It’s pretty exciting to be able to have the opportunity to colaborate on a project with a non yoyo store.  Mitch at BTNC is realy digging the yoyo scene right now and is doing what he can to help it grow. 

Something interesting to note is that Mitch was actually an old Team Losi member with Steve Brown in the late 90s.  Back in the day Mitch and his friend gave Steve a wallet they made that had a dice attached to it.  This dice was actually the first thing that was used when Steve Brown invented 5A style of play.  Neat huh?

Here are a couple photos of Mitch that were taken by his wife Anna.

The Special Edition Wooly Marmot we did for BTNC was actually designed by Mitch.  He asked me one day out of the blue, “is it possible to do a black with black splash?”  It was great timing, because the week before that our anodizer sent me a sample of a single tone blue with blue splash.  So I told Mitch, “Most definitely lets do it!!!!”

Here’s some shots of the Wooly Marmot that Mitch sent me:

Word on the street is that there are still a couple BTNC Wooly Marmots available.  So if you’d like to pick one up give Mitch a call at 714.441.3434 and he’ll ship it out to you … or you can check out their online shop as well. Right now they are going for $150 and Mitch is offering free shipping to anywhere in the world!!

I’d like to welcome Páll Valdimar Guðmundsson Kolka (aka: Palli) to Team CLYW!!!

I’ve unfortunately never met Palli in person.  With him living in Iceland it makes it a little difficult, but we chat online a lot.  Palli is an amazing player and has such a fun personality.  I’ve learned so much about Iceland by talking to him, such as: their traditional dish is half a sheep face, Puffinuggets are going to replace McDonalds and how to say Merry Christmas ‘gleðileg jól’.  In Edmonton there is actually a radio show on CJSR 88.5FM called Viking Music that is all about Icelandic music and what Bjork is listening to.  One day I’ll go to Iceland for a visit.  One day … 

I’m really excited that Palli has accepted a spot on our team.  I’ve been watching him for a while now ever since he joined Team G-String.  We’re really excited, because Palli will be flying out to EYYC 2010 in Prague (I assume flying, might be by Viking ship though) to compete.  I believe this will be his first contest.  We’ll definitely be rooting for you!!! 

I asked Palli how he got into yoyoing and here is what he said: I picked up a bootleg Brain for cheap at some shop, started to do tricks and longed for something harder. Stumbled upon Mastermagic.com and was amazed, ordered a hitman, couldn’t get it up and there began my journey of yoyoing.

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Thank you to everyone who submitted a video for Babe’s Video Open.  This was a great success!!  We saw a lot of really interesting super creative neat stuff.  Great work everyone!!  Abe and John-Bot were the judges for this contest and they said they had a pretty hard time picking their favourite, but eventually they did come to an agreement.

Congratulations Ernest Kahn from the Philippines!!! Brilliantly done!! Loved your trick with the spinning wheel and the escolator walk the dog.

I unfortunately wasn’t able to catch the Bassalopes in time so instead of a Bassalope you will be getting this Baby Blue Babe Bear vs Man (photo turned to sorta greyscale because I couldn’t colour match).  1 of 4.  One for me, Abe, John-Bot and you!!  Artwork by Abe.

Here are some of Abe and John-Bot’s favourite videos from the contest:

YORAD at the Pool Hall from Ian Anderson on Vimeo.

Ernest we’ll also be sending you one of each of these Hudson’s Bay Parkas …

… hehe no I kid.

We’re sending these Paul Bunyan and Babe statues that I found at the antique mall and that we used as props at the Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair. You just have to promise to send them to the winner of the next Babe’s Video Open.  Also thanks to Savedeth, who have also sponsored this contest, you’ll also be getting a copy of Savedeth Vol 2!!!

Thanks again to everyone that sent in a video.  Well done!!!   Thank-you Abe and John-Bot for doing such a great job with the artwork and theme.

Hockey Marmot - Solid Black

Viking Marmot - Yellowish/Gold with Polished Splash

Little Ruddiger Marmot - Violet with Polished Splash

These will only be available at www.clywstore.com

** all photos and artwork by Jensen Kimmitt **

This month we did another colab with a company out of California, Fatlace.  They’re a store/brand/live magazine out of San Francisco and are into everything that has to do with the culture of art, fashion, cars, and anything that has 2 wheels.  They’ve colaborated with the likes of Nike, Asics/Tiger, Adidas, Savier (RIP), Staple, ShortKut, DJXL, KicksHawaii, FTC, Recon, StrangeCo, EA Sports … and now CLYW.  Damn! 

 Photo courtesy of Fatlace

I was so excited when Mark at Fatlace contacted me to do a colab.  He really liked our style and wanted to do something together.  Mark designed the artwork for this limited edition Campfire, which was based off of a Sakura wheel pattern.  Two colours were done, 12 in black and 12 in green.  I kept a black one back for myself.  Had to!!  This is the illest return top out there.

 Photo by Me.

Yesterday YoYoFactory team member Paul Han was at Fatlace and showed those guys what’s up with modern yoyoing with one of the illest return tops.

Photo courtesy of Fatlace

Not sure when these will be available, but stay tuned to Fatlace for more info.

Canopy from Elliot Jackson on Vimeo.

Is your mind blown yet? Oh my GOSH!!! When I first saw this my jaw dropped to the floor. This has got to be one of the best yoyo videos I’ve ever seen. Amazing work Elliot!!! The amount of effort you and your videographer/editor put into this is outstanding. Thank-you so much for sharing this amazingness with us.  Damn and Animal Collective too!!  I went through a huge AC phase and ya the way this was put together blew my socks off.  BEAUTIFUL!!!!

To watch in HD just click on the vimeo link.

Reposted from the BTNC blog:

BTNC has teamed up with CLYW to create a super limited Wooly Marmot yo-yo. In an era of collaborations we wanted to do something simple that we would love forever. As avid yoyo players it was an honor for us to work with CLYW. They are makers of some of the most sought after return tops on the market.

Our finished product is a black anodized yo with gloss black splashes and finished off with the BTNC logo laser etched on one half. The yo is limited to 10 pieces and will be released 12-18-09 at noon pst. Phone orders welcome.

To order call Mitch on Dec 18th at 714.441.3434. Cost is $150 + tax & shipping.

Last weekend was the UK Regional yoyo contest SRC where CLYW team member Krisztian Kaluzsa placed 1st!!!!  Soooo proud of you Krisz!!  Great freestyle!!!  Also something I really wanted to mention is that Krisztian’s wife Corli Du Toit also competed.  She placed 3rd in Prelims and 6th overall.  Quite the achievement for a female yoyoer!!  I’m not sure, but I think they might be the first married couple to compete head to head in the same contest.  Check out Krisztian’s and Corli’s videos below. 

krisztian Kaluzsa 1st Place SRC 2009 from YoyoZ on Vimeo.

SRC 2009 - 1A Prelim 3rd Place - Corli du Toit from Corli du Toit on Vimeo.

SRC 2009 - 1A Final 6th Place - Corli du Toit from Corli du Toit on Vimeo.

Krisztian was using a Peak and Corli was using a Bear vs Man.

Zach sent this over yesterday, but I didn’t get a chance to post it up until now.  Paul and I watched this right before I had to drive him to the airport.  It knocked our socks off.  Hope it knocks yours off too.  Unless it’s really cold like it was in Edmonton today (-25C/-13F), then you may want to keep your socks on.  Thank you for sharing your tricks Zach!!! 

Also if you haven’t heard …  Zach is one of the four CLYW team members that are going to be featured in the YoYoExpert Trading card collection.  Sooo excited for you Zach!!

Zach Gormley Winter 09 from Zach Gormley on Vimeo.

Here’s a new video from one of our Canadian born team members Adam Brewster.  Amazing new tricks Adam!!!  Thank you sooo much for sharing!!!  Check Check it out!!

Oh, Canada from Adam Brewster on Vimeo.

While we’re waiting for Elliot’s new amazing HD video Canopy.  Here is a sweet new video he just put together of some of his new tricks.  So much amazingness!!!  Check it out!!!

Bassametre from Elliot Jackson on Vimeo.