What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
I first got started during 90s yo-yo boom like most millennial throwers I know. I have no idea what got me into it at the time, but I have a ton of memories of yo-yoing in elementary school — performing at a talent show, competing at the mall near my house, making some rudimentary tutorials on VHS tapes using a camera my dad borrowed from work.
I got back into it twice. First in 2012 when I was at the Mall of America and passed the store I bought yo-yos at as a kid and decided to pick one up. It was a plastic whip, I loved it, and used it as a way to keep my hands occupied on conference calls. It didn’t stick because work became chaos and once it calmed down I was no longer throwing.
The second time was in 2022, two years after I bought a sage during the height of lockdown to see if I wanted to pick it back up. I don’t exactly know why it stuck this time, but I’m really glad it did.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
I have so many goals! But I think the biggest one is to feel good about how I use my phone. It’s easy to get sucked into scrolling and I just don’t want to do that anymore. I’m starting with just one rule for now — when my daughter is around, my phone goes in a box — and giving myself a pass on how I use it the rest of the time, because if I’m doing that one thing I’m doing better. I’ll probably add some other elements soon, we’ll see.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
Probably a gtr-js. I just love it a whole lot, and I feel like I think about how other yo-yos play based on how they’re different from it. Honestly I’ll probably get a second if there’s another run so I can keep one in my office.
What trick are you working on currently?
Rancid milk. I really like it, and it’s been a great trick to push myself with on responsive yo-yos.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
I absolutely suck at slackcides. Something about them just does not click. I can do basic ones, but anything complex I struggle with — and if I do them at speed I feel like I land them based on luck rather than skill.
What’s your favorite trick?
All things beefhook. I first started landing them at the hospital after my daughter was born. I needed something to do while she was sleeping besides just staring at her to make sure she was still breathing, and just doing lots of reps on a single element felt right.
A few months later I did ante, and totally botched landing a beefhook — which made me decide to record a beefhook video everyday, and that pushed me to get better more than anything else.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
I don’t know about favorite, but I’ve probably used my Thesis Paladin more than anything else. It’s silly, but because the pouch it came in is really nice it became the yo-yo I felt comfortable just leaving in my fanny pack. So anytime I’m walking around or have some time to kill outside the house, it’s right there with me. I have a lot more yo-yos now, so I could put something else in there, but it’s served me nicely and if I carried anything else I’d worry about hitting it on the pavement (whereas the thesis has already made that sacrifice).
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
I have an old Terminator Tornado that way back in 4th grade I swapped halves with the friend I threw with the most growing up. It was the first yo-yo I brought with me from my mom’s house after I started throwing again and it has a special spot on my desk.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
I use my arms to move the yo-yo way too much instead of my hands/fingers. It takes so much mental focus to not do it that way.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
I love walking. Going places on foot just makes me relaxed and happy. Going to the store, taking my daughter to the park, backpacking for a few days, whatever. I just love going for walks. I had a shirt in high school that said, “It is a great art to saunter” and I feel that in my bones. I had one day in London after a work trip last year and I took a 30 mile stroll across the city organized around a series of radical history tours from a book my friend lent me and a string of espresso shops. Great day.
I’m making a run on #1 listener worldwide, and I would like to thank my daughter and her cousin for requesting it on repeat during carpool every morning.
Favorite restaurant and order?
Having a vegan breakfast sandwich and sunshine espresso at Catalog Coffee is probably my favorite way to spend a meal.
Favorite movie and or Book?
I’m going to answer a different question. If I could only have one streaming service right now, I’d happily just watch Dropout.tv. Game Changer is easily the best game show airing right now with an honorable mention to its spinoffs, especially Make Some Noise. It’s just a bunch of smart, funny, caring people making each other laugh and finding a way to make money while doing it.
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
The California Lottery sums it up pretty nicely: A little play can make your day.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?
The Baltimore yo-yo club just started up, and at the first meeting I made it to I got to teach some kids the basics, reintroduce a few parents to it (and see their eyes light up probably more than the kids), and learn a bunch of stuff from Coffin that I would never have thought about otherwise. I’ve barely thrown in person with other people as an adult, and that made me so hungry for more.
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
It’s okay to not always be learning new tricks. Ride the wave of inspiration when it strikes, and when it doesn’t, just be consistent with your throwing. Plateaus happen when you’re learning anything, and there’s plenty of value in just getting a little smoother, a little more consistent, or just having more repetitions under your belt. The two most important things are
to not get discouraged and
to keep having fun.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
Not particularly, because it’s only been a couple of years. But in general I want more diversity in the throwing community.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
I’d probably be using begleri or juggling. I like skill toys in general, partially because I’m just a fidgety person.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
There are so many yo-yos and there will always be another drop. Don’t get caught up in the hype.
Whats you want to tell the world?
Build your community, fill it with people who are different from you, and love them as fiercely as you can. Life’s richer with more people to share your joys and pains with. Also, venn diagrams are a really great way of expressing conflicting feelings.
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
I got into the hobby from a mixture of boredom and Terraria. While I didn’t pick up a yoyo immediately after playing the game, it did cause yoyoing to take root as the option for a hobby in my mind.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
I have many yoyo-related goals but I’d say my primary goals are to grow Pop! as into a legitimate, albeit small, business and also to finally develop a playstyle that really speaks to who I am as a person.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
There are a lot of good yoyos out there!!! Before creating my own brand the answer definitely would be the C3 Hydrogen Crash but while it’s still my favorite bimetal, the Weasel is sincerely one of my favorite throws at the moment and is a lot better for everyday carry. So, probably the Weasel, but know that I would rather die than live in this dark reality where one can only experience one yoyo.
What trick are you working on currently?
I’m currently working on multiple tricks as I’m trying to learn how to perform various elements on the side that they typically don’t occur on, such as throwhand chopsticks and ninja vanish alongside nth branding!
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
The trick that is currently giving me the hardest time is advanced hooks. I hit the 2.5 hook once and I crave to hit it again but have yet to replicate it.
What’s your favorite trick?
My favorite trick is Titanium Chopsticks! I love how it flows and chopsticks are among my favorite elements.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
My favorite yoyo of all time is an interesting question as there is kind of a case to be made not just for like “oooh I like how this plays” but also the historical significance of it. I can give you a company-bias answer, a performance-based answer, and an old-school answer.
Pop! Yoyos bias answer: the Weasel (think of it as a massively upgraded roadrunner that plays extremely light for 67.2g)
Raw performance answer: C3 Hydrogen Crash or Plasma Crash
Historically significant answer: YoyoJam Dark Magic II.
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
The most meaningful throw i have is probably my Yomega Maverick. I got it as my first metallic yoyo and it is by far the most beat up of them as it bears scars from even before I began yoyoing consistently and picked it up as a true hobby.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
My worst habit in yoyoing BY FAR is having a bunch of excessive movement that reduces my trick accuracy.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
Outside of yoyoing, I like working out, reading, collecting rocks, gaming, and playing Magic: The Gathering. I have a lot of hobbies that I balance.
What song best fits your personality?
There’s a lot of songs out there… I think that a song that describes my personality is a song called Lazy Eye by the Silversun Pickups less from a lyrical standpoint and more from a sonic perspective as I, too, am noisy and happy.
Favorite restaurant and order?
My favorite restaurant is a little hole-in-the-wall called Go! Go! Teriyaki in Everett. Easily the best teriyaki in the city, quite potentially in the state. I yoyo for the owner of the store at times and we know each other on a first name basis. Get the Chicken Katsu there alongside the gyoza.
Favorite movie and or Book?
Favorite book is easy. Lord of the Rings Trilogy, specifically the Two Towers. My favorite movie is probably Pulp Fiction due to the extremely powerful ending. Other books I enjoy are House of Leaves, Master and Margarita, and I’ve also been meaning to read the Finnish Kalevela.
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
Yoyoing simply means almost my entire world to me socially. As someone on the autism spectrum socializing has always been a different matter for me than other people might experience, and while I would consider myself charismatic, I wouldn’t say I have had an easy time keeping friends until now.
Yoyoing also helps me build dexterity and creativity in ways that remind me of being a child again. Above all though my world would be a lot darker if I hadn’t met this wonderful community.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?
I have 2 favorite memories from yoyoing, both of equal importance. My favorite memory involving me yoyoing is going up against Harrison Lee in the Stargazing tutorial round and beating him despite not considering myself being that good at the hobby.
Outside of my own yoyoing, seeing my yoyo on stage, wielded by my sponsored player Sal Mosley, was truly a surreal moment where I went “Oh crap, I have a company and it’s real!”
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
The best advice I can give for people getting into the hobby is to be patient. Growth is a journey and that journey should be enjoyed.
Another universal piece of advice i have is to go to competitions and compete in any division you feel comfortable with! Putting your face out there on stage is important and it personally gives me a HUGE motivation boost to get better as soon as I get done competing.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
It’s interesting seeing how the community has evolved over the past few years, especially being a part of that community. I feel that it is undergoing a healthy growth as events like the Faye Webster Invitational, the PNWR, and other larger competitions draw in new people, but online competitions such as Ante seemed to have become even more popular than when I first started a few years ago.
Something that I feel the community needs to work upon is something that I do very frequently by spreading the “word” of yoyo to as many people as possible. Providing outsiders with access to a new community and skillset is how the hobby grows, and I feel it is our responsibility to help provide others who may not have a community to call home with as welcoming and inclusive an environment as possible. I want to pay it forward and leave our community better than it was when I left it.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
Not to go to too dark of a place but if I had never picked up a yoyo it is possible I wouldn’t be here right now. As I alluded to I was actually a somewhat lonely person before all of this, a very different and unhappy person trapped working in a dirt yard and feeling unsure of how to express himself. It’s very likely I would still be that same person without that yomega maverick.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
As I mentioned, patience is key. So is finding your people. Find a club, watch videos, find a community. Growth also doesn’t happen in a vacuum, or if it does, it comes at a severely impeded pace.
Whats you want to tell the world?
Something I want to tell the world is that the world is a dark place. Be a light in that darkness. I feel it’s important to help those that need it, even if it’s as simple as brightening someone’s day by showing them nothing they’ve never seen before, like a sick new combo you’ve been working on or even just a bright shiny piece of metal with a bearing in it.
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
Hey everyone! I’m Todd aka: yoyofox currently on the rain city team, as you read this we will be almost closed up! I’m super pumped to be profiled, and I hope you like to read
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
Like most folks I started playing in middle school. I remember my buddy tony and I got a couple yomega brains when they first came out and we would stand at our lockers in between classes and play, we worked hard getting that thing to sleep and thought we were the coolest making it do what it was engineered not to do. Tony could rock the baby though so I spent a lot of time learning that and I finally got it! Then I smashed it on the tile floor on accident and it broke! I begged my parents for a new one but like most other things I got the response of “you don’t need that, it’s a toy for kids and you’re not a kid.” so it faded into obscurity.
Fast forward to 2020 I was working in a school as a BASE teacher and it was post covid return to school and I wanted to find something cool for the kids that wasn’t a screen so I went off to the teacher supply store to find something and they had juggling sets, poi, hula hoops, flowstars, a bunch of those cool little robot science projects, and on a little end cap there were some Duncans, I picked up a reflex, butterfly, and an imperial and I brought them back and started with the reflex because it had the auto return and I got hooked from that! I wanted to learn tricks so I could teach the kids, found a great beginner series and started learning basics. Then I purchased a sage and that began my addiction of purchasing but also the excitement of learning new tricks. I did start a yoyo club with the kids and of the huge group that wanted to do it only 2 stuck with it! But that’s OK I hope they still play What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
Goals for 2025 for yoyo
Compete at Nats and have fun instead of tense up… Run Colorado states again in November but better than last year! And continue to improve everyday!
Non-yoyo
my wife and I are trying to get our house built so this is a major goal for us
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
This question is difficult… But right now I’d go with the Doc pop DIY. Super versatile, super comfy.
What trick are you working on currently?
I actually just started candy rain lol! A nice classic
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Rancid milk!! Finally got this one and then I’m not consistent with it, I get it all the way through maybe 1 out of 10 tries, but that’s one to keep working on!
What’s your favorite trick?
Doc pop’s bus flow, it’s a super flowy trick that has an orbital decay element, I struggled with orbital decay for so long and then it finally clicked and that trick instantly became a favorite!
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
Another one of these hard questions? My favorite of all time is
Rain city skills: showpony & Doc pop: icarus
Turner return tops: scrub
Rain city skills: seti
One drop: wizard
Mile High Yoyo: gnome (all variants) You got the top 5!
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
The titanium gnome is the most meaningful to me, it was a gift from a good friend. And of course out of all of my collection the most meaningful pieces are the gifts from friends and all the pieces I got through my sponsorship with Rain City Skills
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
LOL! DINGS no yoyo is safe from the floor/gravel/concrete/shelving units with me. I love it though, they’re like battle scars. In fact just today I got the sago from Turner in the mail and my first throw sent it into a shelf and bent the rim! Hooray it’s been set free!
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
I shoot nature photography, I haven’t in a long time but it’s another hobby, and Colorado lends for some great shots. I also play bass and used to be in a band but that time in my life has passed. Starting to get into kendama a little bit and other skill toys.
Double D’s pizza – large palette pleaser, and some garlic knots
Favorite movie and or Book?
I am a huge western fan. My favorite Western is The Outlaw Josey Wales. And I absolutely adore the spaghetti westerns! This comes from sitting with my grandpa and watching these movies when I was just a wee lad.
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
Expression. Artistry. Growth. I’ll tell you straight I am not the best player, not by a long shot. But this hobby began as an alternative to screens for 23 tiny people. And has become something that I use to ground myself when stressed or anxious, and a way to express myself through my own style that’s ever changing. It’s definitely changed my life and I’ve met the best of friends through yoyo and it’s helped me through very difficult times.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?
The whole experience? Lol! The time spent on the rain city skills team is definitely top. When I was beginning the first metal/higher level yoyo I bought was the guitarist, and Waylon didn’t send it with pads! So I reached out and he sent them but then I bought a deluge and he was confused haha!
But a while later Jeremy asked me to be on the team right at the time I had finished making my first drop of foxtails actually the next day when I was trying to figure out how to sell them and he said we could do that on the website. I had wanted to be on rain city from the very beginning and it was a perfect fit. Even though I was still a pretty rough beginner player Jeremy took me on and I am incredibly grateful for everything he’s done for me on this journey, and I’ve become close friends with the whole team.
It’s a huge bummer that we’re closing, but I completely understand what Jeremy is going through. It’s sad for sure but this was an amazing experience, and it will stick with me for evrything in the future, wherever I end up.
Foxtails. I made the first ones just to see if I could, I wanted to know if I could use a material i like to make myself string to be able to have as much as I want for super cheap. Then I let the guys at club try some just to see what people thought and everyone loved them and wanted some already. That’s when I stumbled upon the fade, and that was it! I love being able to bring these to people and I love all the reactions to them! I’m currently as of this moment working on a large run with several new colors, and finding a new home for them to live!
Mile High YoYo Club. I was told by Jakob Austin that there was a yoyo club local. I had no idea and was really uncertain but I went, and I met Dave and LK that day and I was hooked it was crazy to see other people who liked yoyo. And now this group of people have become amazing friends and I’ve watched people join and leave or move away. But it’s gotten to the point where I’ve started running the second meet of the month, and help with the jamboree as well as running Colorado States along with Jon Gates!
What’s your best advice for people to get better at yo-yoing?
Practice. That’s it. Find a trick you like and practice until you get it, or an element, or a transition. Then keep practicing until you can do it in your sleep. When I learned skin the gerbil it took me a couple of weeks to get it, and I got it in chunks. I kept doing it over and over to join the pieces, make it smooth and now I can do it blindfolded. And I still do it everyday. Find a player whose style you love, and emulate that while mixing it with your own, develop your own with influences from the greats.
Most people know me from my daily videos, I’ve been doing that for a while, when I started that the popular thing to do was the 1 day, 1 week, month, year, 35 years of yoyo videos and I wanted to do a live progress daily video and I’m happy I did that becuase I can look back at those old videos and see how much I’ve actually grown. My first posted video was a trapeze… Just go for it!
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
I started in late 2020, and I think that was really the rebuilding after the pandemic, at least in a physical sense so I’ve been able to see it grow, or re-grow. But also 5 years isn’t really enough time to see a lot of change. I see new people start and stop, or start and embrace the community, and the established clubs starting to grow. I hang out with some old school players and just love the stories of the community from ’99 ’00s era, sort of living vicariously through that because I wasn’t there for it. What I’d love to see the community do is grow, more clubs, more new people, more folks willing to start a club in their area with no idea if there’s any other players around and be willing to teach new people. I need to do this too at my own club meets, because the joy in this is sharing the knowledge, if I can teach some kid who just started how to bind then I’ve set them up for the rest of this world of yoyo.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
Gosh. Droll. Work, and more work followed by brain rot with a screen.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
Try everything.
I see this question so much “hey guys I’m a new player, what is the best __?” everything in yoyo is your personal preference. The yoyo I love may be hated by the next person. The string I love may not be liked by everyone. So if that questions is asked and someone tells them what is the “best” they may hate it and stop.
So literally try every type of yoyo, material, shape, size experiment and find what you love. String, try it all until yoh find your favorite, string is cheap. Bearings? Run them dry, never use lube… Embrace the frustration, learning new tricks is frustrating, you fail more times than you get it until you get it, In the beginning you fail every trick for a while! Don’t give up it helps yoh learn problem solving, and landing that difficult to you trick for the first time is the BEST feeling. Find your own flow and go that direction, don’t feel pressured to learn the DNA unless that’s your goal. Use a good beginner tutorial series.
What do you want to tell the world?
I will quote the twelfth doctor “Hate is always foolish. And love, is always wise. Always try, to be nice and never fail to be kind”
Also, I’m pretty sure Waylon licks every box he ships, so be careful when you open your rain city packages 😂
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
**What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?**
I was really fascinated at the time with “retro” items and had picked up a cheap yo-yo. Naturally I took to YouTube, learned enough about bearings to tear up my local toys r us for a Yomega exodus 2 and I’ve been going at it since then. Roughly a year in I found a small local group and we had our only state contest that year (2012). I had a small falling out with this hobby that started sometime in college until I got back into it during Covid. Scales streams helped give me a sense of community during that time and I’ve been hooked again.
**What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!**
I want to meet more of my own team members! We have a very diverse group from all over and I think it would be awesome to get to know them personally.
**If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?**
I always hate to come off with bias, but I think the Gway Re:Devil. Ever since I played with the original daredevil I’ve always loved the size and power. Re:Devil is just slightly more modern.
**What trick are you working on currently?**
I haven’t been throwing consistently. So whatever just comes to mind I usually will grind out for however long I have.
**What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?**
I’ve been working on some tower whips that are pretty hard to get down.
**What’s your favorite trick?**
Matthew Wallsten’s 3D isolation slack that breaks down to a tower, then GT. Or any Tsukasa Namba trick.
**What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?**
The yo-yos battling for my attention the most are (in no order): Southside, Sibyl, Anceps, Refractory
**What’s the most meaningful throw you have?**
My 2013 Worlds Duncan Strix! I remember getting it at the Duncan booth right before meeting Janos Karancz in person. He was probably my favorite player at the time.
**What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?**
Bearing maintenance. Despite spending a good amount on tools to make it easier for me I just hate taking the time to deshield bearings and lube.
**What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?**
I play a lot of ping pong, go-kart, disc golf, and video games!
**What song best fits your personality?**
I actually don’t know how to answer this one!
**Favorite restaurant and order?**
I think my favorite dish I’ve ever gotten was a teriyaki glazed, pan seared salmon on coconut jasmine rice.
**Favorite movie and or Book?**
Synecdoche, New York
**What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?**
It’s a way to express yourself and connect with others. But first and foremost it’s a toy for fun!
**What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?**
I remember my entire Chesapeake Classic trip from 2022. It was the first time in a long time I traveled for a contest. I fondly remember my car ride with my buddy Ben, staying out late, meeting a lot of new friends in a super scenic, fun little beach contest.
**What’s your practice routine like?**
I don’t have a routine, probably to my detriment! I practice when I can. If a contest is coming up I’ll usually try to make it a goal to get a few hours of grind time prior.
**How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?**
It just seems like it reaches further. The internet and forums were a prevalent force back when I started; but the micro-sharing through Instagram, TikTok, and Discord really feels like it shrinks our global maps. I do think the DNA has had a profound boom on how many new people picked up a yo-yo. In the future, I’d like to see a non-competition focused event, that was substantial enough to warrant the travel & lodging that regular contests do.
**If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?**
Well, when I took my yo-yo break, I learned to work on cars and played a lot of video games. I think I’d have gotten into a different hobby. Maybe cubing? A bunch of kids in my school were into that during that time.
**Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?**
Have fun! At the end of the day your enjoyment comes out of how you play with a toy. I can’t tell you how to have fun. But I will remind you to check and make sure you are. It’s easy to get lost in grinding for a competition or get caught up in how the modern judging system works.
Also don’t tell yourself no! I wouldn’t have been able to learn half the tricks I have if I ever put the mental block in place of some trick being “too-hard”.
**Whats you want to tell the world?**
I think we’re doing a better job day after day, but just being kinder and more accepting of people. This is a global community with nearly every possible background of people that all share different ideas and beliefs. I think it’s important to protect not only your own peace, but making sure others feel safe too. If you go to a contest say hi to someone new. You never know who just needs to at extra nudge to break that ever-present yo-yo awkwardness. And they may go on to be a great friend of yours.
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
**What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?**
I started yo-yoing in 2015 when I was five years old. My dad bought yo-yos for me and my brother. At first, I wasn’t very interested because it was difficult to learn tricks. It took me six months just to learn the basic bind. However, having successfully mastered some tricks and achieved good results in contests, I started to get more interested in yo-yoing.
**What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!**
My goal is to advance to the 1A final at worlds. Also, since I made many mistakes due to nervousness on stage last year, I want to perform better this year.
**If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?**
I would probably choose the Miracle 2025. It’s my signature yo-yo, and it has the best specs for landing my tricks.
**What trick are you working on currently?**
I am practicing my routine repeatedly for the World yoyo contest. I want to reduce mistakes by practicing that routine for a long time.
**What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?**
I think the 4.0, and 4.5 hooks are most difficult to land. And those hooks are the hardest tricks to nail successfully on the stage. Also, the horizontal tricks are hard to do.
**What’s the most meaningful or favorite throw you have?**
The most meaningful yo-yo is the Black Original Miracle that I used when I won the Women’s Freestyle at the 2023 World Yo-Yo Contest.
**What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?**
My worst habit is feeling excessively nervous on stage. Unlike during practice, I get really nervous when I’m on stage, which makes it hard to carry out my tricks.
**What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?**
I like reading, writing, drawing, and taking photos. I love reading Greek and Roman classics and epic poems. Also, I enjoy writing short stories, and drawing in the style of Renaissance era paintings, especially, Raphael Santi’s masterpieces.
**What song best fits your personality?
I think fast-paced music with climax suits me the best.
**Favorite restaurant and order?**
My favorite is italian restaurant. I like Margherita Pizza, Bolognese and Vongole pasta, and Lasagna. I love italian desserts such as Schiacciata alla fiorentina(florentine sweet cake), Panforte, Millefoglie.
**Favorite movie and or Book?**
My favorite movies are the ‘Life is beautiful’ and ‘The Prestige’.
My favorite books are ‘The Iliad’, ‘The Odyssey’, the tragedies by greek playwrights and ‘Night Flight’. I also like reading some books about Renaissance art, as drawing is my favorite hobby.
**What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?**
To me, yo-yoing is like climbing stairs, taking one step at a time in order. In yo-yoing you can’t achieve all in an instant. I believe that diligence is the key in this process. There are no leaps in yo-yoing. What matters is consistency.
**What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?**
The greatest memory I have is when I made it to the 1A final last year at the World yoyo contest. It was one of my biggest goals I had in yo-yoing. I didn’t expect that I could pass the prelims because I changed my yo-yo at the beginning.
**What’s your biggest accomplishment yo-yo or not?**
I think the biggest accomplishment that I made is two times women’s freestyle titles in a row.
**How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?**
It seems that more people are promoting themselves through online communities rather than offline ones. Since the pandemic, the number of people sharing their yo-yo tricks and performances on social media platforms like Instagram has increased, so has the number of people watching that content and becoming more interested in yo-yoing.
**If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?**
If I hadn’t got into yo-yoing, I probably would have dreamed of becoming a painter. However, I might not have been very special at it. Being a painter is a dream many people have, so becoming successful in that field would have been much more difficult.
**Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?**
Yo-yoing requires a lot of practice. If you don’t put efforts, it will be difficult to achieve success. I think talent is not that important. The more you overcome your limits, the higher you’ll reach. And be confident on stage!
Player Profiles is a series of articles/interviews dedicated to spotlighting the vibrant and diverse community of yo-yo enthusiasts. Each article delves into the unique stories of players from different backgrounds, showcasing their journeys, skills, and contributions to the yo-yo world. The series aims to highlight the passion and creativity that drive these individuals, offering readers an inside look at their personal experiences, favorite tricks, and the impact yo-yoing has had on their lives. Whether they’re seasoned competitors or inspiring newcomers, these profiles celebrate the people who make the yo-yo community so dynamic and inclusive.
