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Dale Myrberg
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National YoYo Contest
Bob Malowney - Director
320 Broadway
Chico, CA 95928
530 893-0545 ext.24
The 2001 National YoYo Contest was a great success and a lot of fun. Thank you to every one who attended this years contest.
This year we had the strength of purpose of the early years, combined with nine years of experience, and topped off with a mission to 'prepare for the future'.
The sport is alive and well, and growing.
The contest kicked off at the Friday get-together at the contest stage ('the gong show'). It loosened everyone up and got people to know who were in attendance. The crazy antics were fun and highly inventive. Everyone got enough rest to do well in the morning.
Saturday dawned beautifully in the park, and the stage was set for the compulsories. Three yoyo divisions and the spin-top contest kicked off at 10am. There was a flurry of activity as 212 players competed for the best scores in their divisions.
107 players registered for the Sport Division ladder (25 tricks in increasing difficulty and only one miss allowed). From 'walk the dog' to 'iron whip' there were challenging tricks for everyone in this division. Congratulations to the age winners and the overall winners.
84 players competed in the Single A Division (10 tricks, 5 points for first try, 3 points for second try, if needed). This was the toughest list of string tricks ever to be in a contest. All were newly innovated tricks. This is the most popular style of play at this time, and it was very competitive to get in to the finals. Congratulations to all of the finalist, and to the new 2001 National A Champion, Jason Lee of Monterey Park, California.
21 players faced the daunting Double AA Division (10 tricks using two yoyos). Every year the trick variations are more difficult, but the players keep improving to meet the challenge. This division's looping tricks have a high number of repetitions and transitions that require a special talent to control two yoyos at the same time. Congratulations to all of the finalist, and to the new 2001 National AA Champion, Masahiro Tanikawa of Summerville, South Carolina.
This year marked the premier of two designations that should grow in
popularity.
For the first time ever, the Best Junior Player Award and Best Girl Player
Award were presented in both the championship divisions. Congratulations
to Alexander Jacobs and Jennifer Kouri in 'A', and Nana Sakamoto in 'AA'.
They are role models for the many players coming along in the next few
years.
At the Awards Dinner Saturday night, sponsors were recognized for the big part they played in the continuation of the National Contest. Local radio, newspaper, recreation district and business associations who provided support were officially thanked.
The national sponsors whom made it financially possible to put on the event were also recognized and received awards. The continuation of this great event relies on the generosity of these sponsors: Yomega Corporation, Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurant, Duncan YoYo Company, YoYoJam. Spintastic Skill Toys, and Bird in Hand. We offer our sincerest gratitude for their support.
Additional player awards were handed out. The Most Inspirational Player Award provided by Chevys was presented to sixteen-year-old Jennifer Kouri. Fourteen-year-old Brent Dellinger won the YoYoJam Player Presidents Award.
Every year at the Awards Dinner the National YoYo Museum presents their perpetual awards to influential individuals who give the sport important effort that enables the industry both leadership and vitality.
The Trick Innovator of the Year Award is a new recognition that made
its debut this year. This award will bring fame to those inventors of
yoyo tricks who create difficult, good-looking tricks that can be easily
judged in contests. Each year's recipient will help select the next year's
winner.
The premier recipient is none other than: Doctor Popular super scientist.
The Donald F. Duncan Family Award for Industry Excellence is awarded
annually to a manufacturer who creates quality innovation, production
and promotion that advances the sport and provides the players the tools
to push the sport to higher levels.
Past recipients include: Tom Kuhn, Alan Amaral, and Brad Countryman
The 2001 recipient is: Dale and Valerie Oliver, owners of Spintastics
YoYos.
The Mark Sitton Award for Sportsmanship is awarded to a person who demonstrates
the best in sportsmanship, and coaches others to learn these qualities.
This award winner helps kids to become better players and to better understand
others.
Past recipients include: Hans Van Dan Elzen, Paul Buethe, and Dave Schulte
The 2001 recipient is: Dave Bazan, yoyo & spin-top teacher and demonstrator.
The National Achievement Award is awarded to someone who over a long
period of time successfully improved the sport. Most often this award
winner works quietly to influence a change in how the industry develops,
and in the activity of playing with the yoyo.
Past recipients include: Stuart Crump Jr., Don Watson, and Cliff Coleman.
The 2001 recipient is: Richy Nye, curator of the National YoYo Museum.
The most dramatic event of the evening was the announcement of three
new National Masters amid outbursts of applause and cheers.
Congratulations to Jennifer Baybrook, Dave Schulte, and Steve Brown.
They are three highly respected longtime players and contributors to the continuation of the sport on the national level. They received their National Master Award for their positive influence and inspiration of younger players. The contest's mission to 'prepare for the future' received its biggest statement with these new Masters.
To honor their exemplary performance over an extensive period, the four current National Masters: Dale Myrberg, Dennis McBride, Dale Oliver, and Bill deBoisblanc were elevated to the newly created National Grand Master level.
All in all, a very exciting event.
-Bob
Bird in Hand has all National Contest and Museum Items.