Chico, California is the place where the yo-yo has a place of distinction. At the National Yo-Yo Museum you can learn about yo-yo history, take in the largest yo-yo collection in the world, plus see the largest wooden working yo-yo there is. I wonder if the tallest person needs to work it? Called Big Yo, it weighs 256 pounds.
If you want to get in on some yo-yo action yourself, starting in May, regional and state contests are held to find the best of the best. These three are May events.
- The Bay Area Classic in San Mateo, California, May 4-5 is one of them. People from Japan and Australia even come to compete in this one.
- The Northeast Regional Contest is in Northhampton, Massachusets, May 6.
- Pennsylvania State Yo Yo Contest in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, May 19.
For events later in the year go to the National Yo-Yo Museum and Contest Web site. And, to brush up on some yo-yo terms so you can comfortably talk yo-yo, here’s a glossary from the American Yo-Yo Association.
The only yo-yo trick I know is “walk the dog”” and I can’t do it. I’m lucky if I can get a yo-yo to roll up and down its string more than twice.