Home of Team 2yo!

PNWR 2009!

Wow!

I had so much fun at the contest!

This was the first time that only me and my uncle would go on a trip by ourselves so it was kinda cool.

We flew in from SFO to SeaTac and took a cab to the travelodge.

Right as we pulled up to the hotel, I was greeted by an old friend. Sean Vanzandt who I had met at Nationals 08.

After putting all the luggage away in our room, I went back out to yoyo with the others.

Sean and me were planning to make a colab yoyo vid so I brought my HD camera as well as my other 2 for other filming later for the contest.

Some other yoyoers soon arrived.

Me and Sean tried to take the vids, but all the other guys had fun doing eli hops in Sean's face to prevent any successful tricks, (Sparhawks!)

After yoyoing a bit, We all went to the contest pre-dinner at the center house.

We had a bit of trouble finding it but we soon got there.

The center house is cool, its a food court with a stage.

With all the food choices, you just had to pick a place and eat whatever you like.

I ended up splitting a meatball sub with my uncle (5! 5 dollar! 5 dollar footlonnngggg!) Haha.

I got to meet Jacob Jensen, awesome guy. Has a really fun style.

Also got to meet Jensen Kimmit! (Jensen, Jensen?)

More players started coming to the dinner.

I was very shocked when I saw Mark Allen walk in! No one ever said that he was coming!

Sterling arrived as well and many other great players.

Its awesome hanging out with others just talking and yoyoing, something many cant do unless they got yoyoers to meet up with around them.

While we were yoyoing a guy came over to us and asked to try a yoyo, Sean gave the guy a speeder to try, the guy said he used to yoyo but the poor guy was pretty drunk and not looking well.

He got a tangle and tried to get it out but couldn't.

Sean was going to help him but he insisted on taking it out himself and wouldn't listen when Sean told him the yoyo unscrewed.

He spent almost 20 minutes taking out the tangle and would take any help.

He got it out and left. I felt sorry for that guy.

After the dinner was over, we all went back to the hotel to try to film some more and yoyo.

Once again, Sean couldn't yoyo. (SPARHAWKS! REED!)haha.

It was fun hanging out in front of the hotel, just like other contest where you do the same.

Everyone stayed up pretty late just yoyoing out in front of the hotel. And I bought a velocity! Weee!

I went to bed right a someone started a fire trying to make popcorn. It smelled like smoke everywhere!

Woke up the next morning and the power failed in the room.

Not sure why, had to wash up and go eat breakfast in the little continental breakfast room.

I made myself a little egg and sausage sandwich and apple juice and went back out to yoyo.

We all yoyoed a bit and then went to the contest.

The venue looked different in the bright of day. A few yoyoers were practicing in the roped off practice area.

Pretty cool.

Tyler severance delivered a few yoyos he owed me along with a bunch of extras so I was quite happy.

One of those yoyos was the Bio Ego. Easily one of my fave yoyos right now.

I went back to yoyo with the others and I got to meet a bunch of new people as more throwers started showing up.

One thing different about this contest that is different than the contest near me in nor-cal is that there are more players than spectators and that there are more yoyoers going to the contest not to compete than those freestyling. Very different.

Me and Sean went around filming for our documentary clip. I tried to record all of the yoyoers I could.

Then, the prelims for 1A started.

I was up right after Mark Allen so of course I was mega-nervous.

But I did ok but I really didn't think I would get into the finals.

Sean was 2 people after me and did quite well, he was regretful after the freestyle though cause he felt that he tried to go too fast.

He seemed a bit bummed about it but I thought he did ok.

After all the prelims, there was a break so my uncle bought me a burger at Quincy's.

Wow! That's a good cheeseburger!

All the other yoyoers went to there desired restaurant of choice as well.

I went back to yoyo a bit and a guy from the Seattle times came up and asked for a bunch of info and started taking a ton of photos of me yoyoing.

he spent maybe 15 minutes photographing me doing my 1A tricks.

Pretty cool.

I got to meet the 1drop guys. Very cool.

I always wondered why my old raw project broke on the bearing seat and they explained why.

Its something that I guess might happen to my new raw project as well.

Oh well, I don't care how much I have to spend! I love raw projects!!! Yar!

I went to sit down and a mother and her son came over and asked me a bit about yoyoing.

I ended up taking the son to the yoyo sales table and recommended him to a velocity which he bought.

Very cool!

I met a lady who was competing in the sport ladder and she needed help learning pop n fresh.

I helped her out and I think she did quite well in the ladder.

She brought 4 other kids who were very nice and cool.

The contest then started up again with 2A.

I had been working on my 2A quite a bit and felt ready.

I did ok but messed up on doing a cow wrap to arm wrap combo I had been working on.

I was a bit scared cause I had to go right after Ryan Lai.

I really liked Jacob Jensens 2A cause he used the theme song to the old "reading rainbow" kids TV show.

3A was ok. I really didn't feel so great after it.

Its odd cause even though all my 3A life, I have placed quite well at 3A. its not my fave style.

Its probably my least fave actually.

4A gave me a break as I did not compete in that style.

Jacob Jensen had an epic 4A with the craziest 4A regen ever.

I don't lie when I say: He never messed up once!

1A! I somehow got into the finals!

I don't know how.

I went up and did my best. Fun.

So much epic skill! both Jensens were amazing! Jensen Kimmit had some of the craziest tricks ever!

And Jacob had an amazingly smooth and original 1A.

5A!

Both me and Sean were in 5A.

I was before Sean and was using a new slower song rather than my usual fast techno.

I did very well! I really felt good after the freestyle cause I pretty much hit every trick I wanted too do smoothly.

Sean did an awesome 5A, We went after the "pie" incident so the stage was a bit creamy.

He did well, his style is really cool and technical, no player has a style like his.

The big 3:Tyler Severance, Sterling Quinn, and Miguel Correa were crazy good.

After we all finished, we went back to filming and yoyoing.

The kids that came with the lady I taught pop n fresh all were saying that I was going to win.

One of them even offered to sponsor me!

I said: Really? Cool! What are the perks?

Him: You get a penny every time I see you at a contest!

Me: Wow! I accept!

And he actually gave me a penny! Haha!

I am now sponsored by "Emerson"!

yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo so much yo filmfilmfilmfilm so much film.

Very fun.

I was practicing some 2A and chatting with friends when all of a sudden I heard someone yelling: He's a winner! Winner! Winner! Winner!

I stopped looping and looked behind me, nothing.

Started again. WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

Stopped.

Did one loop and stopped. WINNER!

3 loops and stopped: WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

1 loop: WINNER!

It was an odd guy and he left quickly.

Stu announced that he wanted to do a quick diabolo ladder so I thought I would try it out.

I didn't do so well, messed up on leg orbit cause I lost balance and messed up infinite suicide. Oh well, it was fun.

Results!

I somehow got 3rd in the diabolo ladder? How did that happen?

lol. I felt happy about it but shocked also.

I got 2nd in 3A as well.

I wasn't sure how me and Sean did in the other divisions.

In the end. Jensen won 1A

Joseph Harris won 2A

Ryan Lai won 3A

Bryan won 4A

And Tyler won 5A.

Awesome.

Such a great contest.

My uncle bought me and Sean Pizza.

Very good, that Pizza place in the center house makes very good pizza!

Sprinkle some cheese on it. Awesome.

Its odd seeing a contest wind down.

Everyone starts leaving, the banner comes down, all the product leave with the tables, the audience leaves.

It was soon left with only me, Sean, Ryan Lai, Shannon Jackson, and Reed.

Then we all left for the hotel.

Once again, we all yoyoed and hung out at the hotel.

Me, Sean, And Dallen hung out in the lobby checking out YYN and throwing.

It began getting late when something odd happened.

A guy came in with two girls and he was very VERY drunk.

He came up to Sean, put his arm around him and hugged him saying: HEY MAN! YOUR THE YOYO KID! YOU THROW YOYOS! WHAT UP MAN! HAHA! YEAH!

The two ladies apologized about him.

EY CAN YOU DO...UH....THAT....TRICK....WALK THE DOG? Sean did it with his legacy.

AW YEAH PRO....MAN...UH....WHAT ABOUT THE TOMB?

Sean: The tomb?

Him: YEAH LLLL.......ITS LIKE A TRIANGLE......YOU KNOW....

Sean: I don't think I know that one.

Guy: oh.....OK....

He sees Seans Mom.

HEY! DO...YOU YOYO ALSO?

Seans mom: Nope, just going to bed.

Him: OHYEAH....ME TOO.......

He headed for the elevator barely able to stand and hit all the elevator buttons..

THEY LLLIGHT UP! HEHEHE!

The two helped him into the elevator screaming: NO DONT! ONLY FLOOR 4!ONLY 4! NO!

They left.

We were like: wow......

Me: Poor guy.

Dallen: Poor? he's rich if he could buy that many drinks!

Odd.

We stayed up a bit longer and I got tired so I went to bed.

Sean left at 5:30 the following morning so I didn't see him again.

Me and my uncle packed up everything and went to the lobby to wait for the cab.

Mike and Joe Sparhawk were there so I yoyoed a bit with them until they had to leave.

Soon the cab came, and we went to the airport, only to find that our flight to SFO had been delayed.

But we got home safely and I was so glad to be home.

it was an awesome trip.

I have to say though.

This was easily my fave contest of all the contest I have gone too.

It was so different but in a good was that made it very enjoyable for me, Great friends, awesome venue, awesome yoyoers.

It all equaled everything you could ever want in a contest.

Major thanks to all who made it possible!

I cant wait till next year!

Awesome.

http://www.vimeo.com/3356605 (PNWR through the eyes of Josh Yee and Sean Vanzandt)