retail price has been announced as $115, with a limit of one per person.