Hello from Russia!

[Maxim]

Greetings to everyone!

I am from Ural, Russia. Tops have reached the area where snow covers the ground from November to March.

I am a beginner in top spinning. Just a year ago I had no clue about peg tops. They are almost unknown in my area. My new hobby begun with a finger tops. Once I got a small metal finger top and whished to collect them. As a result the new tops gradually began to be added to that first top. After a while Duncan Imperial top had been presented to me. Duncan tops are the only thing that it is possible to purchase in Russia. First attempts to start Duncan Imperial (according to instructions on packing) were very unsuccessful. The top did anything but spin. It flew, jumped, bumped and I even managed to be disappointed in it, having decided that it was rejected. However after a time I renewed attempts. At first they also were unsuccessful. Accordingly I had to address to the Internet. And there I found that tops aren't only a toy, but the real sport. Since that time the tops are deeply embedded in my life. I learned to spin a top on a floor and then proceed to learn big scoop and skyrocket. Holding a top on my hand was the most difficult for me. But after many and many unsuccessful attempts the top started to stand on a palm. Boomerang managed to be mastered much quicker. Now I have a quite assured boomerang, a desire to continue learning of tricks and an expanded collection which includes Spintastics Blizzard, Trompo Grande and Trompo Bearing, Trompos Space Saturno and Jupiter, Strummol8 Julia and some Mexican tops from Trompos Cometa are included. Searching tops and instructions in trick performing I came across this message board with a great number of pleasant people. I am glad to appear here and hope to find new friends.

[Sam]

Hey Maxim, its great to have you here. I haven't been spinning long myself but I'm really enjoying it. I too had trouble with balancing the top in my hand when I started. It was the opposite of what I felt I should do. I've got most of the floor tricks down along with some string/hand tricks. I still have a long way to go though. There are a lot of really knowledgeable people on this board that are really helpful. Hope you enjoy it here.

[ta0]

Woohoo! Great to have a Russian player!  Welcome Maxim!

Actually, we had at least one before, IgorBO, but he has not posted in a long time.

Now that you can do boomerang you can learn a lot of tricks.  I suggest Merry Go Round, Crazy 8s, Pole Dancing and then Corkscrew using a bearing top. Ask any questions that you want.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Yippee!  Russia?  Wow!!!

Nice to have you with us, Maxim.  Hope you enjoy your time with us.

[lincolnrick]

I'm glad you found this board Maxim, I'm sure you'll find many new friends here.  Don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have about spinning.  We've all been where you're at and want to help you if we can.  The more good spinners we have, the better our community becomes.

Welcome!

[czyoyo]

Hi, Glad you're here!

Maybe we will meet sometime. I am American but I live in the Czech Republic.
I am on the Strummol8 team in Italy and sponsored by 9.8 yoyos in Russia!
Maybe you could come to EYYC 2013 in Budapest Hungary???

YES!!! 5 Countries in 1 post!

[Watts' Tops]

Welcome to the Board.  There is much help here.  Lots of how to do it videos by just doing some search.

[Larry D.]

Hello Maxim!  So happy you have found us!!!
I work with many people from Belarus.  How far is Ural from Belarus?

[Neff]

Welcome Maxim!

YES!!! 5 Countries in 1 post!

Much props 

[Dick Stohr]

Welcome, welcome, welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bAd]

Welcome Maxim!!! 

[jim in paris]

Bienvenu Maxim !
it's great to have somebody from the Far-East
are there cowboys in Oural ?

Here :  it's a special place , the ultimate hide-out for the spintop amateur
the tone is always gentleman like, any question can be debated and sometimes answered...
i encourage you to dig in the search mode , there's a lot of information available, but sometimes hard to find////

for your progress in toupie play i can't help from reminding you the motto in soviet years : Rabot !
    travaille /work
salut from france

jim

[Maxim]

Many thanks to everyone for your kind words of welcome! I once again see how pleasant people are around here.

Hi, Glad you're here!
Maybe we will meet sometime. I am American but I live in the Czech Republic.
I am on the Strummol8 team in Italy and sponsored by 9.8 yoyos in Russia!
Maybe you could come to EYYC 2013 in Budapest Hungary???

I am not the skillful player and didn't thought of participation in contests yet. But I will bear in mind the EYYC 2013. Thank you.

Now that you can do boomerang you can learn a lot of tricks. I suggest Merry Go Round, Crazy 8s, Pole Dancing and then Corkscrew using a bearing top. Ask any questions that you want.

I just now master Merry Go Round and Wire Walker (with varying success). If there will be questions I will ask them.

Hello Maxim!  So happy you have found us!!!
I work with many people from Belarus.  How far is Ural from Belarus?

Russia has large territory. And Ural is situated quite far from the boundary with Belarus, on the distance about two thousands kilometers. Ural lies just before Siberia. Also our climate is considerably more severe than in Belarus.
The picture in attachment illustrates conditions in which we live now (top cuts way in the snow).

Bienvenu Maxim !
it's great to have somebody from the Far-East
are there cowboys in Oural ?

for your progress in toupie play i can't help from reminding you the motto in soviet years : Rabot !
    travaille /work
salut from france

jim

Thank you, Jim! The motto was "Rabotat, rabotat i rabotat!" (to work, to work, and to work!). By the way ancient Chineses had similar motto "Practice, practice and only practice". It is necessary for the progress. I agree.

Ural is not the land of cowboys. Ural is mountains and the land of metallurgists

[silvertop]

Love the top in the snow picture!  Welcome to our group!