"OK, not to defend Bob because he does not need it. He is running THE NATIONAL YO-YO CONTEST. He is interested in choosing the 5 National Yo-Yo Champions and anything that makes the contest entertaining. Think of how many players there were in all 5 divisions and the time required to put them all on the big stage for 3 minutes. Just like Worlds, as the sport grew the stage time became an issue and required ways to limit the number of players for the larger divisions. Nationals is a one day contest because the players are in school. So a little perspective, I was not there so please tell me - Did Diabolo have a stage and sound system? Did Diabolo have any time on the big stage? Was it entertaining? Jim is correct, is our top contest as entertaining as it should be? Do the players do a clean performance? i.e. no drops? Yes, yo-yo players knot strings and change yo-yos, but if so do they usually win? Spin Top play, in my mind, is where yo-yo play was in the late 1990's. We can grow it as large as we want but it takes time, more players, more interest, and leadership that comes from the manufacturers as well as within the players. It seems like other countries manufacturers are out there pushing and the US companies are waiting for the first fad to jump in. Hope this starts more discussion."
I agree with Dick on this.
I feel that Our presence at the national yo-yo contest is as it should be. Players should not be "ashamed" of dropping but that still will not qualify them to be on the main stage.
Bob and the NYYL provides the space, 4" stage and the awards for our contest. I personally am grateful for what they do provide. A back drop and Logo would make things better (and a working sound system).
All I'm saying is, moving the the national spintop contest away from Chico is not the right move. and I would love to see the skill of all competitors to be at the level that need to be on the main stage.
Last year Darren did a repeat demo of his winning freestyle on the main stage, this year I didn't feel like doing a 2nd freestyle so we didn't get spintops on the main stage. This was not Bobs idea but mine. If I had asked I'm sure he would have let me freestyle. So please don't blame Bob for top players not being on the main stage this year. If you feel you need to throw blame, do it in my direction.
Thanks to Dale Oliver and Ta0 for steeping up and running this contest in Alan Grey's absence.
As far as I know Alan Grey is still the director of the national spintop contest and it would be his decision if it is going to be moved.
IMO:
We need to organize more contest not move the ones we have. except worlds, that needs to go to Prague with next years world yo-yo contest :-)
The NYYL would be a great way to get spintops at regional yo-yo contest.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water!