From Chico

[Larry D.]

Congratulations to you all!

Really looking forward to seeing the Photos and Videos.
Have a safe journey home everyone.

[ta0]

On the battle we had a simplified format. For the longest spin phase, we only gave one point to the last remaining top. We had divided the contestants in groups of 3, and something people liked was that on each of the three rounds the divisions between the groups shifted one place so you did not compete each time against the same people.  For the killer phase each player was once a chump (target) as we usually do at nats. But we only gave 1 or 2 points: 1 if you hit the other top but did not knock it out and 2 if you did.  Your top had to continue spinning to count.  To increase the chances we moved the target to the concrete so the top could spin outside. There were some  complains that hitting the top directly withot touching  the plastic target first was too difficult. 

There was a 4 way tie (including Richy!)  Boot seemed to win (using killer rules) but Dave complained and Justin graciously agreed to a final tie break using a long spin. Anyway, Duncan d had donated a yoyo for the second place.

[jim in paris]

thanx for the reports , Jorge
it's almost as if we had been there : the small stage, the sound system out , Jon playing regen with backwards pumps ....

did you get the time to drop by at richy's
??


jim

[poptop]

My throwing arm hurts...in a good way.

Thanks guys, it was loads of fun.

More later...

[the Earl of Whirl]

It is good to read the reports.  Sorry to hear about some complications with the stage and sound system.  Glad people had a good time and new spinners were developed!

[Neff]

On the battle we had a simplified format. For the longest spin phase, we only gave one point to the last remaining top. We had divided the contestants in groups of 3, and something people liked was that on each of the three rounds the divisions between the groups shifted one place so you did not compete each time against the same people.  For the killer phase each player was once a chump (target) as we usually do at nats. But we only gave 1 or 2 points: 1 if you hit the other top but did not knock it out and 2 if you did.  Your top had to continue spinning to count.

I like these simplified rules.

[ta0]

Ok, I have been all day trying to catch up with work (and couldn't  ), but here are some photos.

The "Top Table" was missing Alan's and Eric's tops but still had some interesting stuff:



I am scoring the sports division (the rope makes the 4" target):



The youngest of the two (poptop's eldest son) is having a great time and I believe the guy with the white beard was also having a good time:



Actually, both of poptop's sons were having a great time.  Their grandpa was there and also got in the action.  The youngest is only 5 years old but his spinners were scary good.

[ta0]

Free narrowly beat Amazing Dave in the sports division, 19 to 17 points:



How many nats has Jon won, four?  Justin placed second on his very first contest: well done!



Here are 7 of the 9 battletop contestants.  From left to right, Richy, Free, ta0, Free's son (Jason?), Boot, Dave and Luke. Missing on the picture are tonysauce and the masked wedger:



And here are the winners:

[ta0]

did you get the time to drop by at richy's
??

No, as SpinQueen did not come and Boot had to take care of his family (and I would not dare go alone  ), we did not tour Richy's museum/house. 

Dale had a couple of Trompo Grande with improved bearings and setup (a tube separates the bearings).  The tips spun forever (until Jon damaged one, that is)!  He said he is coming up with new models with these tips. From what I saw, the spinning times should be competitive with anything out there. It is nice to see that Dale continuous innovating.

Free has started (with a partner) a new skill toy company, Eternal Throw.  They had their first yo-yo model at nats and for what I heard was very good and they sold all what they had.  The interesting thing for us is that he plans to eventually make tops.

There is one thing of these "nats" that will be remembered and talked about for a long time, much longer than any of the freestyles.  Around nine in the morning there was pandemonium at the center of the plaza, where several vendors had just finished setting up their stuff.  I had not realized before that concealed on the floor there is a fountain with massive jets of water.  Somebody in the city had forgotten to turn them off for the day!     Valery from Yoyojam told me that Taka (who was visiting from Japan together with Hinori) was handing her some Japanese cookies when a jet went up just under her seat, scaring the hell out of Taka.  Of course, panic and chaos ensued, while the vendors were trying to protect the merchandise.  Lots of string ended up drying on seats under the sun.  I am somewhat ashamed to confess that instead of helping I was recording . . .   

[the Earl of Whirl]

Oh?  So you have some of the famous "water fountain" explosion on video!!?  That sounds like fun.  I can't wait to see it (and hear it).

Thanks for the report and congrats to those who competed.

[Gustin Joss]

On the battle we had a simplified format. For the longest spin phase, we only gave one point to the last remaining top. We had divided the contestants in groups of 3, and something people liked was that on each of the three rounds the divisions between the groups shifted one place so you did not compete each time against the same people.  For the killer phase each player was once a chump (target) as we usually do at nats. But we only gave 1 or 2 points: 1 if you hit the other top but did not knock it out and 2 if you did.  Your top had to continue spinning to count.

I like these simplified rules.

I did too, but most people thought it was too hard to make a kill hit in the air. I thought it was challenging, but not so hard that I didn't do it a lot .

[ta0]

This year we had very few advanced top players.  Without sponsors in our sport the economy has greatly affected attendance, no doubt.  We were really bummed when SpinQueen had to cancel at the last moment. In fact, the only new inductee to the Figaro Gallery was Tony N. (tonysauce) from Provo, Utah.  He is a past winner of the Ultimate Battletop of the Universe and I should have had him already in the gallery.  But in a way I am glad I didn't, because you wouldn't have recognized him.  Until last year he had very short hair and no piercings.  What has not changed is his killer throw, among the best overhand throwers I know.



The Figaro Gallery of Top Players is up to 92 players.

Somebody who was going to battle but did not find us, was the father of Brian Figueroa.  By the way, Brian won for the 6th consecutive time the 4A yo-yo national division!  I have always wanted Brian to compete in tops (he can already throw and he could be scary good if he practiced.)  But we may see his dad freestyling first: he says he is entering next year (the competitive drive seems to run in the family).

[poptop]

I promised a little more later...here it is.

Nothing Earth shattering, but I had such fun and hurt like heck the next day...

Truth be told, man-handling the big top after a crappy free-style felt like pure redemption. 

Showing off for the cuties over at bird in had may have helped too...

Enjoy!
Big Top Fun!

[ta0]

Thanks for posting that!  You do a great job freestyling the national traveling trophy.
This must be one of the most fun trophies ever given in any competition! Much better that something that goes on a display shelf.   I cannot think of a better incentive to compete at nats.

[Gustin Joss]

Thanks for posting that!  You do a great job freestyling the national traveling trophy.
This must be one of the most fun trophies ever given in any competition! Much better that something that goes on a display shelf.   I cannot think of a better incentive to compete at nats.

Yeah...I didn't know we were allowed to play it. It was definitely a big motivator for me to compete. But, it's in CO now.