by BobParty | Mar 10, 2025 | Player Profiles
**What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?**
Back in Middle school one of my friends had a magic yoyo and he was just doing a simple bind but at the time I thought it was the coolest thing Ive ever seen. So about a month later I went to Downtown Disney in LA and this was when they had a Duncan booth, my mom got me one and now here I am yoyoing 11 years later!
**What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!**
I want to make worlds finals! Also to show what I have learned since worlds
**What trick are you working on currently?**
Lots of competition type tricks but also working on more the flow of all the tricks.
**What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?**
Anything with a whip to double GT or a slap to double GT
**What’s the most meaningful or favorite throw you have?**
I have a few but I have my gsquared Eilte that I used to make my first Nationals finals that I will keep forever.
**What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?**
Dinging them lol
**What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?**
I love to go running, taking photography and I’m currently learning some other skill toys
**What song best fits your personality?**
[Girl afraid by the smiths](https://youtu.be/zVy-zkB3ESg?si=AF2qgft7fzEZ0lKr)
It has nothing to do with the title of the song or anything i really like the song and it’s a calm one and I believe I am more of a calmer person.
**Favorite restaurant and order?**
Any restaurant with tamales is my favorite
**What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?**
Means the most to me! Been with me through the past 11 years
**If you could start over again, what would you do differently?**
I don’t think id change a thing other than start earlier
**What’s your biggest accomplishment yo-yo or not?**
Probably winning NER or getting 2nd at PNWR
**How has the community changed since you started and where do you want it to go?**
Lots of changed, I feel like its more mainstream than it use to be, Id love for yoyo to go in a direction where not just competing is common but shows for the public, such as concerts or dance recitals
**If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?**
I think id probably be more into video games
**Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?**
Enjoy the process of getting better, its the most fun stages of yoyo in my opinion and you leave it before you even realize it
**Whats you want to tell the world?**
Thanks for the support for the past 11 years! This community has been super welcoming and im happy to have a small part 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.
by BobParty | Mar 7, 2025 | Player Profiles
Happy Friday!!
Great profile with Marc Zuno from team Enzo!! I believe a lot of what they say will really resonate with us all!!
Instagram
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
Way back around 2008 or 2009 – I don’t remember exactly when – my grandparents bought me a brain type, light up yoyo and I thought it was just kinda cool. My uncle showed me a few tricks on it like around the world and rock the baby and such. Learning the absolute basic tricks made me more interested, but what really got me hooked was what I did next. I searched “yoyo god” on YouTube. The video that I clicked on from that search was of the winning routine from the 2006 world yoyo contest in the 1A division, Hiroyuki Suzuki. I watched that routine just, mesmerized. I swore right then and there that I was going to reach that level of yoyoing.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
My goal for myself in 2025 in yoyo, higher placements for sure. I want to win contests. I made finals at the World Yoyo Contest before I had won a pro contest. I got my first professional contest win in November of 2024 at the Colorado State Yoyo contest. I also want to push my competitive abilities even further and I want to make routines that don’t just score and present well, but feel like they fit me and express a message. I want to surpass my ceiling and push myself even further. I want there to be a noticeable, big improvement. I also want to continue supporting everyone and I want to be a lot more social, as I have a bit of a hard time with that. For anyone who meets me, I know I can be somewhat awkward, but I really do appreciate everyone that comes up to me.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
Assuming I’d still be competing, it’d be the Gear 5. The Gear 5 is able to handle everything I throw at it and it fits me like a glove. Assuming I was retired from competing, it’d be the UI. The UI is just too fun and still holds up with my trickset.
What trick are you working on currently?
Rather than a specific trick, I’m working on making my tricks look more presentable. What I mean by that, is rather than just doing trickshots – not that I plan to stop doing trickshots of course – I want my tricks to transition to each other more smoothly. I want my tricks to look like they blend together, rather than being lots of separate elements being done quickly and incoherently.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Double green triangle ninja vanish. Even after many attempts, I can get it right once every 30 tries or so. It’s not a trick I especially need anyway.
Youtube Trick Link
What’s your favorite trick?
I can’t think of a specific one because I know quite a few that are about as amazing as each other. I would say I really enjoy seeing dynamic body tricks and trickshot type tricks. What’s really cool is seeing a trick and getting chills or being crazy impressed. I hope I have tricks that can get that kind of reaction out of other people and hopefully provide inspiration.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
The UI by my amazing sponsor, Enso. It’s the first yoyo of theirs I ever tried and it is always such a fun throw to go back to. The way it rings as I just casually do tricks makes me feel so cool. Close second would be the Metatron’s Cube.
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
The most meaningful throw I have is probably my half swapped UI. It was the first yoyo Enso ever sent me. I half swapped it with my teammate Cisco, shortly after I joined Team Enso. To me, it represents my welcoming into team Enso and also the bond that I’m able to share with this amazing company that took a chance on me at a time when I really needed it.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
It used to be accidentally poking myself trying to deshield bearings. I haven’t had to worry about that since I only use NSK bearings for competition now. My bad habit now is not cleaning my bearings until it actually becomes a problem. I also have a habit of not pacing my practice sessions. Often I’ll just do a full burst of practice until I’m wiped, rather than doing a few runs at different times of the day.
What kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
Yoyo has kind of taken priority over my other hobbies to be honest. I like to play video games sometimes. I used to play a lot of Rainbow Six Siege and Osu! I watch a lot of anime, mostly random anime that aren’t usually brought up in conversation with others though. Same deal with manga, literally whatever catches my attention I’ll look into. I also really enjoy hanging out with my friends when I get the chance to.
What song best fits your personality?
The song “Blue Light” by Ike Eveland. I heavily resonated with this song before I finally started seeing results in yoyo. It summed up my exact feelings that I had even before the song had been released. “Blue Light” is about feeling like you’re wasting time and not really seeing any significant progress. It’s about feeling afraid to take a step forward despite really wanting to. Feeling inadequate and like no matter what you do, it’s never enough to satisfy yourself. Near the end of the song, there’s a mention of being reborn as somebody new and I feel as though I was finally able to take a step in that direction once I put in more effort than I ever had before and proved what I was capable of – not just to everyone else, but to myself – at the 2023 US National Yoyo Contest. It was more than yoyo to me. I was finally making my mark in a way and not just existing without purpose. This song is a reminder that having no goal makes me feel empty and leads to just being sad and lonely. I took a step away from my comfort zone and from my solitude. I am very lucky to have the friends and support system that I do. I’m glad that I can acknowledge my abilities, even if not fully yet.
Favorite restaurant and order?
Buffalo Wild Wings. My favorite order is Mango Habanero boneless wings with a root beer(or margarita) and a side of fries.
Favorite movie and or Book?
I actually don’t watch too many movies. My favorite movie that I can think of is “A Silent Voice.” My favorite shows are “Code Geass,” “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” and “Violet Evergarden.”
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
Yoyoing to me, is proof that I’m capable of achieving what I want through dedication. Yoyoing gives me self confidence, something to look forward to, courage and purpose. It has given me amazing friends and a place of belonging in a community that is so supportive.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby?
My favorite memory is when I heard my name called during the results announcement for the semi final round at the 2024 world yoyo contest. It determined who was making finals. I still remember the pressure in the room as everyone there was on the absolute edge of their seats waiting to hear the names of either themselves or of those they wanted to make it through. I could feel and hear my heartbeat as I stood there listening closely in anticipation of my name potentially being called. One by one, the country and the name until I heard: “United States, Marc Zuno,” and then just a wave of emotion washed over me. Mostly happiness and excitement. I was flooded by my friends in a big celebratory circle. All my friends and acquaintances cheered loudly. I was hugged, patted on the back, high fived, everything. I got a picture with my sponsor as well and it is one of my favorite pictures because I look and am genuinely happy in the photo. I called my mom after the announcements were finished. All the relief set in at that moment on the phone call with my mother and I just cried tears of joy. I was officially – placement wise – in the world’s top 20 1A yoyoers.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
It’s hard to say. I wasn’t heavily into the community until I started getting results in competitions recently. If I think really hard about it – to me it seems – people seem to value the scoring system more now than they did in the past. Especially the new generation of up and coming yoyoers. They seem especially interested in how clicking works. Clicking isn’t all there is to a routine of course, but it is essential knowledge for throwers looking to get real results. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all for them to learn that either. Honestly, I would have loved to know how clicking worked way earlier on. I wonder if I would have had a lot of success if I had that knowledge back when I was competing in 2015-2018. Information on how clicking works is way more accessible now compared to back then. I also want to note that not everyone wants to compete and they just like to yoyo. That is completely fine. At the end of the day, yoyo is for fun. If you’re not having fun with it, then there’s no point in doing it.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
I actually have no idea. Since I grew up yoyoing, it shaped so much about me and created relationships/dynamics that I just would not have had if I weren’t a yoyoer. I made many acquaintances(that didn’t yoyo) when I was younger simply because I knew how to yoyo and was pretty alright at it. They’d take interest and ask questions. I was able to make a few genuine connections outside of yoyo because of it. I think it would have been a lot harder for me to socialize if I didn’t have yoyo in my life. I’ve always been a pretty shy person. Yoyo opened opportunities for me to talk to more people, and especially more now that I’m legitimately in the community. If I didn’t yoyo, I can’t say with confidence that I’d have another hobby that I would have gone pro in. I stuck with yoyo because I felt I had a talent for it. After sticking with it for so long, I can’t find it in me to stop, and I genuinely don’t want to stop.
Advice/words of wisdom to new players?
Do not be afraid to ask for help. I was in a rut for years because I was too nervous/scared to just reach out and ask for help.
What do you want to tell the world?
No matter your ethnicity, background, orientation, identity or physical appearance. You are valid. You are capable of achieving what you want to. As long as what you are after – or who you want to be – is not causing harm to anyone, it is not a problem. Anyone who doesn’t support you, will just have to deal with it. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Be tolerant, be respectful and do not be afraid to be your authentic self. And for any hobby out there – yoyo or not – have fun with it. Stay safe everyone. If you read this far, I truly appreciate it. Thank you
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.
by BobParty | Mar 5, 2025 | Player Profiles
All!
Today I am proud to present the world champ, Mir Kim!!!!
Instagram
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
Back in 2015, my father first bought me a yo-yo. It was a Modified shaped yo-yo for beginners. I soon began to like it and became totally absorbed in landing tricks and feeling the sense of accomplishment. That’s how I started yo-yoing.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not!
My goal is to do my best for World Yo-Yo Contest so that I will be satisfied with my performance. As for outside yo-yoing, I’d like to complete some short stories and novellas.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
My answer is the Miracle 2025, my signature yo-yo:) It is the one that is most fit for me.
What trick are you working on currently?
I am making some new tricks inspired by literature. I will read books, and transform what I feel into physical movements.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
I think Horizontal tricks and Hooks are most difficult. Especially for Hooks, I have to practice over and over again everyday.
What’s the most meaningful or favorite throw you have?
The original Miracle. It’s my first signature yo-yo. I was very surprised by its quality when I first threw it. I owe a lot to that yo-yo.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
Thinking of new tricks when I have to repeat what I have for a contest. I tend to make new tricks everytime when I get bored, and that can have a negative effect on my performance.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
I really love reading books, especially history and fiction. I like reading works by classic authors, such as Virgil, Homer, Shakespeare, Goethe and so on. As for more modern authors, I like Hemingway and Charles Dickens. Also I like writing fiction and visiting art museums. I am a huge fan of Renaissance paintings and sculptures. These are what I am into.
What song best fits your personality?
Songs that are exciting. I think songs with exciting mood are best for my yo-yo style.
Favorite restaurant and order?
My favorite is by far Italian restaurant. But I also like Chinese and Japanese restaurant. My favorite foods are Margherita Pizza, lasagna, and Bistecca alla Fiorentina(florentine beefsteak). As for Chinese and Japanese, I like Dumplings and Sushi.
Favorite movie and or Book?
My favorite movies are the Robert Langdon and the Jason Bourne series. Especially ‘Angels and Demons’ and ‘Inferno’, since Rome and Florence are my favorite cities and I am really into Renaisance.
My favorite books are The Iliad, The Aeneid, The Parallel Lives, the tragedies by Sophocles, The Divine Comedy, The Old Man and the Sea, Julius Caesar and some others. It is impossible for me to choose just one!
What does yo-yoing mean to you?
It means art. Many think yo-yoing is a mere hobby, but I think it can transcend that sphere. It can be heightened to art. And I want to make people know it as something above toys.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?
The most wonderful memory is when I first won the World Yo-Yo Contest in 2023. I achieved it after 8 years’ yo-yoing, and it was the most fantastic moment.
What’s your biggest accomplishment yo-yo or not?
I think it’s Two World Yo-Yo Champion titles.
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
I think yo-yoing has become more difficult over the years. People upgrade their tricks everyday. Many new tricks are already out, so it adds to the difficulty of becoming creative. But, unfortunately, yo-yo populations has declined. Also, there seems to be a little bit of less creativity among yoyo players now. I hope more and more people will engage in this community and there will come out more innovative tricks.
If you never picked up a yo-yo – what would things look like now?
Yo-yoing is helpful to me in various fields. To love and do well at something is a great experience for the next step. I became more confident in making other attempts.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
My advice is different according to their aim.
If you want to enjoy yo-yoing, and have no desire for competition, you can play from time to time, make new tricks and get ideas from other yo-yo players. Yo-yoing is also good as a refreshment.
But if you aim to win competitions, set records, and be an unique player, I would tell you a lot of endeavor is necessary. You should sometimes say to yourself, “The fault is not in the stars but in ourselves”, and push on. But, as eric hoffer wrote, “it is the stretched soul that makes music.” If there is no conflict within you, there will be no music, that is, no great performance. Through your endeavor, you make an art of you. And later, you will deeply rejoice at what you have achieved.
Whats you want to tell the world?
If you want to fulfill yourself, if you are bored with television, SNS, games and other virtual hobbies, if you would like to explore a new field, yo-yo is for you. One of the unique aspects of yo-yoing is that spectators and players are one. There is no definite distinction between them. You can applaud players’ performances and be one of them at the same time. You are in for a treat!
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.
by BobParty | Mar 3, 2025 | Player Profiles
Happy Monday everyone!!!
Today we have the one, the only, Jack Hudspath!!!!
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby
I got into yo-yos through finding yotricks tutorials on YouTube! I just kept watching them and annoyed my parents enough to get me a velocity
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
My favorite yoyo might be the Ringbearer as just one of the coolest yo-yos to me. It’s just so aweosme it exists and it is also fun lol
Trick that gives you the hardest time?
I am so very bad at whip tricks they are hard
What’s your Yo-yo bad habit?
My yoyo bad habit is changing strings too much I do it like multiple times a day
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
Most meaningful is The Path. I’m just very honored to be able to have helped make a yoyo it is still awesome
What was it like designing The Path, your signature yo-yo?
It was a blast! It took a long time because I came into it not really understanding what I wanted out of the yoyo so we took a few prototypes to find that. It was overall really just gratifying to see the final result and being satisfied with it
Favorite restaurant and order?
I don’t think I have a favorite restaurant but I do like soup
Favorite movie and or Book?
I really like the lord of the rings movies and also the books! I love David Lynch’s catching the big fish as well
What does yo-yo mean for you?
Yoyo to me is a form of performance art but it also is something you can put effort into and immediately see reflected back
What’s it been like to watch the growth of the community?
It’s been amazing watching the growth of the community and especially of my friends within it. It just makes me smile
If you couldn’t yo-yo what would you be doing?
I would be making music and possibly writing, I would also be way more lazy
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players
New players the best thing you can do is just play with yo-yos and to not be afraid to just talk to people in the community
What movie or book character best fits who you are?
I think I really relate to that robot from treasure planet
What do you want to tell the world?
I want to tell the world that the Reuben from Arby’s isn’t that bad honestly
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.
by BobParty | Feb 25, 2025 | Player Profiles
Happy Tuesday everyone!!
Today we are up with a company profile of one of my favorite newcomers! Canopy Collection!!
Instagram
How did the idea for Canopy Collection come about?
It was a crazy idea born over a post-concert Thai meal and inspired by a stainless steel tumbler.
I wrote more about our beginnings here:
https://canopy-collection.com/editorial/how-canopy-came-to-be
What does a day in the life look like for you running Canopy Collection?
Every day varies quite a bit—the busyness comes and goes. No two days are the same. One day, we might be deep in CAD, fine-tuning a design, and the next, we’re figuring out logistics for an event.
For context, a small team of us are building the brand behind the scenes. We’re all working on it part-time, balancing other commitments or jobs on the side—so it’s definitely been a juggling act.
Walk me through your creative process.
It depends—ideas come from different sources, both internally and externally. For our first year, we used the technical outdoors as a guiding theme. Outdoor brands often release product variations optimized for different use cases. Similarly, in yo-yo design, while top players can perform their full trick sets on most modern yoyos, the differences lie in the details—shape, weight distribution, and how each design caters to different playstyles.
We set out to create a universal shape that balanced competition and casual play, drawing inspiration from The Otter and the Atmos Polaris, but use material as our primarly lever. The question became: how could we use materials to enhance performance for different use cases while maintaining a consistent shape and design?
What’s your favorite memory running Canopy?
Definitely Stargazing Night! Specifically, seeing Polo beat Zach in the preliminary round of the battle. It surpassed any and all expectations we had as a team.
With the event, we wanted to create something that focused on the community—its creativity and diversity—and celebrate the people who make it so special. We aimed to build a space where everyone felt welcomed and included, while also placing creativity, originality, and musicality at the forefront.
Really grateful for how the event was received!
https://canopy-collection.com/editorial/post-stargazing-night
What’s your favorite release to date?
Personally, the Canopy SS. But I’m biased—this one most closely resembles The Otter. It has a quickness and agility that are surprising for its undersized specs.
https://canopy-collection.com/editorial/canopy-ss-design-notes
What’s your next release, and what makes it so exciting? What’s in store for Canopy Collection in the future?
We have a handful of things planned, but we’re keeping them quiet for now.
If you could go back and do one thing differently, what would it be?
Looking back, not much we’d do differently. We’ve made a ton of mistakes over the last year, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without them—and the lessons they brought! So grateful. 🙂
Any advice to aspiring companies/creators?
Just get something out into the community’s hands and learn from their feedback! Even if it’s just a concept or a rough sketch on a napkin. There were so many times we hesitated to release something, but the community is incredibly supportive.
And find a good team to work with!
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.
