YoYoFactory released a new Paul Han video to promote his release from the Pulsar Collection, the OneStar. Show of hands: who else can watch Paul Han throw a yoyo all day long?
Yoyo used is the YoYoFactory Pulsar Edition OneStar.
YoYoFactory Presents: Hubstack Afterglow
YoYoFactory dropped a new promo video for the Afterglow, a light-up & glow-in-the-dark version of their new Hubstack yoyo. Featuring the always amazing Paul Han, the Hubstack Afterglow really is a stellar yoyo, and one of the best light-ups we’ve ever tried!
The Hubstack Afterglow is part of the Glow Collection 2, which is beginning to show up at retailers now.
Three Minutes From The Cup | Top 1A Contenders
1A is truly going to be a treat this year. The regional circuit did a great job in making sure the best players are in the finals already; the list of seeded players is good for the sport of yo-yoing as every single one of them is extremely innovative and big names in advancing yo-yoing. There are five or six names that have legitimate shots at taking home the title and we list some of the names we are most excited about seeing. Due to the pure number of competitors, we cannot cover everyone and the nature of competitive yo-yo boils down to who can hit their stuff on stage during their three minutes so underestimate no one.
Top 1A Contenders
Zach Gormley – Defending National Champion
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
The defending champion is by far the most impressive player in the United States at the moment. His tricks are extremely innovative and all very visually appealing while still maintaining technical difficulty. But Zach has had switch outs in his last two major competitions in Bay Area Classic and Worlds and he has had a tough time recovering from it. There is certainly the chance it could happen again and open the door for someone to take the champion down.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Defending National Champion Zach Gormley has proven himself to be not only a leading contender for any contest he attends, but also one of the most innovative and influential players of this generation. Even with his amazingly undervalued 7th Place finish at this years World YoYo Contest, Zach has some serious momentum built up from his year of work with Innovation Movement and strong First Place finishes at PNWR and SCR. Zach has spent the year as THE player to beat and this weekend everyone else in the 1A Division has their work cut out for them.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Gentry Stein
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Gentry missed out on the finals this year at the World Yo-Yo Contest so he will be hungry. Coming in second last year only compounds his aspirations to take home the cup this year. Gentry is a hometown favorite and knows how to cater his routine to the demands out outdoor Chico; he always has beautifully constructed routines that match the music almost trick for trick—something that is often dramatically underappreciated. Gentry has all of the tools to win, and Zach and Anthony are the only people who can possibly beat him straight up. If Gentry goes cleaner than those two, he will take it.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Gentry Stein failing to make Finals at the World YoYo Contest was absolutely crushing to everyone in attendance. 2013 has been a great year for this rising star…the release of his new signature yoyo, the Shutter, some great video parts, a historic tie for First Place at the Bay Area Classic and a win at California States would have satisfied most players for a while, but it’s only made Gentry hungrier. He’s been gunning for the top spot for a while now, and if anyone is a major threat to Zach, it’s Gentry.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Sebastian Brock – Former National Champion
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Sebastian failed to make it to the finals at the World Contest for the second straight year after his 2nd place finish in the 2011 World Yo-Yo Contest which means we haven’t see Sebastian compete in a while–this makes it tough to know how he will do but he was on top of the yo-yo world not so long ago so he should be considered a threat still. He is another incredibly innovative thinker in the yo-yo world and only adds to the great lineup–from an entertainment standpoint.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Sebby is a wildcard this year. We haven’t seen much of him on the contest scene, but with one National title already under his belt and an established track record of mind-blowing and highly original play that players love and judges love to click, he’s absolutely a contender and it would be foolish to consider him anything less than a threat.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Isaac Sams
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Isaac is an exciting name to see on the seeded players list. Right now, he is probably not a top contender but top 5 is certainly within reach, but anyone can win on any given day—it really comes down to who hits their stuff. Isaac has tons of innovative concepts and his (becoming) signature straightjacket tricks are super exciting. He has faltered in consistency at times but his routine at Bay Area Classic was a pure joy to watch and a guaranteed three minutes will allow Isaac to construct a well thought out routine which will certainly increase his shot at top 5.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Isaac Sams is on the short-list for players we expect to scoop up their first National title within the next few years. A leading force in the innovation of modern 1A yoyo play, he’s easily Top Five material at any contest when he’s on his game. He’s not as consistent yet as he needs to be, but on his best days he is absolutely National Champion material. Will this Saturday be his best day?
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Alec Campbell
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Alec is another player that will probably not be a top contender but his guaranteed three minutes is good for the competition. His innovation and style is much needed when competitive yo-yoing can sometimes devolve to scoring as many clicks in three minutes and style is sacrificed—but not with Alec. As with Isaac, the seed will allow him to construct a routine and practice it with confidence without having to split his time with a one minute that requires an entirely different type of yo-yoing. He is also a threat for top 5.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Alec Campbell has been building plenty of buzz with great video parts this year, and Top Five finishes at Midwest Regionals and Kansas States. His prelim at Worlds showed promise, but wasn’t enough to push him through to finals. Alec will need to pick up some speed to get enough trick density to be a serious contender at Nationals, but he’s proven that he’s got the skill.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Kevin Nicholas
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Kevin has been competing sparingly, Asia Pacific being his last competition and his performance was impressive. The fact he hasn’t been on stage in over three minutes means he will have lots of practice under his belt and probably some new tricks. Kevin brings incredibly acrobatic tricks to the stage which evokes lots of cheers from the crowd and his performance at Pacific Northwest Regional proves he can hang with Zach and Gentry and should be considered a real threat to take the title.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Kevin Nicholas is a rising star of the YoYoFactory team, and with promising showings at AP 2013, California States, and PNWR, he’s made enough noise that we think if he goes clean, he could take a spot in the Top Five.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Andrew Maider
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Andrew is another player on the rise. Missing out on finals at Worlds this year also gave him time to focus on his guaranteed three minutes at Nationals which should ensure a well-constructed three minutes. Andrew took fourth last year and with another year of experience and development, he should be considered a big threat and can take the cup. He has the technical tricks and innovation to score high and it comes down to how he hits them on stage
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Andrew Maider had strong showings at MA States and BAC, and took his Nationals seed from a solid 1st Place win at NER. He had a promising prelim at Worlds, but just couldn’t go clean enough to earn a spot in finals. Andrew isn’t at the top of his game yet, but he could lock in a Top Five placing for himself this weekend and set himself up for a run at next year’s cup.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Anthony Rojas
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Anthony is perhaps the most beloved 1A player in all of the United States. His innovation is appreciated by everyone and his freestyle construction is always improving. Anthony is in the top 3 for contention with Zach and Gentry; he, too, did not qualify at the World competition which gave him time to fine tune his routine and practice it. Anthony has had trouble with switch outs last year and if he can avoid any major deductions, he will be right there for the cup. Everyone wants to see Anthony hit his routine the way Anthony wants to do it.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Rojas, Rojas…when’s it going to be his time? One of the most inventive players in the game, and a tremendous crowd favorite, Anthony Rojas is an incredible talent sponsored by a dodgy company. It’s hard to say if picking up a better sponsor could give him the resources to make a solid run at the championship, but he could still get there on his own, and his solid routines at BAC, California States, and Semi Finals at Worlds, as well as his stunning win at BLC prove that he’s absolutely got the skill to pull this off. But does he have the drive? Does he want it as badly as his competition?
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Harold Owens III – Former National Champion
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Harold had a tough World Contest showing not qualifying to the semi-finals so he will be coming to Worlds with a polished three minute routine but he has to go through prelims again which could potentially trip him up again—his style does not suit one minute routines well at all. Harold has never prided himself on speed; his brilliance is seen in his trick development, set up and most importantly his stage presence but all of that is lost in one minute routines. Harold will be a threat to take the cup but he has to make it to finals first.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Harold has one win already under his belt and is a busy college student; he’s got the skill for sure, but it’s hard to say how bad he wants another National title. But here’s the thing about that level of skill…if he wakes up Saturday morning and decides that he wants it, Harold could probably take home another cup. His Prelim at Worlds was good, but not dense enough to move him through to Finals..that said, his pacing is something that has always played well with the judges in longer routines.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
Paul Han – Former National Champion
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Paul Han is a legend of yo-yo and is a threat to win in any competition he joins; however, he has been out of the scene for a bit of time now so it will be very interesting to see what he has come up with since he last competed. It is tough to say what his chances are without having seen him play in months but don’t sleep on Paul, ever. If Paul comes out with great new stuff and hits it, he can take home another cup.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Would anyone really be surprised if Paul Han showed up and just straight monkeystomped everyone? Paul has been a dominant competitor since the late 90s, and has kept his skills current. He’s more comfortable on stage than pretty much anyone else who will be there, and if anyone could come out of left field and upset all predictions, it would be Paul Han.
[/tab]
Eric Tranton
[tabs tab1=”Patrick” tab2=”Steve”]
[tab id=1]
Eric was the top American at the World competition which is no small feat. Last year the top American at the World competition was the US Champion so Eric is in good company. Eric is a multi-talented player drawing influences from his highly skilled 3A repertoire and creating extremely technical tricks. Eric has also been dramatically increasing his choreography and this completes his check-list before taking the title. Eric is my darkhorse to take the title.
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Fresh off a stellar 4th Place showing at the World YoYo Contest, Eric Tranton is a strong contender in both the 1A and 3A divisions at this years National YoYo Contest. Up until yesterday, Eric didn’t think he was going to be able to make it to the contest…will this last-minute change be the decision that brings him TWO Nationals titles? We’re definitely looking forward to seeing what Eric brings to the stage.
[/tab]
[/tabs]
YoYofactory Presents: Arizona 2013
The BAC Experience (NSFW)
This video is recommended for audiences 18 years and older.
Youtube version here.
Because it is my regional contest, The Bay Area Classic is dear to my heart. Currently held in San Francisco, CA, the BAC always manages to bring together many of the world’s greatest players.
Since I personally never compete, I am always a spectator on the sidelines. I don’t mind this. In fact, I embrace it. Very rarely do you see me without my trusty camera. Since 1998, I have shot video at pretty much every yoyo event I’ve gone to. Some people have said that my work has documented the growth and change of yoyoing over the past 15 years. While I don’t feel I’m worthy of such high praise, I do feel that my videos have made a large impact in the yoyo community. That is why when the BAC committee asked me if I was willing to help shoot freestyles for the event, I gladly accepted. This acceptance, however, came with a downside.
This year, BAC ran freestyles throughout the day (as opposed to the end of the day). While this made everything run much smoother, it meant that I was unable to film tricks for a clip video since I would be busy with freestyles all day. I was pretty bummed, as I really enjoy making clip videos. So, to get my “documenting fix” in, I decided to shoot photographs and maybe hope that I could grab some good video footage at the Official BAC BBQ on Sunday.
My initial video plan was to make a video that showed people hanging out at the BAC BBQ. I wanted to make a sequel to last year’s BAC video, but this time focus on the players themselves, instead of their tricks. I wanted to show all of us hanging out, laughing, having a good time, making up and sharing tricks, and relaxing after a tough competition. This was the plan until I got home and realized that the photos I had taken all weekend showed a much more interesting story.
Over the course of the weekend, I shot approximately 2000 photos using a combination of my iPhone, Lumix LX7, and Sony NEX-5N using (primarily) a 8mm fisheye. If you were in my vicinity at any point this weekend, odds are I took your picture.
Inspired by Kohta’s EYYC 2012 video, this BAC 2013 video shows a different side of the contest filled with friends, family, spirits, camaraderie, yoyoing, and kendama.
BOY ft. Ibrahim Itani
Watching this video is like hunting for a sasquatch. You know he’s out there, you catch little glimpses that are amazing, but you never feel like you’ve really seen whatever it is you think you’ve seen.
The low-light idea is interesting, but mostly we just want to see more tricks from Ibrahim Itani, an incredibly smooth and creative yoyo player.
Don’t make us wait so long for the next video, Ibrahim, and shoot the next one during the day, please!
YoYoFactory Loop 1080 Promo Video
Looks like YoYoFactory put together another great promo video, this one for the YoYoFactory Loop 1080, the signature model of Shu Takada. Featuring Patrick Mitchell, John Ando, Paul Han, and of course Shu Takada. Thanks to Jayson at YoYo Acquaintance for the heads-up on this one!
ONEstar – Borys Radziszewski
YoYoFactory.pl always delivers with the product videos, and this one for the Paul Han ONEstar doesn’t disappoint. Up-and-coming talent Borys Radziszewski gives us a nice glimpse of his future in this well-produced ONEstar promo video…he’s definitely got the skill and the talent to eventually become a top contest player in the European circuit.
Spark – Jozef Smrek ft. YoYoFactory ONEStar
YoYoFactory pointed out this smooth video from the Edenlake Crew in Slovakia featuring Jozef Smrek and the Paul Han ONEStar. We’ve got an amazing generation of players right now who are really young but throw like they’ve got a decade of experience under their belts…and the fact that we finally have the technology to find them all over the world is fantastic.
Hats off to Jozef and the Edenlake crew. Keep the videos coming!
Paul Han & Harold Owens III vs. YoYoFactory Ricochet
YoYoFactory is making a lot of noise about their upcoming titanium release, the Ricochet. Previously covered on YoYoNews, the Ricochet will be available from YoYoExpert on March 17th. In the meantime, here’s what it can do in the hands of your favorite pros…
Long-time favorite Paul Han kicks out a solid half-minute combo. Not bad!
…but newcomer and National YoYo Champion Harold Owens III has a little more up his sleeve, and crushes a solid 48-second run.
Expect more Ricochet videos from YoYoFactory leading up to the release.
YoYoFactory 2013 Catalog
YoYoFactory‘s 2013 catalog folds out into a giant poster of Paul Han. OMG HE’S SO DREAMY!
Check out YoYoFactory’s new models and packaging at the International Toy Fair in NYC, Booth #4845, Feb. 10 – 13. The show is only open to the trade, but we’ll have photos of their new releases as soon as the show opens!
Paul Han ONEStar YoYo Shipping To Stores
Paul Han’s signature ONEStar yoyo from YoYoFactory is shipping to stores today! Expected to retail for around $14 each, the ONEStar was originally delayed due quality control issues. Expect these to start being available from your favorite retailer in about a week.
YoYoFactory Champions Collection Wave 2
YoYoFactory presents the 2nd wave of Champions Collection signature model yoyos. They’ve put together a great range of Yo-Yos, from the bright pink Paul Han ONEstar to the silky matte black Miguel Correa Genesis+. They have new, original models like the machined plastic Severe for Tyler Severance, Harold Owen III’s H.O.T.or the game changing Shu Takada Loop1080. They’ve even brought on a new twist on a classic with the Victor Gravitsky Protostar, as well as a new yo-yo with an old friend, the Proton with Kentaro Kimura.
Check out YoYoFactory’s individual posts of each model for the full story on each model, plus specs and detailed photos. Expect the YoYoFactory Champions Collection to hit YoYoExpert around the 1st week of December!