World Yo-Yo Contest

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The World Yo-Yo Contest is the top contest of a hierarchy of yo-yo contests from around the world. As of 2006, 19 countries fed into the World Yo-Yo Contest from their respective national yo-yo contests. Also in 2006, almost 700 people were in attendance. It is held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

1 History
2 Contests
3 Other Events at the World Yo-Yo Contest
4 Links
5 References

[edit] History

The World Yo-Yo Contest was first started in 1932, and was held in London England. The winner was Harvey Lowe. The contest was not held every year, and came and went away until 1991, when Dale Oliver restarted it in Montreal, Canada during that years International Jugglers' Association's (IJA) annual convention. The contest was held during the IJA's convention until 1999, when it was held in Hawaii. Late in 1999, Dale Oliver and Alan Amral, two leaders in the field of yo-yoing, asked Gregory Cohen^[1] to host the contest in 2000. He organized the 2000 contest at Universal Studios in Orlando. In 2001, the event moved to the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando where he still organizes it and it is currently held in early August or in late July every year.

[edit] Contests

The World Yo-Yo Contest has 7 World Title Divisions as of 2006.

1A The player uses a long spinning yo-yo to perform tricks that typically require manipulation of the string.

2A The player uses two yo-yos simultaneously to perform reciprocating or looping maneuvers.

3A The player uses two long spinning yo-yos and performs tricks with both simultaneously.

4A The player uses an offstring yo-yo, often releasing the yo-yo into the air and attempting to catch it on the string.

5A The player uses a yo-yo with a counterweight on the other end of the string rather than having it attached to a finger.

AP This is Artistic Performance where the yo-yoer uses any type of yo-yo or other prop in order to perform a freestyle.

CB This is the Combined Division, where players have to compete and demonstrate skill in multiple styles.

In addition to these World Divisions, the world Yo-Yo Contest also hosts yo-yo modifying and design contests, known in the field as modding and other yo-yo contests for all age levels that do not carry a world title.