Connor Sheehan
What did your preparation for this event look like?
I started prepping for this contest back in January, I found the finals song pretty quickly and it was just a matter of creating a freestyle out of it. Along the way I adjusted the freestyle to see what was and wasn’t working, and that mainly involved making it easier for me. Practice was mainly just grinding it until it became second nature, and although the run on stage wasn’t very clean I’m proud of how fluent the freestyle ended up feeling for me.
What gear did you use and did you have any special set up?
I used the UNPRLD Devotion, which is the signature yoyo of Nick DeValpine, Hollywood Modern pads, and Sochi fat string.
Was there a specific trick or element you were most proud to pull off on stage? Or a favorite part of our performance/routine?
I hit the final horizontal neck trick which was definitely my riskiest trick, so I’m pretty proud of that, but hopefully next time I hit a more well-rounded set of tricks haha. There’s a sequence from a tower whip that I end in an eli hop that is really cool, I got it to match up to the beat as well which I’m really stoked on.
If you could have done one thing differently what would that have been?
In hindsight I think I would’ve lengthened my string a bit. It in a way gives me more breathing room, but otherwise I’m really happy with my practice and mindset going into the contest.
What’s your favorite memory from PNWR?
My favorite PNWR memory this year was running to get Voodoo donuts with some friends at like 1 in the morning. It was a horrible caloric decision but I would do it every time.
What advice do you have for people looking to compete for the first time?
I think the most important part about competing for the first time is overcompensating for the nerves you might feel on stage. No matter how confident you are or how easy your tricks may be to you, the adrenaline from stepping on stage is insurmountable. Make sure to take deep breaths and if you lose track of yourself on stage take a second to reset.
What will you take away to prepare you for your next competition?
For the next contest I’m going to try and be more efficient with my trick selection and give myself as many opportunities to be comfortable during the routine as possible. You can’t build a house on suspicious foundation!