I was lucky enough to visit the National Yo-yo Museum over the holidays while up in Chico, CA. What a great little place it is…

The museum was started in 1993 and showcases over 2000 yo-yo’s old and new. The museum also provides bunch of great history on the yo-yo.

The NYYM is directed by Bob Malowney who was nice enough to answer some of my questions for this Blog. Bob also organizes the National Yo-yo Contest in Chico every year. The contest allows all divisions of play to compete in. Divisions include:

1A division players use one long-spin yo-yo to perform intricate string trick manipulations of both string and yo-yo.

2A division players use two looping yo-yos simultaneously in looping tricks that require quickness and timing.

3A division players use two long-spin yo-yos to perform intricate string tricks simultaneously with both yo-yos.

4A or Offstring players use a yo-yo that is unattached to the string but is still required to come back to the hand.

5A or Free-hand players use of a counterweight griped in the hand instead of tying the string to a finger.

For more information on please visit www.nationalyoyo.org.

Posing next to the Big-Yo. Largest “working” yo-yo in the world.
yoyomuseum

Weighing in at 256 pounds, Big-Yo is the worlds largest working wooden yo-yo. Designed by Tom Kuhn, the yo-yo now resides in Chico, CA on display at the National Yo-Yo Museum.

If you’d like a free yo-yo lesson, show up at the museum any Saturday between 12-2pm. You’re sure to have a great time.

National Yo-yo Museum
320 Broadway
Chico, CA 95928
Phone: (530) 893-0545