Hey gang! Drew here, I’m very excited about my signature Barracuda and we’re pulling together some awesome exclusive stuff for Yoyonews celebrating the launch, but I thought it would be nice to start with some of my favorite tricks from last year. I was extremely proud to be a part of the 365yoyotricks roster and ended up filming a total of 64 tricks for the project – not a bad run! While you should really be checking 365 everyday (or at least following it on Facebook and Twitter,) we understand if you missed a day or two, and I wanted to give a rundown of my personal highlights for the year.

5. Keith Haring Dog to Flying Ice Cream Cone to Spider-Man in a Propeller Beanie to Batman

In my opinion, every yo-yoer worth their salt should have at least one signature picture trick, and if you can link a couple of good ones into a picture trick story then you’re gonna have my respect forever – shout outs to Ed, John Bot, Hank, Nate, Abe, Blake, Malcolm, and everybody else still making tricks that nonyoyoers actually like. Also, when I was 8 I made a bunch of comics featuring “The Amazing Spider-Bat”, so this is kind of just a continuation of that dream. (ART SNOBS: I know this doesn’t actually look that much like a Keith Haring dog, next time you see me ask for Keith Haring dog 2013 and I’ll show you the new & improved one.)

4. Hyper Drew Special Engine

I’ve probably gotten more questions about this than any other trick, so I was glad to finally have a clear video of it. If you’ve never seen it before, it’s a pretty neat rejection illusion, check it out! Rei Iwakura named it for me, which makes me feel super awesome, so every time I do it I shout the name as loud as possible.

3. Mousewrap

I didn’t have too many all new full-length 5A combos in 2012, but I definitely considered this one a banger. Proud of the density of concepts, the aesthetic, the way it feels, and… frankly, I’m also really stoked on the way that Steve synced the catch up with a handclap, haha. This is a pure representation of how I wish 5A looked, made much easier by the use of a Barracuda.

2. Crazy Counterwrap

This trick is a blend of some of my favorite original 5A concepts, and a continuation of an idea my Red vs. Drew video. I’m pretty stoked with it on a theoretical level, but also happy that I’m finally good enough to get it looking close to the way I want it to look, haha. I would be thrilled if people wanted to learn it, but at the same time I’m secretly proud of how difficult it was to get down.

1. Kickflip Suicide

Those of you following Fixed Friday may be well sick of this move by now, but it was definitely my favorite trick of 2012. I feel very proud having run into this element, simple tricks are often a lot harder to discover. This one is cool because it’s a new school trick, but is quite a bit easier on responsive yo-yos, and sort of represents the new wave of fixed axle yo-yoing for me. It can also be used as a transition move or in more advanced suicides, and I’m really trying to push it, ’cause it’s super fun and I want everyone to do it.

Thanks for indulging me! You’ll be seeing a lot of content from me this week as part of the big YoYoNews takeover – or should I say YoyoDREWs takeover?! No, I shouldn’t? Okay, yeah, you’re right. I’ll try to keep the puns down from here on. Keep checking back throughout the week for more tricks from me, battles with my friends, exclusive clips and other goodies!