From the moment I first felt the smooth, organic texture of a wooden yoyo in my hands, I was hooked. There's just something special about the warmth and natural feel that plastic and metal can't replicate. I've been yoyoing since 1998 – a true "oldskool" player, if you will. Back then, plastic was the norm, metal was an exotic luxury, and wooden yoyos were fading into the background, unable to keep pace with the rapidly evolving world of yoyo tricks.
I remember my trusty wooden throws from BC Yoyos and Tom Kuhn. The Roller Woody, with its bearing, was a particular favorite. It was a beautiful and incredibly fun yoyo, but the demands of modern play were leaving it behind. Tricks were becoming more complex, requiring wider gaps, increased rim weight for longer spin times, and a level of precision that wooden yoyos simply couldn't consistently deliver.
Even then, a dream began to form: to create my own perfect wooden yoyo. It wasn't until I designed and machined my first yoyo from Delrin that I felt confident enough to tackle wood. The photo you see here is based on the original design of my "Milk" yoyo, the blueprint for my wooden aspirations. I experimented with various exotic hardwoods, searching for that elusive combination of feel and performance. But time and again, I encountered the same frustrating issues. Wood, being a living material, is susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature, causing it to contract and expand, leading to instability and, ultimately, unplayable yoyos. Years of trial and error followed, a series of failed attempts to tame the natural inconsistencies of wood.
Fast forward to 2024. With years of experience in yoyo design, sourcing, and development under my belt, I finally cracked the code. I've discovered the optimal way to craft a wooden yoyo that is genuinely playable. The solution lies in the material and the construction of "The Maple." Much like a skateboard deck, it's crafted from interlaced, cross-grain layers of Canadian Maple veneers. This unique construction minimizes warping, providing exceptional stability, and grants the yoyo ultimate strength. Just like a skateboard, it can take a beating and handle any tricks you throw its way. This yoyo had to be crafted from the ground up, with each individual layer meticulously selected to form the unique color combinations you see. Unlike metal or plastic yoyos, each half is individually machined and hand-finished by me. While it may never achieve the absolute dead smoothness of a precision metal yoyo, I believe this is as close to perfection as a wooden yoyo can get.
I'm beyond thrilled to share this passion project, a dream that has been with me since my early days of yoyoing. The release of The Maple wooden yoyo represents a full circle moment. From the simple, basic designs of the past, The Maple represents evolution of wooden yoyos into highly engineered machines capable of handling the most demanding modern tricks.
This is my love letter to yoyoing, a tribute to the enduring charm and natural beauty of wood. It's a testament to the fact that even in a world dominated by high-tech materials, the organic feel of a wooden yoyo can still captivate and inspire.
- Paul Yath