December, 1996 AYYA Newsletter

Board News The Board has been very active since the Nationals in Chico. In the future, AYYA meetings will be open to all members and there will be no closed meetings of the Board.

AYYA Store The operation of the AYYA Store is being offered to interested parties. Anyone interested in being awarded the contract should present their proposal to the Board. The criteria are:
1. The contract period granted will be for two years with option to renew or withdrawal if the store is not producing or being run correctly.
2. A percentage of at least 10% of total sales will be given to the AYYA.
3. The prices charged for AYYA labeled products will be agreed upon jointly by the Board and awardee.
4. A proposal of a marketing plan will be submitted by applicants for approval of the Board.
Proposals should be in by Jan. 31, 1997.

New Membership Cards and Patches We are waiting for the final bid for patches to come in and for the samples to be submitted for approval. It looks like it will possibly be another two months before this project is completed and the patches can be mailed out. At that time everyone will also receive their permanent Life Member card.
Rules Changes These are the proposed changes in the freestyle division rules. There will be two freestyle divisions, one- handed and two-handed. Two-handed performances are so much more difficult that it makes it impossible to properly judge one and two-handed performances in the same contest as well as discouraging one-handed players from entering freestyle competitions. In order to make it more equitable, and to remove the problem of contestants doing a freestyle that isn't up to the desired standards of difficulty, there will be required elements in each division with five point deductions for each omitted requirement.
One-handed requirements:
1. Inside loop regeneration followed by a string mount and somersault.
2. Outside loop regeneration followed by a string mount and somersault.
3. Hop the Fence regeneration followed by a bottom string mount and somersault.
4. Double or Nothing with a somersault during dismount.
5. Atom Smasher
6. Ten Loops
7. Five Reach for the Moons.

Two Handed requirements:
Each with a minimum of three repetitions.
1. Inside Loops
2. Criss Cross
3. Outside Loops
4. Whirlwind
5. Milk the Cow
6. Ride the Horse
7. Loop/Reach for the moon.

Note that a freestyle performance can be done without these elements but that the five point deduction will be made for each element omitted.
Scoring
75 points possible for Degree of Difficulty and Originality with Technical Execution deducts. 25 points possible for Performance Style. Total of 100 points possible.

Members are invited to comment and submit suggestions to the rules committee.
Renewal Notice All memberships except those processed since Sept. are due Jan. 1st. Please use the renewal form enclosed in this issue.

Vote for Board Members The following people have submitted bios and entered their name for members consideration for election to the Board. Since Donna Duncan, Dale Oliver and Ben Serkin have indicated that they are resigning from the board, there are presently six positions open. Please vote for your six choices on the enclosed ballot/renewal form.

Lucky Meisenheimer
As a current member of the AYYA Board my interest has been preserving the history of the yoyo. My personal collection consists of well over 2000 different items of yoyo memorabilia. As a collector I have written and continue to write articles for the AYYA newsletter as well as other collecting magazines on the hobby. In 1995 I produced the "Lucky's Yoyo Size and Shape Guide for Collectors" which was distributed to all AYYA members. I am currently completing a book on Yoyo collecting, the rough draft was shown at Nationals this year, and publication should be sometime in late '97. I have recently completed and submitted a rough draft for establishing an AYYA proficiency rating and award system to the AYYA rating committee.

Ken Miller
Hi! I'm Kenny Wonder! I'm 52 years old and a principal of Marigold Elementary School in Chico, CA. During the last four years, I've renewed my love for the State of Yo! In 1994 I won the beginner division in the national championships. My Loops are legendary! I have worked with Bob Malowney in providing support for the Nationals in Chico each year. I would love the opportunity to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the AYYA to continue to provide leadership to enhance the State of Yo in it's current revival throughout the country. As always, I remain yours in Yo!

Dick Stohr
I first started yo-ing in elementary school in 1950. During high school and college it was not cool, so I only yo'ed occasionally. The 30 years since college include: A year of semi-pro clowning; 26 years of Navy and Naval Reserve retirement with the rank of Captain: 21 years as a defense contractor and currently Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of QUADELTA, Inc. Volunteer activities include: Lay leader of the YMCA Indian Guides; coach and referee for soccer; youth groups and choirs at church and periodic clowning; plus as my wife says, "just being a BIG KID". I got back into yo-ing about 1989 when I found out about the Yo-Yo Times which led me to a local school and the Yo-Cobras yo-yo club. I helped coach the Cobras when I could and in the local contest. I was 2nd in Novice Senior, Jan. '94 and 1st in Advanced Adult, April '95. I went with the Yo-Cobras to the IJA competition in Burlington, VT in Aug. of '94 where I met Dale Oliver. I did not place in that competition but I was firmly hooked. Last year I created the Greater DC Open Yo-Yo Championship by getting a toy store as sponsor and Bonnie Matthews to help with details and judging. I assisted the staff of the Baltimore Science Center in planning organizing and recruiting groups and individuals to perform at the Yo-Yo day event at the center as well as doing three demonstrations myself. The Greater DC Open series was repeated this year and next year it will be a single day event. This fall I started doing a yo-yo program for schools in VA, MD and DC in the hope that I can become known well enough to make it a full time career. If elected, I will strongly support the activities that will return the yo-yo to it's former popularity. I think I can help the AYYA by being the contact person for Association activities on the East Coast.

Chuck Short
I am honored to be nominated to serve on the AYYA Board. I began my Yo-yo "career" in the late 80's in Dale Myrberg's contests in the Salt Lake area. I placed second in the advanced division at the '91 California State Championships. I have placed second in several major contests in '95-'96 and am the current West Coast Regional Champion. Along with my partner and friend, David Keele, I founded the Northern Nevada Yo-Yo Club which meets monthly. We plan to stage several contests in the future. I am proud to be a charter member of the AYYA and have an established rapport with several sitting members of the Board. I have been actively involved with several AYYA sanctioned events and have contributed to the newsletter on occasion. I look forward to playing a part in setting the ground work for the future of the Yo-Yo as well as honoring it's past.

David Harris
The 'handle' I use for yo-ing is 'The Wizard of YO. I 46 years old, a Chiropractor for the past 20 years, a father to 8 children and 4 step children. I have been active in the Scouting program with my children and have served as a Cub Master and committee chairman. I am very active in my church and have held several secretary, counselor and teacher positions there. I have yo-yos all over as they are a part of my life and I do all I can to make them known and loved by all those I come in contact with. As a child I had various Yo-yos and can remember breaking through a few wood axles from wear and use. They were an adventure, a challenge to my skills as well as a great source of pride when I mastered a trick and could show it to everyone I met or knew. I am still like a child in this regard because I still enjoy showing those tricks I have mastered, but I will publicly try those I am still working to perfect. I have currently taught yo-ing at the Golden Empire Elementary School and the Meadowview Community Summer Program. I compete in as many competitions as I am able to and have a great time regardless if I win or loose. I have a great time in both teaching and sharing this "art" as well as well as doing it by myself and when I wind that string up, I become a part of my yo-yo as it becomes a part of me! I taught a young man who took a first place in his division at Chico. In fact he once beat me out of a place but I lost gladly because of the pride he displayed in having learned so well. I share my Yo-ing with my patients and they watch me demonstrate that which makes each of us who has ever tried to yo-yo, recapture that sense of amazement and joy we all felt and feel again when we see it fly. When I pass from this life, there will no doubt be a yo-yo very near.

JOHN W. STANGLE (Pookie-YO)
I live and work in Santa Rosa, California. I am 32 years old and forever hooked on YO-YO's! I started Yo-yoing in December 1993 and have been responsible for holding the West Coast Regional YO-YO Championships for 1994, 1995 and 1996. I also started holding the California State Championships in 1996. I am already planning the 1997 contest for both these Championships and hope you can attend.
I have been successful in getting my contest covered by ESPN and ESPN-2 including local affiliated National Television Stations here in Northern California. I have also been on the Jim Jay and Ann show with Mike Caffrey (Duncan Toy Company), Bill DeBoisblanc (World YO-YO Champion) and Cliff Coleman who always seems to do one trick better than me in contests.
I am the founder of the Willie Bird's Flyers YO-YO Club that holds monthly club meetings. The club membership is over 100 and attended by YO-YO Enthusiast that come as far as 200 miles each month. The club is free, for Kids of All Ages and grows in membership each month.
I am very active on the Internet's World Wide Web (http://www.sonic.net/~yotopia) with many pages including how to join the AYYA on each one of my pages, Club Information, Event Results, Photos of events and others in the "State of YO," my YO-YO Resume and Frequently Asked Questions pages. I answer questions and provide support to people from around the world through the Internet and e- mail and am having a lot of fun doing it.
I currently own my own company called YO- topia. YO-topia provides access to YO-YO's and supplies by most the major manufacturers and to promote YO-YO Playing through festivals, special events, Birthday Parties and Television Shows. I do work full time for the County of Sonoma where I am the Departments biggest YO-YO!
I am currently on the American YO-YO Association's Board of Directors and am seeking reelection for the 1997-98 years. I have been very active with Promoting the AYYA, increasing membership and assisting the current President Dale Oliver while spreading the Word of YO around the world. Not only do I seek reelection by the members of the AYYA but hope to be President of the Board in the future. I am also currently President of the AYYA's Promotional Committee and have lots of great ideas I would like to pursue.
I am dedicated to the AYYA's mission statement both in my personal life and with my actions related to the Board of Directors.
I have earned the titles of 1st Place in Vacaville, CA., 2nd Place California State Champion in 1994 and Placed 4th at the 1995 National Championships in the Advanced Division. Still enjoying one handed tricks and hope to someday be able to demonstrate two handed tricks.
I am easy to get a hold of to answer questions or provide support for anyone interested in YO-YO's including my e-mail yotopia@sonic.net and YO-YO Phone at (707) 542-YOYO.
I look forward to being reelected to the Board of Directors and promise to support the members that elect me in any way I can. Thank you for this opportunity and I hope to meet each and every one of you in the future. Remember, JUST SAY YO!

Paul Buethe
I am 24 years old and have been in the State of Yo for nine years now. Like many, I was inspired by the Smothers Brother's Yo-Yo Man routine. I sold yo-yos as a teen through "Paul's Yo-Yo Shed" and still perform professionally. I've also held yo-yo contests and ran a yo-yo club in Lodi, CA. Although I've placed well in many yo-yo contests, I am most proud of winning first place at the California State Speech Championships in 1990. It was an expository speech on yo-yos. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of meeting many great people in the world of Yo. I've learned a lot from these people and experiences. Now, I wish to put my experiences and knowledge of this sport to good use with the AYYA!

Bill deBoisblanc
If elected to the board the following issues would be my priorities.
1. Strive to get the focus of the AYYA back on the enjoyment and advancement of sport of yo-yoing by trying to curtail the petty bickering that has plagued the association for the last year or so.
2. Work towards expanding the participation in national contests by urging the various yo-yo manufacturers and other interested parties to sponsor the participation of regional contest winners, 16 years and younger at these events.
3. Work towards clarifying the rules governing contest tricks with a particular emphasis on revising the scoring system for freestyle competitions.
4. Continue to pass on the joy of yo-yoing to the kids who otherwise may choose video games without knowing that there are other more rewarding skills to acquire.

Contest News 1996 Chico National Results
Chico had one of it's best turnouts yet. Tom Kuhn's huge yo-yo was launched to the cheers of a large crowd of yo'ers and spectators. There were 32 contestants in one division alone (level 3, adult). New tricks were introduced and another division added to the usual array (Level 2 with difficult one handed tricks but no two handed tricks.). Bob Malowney did his usual excellent job as M.C. and event organizer. One of the highlights of the event was the appearance of Alex Garcia, a 13 year old yo-yo champion from Hawaii. With excellent skills and a rapid fire style, he left audiences with open mouths (including the pros). If his two handed skills keep improving, he will challenge the Level 1 champions next year.

Winners:
Level 1 (no age requirements)

Level 2 (over 16 years old) Level 2 (under 16 years old) Level 3 (over 16) Level 3 (under 16) Level 4 (Under 11) Level 4 (under 16) Freestyle (no age requirements) New Numbers Records Set
Dale Mryberg broke some of his existing official records at Chico.
Tune up your Rockets. At the IJA and Chico competitions (possibly others as well), we will be setting and trying to break the record for the highest Skyrocket. (It will be measured in elapsed time aloft.)

A Sad Note at Chico
By Dale Oliver
The outstanding event was marred by two small but unfortunate experiences. One of the people there selling T shirts had placed one on the big rock behind the set-up chairs in order to display it. They then must have walked away and left it unsupervised and some children got up on the rock to watch the contest and got the T shirt dirty. The sellers response was to descend on the kids in anger for getting the shirt dirty. Lets keep in mind what this event is all about. Having fun, getting kids involved in a fun activity and sport, and engaging in the camaraderie that comes along with these gatherings. Offering items for sale is one thing, to co-opt space for setting up shop and create a scene with belligerent behavior toward other participants, regardless of their age, is simply bad form and not in keeping with the ideas and tone of the event. The other unfortunate occurrence was the yelling at one of the judges deriding a decision. This deplorably seems to be accepted behavior at many other sporting events but I strongly feel that it has no place in this company. I hope there is never a repeat of this demonstration of bad manners in future competitions.

Greater DC Open Results
This contest is sponsored by Knockin Wood Toy Stores and organized by Dick Stohr with help from Bonnie Matthews. It was held at the Springfield Mall just outside the DC beltway at I-95.
Championship Division

Advanced, 16 & over Novice, 12 & over Beginner, 8 & under
Upcoming Events
1997 IJA World Yo-Yo Championship
This year the IJA is holding their summer festival in Pittsburg, PA. This is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the IJA and should be well attended. The festival dates are August 2nd threw the 6th. The World Yo- Yo Competition will be held on the 5th.There will be a Novice Division for those under 11, an Advanced, Masters, one-handed freestyle, two-handed freestyle and Pro/Am Divisions with no age brackets. Prizes will be trophies. There will be no cash prizes this year. Contest will be run according to AYYA rules with the exception that any type yo-yo may be used in any division. Due to problems in the past, these will be the parameters to be observed for yo-yoers. The contest will begin at 1 PM and will be held outside the Juggling hall in a special structure. There will be no requirements of yoers except to show up. However, if you want to take part in the goings on (yoing, workshops, juggling, top spinning) inside the hall, you must #1 Join or be a member of the IJA, #2 Register and pay the usual fees for the days you wish to participate. There will not be any yo-yoing allowed on a visitors pass as some have done in the past. It is not fair to the jugglers that have to pay and the insurance dictates that all participants must be IJA members. You may join and register at the festival or contact the IJA at Box 122 Montague, MA 01351. Membership is $30 a year, festival registration and admittance to the juggling hall is usually $35 for one day with price reductions for multiple days. This is really a fun time. Some players have complained in the past that everything happens on the west coast, yet most competitions when held in the east have been poorly attended. The best attended in the east have been the IJA contests in Montreal, Canada and Burlington, Vermont. Here's your chance to meet some of the players you have read about, learn new tricks and compete in a class competition. So let's see some of those players back east I keep hearing about but never see. If West Coast players can make it to Pittsburg, what's your excuse?

The first International Internet Yo-Yo Competition.
Can't get to any of the contests? Now you can get involved and compete in a yo-yo contest through the magic of the Internet and a video camera. Many division levels plus prizes for the best new tricks and the funniest bloopers. Check it out at http://www.socool.com/socool/yo-yo.html Entries must be postmarked no later than June 6, 1997 (National Yo-Yo Day). Winners will be announced the 4th of July. This contest open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Collectors Corner
Values of a YOYO
By Lucky Meisenheimer
I am frequently called by individuals that just found Grandpa's yoyo in the attic wanting information on it's value. The only accurate way to determine a true value of a collectible is the price a buyer will pay and a seller will sell. This definition of value seems simple and obvious, but interestingly this creates a confusing problem. The same collectible will have multiple values depending on the selling situation. For example, a picker buys a Duncan tin yoyo at a garage sale for 75 cents. He in turn sells it to a small antique mall dealer for $5, who sells it to a toy dealer for $20 who puts it up for auction in a toy magazine and receives $50. What is the value of the yoyo? Many would say $50 because this is the highest amount paid, but in reality the value is 75 cents, $5, $20 and $50. The yoyo has multiple values depending on the selling scenario and all the values are correct. This may sound confusing but it is the key to making collecting fun. When a collector makes a really great 'find', they generally buy early in the sales chain. If the same yoyo goes to auction, premium price would be expected. this is because as the yoyo passes along a sales chain it collects overhead. It takes overhead to make the yoyo available to a buyer willing to pay the overhead costs accumulated plus the profit. A garage sale could offer the yoyo for sale at $50 but it would be only purchased if a serious collector happens to appear, which is unlikely. Sure, the garage seller could go and sell at auction in a toy magazine, but this requires expertise, costs and work which adds to the overhead of the yoyo. Each level of the selling chain opens the availability to more potential buyers but the overhead also accumulates. Yoyos from auctions and sales lists from toy shops are often priced at near maximum value but not necessarily the only price at which the yoyo may be available. Collecting is fun because the same yoyo can be purchased at different prices. Does this mean you ripped off someone at a garage sale because you paid a dollar for a wood Duncan which would have cost $20 at an antique mall? No! You bought early in the sales chain while the value was low. Would you turn around and sell that yoyo for $3 (200% profit)? Of course not, since you had just spent several hours hunting. The overhead of your search would be figured into your perceived value of that yoyo. Fortunately, most collectors find joy in the time spent in the hunt, but don't forget your time investment in he "find". Some collectors sit at home and buy through toy magazines and their collection grows, but they will always pay near maximum price. Others will spend weekends searching garage sales and flea markets. They spend less, but pay for the time invested in the search. There is no right or wrong way to collect yoyos as long as it is fun for you. Remember though, when you and the seller reach an agreement in the price, you have just established the current value of the yo-yo. Hopefully for you, not the maximum value.

Collectors Guides
After years of collectors struggling over what is worth how much, 1997 is going to see the publication of two worthwhile books on yo-yo collecting. Chris Cook and Lucky Meisenheimer are both coming out with books this year. Slated for release in the spring is Collectible American Yo-Yos by Chris Cook. It will be published by Collector Books at $16.95. 1-800-626-5420. Lucky advises that his tome on collectable yo-yos and their history will be available in the fall before the Nationals in Chico.

YO'ER FORUM
Got something you'd like to tell the Yo-Yo world about or something you'd like to see discussed? Write it in to the AYYA's Yo'er Forum. If it stays in good taste, we'll print it.

Contest History
By Lucky Meisenheimer
Yoyo contests have been promoted since the late 1920s. Many are interested in how early contests varied from modern contests. The following is information from a yoyo contest run in 1931 by the Duncan yoyo company. The contest organizer was Pedro Flores, America's first yoyo producer, who sold his rights to Duncan and then worked for the Duncan Company. This contest was held in Akron, Ohio in April of 1931 at the RKO Theater. Theaters were a common site for yoyo contests in the 30's. The age limit for this contest was 7-25 years and all contestants were required to use a Genuine Gold Seal Duncan yoyo. Training camps were held daily for a few weeks prior to the contest and a preliminary tournament was held one week prior to the finals. News releases indicated all demonstrators were Native Filipino boys and called it an "invasion" of Akron. This was obviously a big happening in Akron. Yoyos were supplied to dealers throughout Akron on consignment. Dealers could sell two models, the 10 cent version which was likely the O-Boy beginner model, or the 25 cent model, the Gold Seal Tournament. Dealer cost was 80 cents a dozen for the 10 cent model and $2.00 a dozen for the 25 cent models. They could return unsold yoyos for a full refund at any time. One hundred dollars in cash prizes were given, and for the winner a trip to Cleveland to see a professional baseball game. Prizes were as follows: 1st $30, 2nd $20, 3rd $15, 4th $10, 5th $8, 6th $6, 7th $5, 8th $3, 9th $2, 10th $1. This was a lot of money during the depression and it brought out hundreds of contestants. A total of eighteen qualified for the finals. They were required to do 12 tricks in the championship competition. Ties were decided by the maximum number of Loop the Loops completed which was trick number 12.
Below is a description of the trick list from this 1931 contest.
1. Snap the yo-yo with the left hand and wind the string in full length with the right hand.
2. Throw the Yo-Yo over hand, five times.
3. Throw the yo-yo straight forward, five times.
4. Throw the Yo-Yo straight up into the air, five times.
5. Throw the Yo-Yo downward and make it spin at the end of the string, two times.
6. Throw the Yo-Yo downward, make it spin at the end of the string, roll it on the floor, then bring it back to the hand without winding.
7. Throw the Yo-Yo downward, make it spin at the end of the string, fold the string three times, and then let the Yo-Yo drop causing the Yo-Yo to come back to the hand.
8. The Waterfall. Throw the Yo-Yo straight up, then let it fall down close to the body, catching the Yo-Yo as it comes back up.
9. Throw the Yo-Yo straight down, making it spin at the end of the string, then bounce it on the floor, causing the Yo-Yo to jump back to the hand.
10. Around the World. Two times. Throw the Yo-Yo in a full circle at the right hand side of the body, letting the Yo-Yo rewind itself after completing the circle.
11. Wind the YoYo by means of rolling it on the floor.
12. Loop the Loop. Throw the Yo-Yo straight forward from the body in rapid succession without catching it until the Yo-Yo fails to wind.
* Notice that most of the tricks did not have names at that time.

More Contest History
The first 'World Yo-Yo Contest' was held in England in 1932 and was won by Harvey Lowe. The next 'World Yo-Yo Contest' was at Montreal, Canada in 1992, won by Dale Oliver. The 'World Yo-Yo Contests" are now held each year during the event of the International Jugglers Association's (IJA) summer festival. Subsequent winners have been Rocco Ysaguirre '93, Bill de Boisblanc '94 & '95, and Dale Myrberg '96. Other claimants to this title are self proclaimed or as in most cases, claimed by the yo-yo company that hires them to promote their product. In 1962, The Duncan Yo-Yo Company had 32 "World Yo-Yo Champions" out on the road at the same time, many of which had never even been in a yo-yo contest.
The 1997 World Yo-Yo Championship will be held in Pittsburg, PA the 5th of August.

Are You On Line? The AYYA is. If you are on the net, send us your on-line address and we'll include you in our directory. You can find the AYYA Yo-Yo page at http://www.ayya.pd.net Once you are there, you will find access to all the Yo-Yo pages we know of. Thanks and kudos to Fredd Culbertson for setting this up and Greg Cohen for the web site and domain name. You can contact Fredd at fredd@Sonic.net

Club Notices
Unless otherwise noted, these clubs welcome anyone to come to their meetings. Lessons, sales, trading and fun to be had.

Santa Rosa, CA - Wille Birds' Flyers meets the first Saturday of every month, 1 P.M. at the Willie Bird Restaurant, 1150 Santa Rosa Ave. Contact John Stangle, 707-542-YOYO.
Wash. D.C. - Yo-Yo Share, Show and Practice meets the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 P.M. in the fellowship hall of Grace Presbyterian Church at Grace and Bath streets, Springfield, VA. Contact Dick Stohr for info, 703-451-3439
Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN - Twin City Spinners. Anyone interested in joining a club in this area should contact Val Krantz, 612- 929-1271
Bronxville, NY - Todd Depole is interested in starting a club in his area. Contact him at 914- 337-8145
San Francisco, CA/Bay Area - There is a sizable Yo-Yo community in this area that gets together upon occasion but not on a regular basis. If you would like to hook into this network and be notified of events, contact Dale Oliver, 415-871-4197.
Sacramento, CA - The Wizard's of Yo. Contact David Harris, 916-363-2650.
Puget Sound Area - Contact Chris Arena, 206-851-5753.
Tallahassee, FL - Contact Greg Cohen at Infinite Illusions, 904-385-6463. They have regular scheduled clinics and contests. Lincoln, NE - Contact Tom Gates, 402-464- 4367

If you have a Yo-Yo club or would like to start one, send your information to the AYYA Club News, 627 163rd St. S. Spanaway, WA 98387.

Yo-Yo Hall of Fame
We're still requesting nominations for the yo- yo Hall of Fame. There are thirty or more deceased yo-yo pros. We need to put together some information about them before it gets lost forever. We are looking for things like media articles, pictures, tricks they invented and personal histories. If you can help locate any of these things, please write to the AYYA. Materials that you desire to keep can be copied and returned. Does anyone know where the families of Gus Somera or Pedro Flores can be contacted?

Technical Tips
By Dale Oliver
My nominations for the five hardest yo-yo tricks to master. Inside Loops, Outside Loops, Hop the Fence, Reach for the Moon and Punching Bag. "Hey!", You say. "Everyone can do Loops and Hop the Fence". Master is the key word. Mastery means you can do about as many as you want to every time you pick up the yo-yo and you can do them while reciting the Gettysburg address and scratching your head with the other hand. This months mail bag (in this case email bag) had more requests for Reach for the Moon than anything else (aside from Australians wanting to know where to get instruction books on yo- yo tricks). Multiple Reach for the Moon is the only trick I can think of that I'm afraid to try with a blindfold on. You must follow it and make corrections, it doesn't follow you. That's why it is so difficult for anyone but Dale Myrberg to do more than 10 of them with two hands. Dale has done over 300 of them. I can't hold both hands over my head that long. Forget doing Reach for the Moons that long. OK, on with the trick. First problem is to get the yo-yo going the right direction around your hand. Start with this preliminary trick. Do a Hop the Fence but when in returns, go into a reverse or backwards Hop the Fence, then forward again, then backwards again...hey!..you're doing Reach for the Moon (when it's over China). Now for this side of the world. Notice how the yo-yo passes your hand when you do Hop the Fence. The first pass of Reach for the Moon is the same direction. You throw the yo-yo up at a 45% angle (look at the picture below at #1) but when it comes back, the yo- yo must pass below your hand (try for about 6" below) as though you are going to do Hop the Fence straight up. That is, in fact, what you do (#2) and when (if) it comes back down you loop it back out (to #3). You would think that if it has to go up, you would need to throw it hard... NOT! A very gentle, slow touch is by far more effective. If correctly thrown at the beginning, the yo-yo will swing past your hand and go up by itself without any added power and then you add just at bit of power on the outward bound pass to repeat the trick. Once you actually FEEL the way the yo-yo acts when this trick is done correctly, you'll know what the term "In the groove" really means. It flows almost effortlessly. But it takes A LOT of practice effort to get there.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Copyright 1996 American Yo-Yo Association