The logo for the U.S National Yo-Yo Contest
The U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest, also known as the American Nationals or U.S. Nationals, is a yo-yo contest that was first started in 1993. It was held every year in Chico, California, home of the US National Yo-Yo Museum. It is a national competition which the winner is deemed number one in the nation. The event was traditionally held the first weekend in October. In 2015 and 2016 it was held at held at Redondo Beach, California in an attempt to move the contest around the country. In 2017 the contest was held in Chico, California again. After that the contest resumed its intention to migrate around the country, with 2018 in Chicago, and 2019 in Philadelphia. After Covid cancellations the contest resumed in Mesa Arizona for 2022 and 2023.
Players can earn a seeded spot into the Championship 1A Finals, by winning one of the nine regional yo-yo contests authorized by the US National Yo-Yo League (NYYL).
The contest is hosted by Bird In Hand yo-yo store in Chico and organized by Bird In Hand owner Bob Malowney.
In addition to the contest, they present US National Yo-Yo Museum awards and other honorary awards given to individuals who have contributed significantly to the yo-yo community.
It was announced about 2017 contest, that the competition after 2017 in Chico would be moved to early Summer and migrate cities again, so that it would be held before the World Yo-Yo Contest in the calendar year. Because of that the 2017 national champions were not seeded to any Worlds.
In 2020 and 2021 US nationals was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The 2022 contest was held in person in Mesa Arizona, June 24-26, all other National Yo-Yo League sanctioned contests in 2022 including Regional events where cancelled due to the pandemic. 2023 was announced by the league as an easing back from pandemic year, only having 4 of the usual 9 regional events this year with more oversight from NYYL (PNWR, MWR, GCR, NER) then having 2023 US nationals at same venue in Mesa, June 30-July 2.
Current Champions (2023)[]
- 1A - Evan Nagao
- 2A - Evan Nagao
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Ryan Connolly
- 5A - Jared Marcus
- International - Brandon Vu (Austrailia)
- Over 40 - Johnathon Brasell
- Women - Katie Thompson
Past Champions[]
2022[]
- 1A - Evan Nagao
- 2A - John Ando
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Ryan Connolly
- 5A - Jared Marcus
- International - Shuyun Tang (China)
- Over 40 - Paul Yath
2021 (Cancelled via Pandemic)[]
2020 (Cancelled via Pandemic)[]
2019[]
- 1A - Gentry Stein
- 2A - Tyler Hsieh
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Ryan Connolly
- 5A - John Wolfe
- Women - Coco Sun
2018[]
- 1A - Evan Nagao
- 2A - Connor Scholten
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Ryan Connolly
- 5A - John Wolfe
- International Open - Luckey Yulin Li (China)
2017[]
- 1A - Evan Nagao
- 2A - Connor Scholten
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Philip White
- 5A - Josh Yee
- International 1A - Luckey Yulin Li (China)
2016[]
- 1A - Gentry Stein
- 2A - Joseph Harris
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Philip White
- 5A - John Wolfe
2015[]
- 1A - Gentry Stein
- 2A - Grant Johnson
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Philip White
- 5A - Jake Elliott
2014[]
- 1A - Zach Gormley
- 2A - Joseph Harris
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Zac Rubino
- 5A - Tyler Severance
2013[]
- 1A - Gentry Stein
- 2A - Joseph Harris
- 3A - Alex Hattori
- 4A - Ian Johnson
- 5A - Jake Elliott
2012[]
- 1A - Zach Gormley
- 2A - Patrick Mitchell
- 3A - Patrick Borgerding
- 4A - Bryan Figueroa
- 5A - Tyler Severance
2011[]
- 1A- Harold Owens III
- 2A- Joseph Harris
- 3A- Hank Freeman
- 4A- Bryan Figueroa
- 5A- Samm Scott
2010[]
- 1A- Sebastian Brock
- 2A- Grant Johnson
- 3A- Hank Freeman
- 4A- Bryan Figueroa
- 5A- Miguel Correa
2009[]
- 1A - Yuuki Spencer - San Jose, CA
- 2A - Patrick Mitchell - Westminster CA
- 3A - Hank Freeman
- 4A - Bryan Figueroa - Oakley, CA
- 5A - Miguel Correa
2008[]
- 1A - Eric Koloski
- 2A - Joseph Harris
- 3A - Paul Yath
- 4A - Bryan Figueroa
- 5A - Miguel Correa
2007[]
- 1A - Yuuki Spencer - San Jose, CA
- 2A - John Ando - Dallas, TX
- 3A - Kentaro Kimura - New York, NY
- 4A - Bryan Figueroa - Oakley, CA
- 5A - Tyler Severance - Newcastle, DE
2006[]
- 1A – Paul Han - Cupertino, CA
- 2A – John Ando - Dallas, TX
- 3A – Kentaro Kimura - Cuthbert, GA
- 4A – Tsubasa Onishi - Las Vegas, NV
- 5A – Dana Bennet - Lewiston, ME
2005[]
- 1A – Yuuki Spencer
- 2A – John Ando
- 3A – Paul Yath
- 4A – Tsubasa Onishi
- 5A – Jack Ringca
2004[]
- 1A – Augie Fash
- 2A – John Ando
- 3A – Paul Yath
- 4A – Shane Karan
- 5A – Shane Karan
2003[]
- 1A – Johnnie Delvalle
- 2A – Matt Harlow
- 3A – Paul Yath
- 4A – Cody Taylor
- 5A – Miguel Correa
2002[]
- 1A – Brent Dellinger
- 2A – Matt Harlow
2001[]
- 1A – Jason Lee
- 2A – Masahiro Tanikawa
2000[]
- 1A – Takumi Sakamoto
- 2A – Alan Batangan
1999[]
- 1A – Joel Zink
- 2A – Alan Batangan
1998[]
- 1A – Sky Kiyabu
- 2A – Alex Garcia
1997[]
- 1A – Cody Kiyabu
- 2A – Jennifer Baybrook
1996[]
- Championship 2A - Bill de Boisblanc
- Freestyle 1A - Alex Garcia
1995[]
- Championship 2A - Bill de Boisblanc
1994[]
- Championship 2A - Bill de Boisblanc
1993[]
- Championship 2A - Ryan Carver
National Yo-Yo Museum Awards[]
- Donald F. Duncan Family Award for Industry Excellence
- National Achievement Award
- Sitton Sportsmanship Award
- National League Merit Award
- Holiday Inn Best Junior Player Award
- Best Girl Player Award
- Trick Innovator of the Year
- Most Inspirational Player Award
- Extreme Spin National Cup Award
Past Nationals[]
- American Nationals 2000
- American Nationals 2001
- American Nationals 2002
- American Nationals 2003
- American Nationals 2004
- American Nationals 2005
External Link[]
- National yo-yo Contest Home page for the American National Yo-yo Contest