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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 1999-08-11, Page 6Inside look at... Craze over yo-yos keeps on coming back Seaforth kids passing time this summer rocking the baby and walking the dog ...at Yo-yos By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff . Yo-yos. - they just keep coming back. That's the observation of Ruth Feeney, whose son Kyle is one of many Seaforth kids rocking the baby, walking the dog and going around the .world with their ya-yos this summer.. "I had one, -my daughter who's now 20 had one and now Kyle, who's 10, has one.. They're one of those classic entertaining little toys that will always be. around. I'd sooner see him play with a yo-yo than watch TV." she says. Three -time yo-yo world record holder Fast . Eddy McDonald, who will be • coming to The Hobby ,Shop in Seaforth on Oct. 23, says yo-yos. are now making a comeback in Canada after .about 10 years. "I've never seen the interest in yo-yos as big as it is right now and right now, they're popular all around the world. No one's happier than me about that," he says. McDonald, who's 31 now, got his first yo-yo at age 12 afterwatching a yo-yo champion perform tricks: at a Toronto mall. "I' just loved it. I bought a little book and I.practiced like crazy and when the champ came back the next • year. i was better than he • was," he says. • He was offered a job demonstrating yo-yos at malls for.$2 an hour and by age 16, he .joined an international yo-yo team working for Coca-Cola, with whom he toured 12 countries for five years. "For 15 years. I've been making a living off of my yo- yo - at one time I thought it might be a hockey stick." says McDonald. He says. yo-yos lost popularity to computer and video games but now that the newness has worn off of electronic games, the yo-yo is experiencing. a resurgence of interest. ' "Kids willeventually beat a video game and when they do, they'll discard it. But, you can't beat a yo-yo - you can always learn something new with it," he says. "One of the most positive things a yo-yo teaches you is that you can learn anything if you just practice enough." Kyle Feeney says he got his first yo-yo during the spring because "everybody at • school, even the girls, had one and it looked like fun." Since then, he's had three yo-yos, busted three strings and learned a handful of tricks from a library book and days of persistence. "Whenever I'm bored, I grab my .yo-yo and that happens a lot," says Feeney. Kyle McNichol. also of Seaforth, is working through a yo-yo book trick by trick and while he's mastered at least six. he's nowhere near the 100th and final trick yet." "it's just fun to learn new Susan Hundertmark photos Kyle Feeney performs a forward pass while Brandon Bennett' walks the dog. Both, like many kids in Seaforth; are caught up in the resurgiing popularity of the yo-yo. tricks and teach your friend s how to do them." he says. McNichol says he takes his yo-yo. -with hint almost everywhere.. "a. long as I've got a pocket." including in the family van. while playing with the .family dogs even on the golI.coursc so he can practice tricks while waiting for his turn to play. Quoted 'One of the most positive things a yo-yo teaches you is that you can learn anything if you just practice enough' -- Three -time yo-yo world record holder Fast Eddy McDonald • "i really hate to wait," he explains. His mother Danica says learning to do tricks makes the yo-yo a .more interesting: toy and she's glad to see him doing something with his. hands. although she'd prefer he didn't yo-yo nlear, glass doors and windows,.• "Even if he's yo-yoing while watching TV. at least he's not horizontal:'she. says. Kim,Russcll, of the Hobby Shop. says.yo-yos have been selling really well since June and predicts they'll remain a Nig • seller at least until. Christmas. "Right now. we 1:im't keep them in stock and I think they'll he around for ' a hit," she says. Susan Halfpenny_ also of the Hobby Shop. says many parents Nought yo-yos for their kids as graduation gifts in June because yo-yos encourage them .to play. outside. "They're• sick of their kids just vegetating and not --exercising and -they: -think it's awesome to. get them outdoors.''' she says. . Russell. says learning yo-yo tricks helps to build kids'. self-esteem" and keeps them interested in the toy. "Fhat's why she's happy to hring Fast Eddie to•Scaforth this fall. "Kids are magneticd by • someone •' who • can -t. do something that well." she says. • • Kenzie Currie. of Sealonh, who saw McDonald at a toy store in Stratford. says he was most impressed by a trick called haircuttcrs where Fast Eddie used two yo-yos at the same time to move the shoulder -length hair,of a girl -as- if she was getting her'hair trimmed by the yo-yos. • "1 didit't think i would team a lot of new tricks when I went hut when I saw the tricks he could do. I got a lot more interested in the yo= y6." he says. • , NOTICE HURON COUNTY HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT proposes to apply the herbicide DyCleer 480" Reg. No. 19157 under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada) on County Roads No's 1, 12, 13. 15, 17, 18, 20.25 and 31 rights -of way for control of noxious weeds as listed under the Weed Control Act. Application time Is to be the weeks of September 1 to September 17, 1999 weather permitting. There will be no spraying done In built up areas. For further information and for the location of the roads to be sprayed, . contact Sandra Lawson, Huron County Weed Inspector at (519) 5247412. Collect calls will be accepted. 1 Complete ' Automotive Repair "Class A Mechanic" TIRE SALES. SERVICE & REPAIR ARCHIE'S Sewcee eee (UPI 527-0881 (tui 24 Godcrich St. F. 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