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Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos National and World Yo-Yo Champions Reviews of Book "Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos" |
Table of Contents
How are the National and World Champions decided ... ?The champions have all won a title in a National or World Yo-Yo Championship
that year. Because multiple events title themselves as a National or World
Championships, the American Yo-Yo Association (AYYA) selects a competition that
they feel best represents the spirit of a true championship event and designates
that event winner as the AYYA National or World Champion. Because the yo-yo press (Fiend Magazine and Yo-Yo Times) so far has elected
to endorse these individuals as the champions it carries more prestige to be an
AYYA National or World titleholder. These championship events have all had no age restrictions and have allowed
any brand and model of yo-yo to be used (no auto return mechanisms). Back to Top I saw someone on TV
that said he was a world champion he is not listed why ... ?
Many yo-yo competitions may list
themselves as a National or World Championship events. In 1999 there were at
least four "World Championships" held. Some are sponsored by
yo-yo manufacturers which may restrict the yo-yo to their brand or have certain
age restrictions. Some are poorly publicized and often have only local
attendance.There is nothing wrong with an individual
using the title world or national champion if he/she has won one of these
events. The problem is with so many "championships" who should be
considered the best. Many yo-yo competitions may list themselves as a
National or World Championship events. In 1999 there were at least four
"World Championships" held. Some are sponsored by yo-yo
manufacturers that may restrict the yo-yo to their brand or have certain age
restrictions. Some are poorly publicized and often have only local attendance. There is nothing wrong with an individual
using the title world or national champion if he/she has won one of these
events. The problem is with so many "championships" who should be
considered the best. The title that carries the most prestige is the AYYA
title because the AYYA is an independent organization of players that selects an
event each year to be their titleholder. Because the AYYA does not run the
events, only endorses them, the AYYA has no decision on who is ultimately
selected as the champion. Since the yo-yo publications such as Fiend Magazine
and Yo-Yo Times have endorsed these champions as the titleholders, most in the
industry agree with these titles. Back to TopWhy aren't world and national champions listed before 1993 ... ?The “Modern” National Yo-Yo
Championships were first held in Chico, CA in 1993 and the “Modern” World
Championships were held in 1992. These
were called the modern championships because there had not been any championship
events in over a decade. Additionally there were also big
differences between the modern events and the earlier “Championship” events.
The first difference being many of the early events had age restrictions such as
16 and under. The modern
championships are open and there are no age requirements.
Also, single companies as a promotion for a particular brand of yo-yo
sponsored many of the previous events. You could not use the yo-yo of your
choice. Current championships have
multiple sponsors and allow for any model of yo-yo to be used. Some of the early “titles” were
bestowed instead of earned. For
example every Duncan demonstrator was called the world champion in the 1930s,
unless two were working the same area, then one would be the world champion and
the other the American champion. Some
companies even invented imaginary champions to use on their advertising.
Impromptu world championships were held among demonstrators but again these were
largely intra company contests and not held as an open event. Finally, freestyle competition is now an
important part of the championship event, which is something totally foreign to
earlier events. This is not to say that early demonstrators
that carried World or National titles were not worthy of the titles, as in many
cases, they were the best players in the world.
Only to say that the “modern” selection process is different and
hopefully a better format. Since so many lay claims to National and World titles prior
to the ‘90s it is impossible to sort out who were the true champions of each
year.
Back to TopAre there age restrictions on being a champion ... ?The current world and national
championships are open (all ages allowed). So the best player whatever
his/her age is rules. The youngest world champion was 12 years old and he
smoked all the adults so don't worry any age can win. Back to TopCan anyone enter the Nationals or World Championships ... ?Yes, but only the top players get to do their freestyle routines. Back to TopWhen and where are the national and world championships held ... ?Check out Fiend Magazine, Yo-Yo Times or the AYYA for upcoming events. The Nationals have always been held in Chico, CA usually around the first week in October. The Worlds are typically held in the summer and the sites vary. Back to TopIs there a girls division...?No. Girls can do just as good as the boys in world class competition. Jennifer Baybrook has been both the National (1997) and World yo-yo champion (1998) in the past.
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