2008 World Yo-Yo Contest Mod Contest Recap

Wow………..Another Worlds Mod contest has come and gone and again this year there were some superb yo-yos.  While there were only 13 entries (down from last year’s 17), the overall quality and innovation was up!

Before I get into the results, I’d like to thank my fellow judges: Dazzling Dave Schulte, Alan Gray, Kyle Weems, Rob Tsou, and Frank Difeo.  Without their time and effort this event wouldn’t happen.  (Although, I’m sure that the mini keg of Two Hearted Ale that I provided helped……;8^) )

Now, on to the results:

Anyone like to hazard a guess as to who won?.............  Yep, you’re right, Shinobu Konmoto! 
Shinobu never ceases to amaze us with his ingenuity, creativity and attention to detail.  This year’s entry, “The Card”, is a beautiful small sized yo-yo that , when dis-assembled, fits into a business card case!  Shinobu’s score was 580 pts. out of a possible 600.

In 2nd place was Yuumi Shiga, who I believe won the JYYA mod contest.  Her entry “Hexagon” is a heavily modded FHZ, with metalized silver paint, that looks like a giant hex nut with matching hex nut hubstacks. While Shinobu won best scratch built yo-yo and highest point total, Yuumi won for best mod.

Third was Kunihisa Kawahe with a scratch built aluminum yo-yo.  Fourth was Kengo Yamamoto with “Mother of Pearl”; an incredible FHZ covered in brocade fabric with rings of inlaid Abalone shell.  Fifth was Marcio Adriano Alves with the “Saga Frankenstein”; YYF Flymaster shells, Saga hubs, and Russell lenses with light-up Russell parts.

Others of note were Takeshi’s “Freehand of Pleasure” which came with a note that you can read on my photo website (link below)……see if you can figure out what Mitch used for the rim weight rings…… and,  Tetsuya’s “H-Panda” with brass and aluminum rings and Flying Panda spinning side caps.

The full results are as follows:

1.  Shinobu Konmoto – “The Card” – 580 pts.
2.  Yuumi “Mod Girl” Shiga – “Hexagon” – 479 pts.
3.  Kunihisa Kawahe – Scratch built aluminum – 438 pts.
4.  Kengo Yamamoto – “Mother of Pearl” – 424 pts.
5.  Marcio Alves – “Saga Frankenstein” – 412 pts.
6.  Tetsuya – “H-Panda” – 364 pts.
7.  Takeshi – “The Freehand of Pleasure” – 356 pts.
8.  Ian Cole – “Night Moves Zero” – 345 pts.
9.  Levi McCarroll – “Iron Maiden” painted Peak – 329 pts.
10.  Takahiko Hasegawa “Taka” – “Gold Gold Gold” – 283 pts
11.  Nobuyuki Nozaki “Nobu” – VanHalen guitar FHZ – 258 pts.
12.  Kazuhiko Inoue (Takuma’s papa) “Yo-Yo Top” – 238 pts.
13.  Tetsuya Hoshino – “Heavy Press” stainless steel – 227 pts.

On Saturday, I did a massive trade with Shinobu, and I’m now the proud owner of a “Card” (eat your hearts out…)

Here’s the link to the photo album: http://public.fotki.com/YoEric/worlds-mod-contest--2008/    (The pictures in the album are in the same order of the results above).

--Eric Wolff