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a few weeks ago, we took some time off the regular program to be in nature a little bit. one of the many upsides of being based in europe is that the great outdoors is often just a couple of hours away.
after a fortnight away from cad files, production schedules, and liaison meetings, we returned feeling refreshed and inspired.
we’re back. here’s a quick summary of what we’ve been working on behind-the-scenes, and what you can expect from us for the rest of 2022.
this was a big, important week for this form factor.
ever since we released the ari, our monometal titanium sequel to the khuno, we’ve had numerous requests pour in for non-se variants of these two models. the wider petition was to trade in customisability for precision, play-readiness, and a sharper focus on performance.
we were happy to reimagine this form factor without the constraints of a modifiable design, and take our w-profile beyond its roots as primarily a tinkerer’s model.
we’ve been working on these over the past half-year; to date, we’ve gone through 6 prototypes across 3 concepts.
we turned the corner on one particular prototype this week, and we’re beyond thrilled. it’s a powerful one, and it’s our first design to clock north of 67g.
we’re hoping to share one with you before the year wraps up.
this one’s been baking for some time now.
you’ve heard us say this before — working on our first plastic release just registers differently. it’s a milestone entrenched in nostalgia and youthful memories, and for many reasons, this upcoming release feels fresh and new.
development wise, we made a couple of changes in hub construction to get them playing smoother, and the final version will come a tad bit heftier than initial prototypes. weight change and all, it still feels like playing catch with a fluffysnowpuffball in the backyard.
we won’t spill too much just yet — the full announcement, with the usual accompanying design writeup, is just around the corner.
we wanted to provide some updates on this one, too. as many sharp eyes have discerned, it’s our first hybrid, and combines polycarbonate and brass for a whippy, zippy lil’ powerhouse.
this one needs a bit more time in the oven, however; we’re working through a gut overhaul to take its spin capacity to 11. it’s got a very unique play signature, and feels entirely unlike our other organic designs. we’re hoping a couple of final tweaks takes it to where we know it can go.
as it stands, this one will likely feature as a mid-2023 release.
lastly, in case you missed it, we just announced our second video contest.
we held our first video contest in april in celebration of coleman’s addition to our team. the contest was focused on creative expression within the boundaries of a single, uninterrupted shot, and it produced some of the most artistic interpretations of a yoyo video we’ve seen in a long while.
this one has a pretty different slant. the Atmos one throw plastic contest is hosted alongside evgeniy, and looks to stretch the limits of play with simple equipment.
the rules are simple and open; players may only use plastic yoyos, and each entry should be a one-throw trick. that’s it.
the last turnout was incredible, and we’re just thrilled to see what everyone comes up with within these parameters.
if you’d like to follow the contest, we’ll be reposting all submissions in our onethrowplastic highlights on our instagram page.
it’s that time of the year. the rest of 2022 is clearly mapped out for us, and we’re starting to sketch things up for 2023.
we’d love to hear from you — to you, what would be a dream release from us in 2023?
